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Southwest Virginia needs to solve its housing shortage if it wants economic growth, new jobs, governor says
Later in the day, the governor attended two health-related events in Abingdon.
Politics
Governor vetoes legislation to create prescription drug board
This was the fifth attempt by the General Assembly to create such a board, which was intended to review the pricing of high-cost prescription drugs and, in some cases, set upper payment limits.
Local
Roanoke Valley Field Notes: Roanoke council amends Evans Spring plan
Weekly column for 5/21 focusing on the Roanoke Valley.
Culture
American Aquarium, Rhonda Vincent among headliners for this year’s Floyd Small Town Summer series
Local acts Hoppie Vaughan & the Ministers of Soul and JStop Latin Soul also will be featured, along with family-friendly movies on some nights.
education
Roanoke school division reconsidering online platform after recent data breach
A cyberattack left the platform offline for days and thousands of students’ information exposed.
eCONOMY
In Lynchburg’s historic Black commercial district, developers are giving Fifth Street a second chance
New apartment units and commercial spaces are on the market or in the works on the street that was once regarded as the city’s Black Main Street but was later lost to history.
OPinion
Clean Virginia: The NextEra-Dominion merger is about more than energy; it’s a test of whether Virginia will put its people above monopoly power
NextEra is touting $2.25 billion in one-time bill credits for Dominion customers spread across millions of customers over three states during a two-year period. This is a temporary payment, not a structural reduction in bills. The real question is not what Virginians receive up front. It is what they will be charged over the next…
Health Care
The Pulse: UVa researchers make new discoveries into why cancer relapses
Plus: Plans for a home-away-from-home for patients and caregivers in Roanoke, Virginia smoking rates tick upward.
news briefs
Headlines from across the state: Spanberger’s ICE actions deepen divide with Virginia Democrats; more …
From elsewhere: DWR approves fewer carp to eat invasive hydrilla in Smith Mountain Lake. Broadway to be third Virginia town to stop fluoridating water. Judge dismisses charges against former Richneck assistant principal accused of failing to prevent shooting.
Sports
‘Martinsville Missile’ sets a new land speed record for a stock car
With a Henry County driver behind the wheel, the car designed and built in Martinsville broke the record of 244.9 mph with a top speed of 253 mph.
WEATHER
Price for some drought relief may be showery Memorial Day weekend
Temperatures will cool down from early week record highs as we see an extended period of shower chances unlike any we’ve seen in many months.
Cardinal 250
One of Virginia’s most eccentric patriots was John Sinclair, a government-sanctioned pirate
Privateers were an important component of the American war effort. They were something akin to government-sanctioned pirates — armed vessels that chased down and confiscated the cargo of civilian enemy merchant ships. The techniques privateers employed wouldn’t pass muster today. They’d often approach a ship under a false flag and captain and crew would get…
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