Daily
Roanoke
Thursday, September 18th, 2025
Good morning, Roanoke. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 18th of September.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ A local news article highlighted a community business owner who has served our town with dedication. The profile, published on September 17th, described his background and plans to expand his business—giving readers a close look at his work. WDBJ7
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Virginia’s Blue Ridge announced that Roanoke was named as one of the best places to see fall colors. The city earned second place out of 20 picks in a nationwide competition organized by USA Today 10Best — voters chose their favorites over four weeks. WSLS 10
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Virginia Tech will host the 25th Annual Engagement Scholarship Consortium conference in Roanoke on Oct. 8-9 to show over 50 community projects that solve local challenges—one project repurposes the old Donnkenny factory in Floyd for affordable housing and public spaces. Faculty, students and community leaders will share their work in workshops and panels to build lasting partnerships. The Roanoke Star
- ➤ Roanoke County Public Schools will host three community meetings over the next three months—one for elementary, one for middle, and one for high schools—to explore how cellphones impact students. The meetings will gather community input and help shape potential policy adjustments. The Roanoke Times
- ➤ Roanoke County Public Schools and the Partnership for Community Wellness are hosting the first in a series of public meetings to discuss protecting children from online dangers — a move that aims to raise awareness and improve digital safety for our youth. WFIR News
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Franklin County Board of Supervisors voted on a solar farm project that may boost local renewable energy efforts (official plans are still being finalized). WDBJ7
- ➤ Morning anchor Jenna Zibton—who worked nearly 20 years at WSLS 10—is leaving the station to join a state government communications role; her last day is Sept. 24. WSLS 10
- ➤ City leaders launched the Hope and Home Task Force to study homelessness and plan long-term solutions while the sheriff’s office held quarterly pop-up events offering food and personal care items to unsheltered residents. The task force will meet over the next 12 to 18 months — working with community partners to recommend further supports. WDBJ7
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Carilion Clinic will host a free walk for sickle cell awareness on September 20th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosciences South parking lot — 2331 Franklin Rd. SW, Roanoke, where team members will educate the public about the disease. WDBJ7
- ➤ Ariel Salisbury, program manager for the Sickle Cell Collaborative at Carilion Clinic, helps sickle cell patients across Southwest Virginia by following them from hospital care to appointments and providing needed transportation—she says she feels like she is following her purpose. WDBJ7
- ➤ The Pulaski County Public Service Authority has issued a boil water advisory for Draper after a water main broke during maintenance—residents must boil tap water or use bottled water for cooking, drinking and making ice until further notice. Officials warned that failure to follow the advisory could lead to stomach or intestinal illness. WDBJ7
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Bug & Bat Night
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Mill Mountain Discovery Center — $15/individual, $45/family — Enjoy s’mores and learn about nocturnal wildlife and bats using UV lights and microphones.
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Urban Rodeo with 803 Fresh
4-10 p.m. — Amphitheater at Elmwood Park — No Refunds — Enjoy a lively urban rodeo with music by DJs Adam T and Showtime, welcoming all step teams.
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Martin's 20th Anniversary Street Party
4-7 p.m. — Martin's Downtown — Free entry — Celebrate two decades of community with live music from Big Something and a vibrant street atmosphere.
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Béla Fleck Concert
7:30-9:00 p.m. — Jefferson Center — Cost information not provided — Experience the virtuosic banjo skills of one of the world's premier players.
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
Have strong opinions, weakly held.
~ Marc Andreessen
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