The city has empaneled a special commission to study the causes. Among the factors: lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a history of racial injustice.
Emily Hemphill
Emily Hemphill is a freelance journalist from Elliston. She received a bachelor's degree in political science and journalism from the University of Mary Washington. She can be reached at emilyhemphill6@gmail.com.
Posted inSports
Roanoke College women’s swim team objected to trans athlete, faults school for lack of support
The trans athlete later quit the team, but the swimmers called on the Roanoke College administration, the NCAA and state lawmakers to prevent trans athletes from competing in women’s sports.
Posted inPolitics
Dispute over filing fee blocks Danville Democrat from running for the House
The case of Jasmine Lipscomb has drawn social media attention across the country.
Posted inPolitics
Will Davis and Ron Jefferson vie for Republican nomination in Franklin County House district
The June 20 primary for District 39, which also encompasses part of Roanoke County, may be tantamount to election. So far there is no Democratic candidate.
Posted inPolitics
Del. Ballard easily wins re-nomination
The incumbent took 91.7% of the votes at a mass meeting. So far, there’s no Democrat on the ballot for this Republican-leaning district in the New River Valley.
Posted inPolitics
A former aide to Sen. Amanda Chase aims to oust Del. Jason Ballard
Jody Pyles, a country musician, associate pastor, martial arts instructor, and body armor sales rep , takes on the incumbent in a Republican mass meeting on June 3.
Posted inCulture
Documentary premieres about open burning at Radford arsenal and thyroid cancer
An investigation by ProPublica found the rate of thyroid diseases in three of the counties around the arsenal were among the highest in the state. The two former Virginia Tech students who produced “FALLOUT” say the documentary is an opportunity for people to open up about their experiences and bring awareness to what is taking place around the arsenal.
Posted inEconomy
House budget proposal would create program to pay tech workers $10,000 to move to New River-Roanoke-Lynchburg area
A proposed Virginia talent attraction program modeled after incentive programs in other communities, particularly Tulsa, Oklahoma, aims to bring tech workers to Southwest Virginia and improve net in-migration.
Posted inCulture
Snake’s alive! Salem man discovers new species of dwarf boa in the Amazon
The snake is just one of 15 previously unknown species that Alex Bentley and his colleagues have identified.
Posted inCulture
More than a year later, scientists in Martinsville are still working on skeleton of ice age cat found in Lee County
In the fall of 2021, cavers removed a skeleton of an ice age cat in Lee County. The lab technician working to free the skeleton from the surrounding rock estimates she has already devoted roughly 1,000 hours to the project, with more to come.
