Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, left, and Del. James W. "Will" Morefield, R-Tazewell, right, confer in the Virginia House of Delegates Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. Photo by Bob Brown.
Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville and Del. Will Morefield, R-Tazewell County, during the 2024 General Assembly session. Photo by Bob Brown.

Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.

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Del. Marshall recovering after lung transplant

Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, is recovering after undergoing a lung transplant, his office said in a statement.

Marshall, who missed the recent General Assembly session (but participated virtually) and later announced he would not seek reelection due to unspecified health issues, “recently” underwent surgery at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina.

The statement said Marshall is “doing well” and “will need a few weeks of physical rehabilitation, but is expected to regain full strength and return to normal activities.”

Marshall’s family asked well-wishers not to call or text for three weeks. No flowers, plants or fruit are allowed in his hospital room or even after leaving the hospital.

Well-wishers are advised to email deldmarshall@house.virginia.gov or send postal mail to P.O. Box 439, Danville, VA 24543. 

The family also expressed appreciation for the lung donor’s family, “who has suffered a loss, and the donor who provided new hope for another person’s future.”

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Fincher named 23rd president of Emory & Henry University

Career educator Louise “Lou” Fincher has been named the 23rd president of Emory & Henry University.

Lou Fincher. Courtesy of E&H.

Fincher was the unanimous choice of the board of trustees during its recent spring meeting, according to a news release. She has been serving as interim president since Aug. 1 and succeeds John Wells, who left after five years at the helm for a move to North Carolina.

E&H, formerly Emory & Henry College, is a private university in the Emory community of Washington County.

“After heartfelt reflection, the Emory & Henry University Board of Trustees is honored to officially appoint Dr. Lou Fincher as the President of Emory & Henry University,” said Ann Sluder, chair of the board and a 1981 E&H graduate. “From her first day at Emory & Henry, Lou has led with compassion, integrity, and a deep sense of purpose that has inspired our campus community. Her thoughtful leadership, inspiring vision, and genuine care for our students, faculty, and staff have made a lasting impact.”

Fincher joined E&H in 2014, when she was hired as the founding dean of the School of Health Sciences in Marion. She also took the lead in establishing a lab school focused on health care careers in Marion and Abingdon. Most recently, she was a senior vice president at E&H.

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Caesars Virginia announces initial entertainment lineup, featuring ZZ Top, Wynonna Judd

Caesars Virginia’s entertainment and event venue, called the Pantheon, will open its doors June 6. The casino resort in Danville on Monday announced a lineup of musicians and comedians who will perform there this year, with more shows to be announced. 

Country music singer Gary Allan will kick off the Pantheon’s lineup on June 6, with acts including Gabriel Iglesias, Wynonna Judd and ZZ Top to follow. 

The Pantheon includes 30,000 square feet of showroom space and 2,500 seats, according to a news release from Caesars. The venue also includes 20,000 square feet of event space. 

The venue is the final feature of the full-scale casino resort to come online, following the grand opening of the property on Dec. 17. Other amenities include 90,000 square feet of gaming space, a 320-room hotel, a pool, a spa and dining options. 

“We are extremely proud of the entertainment offering Caesars Virginia Provides, and the addition of the Pantheon elevates that offering to that of any destination casino and resort in the country,” said Chris Albrecht, the casino’s general manager, in the release. 

The current lineup is below, with additional acts to be announced. Tickets for all shows go on sale March 28 at 10 a.m. and will be available through Ticketmaster. 

  • June 6: Gary Allan
  • June 21: Wynonna Judd
  • July 10: Gabriel Iglesias
  • July 11: Jamey Johnson
  • July 12: TUSK
  • Aug. 15: Theresa Caputo
  • Aug. 16: Best of the Eagles
  • Sept. 19: ZZ Top
  • Sept. 20: Flatland Calvary
  • Sept. 27: The O’Jays
  • Nov. 22: Ron White

— Grace Mamon

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