Good morning, Roanoke.

Cole Anderson (11 years old) from Salem loves studying birds and animals and is now a finalist in the NWF Junior Ranger competition, which may lead to a feature in his favorite nature magazine.

His mother signed him up as a surprise and voting remains open until Thursday (each person may cast one vote per day).

Traditional Medicinals, a medicinal tea company from California, will launch its East Coast operations at Summit View Business Park in Franklin County after a delay.

The project will receive county incentives and bring a $47 million investment while creating 57 new jobs with salaries above $70,000—groundbreaking is planned soon with construction expected to finish next year.

Extreme heat spurs a Weather Authority Alert Day with temperatures expected to feel as high as 100—110 degrees.

Cooling centers at sites including Clifton Forge Fire Department, Danville Redemption Center Church, Lynchburg Public Library, and Roanoke Public Libraries offer relief with hours extending through June 27 and beyond.

On Friday, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 50 to form a working group that will review policies on sexual offenses in the Virginia National Guard and Virginia Defense Force— the order also creates an ombudsman within the Department of Military Affairs to support service members.

Public officials face pressure as Congress considers cuts to funding for the U.S. Treasury’s CDFI Fund—this fund helps local institutions in Southwest and Southside Virginia create jobs, build affordable housing, and support small businesses.

Community groups urge lawmakers to restore $251 million for FY 25 and set $324 million for FY 26 to keep these economic opportunities alive.

Lynchburg and Roanoke have opened cooling centers as temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s this week.

Lynchburg centers include the public library and a Department of Human Services lobby — Roanoke libraries will serve as cooling centers with bottled water available.

Artistic Encounters: Meet the Artist

4-7 p.m. — Blue Ridge PBS — Fundraiser event — Enjoy art, live music, and support local PBS initiatives while exploring new creativity.

Ledbetters & Superunknown

6-7:30 p.m. — Dr. Pepper Park — Ticketed event — Enjoy tributes to Pearl Jam and Chris Cornell by The Ledbetters and Superunknown.

WDBJ7's Star City Slide

10 AM – 10 PM on June 28 & 12 PM – 8 PM on June 29 — 2nd Street Bridge in Downtown Roanoke — $35 for adults, $10 for children 4-12 — Experience a thrilling ride down the slide with stunning city views.

Freedom Festival & Fireworks

4-9:30 p.m. — River's Edge Park — Free entry — Enjoy live music, food trucks, and a spectacular fireworks display to celebrate freedom.

Virginia Electric Live Concert

10 p.m. — Martin's Downtown — No Refunds — Enjoy two sets of electrifying music at one of Roanoke's top venues.

Annual Floatilla to Starr Hill

1-6 p.m. — Roanoke Mountain Adventures — Bring your own float — Float down the Roanoke River to Starr Hill Brewery with friends and family.

Them Dirty Roses Concert

5-7:30 p.m. — Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges — Ticketed event — Enjoy southern rock vibes from Bama's own Them Dirty Roses.

Minka with The Big Debbies

6:30-11 p.m. — 5 Points Music Sanctuary — Check for ticket prices — Experience a funky night with Minka and the debut of The Big Debbies, promising an energetic musical blend.

Summer Discovery Days at the Museum

10 AM — O. Winston Link & Roanoke History Museum — $5 per child — Interactive summer learning themed around local history and hands-on adventures.

Weekly Club Meeting

12:30-1:30 p.m. — Charter Hall at the City Market Building — Registration required — Attend this weekly meeting in person or virtually via Zoom.