Objectives of the plan, dubbed “Back to Salem’s Future,” include diversifying the housing stock, preserving the city’s history and strengthening regional collaboration, among others.
Samantha Verrelli
Sam graduated from Penn State with degrees in journalism and Spanish. She was an investigative reporter for The Daily Collegian at Penn State and a freelance reporter with PennLive. She’s from outside Philadelphia, and loves hiking, live music and finding new restaurants.
Posted inPolitics
Republican voters oust 3 incumbents in primaries for boards of supervisors across the region
Voters in nine localities across Southwest Virginia cast votes Tuesday in Republican board of supervisors primaries.
Posted inLocal
Agenda Roanoke: City council receives an extra $16 million in revenue, plans to use to offset overtime spending
The extra revenue comes mostly from delinquent real estate taxes paid and state funding, Director of Finance Margaret Lindsey said.
Posted inLocal
Agenda Roanoke: School board to approve budget, despite uncertainty surrounding future funding
School board to adopt FY26 budget, despite looming uncertainty about the future of the division’s multi-million dollar fund balance.
Posted inLocal
Republican primaries could fill two Botetourt board of supervisors seats
Assessments, taxes and growth issues dominate the two races.
Posted inLocal
Agenda Roanoke: Mayor Joe Cobb to propose a strategic plan to address homelessness
Roanoke has seen increased numbers of homelessness after the pandemic. Mayor Joe Cobb hopes to put together a task force to come up with new solutions.
Posted inRedbird
How local police are using LPR surveillance cameras
Nearly 25% of LPR searches from one police department’s audit used “Other” as the reason to access data from over 10,000 cameras.
Posted inLocal
Agenda Roanoke County: Board of supervisors to adopt budget on second vote
The plan totals about $272 million, which is an increase of almost $12 million from the previous fiscal year.
Posted inCulture
3 new bike trails are a highlight of recreation project on Roanoke’s Mill Mountain
The expansion builds on the city’s 2018 designation as a noted mountain biking destination.
Posted inLocal
Agenda Roanoke: City council to consider 3% raises for city employees
Public hearings will cover a tax on blighted and derelict property, as well as an appropriation to the schools for capital projects. The council will also receive a presentation with updates from Envision Williamson Road and updates to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
