Daily
Roanoke
Wednesday, January 7th, 2026
Good morning, Roanoke. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 7th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ 6AM City’s Happenings calendar for Jan. 7 to Jan. 14 curates over 30 local event listings from live music to lectures with details on times and venues — a one-stop guide for locals planning their week. The Roanoke Rambler
- ➤ Jeanine Wittlinger requests community support for her Gentle Acres animal rescue facility & the sanctuary may close by the end of March without enough donations. WSLS 10
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Downtown Roanoke's Gift Niche, founded by four sorority sisters and serving the community for 43 years, will close on Feb. 1 owing to rising costs and fewer in-person shoppers. It will keep selling its signature Party on Your Head headbands during Artsy June & online until a new website launches. WDBJ7
- ➤ On Jan. 6, Center in the Square pitched a plan for a Ferris wheel in downtown Roanoke to local leaders, and an international company offered its feedback (the video pitch is part of the proposal). The Roanoke Rambler
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Salem Bookstore officially updated its inventory for the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 6. The store offers a wide selection of new books & themed displays aimed at giving local readers fresh choices. WDBJ7
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Amtrak is offering 15% off travel in Virginia when passengers book through its fare finder (code V552) today; additional discounts benefit small groups, children, and seniors to make local trips more affordable. WSLS 10
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Residents voiced concerns about the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate Project on Jan. 6, urging local officials to review potential impacts on local water quality and safety + farmers expressed hopes for greater transparency, sparking a community call for tighter oversight. WDBJ7
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Virginia disability advocates say state funds will be tight as Governor Youngkin’s budget excludes needed rate increases for personal care & respite services. A federal judge will hear their request on Wednesday, and lawmakers will review the budget in Richmond next week. WVTF
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Carilion recorded 865 flu cases this season among mostly younger people. The holiday peak is now dropping, but doctors say a rise may come when schools resume and they advise handwashing & covering coughs to slow the spread. WDBJ7
- ➤ A new flu strain, known as super-flu, has led to 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths this season, according to CDC data. The Central Shenandoah Health District advises residents to adopt healthier habits, including regular exercise, balanced diets, and proper sleep to start 2026 well. WDBJ7
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Roanoke’s food scene will heat up with new restaurant openings soon, including Dorothy & Frank’s launching in January and The Haven set to open downtown later this month; the Corner Booth column spotlights trends like global flavors & multi-concept spaces. The Roanoke Rambler
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Salem Civic Center is getting ready for the 58th Championship Stampede Rodeo, a family-friendly event that begins Friday at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Sunday—tickets range from $20 to $30. WSLS 10
-
K-Pop Glow Party and Laser Show
6-8 p.m. — Science Museum of Western Virginia — Family-friendly event — Experience an electrifying glow party with a mesmerizing laser light show set to K-Pop music.
-
Speakeasy Jazz Nights
7-9:30 p.m. — The Pine Room at Hotel Roanoke — $40 ticket — Experience the charm of a pre-Prohibition jazz club featuring T-FOX & the Fox City Band.
-
Do Portugal Circus
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Valley View Mall — Tickets available — Experience the excitement of a circus under the Big Top for the first time in Roanoke!
-
Winter Majesty: A Cozy Paint & Sip Night
6-8 p.m. — Well Hung Vineyard - Restaurant — Check ticket price — Dive into a cozy painting session with splashes of winter colors.
-
Do Portugal Circus
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Valley View Mall — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magic of Do Portugal Circus for the first time in Roanoke under the Big Top!
-
Do Portugal Circus
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Valley View Mall — Tickets available — Experience the magic of the circus in Roanoke for the first time under the Big Top.
-
Do Portugal Circus
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Valley View Mall — Tickets available — Experience the excitement of a circus performance in Roanoke for the first time ever.
-
Public Ice Bumper Cars
12:30-6:30 p.m. — Berglund Center — $11 + fees — Experience the thrill of ice bumper cars, perfect for all ages.
-
WNRN's Dead Air 5
5 PM — Jefferson Center — Proceeds support WNRN and local non-profits — Celebrate 30 years of WNRN with over 20 bands performing Grateful Dead tunes.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.
~ Jimi Hendrix
About Daily Roanoke
Welcome to the Daily Roanoke, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Roanoke, Virginia community. If you like the Daily Roanoke, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Roanoke.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Roanoke and across Virginia. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Roanoke
A free Roanoke community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailyroanoke.com/sitemap