Nikki Giovanni, the poet, author, educator and public speaker who rose from borrowing money to release her first book to decades as a literary celebrity sharing her takes on everything from racism and love to space travel and mortality, has died. She was 81. Giovanni died yesterday with her life-long partner Virginia [Ginney] Fowler by…… Continue Reading
The Tanglewood Mall makeover continues in Southwest Roanoke County – first it was Carilion Children’s and their mental health services – as of tomorrow its also home to a new “Y,” as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports: Tour the new Y here The post The YMCA at Tanglewood gets ready to open its doors…… Continue Reading
Virginia Tech’s athletic director says the framework of college sports could change to look more like the pros. More from WFIR’s Clark Palmer. The post Babcock: VT prepared to operate in changing sports landscape first appeared on News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR.… Continue Reading
A new café is opening in Roanoke. As WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports the main attraction are its four-legged residents. A new cozy café is opening next week. On the menu coffee, tea and snuggles from cats. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno introduces us to the co-owners of the Toebean Cat Café. The Toebean Cat Cafe…… Continue Reading
Reaction to the 2024 Presidential election is mixed, although a majority (57%) of Virginians are simply happy that it’s over. One-fourth (26%) said they were shocked by the election, according to the Roanoke College Poll. The Institute for Policy and Opinion Research (IPOR) at Roanoke College interviewed 652 Virginia residents between November 11 and November…… Continue Reading
Two Roanoke youth football teams are asking for community support as they prepare to compete in a national championship. WFIR’s Ian Price reports. ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — The Roanoke-based 540 Powerhouse 7U and 11U football teams have secured the AYF Regional Championship title after a stellar performance in Woodbridge, Virginia. The victory earned them a…… Continue Reading
Come to one Dickens of a Christmas – or all 3 of them – beginning this Friday night in Downtown Roanoke. And keep an eye out for that Elf on the Shelf. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano: The post Dickens of a Christmas … and Elf on the Shelf returns this Friday first appeared on…… Continue Reading
From the WFIR News room this is your Culture Calendar – With a look at some of the local events coming up this weekend and in the near future. Sponsored by the Roanoke Cultural Endowment. The post Holiday concerts, plays, ballet and more … ’tis the season first appeared on News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR.… Continue Reading
Developer Alexander Boone says his real estate company has worked with Roanoke County and VDOT to come up with a winning plan for requested rezoning that would see around 115 townhomes and a handful of single family houses come to the old Poage Mill Farm on Bent Mountain Road/US 221. The Poage Mill development would…… Continue Reading
ROANOKE, Va. — U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced over $1.4 million in federal funding aimed at reducing lead-based paint hazards in homes across Virginia, including $750,000 designated for the City of Roanoke. The funding, part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program, will help…… Continue Reading