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The Virginia Cattlemen’s Association is taking applications for its 2027 Young Cattlemen’s Conference, a three-day tour across the commonwealth with facility visits and expert sessions; applications are due Friday, Nov.

20 (select young producers will be chosen).

Charlie Blackwell joined WSLS a few months ago as a community journalist after moving here from Jupiter (FSU alum) and is inviting Roanoke-area readers to send story ideas; outside work he runs marathons, hikes, and attends concerts and festivals.

Organizers announced a Downtown Roanoke Candy Crawl and said they will release the date, time, and list of participating businesses soon.

The Star City Center for the Arts established a nonprofit to make dance and other creative outlets more affordable and accessible, expanding opportunities for local students and community classes.

Andrew Moore's new book explores efforts to reintroduce elk and red wolves to the eastern U.S., noting about 250 elk in Southwest Virginia and about 35 red wolves in North Carolina, and that Virginia's wildlife agency is applying for a federal grant to build elk crossings after nearly 50 road deaths in three years.

UVA professor Rachel Wahl has written a new book, Keeping Our Enemies Closer (Political Dialogue in Polarized Democracies), arguing that genuine curiosity — not winning arguments — improves political conversations, and she discussed the ideas on WDBJ.

Woods Farm in Boones Mill announced earlier this week it is closing after decades of selling fresh produce, preserves, and jams, saying rising costs, drought, and repeated crop losses left the owner unable to keep the business running.

Main Street in Boones Mill hosted Franklin County’s first-ever Coffin Race on Saturday, with 15 five-person teams racing homemade caskets for cash prizes, and the Franklin County Historical Society saying proceeds will help pay for pauper burials.