A marijuana joint. Courtesy of Erik Fenderson.

Here are some of the top headlines from other news outlets around Southwest and Southside:

Politics:

Virginia Republicans begin retail marijuana market debate with focus on lower taxes and some revenue dedicated to school construction. — Virginia Mercury.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin breaks with precedent, proposes budget amendments without saying how to pay for them. — Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Economy:

Lee Enterprises, owner of many newspapers in Virginia, asks investors to help it fight off takeover attempt by Alden hedge fund. — Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Salem’s Spartan Square sells for $16.5 million. — Virginia Business.

U-Haul to build self-storage facility in Danville; will create 15 jobs. — Virginia Business.

Community college program aims to train more truck drivers. — WSLS-TV.

BWX Technologies receives funding to expand uranium fuel production. — WSET-TV.

Covid:

Health leaders say covid may have peaked in New River Valley. — WDBJ-TV.

Culture:

Inside Jerry Falwell Jr.’s fall. — Vanity Fair.

Movie shot around Smith Mountain Lake and the Roanoke Valley in 2018 to get Roanoke premiere on Feb. 10. — The Roanoke Times.

Smithsonian travelling exhibit coming to Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell County. — Bluefield Daily Telegraph.

Three potential sites in Halifax County identified for location of future statue of Henrietta Lacks. — South Boston News & Record and Halifax Gazette-Virginian.

Former Christiansburg council member leading national lung transplant group. — The Roanoke Times.