Roanoke police indictment, Botetourt budget fight, new Virginia housing laws & 611 steam locomotive — Roanoke Valley’s Morning News 6/2/26

Roanoke police indictment, Botetourt budget fight, new Virginia housing laws & 611 steam locomotive — Roanoke Valley’s Morning News 6/2/26

Today’s Roanoke Valley’s Morning News covers Botetourt County’s decision to delay budget approval amid questions over school funding, along with felony charges against a Roanoke man accused of trying to strike a police officer with his vehicle. We also report on new Virginia laws aimed at expanding affordable manufactured housing, the unveiling of a new patriotic design for Norfolk & Western 611, and a Lynchburg courtroom escape that remains under investigation. Plus updates on a fatal Roanoke duplex fire, growing union membership across Virginia, local weather, Salem baseball, the Division III College World Series in Salem, and the latest NHL, NBA, and NFL headlines.

Roanoke City councilman shares thoughts on current zoning code as discussions continue

Ahead of a city council meeting later this morning, Roanoke’s Republican councilman is hoping to see “tweaks” made to the city’s zoning ordinances in the near future. Details from WFIR’s Conner Arthur:

June is Gun Violence Awareness Month

June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, and to observe the occasion the local group "Fed Up" has collected 80 photos of people who have lost a love one or loves ones to gun violence, and next Friday at 7pm on the Martin Luther King Jr bridge downtown they will be part of a temporary installation on the bridge, where a short "Mindful Remembrance Walk," will also take place.

Virginia child care plan, Virginia Tech board fight, Roanoke zoning debate & Hotel Roanoke future — Roanoke Valley’s Morning News 5/29/26

Today’s Roanoke Valley’s Morning News covers Governor Abigail Spanberger’s new child care affordability initiative, the escalating dispute over the removal of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors rector, and the latest developments in Roanoke’s housing and zoning debate. We also report on plans for the future of Hotel Roanoke, a major Southeast Roanoke road closure, Gun Violence Awareness Month events, and neighborhood concerns over a new connector road. Plus weekend weather, Explore Park’s Tavern Stage concert series, high school and college sports, NCAA tournament action, and more local news from across the Roanoke Valley and Virginia.

The 2026 Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation Endangered Sites list

What does an 1850 house in Salem, a now-closed golf course, an abandoned stone bridge and "Old Cave Springs," have in common. They all made the 2026 Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation Endangered Sites list. The goal is to raise awareness of the significance of these sites - and to promote options to save them from demolition.  One of the 2026 endangered sites is Ole Monterey golf course, now closed for what's called maintenance and renovations.