Daily
Roanoke
Thursday, January 8th, 2026
Good morning, Roanoke. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 8th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Roanoke Waste Management announced on Wednesday it will collect natural Christmas trees through Jan. 29 so residents should remove lights, bulbs, ornaments, garland and tinsel before placing trees at the curb on their regular collection day. WSLS 10
- ➤ Center in the Square is exploring a Ferris wheel on its rooftop to add a family-friendly attraction and boost downtown tourism, and officials expect more details soon. WDBJ7
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Virginia schools have improved academic focus and social interaction from the new bell-to-bell cellphone policy introduced in May 2025, with teachers and administrators in Pulaski County reporting fewer distractions during class. WSLS 10
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ A fire truck shortage has forced fire departments to rely on aging equipment (raising concerns about response times). Local officials said supply delays and budget constraints have hindered plans to upgrade fleets. WDBJ7
- ➤ Botetourt County firefighters have been using trucks built in 1996 because of a national fire truck shortage, and three new trucks are expected to arrive this spring or summer — a measure to replace decades-old equipment. WDBJ7
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Foot Levelers offered new posture tips on Jan. 7 when President Jamie Greenawalt appeared on a local TV segment to share ways to align the body for a healthy start to the year. WDBJ7
- ➤ Former Campbell County sheriff Terry Gaddy, who battled myelofibrosis with weekly transfusions and a December 2023 bone marrow transplant, is in remission. He credits community blood drives and now enjoys returning to activities including hunting and family vacations. ABC 13
- ➤ Virginia's new law removes cost barriers on breast cancer screenings today, letting patients get free MRIs, mammograms, and ultrasounds with their Virginia insurance. High-risk patients like board member Leanne Keen say the change will help detect cancer earlier & improve outcomes. WSLS 10
- ➤ Virginia lawmakers enforced the Baby Food Protection Act effective Jan. 1, requiring baby food makers to test for toxic heavy metals including arsenic + cadmium + lead + mercury every month. Under the law, items exceeding FDA limits will not be sold in local stores to protect infants. WDBJ7
- ➤ Officials in Botetourt County warned residents on Wednesday, Jan. 7 after a skunk tested positive for rabies (local animal control advised caution around wildlife) and said they are monitoring the situation closely. WDBJ7
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ City officials announced on Wednesday that the city earned a $2.5 million award to support affordable housing at the former Walker Foundry site — a project by developer Greg Kaknes and The Foundry Realty that will add 200 units for middle-income families. WSLS 10
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Big Lick Comic Con
10 AM – 5 PM — Berglund Center — Tickets available — Celebrate comics, cosplay, and pop culture with celebrity guests and panels.
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
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.
~ Rumi
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