Va. Tech says ‘Cheers!’ to Fightin’ Hokies Lager
Although Hokie fans couldn’t fill Lane Stadium this year decked in maroon and orange, there’s a new tailgating trophy they can look forward to obtaining this coming spring — a licensed Virginia Tech beer, Fightin’ Hokies Lager. Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences announced Tuesday it has partnered [...]
The Branch Group names new CEO
The Branch Group Inc. announced Monday that Donald “Don” Graul will take over as CEO of the Roanoke-based construction company on Dec. 14. With 38 years of industry experience, Graul most recently served as president of construction and connected communities for Centreville-based Parsons Corp. Graul held several roles at Parsons, including executive vice president of […]
Va. Tech ups connectivity with broadband block buy
In an effort to literally expand Virginia Tech’s research bandwidth, the Virginia Tech Foundation bought eight blocks of Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) in the Federal Communications Commission’s auction this summer. As owner of priority access licenses (PALs) for four 10MHz blocks in Montgomery County and four block[...]
Appalachian Power denied rate increase by SCC
A rate increase sought by Appalachian Power Co. has been denied by the State Corporation Commission. According to a statement issued by the SCC on Tuesday, Appalachian Power was seeking to increase rates by approximately $10 per month for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. Appalachian Power earned profits that were […]
Northam announces ‘Dopesick’ to film in Virginia
On Tuesday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that “Dopesick,” an eight-episode limited Hulu series, will film in Central Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley and Roanoke region through the spring. Based on the bestselling nonfiction book “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America,” by Roanoke journali[...]
Va. Tech College of Science names interim dean
Virginia Tech announced Tuesday that Ron Fricker, senior associate dean of the College of Science, has been named as interim dean, effective Jan. 4. Fricker succeeds Dean Sally C. Morton, who is leaving to become executive vice president of the Knowledge Enterprise at Arizona State University at the end of 2020. She served as de[...]
Vinton, Warsaw, Wytheville receive industrial revitalization funding
The towns of Vinton, Warsaw and Wytheville will receive a total of more than $1.4 million in state industrial revitalization fund (IRF) grants, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. IRF funding provides gap financing for redevelopment projects that can lead to long-term employment opportunities. “This funding will not only help transform deteriorating or unused structures, it […]
David Baldacci donates $100K to Smith Mountain Lake meals program
Bestselling author David Baldacci and his wife, Michelle, have donated $100,000 to The Landing Love Project, a nonprofit initiative to expand meal delivery services to at-risk families and seniors in the Smith Mountain Lake region. The Landing Love Project was established in March 2020 by March Bruno and Tiffany Silva, owners [...]
Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge names sales, marketing VP
Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge (Visit VBR) announced Monday it has promoted Debora Wright as vice president of sales and marketing. With more than 25 years of experience in destination marketing, Wright will lead external outreach and brand-building for the organization. She has been with the organization since 1993, when it wa[...]
Tazewell County directs $363K in CARES funding to Carilion Clinic
As Southwest Virginia continues to see a spike in COVID-19 cases, the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors announced Tuesday it is allocating $363,000 in federal CARES Act funding to Roanoke-based Carilion Clinic to be used to expand telemedicine and COVID-19 testing, as well as to improve access to primary care and specialty care services. “The […]
Driven by SW Va., state’s COVID-19 rate rises to 6.1%
Virginia’s number of COVID-19 cases jumped by more than 10,000 last week, bringing the state’s positivity rate to 6.1%, up from 5.8% on Nov. 2, according to the Virginia Department of Health’s report Monday, Nov. 9. The sharpest increases have been seen in the Roanoke region and Southwest Virginia, where neighboring states also have seen […]
Roanoke tech company buys Md.-based fiber optic manufacturer
Roanoke-based optical technology company Luna Innovations Inc. announced late last week it has acquired Owings Mills, Maryland-based fiber optic equipment manufacturer New Ridge Technologies LLC. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. New Ridge Technologies develops and manufactures fiber optic test and measurement equipment and advanced fiber optic subsystems for telecommunication applications. The acquisition […][...]