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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Virginia Tech executive vice president and provost to return to teaching
Virginia Tech Executive Vice President and Provost Cyril Clarke has announced plans to step down from his position and return to the faculty at the end of this calendar year, the school has announced.
Clarke, a veterinarian, clinical pharmacologist, teacher, researcher, and academic leader, joined Virginia Tech in 2013 as dean of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. He became executive vice president and provost of Virginia Tech in January 2019 following a national search, after serving in an interim capacity since November 2017.
A national search for Clarke’s successor will be conducted by a university committee led by Patricia Dove, University Distinguished Professor and C.P. Miles Professor of Science in Geoscience.
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Wise County nurse named Virginia’s Public Health Nurse of the Year
Joie Cantrell, a nurse with the Wise County Health Department, has been named as the 2025 Virginia Public Health Nurse of the Year.
Cantrell has more than 35 years of experience with VDH where she has worked in many different aspects of public health, including home health, maternal and child health, clinical services, tuberculosis (TB) outreach, communicable disease prevention and treatment, and comprehensive harm reduction.
A statement from the LENOWISCO Health District said: “Through her leadership in harm reduction, Joie directly contributes to reducing overdose deaths and strives to prevent infectious diseases, aligning with VDH’s goal of promoting and protecting public health. By implementing programs like comprehensive harm reduction and providing those tools necessary to save lives due to overdoses, Joie consistently demonstrates her desire to prevent drug-related deaths in addition to the spread of infectious diseases, particularly among vulnerable and under-served.”
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State opens applications for suicide prevention and opioid addiction grants
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is seeking to award $4 million in grants to support Service Member, Veterans and their Families suicide prevention and opioid addiction services for Fiscal Year 2026.
In 2022, DVS developed the Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Services (SOS) Program to help end the epidemic of SMVF suicide and opioid addiction and was tasked to build federal, state, and local partnerships with for-profit and nonprofit organizations to accomplish this life saving mission.
Grant funds will be used to promote the use of best practices addressing suicide prevention and/or opioid addiction for SMVF in the following categories: women veterans, homeless veterans, justice involved veterans, caregiver support and/or financial stability/literacy.
Eligible applicants must be a for-profit or nonprofit organization or community service provider/organization/locality serving Service Members, Veterans, and their Families in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For all nonprofit organizations, proof of an IRS 501(c)(3) designation is required at the time of application.
To be considered for selection, applicants are to submit a complete response to the RFA no later than May 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Application Submission Instructions: To be considered for selection, an applicant must register at https://grants.dvs.virginia.gov/index.do first to access the grant application. The SOS grants portal uses a unique entity identifier (UEI) number and an Employer Identification Number (EIN). To request a UEI number, visit https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.
Application assistance tutorials can be found on the SOS grants portal under announcementshere: https://grants.dvs.virginia.gov/index.do.
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State announces new portal to report suspected adult abuse
Virginia Adult Protective Services announces the launch of a new, secure online portal for the public to report suspected adult abuse, neglect or exploitation.
This streamlined digital tool makes it easier for concerned Virginians or professionals identified as mandated reporters to act and help protect vulnerable adults in their communities. Available 24/7, the portal allows users to file reports quickly and confidentially at their convenience.
In 2024, Virginia APS received over 45,000 reports of suspected adult maltreatment. Of these incidents, nearly 20,000 occurred in the adult’s own residence, according to the 2024 Adult Protective Services annual report.
Many cases involved individuals facing isolation, cognitive decline or dependence on others for care — factors that increase vulnerability. The new reporting portal is a vital step toward earlier intervention and greater community involvement.
There are three ways to make a report of suspected abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult:
• Report online at www.dars.virginia.gov/aps/APSreport.htm
• Visit or call your local department of social services
• Call the APS hotline at (888) 832-3858