WFIR News Express 7-6-2026

Preparing for the "third stage" of life

Are you or a loved one ready for the post-retirement "third stage of life," with plans in place to reduce isolation, eat better and figure out the financials of living well past retirement? Two panelists from a recent information session on what Eldercare and living longer might look like speak out.

WFIR News Express 7-6-2026

Here is the latest news from around the Roanoke Valley and Commonwealth of Virginia.

DOJ Sues Virginia to Block Assault Weapons Ban, Fired Martinsville City Manager Documents Released, Heat ER Visits Surge | Roanoke Valley's Morning News – July 2, 2026

Missed the morning broadcast? Catch up on the top stories impacting the Roanoke Valley and the Commonwealth of Virginia for Thursday, July 2, 2026. In this episode of Roanoke Valley’s Morning News with Joey Self and Ian Price, we cover the widening legal battle over Virginia’s newly enacted assault weapons ban. Following localized court injunctions blocking enforcement in six jurisdictions, the U.S. Department of Justice has officially filed a lawsuit against the Commonwealth to permanently block the ban. We also cover critical health warnings as a dangerous, multi-day heatwave sends temperatures blazing past 100 degrees, prompting a massive surge in heat-related emergency room visits across Virginia. Local and Regional Stories Covered in This Episode: * Assault Weapons Ban Legal Battle: DOJ sues Virginia to block the ban permanently, following local court injunctions in Lancaster and Washington County that leave law enforcement and gun dealers facing confusion over local enforcement. * Martinsville Mismanagement Exposé: Newly unsealed documents reveal the startling reasons behind the firing of former City Manager Aretha Ferobe-Benavides, citing severe financial mismanagement and the near-loss of $4.4 million in pandemic relief funds. * Roanoke County Assault Arrests: Police arrest a 19-year-old and a juvenile for malicious wounding following a violent weekend assault in a former 7-Eleven parking lot on Plantation Road that left two elderly residents seriously injured. * Equality Virginia Pushes for Protections: Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding bans on transgender athletes in other states, Equality Virginia calls for state-level action to codify trans student-athlete rights. * Rural Broadband Expansion: Congressman Morgan Griffith highlights how recent policy shifts will allow low-Earth-orbit satellite internet providers like Starlink to receive federal funding and bring high-speed connectivity to rural Virginia. * Financial Insights: Roanoke-based Creekmur Wealth Advisors celebrates cracking USA Today’s top 20 national advisory firms, while offering warnings about unprecedented stock market overvaluations. * WFIR Sports: The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team advances to the World Cup Round of 16 with a thrilling 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina; plus a massive NBA trade sending Boston's Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George, and the Chicago Cubs' historic 23-3 blowout over San Diego. Stay informed on the go—subscribe to the WFIR News Express feed for your daily Roanoke Valley news updates.

A Local Wealth Management Firm has Achieved National Recognition

Creekmur Wealth Advisors was recently named among USA Today’s Top 20 Best Financial Advisory Firms in the nation. The firm’s President and Founder, John Creekmur, says in a stock market facing unprecedented overvaluation, your financial security hinges on two things: planning and preparation.

As Roanoke Arts Commission crafts "Plan 26," they ask residents to weigh in via an arts and culture survey online

Its called "Plan 26," an upcoming revision to the City of Roanoke's Arts and Culture plan that's been in place since 2011. Before its finalized, the Roanoke Arts Commission wants to hear from citizens via an online survey. Funded by the city, the Roanoke Arts Commission will take the Plan 26 survey results to help craft a revised arts and culture plan, and then present it to the City's Planning Commission and City Council this fall.