Bristol/Southwest Zone Archives - Page 10 of 15

The exterior of a red brick building with white columns at Emory & Henry

Education

Emory & Henry to offer free tuition to some Virginia students

by Lisa Rowan February 5, 2026February 4, 2026

The Emory & Henry Promise program, which will launch this fall, will cover tuition for eligible in-state students.

The State Capitol. Photo by Bob Brown. Used with permission. The State Capitol. Photo by Bob Brown; copyright Bob Brown. Used with permission.

Politics

A Smyth County family’s battle to get workers’ compensation and Line of Duty Act benefits inspired a bill to expand coverage

by Elizabeth Beyer February 4, 2026February 3, 2026

Del. Mitchell Cornett, R-Grayson County, introduced legislation to expand benefits to local law enforcement officers who become disabled or die from certain types of cancer. The bill was set aside this week.

a two story red brick building, the Appalachian School of Law, against the backdrop of a mountain

Education

Buchanan County to provide short-term funding for Appalachian School of Law

by Lisa Rowan February 3, 2026February 2, 2026

The private law school in Grundy has faced declining enrollment and revenue challenges.

The town of Damascus is flooded after the heavy rains of Hurricane Helene's inland impacts last September. Courtesy of Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Redbird

Millions of dollars in RGGI money has been appropriated for flood mitigation projects in Southwest Virginia. Many of those projects are still in early stages. Here’s how it works

by Elizabeth Beyer February 2, 2026February 1, 2026

The Community Flood Preparedness Fund uses proceeds from Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to fund flood mitigation projects across the state. Many Southwest localities are still in the early stages of CFPF funded projects as widespread flooding has continued to devastate the region.

Opinion

Buchanan County ponders whether $6 million will save Appalachian School of Law. Here are some questions it should ask.

by Dwayne Yancey February 2, 2026January 30, 2026

The standalone private law school in Grundy has been looking at a merger with Roanoke College, but the Buchanan supervisors have a say in what happens. Here are four facts and three questions.

The water tower in Wytheville. Courtesy of Peggy Davis.

Local

FEMA grant of $4.2 million going to Wytheville for repair of Hurricane Helene damage to the town’s wastewater treatment plant

by Susan Cameron January 30, 2026January 29, 2026

The money is coming from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and is awarded to the state, which sends it to the locality.