Racial justice

130 Years After Roanoke's First Lynching, Community Begins To Acknowledge City's Violent Past

Few places in Virginia have gone through the process of acknowledging their lynchings through the Equal Justice Initiative.

Business

Carilion Clinic Projects Loss As Pandemic's Toll Totals $250 Million And Counting, Officials Say

The hospital system avoided losses in recent years only thanks to pandemic relief funds, officials said.

Incarceration

This Roanoke Neighborhood Has One of the Highest Rates of Imprisoned Residents in Virginia, New Data Show

Across Roanoke, predominantly Black neighborhoods have disproportionately high rates of incarceration, data show.

Politics

Robert Jeffrey Was Convicted and Sentenced to Prison. Now He's Suing To Get His Seat Back on Roanoke City Council.

Robert Jeffrey Jr. is asking a judge to toss out a November special election to fill his seat and force City Council to reinstate him.

Letter

Letter From the Editor: What We've Achieved (And Where We've Failed) in Our First Year

Reader support has translated into hundreds of stories about local issues, many of which would otherwise have gone uncovered.

Education

Roanoke Schools Headquarters Should Be Named For Black Educator Who Blazed Public Service Trail, Civic Leaders Say

Some residents say the name of Roanoke native William Robertson should grace the school district's new administration building.

Policing

City Seeks Analysis of Roanoke Police Department As Agency Faces Staff Shortage, Lawsuits

Roanoke's police department seeks to be "more responsive and nimble," the city manager said.

Business

You Don't Have To Pay For Lunch at Roanoke's Ursula's Café, And Its Owners Are OK With That

The eatery and arts venue that opened in downtown Roanoke last week brings what may be the first donate-what-you-can cafe to the city.

Business and Economy

Carilion Clinic Delays Plan To Build New Mental Health Center in Roanoke, Citing Pandemic

Carilion Clinic has postponed plans to build a new mental health center as part of a $300-million expansion of its southwest Roanoke campus.

Feature

Meet the Roanoke Artist Duo Getting Flush Off Paintings of Local Toilets

While murals remain the Nolan-Shafers’ number one art priority, the couple has found surprise best-sellers in their number two.

Addiction

Roanoke's New First Responders to Overdose Calls: People in Addiction Recovery

The Roanoke Valley Collective Response is hiring three peer recovery specialists who will respond to calls with police and paramedics.

Investigation

Debts, Civil Lawsuit and a Trip to Kroger: The Curious Case of an Ex-Roanoke Councilman's Bond Hearing

Robert Jeffrey Jr.'s financial situation raises questions about how he will be able to return $200,000 to victims of embezzlement.

Transportation

Roanoke Gives Green Light To Seek Funding for Williamson Road Traffic Reconfiguration

Plans to change the four-lane stretch to two car lanes, a center turn lane and bike lanes have garnered mixed reactions.

Ramblings

Ramblings: Mountain Valley Pipeline Focus of Deal in Federal Climate Talks; Local Monkeypox Caseload; Supplies Sought for Back-to-School Drives

What are Ramblings? Ramblings are a collection of short items that have caught our attention for one reason or another.

City Hall

Roanoke City Council Created An Equity Advisory Board Two Years Ago. Here's What It's Been Up To.

Roanoke City’s panel on equity emerged in 2020 amid a nationwide reckoning over racism.

Housing

Roanoke Housing Commissioners Hear How They Could Enhance, Expand Affordable Housing Units

“So your recommendation is, essentially, ‘Do this as quickly as you can,’” the commission's chairman told a consultant.

Politics

Scope of Blame Widens in Volosin Campaign's Use of Sample Ballots During Roanoke City Council Primary, Complaints Say

Family of Peter Volosin and Vivian Sanchez-Jones passed out sample ballots, complaint filed by losing candidate alleges.

Climate Crisis

Roanoke Council Has Called For 'Emergency Action' On Global Warming. So Why Is the City's Climate Plan Still Out of Date?

A pandemic, plastic bag fee and recent retirement have contributed to a delay in revising Roanoke's master climate plan.