Ralph Berrier Jr. - The Roanoke Rambler

Once Roanoke's Sleepy Blue-Collar Neighbor, Vinton Tries Making Itself a Hip Destination

Big things have been happening in Vinton, where $50 million in investment since 2015 has filled once-empty buildings with new restaurants and retail businesses.

Politics

Roanoke Mayor's Race Too Close To Call As Bowers Holds 19-Vote Lead Over Cobb

It could take another week before Roanoke residents learn who their next mayor is.

Politics

Republican Wins First Roanoke City Council Seat Since 2000 As Wave of Young Leaders Elected

Republican Nick Hagen and Democrats Terry McGuire and Phazhon Nash represent a wave of younger leaders elected to Roanoke City Council.

Feature

An Independent Streak Since Childhood, Stephanie Moon Reynolds Seeks Mayoral History

Moon Reynolds, a longtime city clerk who is finishing her first term on Council, is trying to notch a historic doubleheader.

Interview

Nick Hagen, Roanoke City Council Candidate, Answers Our 9 Burning Questions for 2024

We sit down with Nick Hagen, one of the Republican nominees for Roanoke City Council.

Interview

Evelyn Powers, Roanoke City Council Candidate, Answers Our 9 Burning Questions for 2024

We sit down with Evelyn Powers, an independent candidate for Roanoke City Council.

Interview

Terry McGuire, Roanoke City Council Candidate, Answers Our 9 Burning Questions for 2024

We sit down with Terry McGuire, one of the Democratic nominees for Roanoke City Council.

Feature

Turning Food Waste into Soil, Roanoke Compost Company Aims To Fill a Curbside Void

Star City Compost takes food waste from Roanoke residents and businesses and converts it into clean compost that will soon be available for sale.

Travel

Wise Up: Southwest Virginia County Banks on Music and Nature in a Post-Coal Future

Wise County is building an economy on things that can’t be outsourced: natural beauty and traditional mountain music.

Racial justice

In Segregated Roanoke, Black and White Churchgoers Gather To Study the Bible — and Find Ways To Improve the City

The bible study sessions, organizers say, are but a small step in overcoming generations of institutionalized segregation in Roanoke.

Politics

Roanoke Mayor’s Race Gets Crowded As Moon Reynolds, Bowers Challenge Cobb

A victory for any would be historic — Moon Reynolds as Roanoke's first female mayor, Cobb as its first openly gay mayor and Bowers for the sheer precedent of a fifth term.

Development

As Riverdale Expands, Residents Hear Vision for New Southeast Roanoke Neighborhood

Residents asked how Riverdale development might address addiction and homelessness in Southeast Roanoke, and how affordable rents may be.

Development

Houses of the Holy: Plans Seek To Convert Historic Roanoke Churches into Apartments

The idea to transform churches into housing is becoming a trend in Roanoke, where at least three such projects are either under construction or being planned.

Arts

Fewer Hours, More Tours: Roanoke's Taubman Museum Charts a Post-Pandemic Future

The museum has settled into a new routine post-pandemic: fewer public hours, more group tours and more special events.

City Hall

Northwest Roanoke Residents Weigh In on Scaled-Back Eureka Park Recreation Center Upgrade

Roanoke is planning a $13 million upgrade of the recreation center, the largest spending project the parks department has ever undertaken.

Climate Crisis

Roanoke Becomes Home To a New Kind of Refugee: Those Fleeing Climate Change

One-third of Americans cited climate change as a reason to move, per a recent survey. Some who do are choosing Roanoke.

Arts

Daisy Art Parade Float Bringing Mardi Gras Whimsy Through Downtown Roanoke

The parade seeks to demonstrate the ability of art and artistic expression to unite disparate people, communities and neighborhoods.

Feature

When Jimmy Carter Came To Roanoke

The Carter family recently revealed that the former president, now 98 years old, is receiving hospice care at his home in Georgia.