The floor of the U.S. Senate. Photo courtesy of U.S. Senate.

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

Politics:

U.S. Senate confirms Robert Ballou as federal judge for Western Virginia. — The Roanoke Times.

Eileen Filler-Corn, Virginia’s first woman House speaker, won’t run again. — Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Patrick County administrator resigns, plans to explore other options. — The (Patrick County) Enterprise.

Health care:

Centra shares plans for new medical campus, care tower, ER replacement and more. — WSET-TV, The (Lynchburg) News & Advance.

COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations continue to decline in Roanoke region. — The Roanoke Times.

Want more health care news? There’s no full-time health care reporter west of Richmond. We’d like to change that. You can help us fund this position.

Economy:

Virginia regulators approve bill increase for Appalachian Power’s fuel costs. — Virginia Mercury.

Roanoke’s Blue Cow Ice Cream to open location in Short Pump. — Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Casino dealer training starts in former Dan River Inc. building in Schoolfield. — Danville Register & Bee.

Group airs concerns with solar projects in Halifax County. — The (Halifax) Gazette-Virginian.

Virginia DEQ accepting public comment on 2020 Norfolk Southern train derailment in Roanoke Co. — WDBJ-TV.

Weather:

For more weather news, follow weather journalist Kevin Myatt on Twitter at @kevinmyattwx and sign up for his free weather email newsletter. His weekly column appears in Cardinal News each Wednesday afternoon.