New River Valley

Regulators OK Appalachian Power’s $340 million plan for old Glen Lyn coal plant

by Matt Busse August 7, 2026August 6, 2026

The utility plans to haul the byproducts of coal-fired electricity generation to a future landfill across the West Virginia border. Utility customers could be paying for it for more than a decade.

A man wearing protective clothing stands in an antiseptic lab, with another person similarly dressed at left.

New River Valley

Tech Briefs: Virginia Tech research team gets $20 million grant for cloud-based semiconductor lab

by Tad Dickens August 5, 2026August 4, 2026

Plus: Virginia Tech receives healthcare-related state and federal grants; court order restarts digital equity act funding.

New River Valley

Brown leads Democratic primary for Montgomery County sheriff

by Erick Solorzano August 4, 2026August 31, 2026

The winner will face interim Sheriff Robert Page in the general election.

Local

New River Valley Field Notes: ‘Significant investment’ in works at Falling Branch

by Erick Solorzano August 3, 2026August 3, 2026

Plus: First responders are honored for their bravery during Christiansburg fire.

New River Valley

Tech Briefs: 3 Virginia Tech projects win ‘Genesis Mission’ grants

by Tad Dickens July 29, 2026July 28, 2026

Plus: Blacksburg company graduates from state trade accelerator program.

New River Valley News

Field Notes are a collection of weekly short news updates and future events to look out for.

Economy

Wythe County native to lead state tobacco commission

by Matt Busse July 27, 2026July 27, 2026

David Manley will serve as the executive director of Virginia’s Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, which aims to boost economic development in traditionally tobacco-dependent localities.

An aerial view of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (the arsenal) stretching along the New River.

Local

New River Valley Field Notes: Radford Arsenal incinerator completion now set for 2027

by Erick Solorzano July 27, 2026July 28, 2026

Plus: U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, files birthright citizenship bill and Democratic candidates respond.

Woman stands at right of photo, leaning on fence railing and peering at garden that overlooks a festival site.

Culture

Growing gardens of happiness at FloydFest

by Tad Dickens July 22, 2026July 21, 2026

Danielle Ward manages landscaping at the annual music festival, a job that includes mitigating rain’s effects on the site’s wetlands, keeping pollinators happy — and using goats to get rid of poison ivy.