All Episodes

• S01E12
  Roanoke's Flock Backlash, a New Hokies AD, and a Scorching Fourth A botched rollout cracked open a bigger debate: after Roanoke approved 75 Flock 'Raven' gunshot-detection devices, a data-entry error left a batch installed at the wrong locations — including on a resident's property she found out about only when a mystery pole appeared in her yard — and as the misplaced sensors come down, the conversation has shifted to surveillance itself, with the group DeflockRoanoke organizing against Flock's footprint and City Council candidates being asked where they stand. In the Rundown: Virginia Tech hires Florida Atlantic's Brian White as athletic director with a 'grow our resources' pitch and an AD-dynasty pedigree; most of Virginia is under a drought warning, with the Roanoke Valley in severe drought and neighbors in extreme drought; the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission releases 200 sterile grass carp into Smith Mountain Lake to fight invasive hydrilla in a round-two of a strategy that once worked too well; and Carilion Clinic hosts a research summit spotlighting cancer clinical trials as its new cancer center nears. The Week Ahead is Fourth of July week — the Salem Fair opens July 1 and a VA250 program lands at the Grandin, the Pop2000 Tour hits Dr Pepper Park on the 2nd, and the holiday spreads across Roanoke's Freedom Festival & Fireworks on the 3rd and the Star City Fire & Light Fest on the 4th, all under a forecast near 99 degrees. Closing the show: Fincastle celebrates as Botetourt sets the cupola on its new courthouse, with a resident who watched the old one burn in 1970 there to see it rise again.
  June 29, 2026
• S01E11
  Nine for Council, Data Centers Meet the Drought, and a Pipeline in Limbo Early voting is already underway: ahead of an August 4th primary, nine candidates are running for three open seats on Roanoke City Council — a five-way Democratic primary featuring incumbents Peter Volosin and Vivian Sanchez-Jones, plus familiar names like former mayor David Bowers waiting on the November ballot as independents — and the same ballot carries the U.S. Senate and U.S. House primaries, pushed back about six weeks by this year's redistricting fight. In the Rundown: Google held a public open house in Daleville on its planned Botetourt County data center campus the same week Gov. Spanberger urged water conservation amid Virginia's worst drought since 1941, with Carvins Cove about 13 feet below full pond; USA Cycling's Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships return to Roanoke July 12–19 (and again in 2027); the City of Roanoke's clear-bag policy takes effect at public pools; a paperwork contradiction in Montgomery County has frozen the permit for Mountain Valley Pipeline's Swann Compressor Station; and The Least of These Ministry has sued the city over a zoning dispute involving outdoor lockers and a portable toilet. The Week Ahead: the WBSC Senior World Cup and RidgeYaks baseball all week, the Delta Dental Party in Elmwood and Ella Langley on Thursday, and a loaded Friday and Saturday with Star City Motor Madness, the Grandin Chillage, the 72nd Buchanan Community Carnival, and the Miss Virginia competitions. Closing the show: three eastern screech owls become education ambassadors at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center.
  June 22, 2026
• S01E10
  Roanoke Lands 435 Jobs, a Tight-Budget Week, and the Grandin Digs In The biggest jobs news the valley has seen in 30 years: Austrian skincare and supplement maker RINGANA is bringing its first U.S. headquarters, production, and distribution operation to Roanoke — an $85 million investment and 435 jobs over five years, moving into the old Johnson & Johnson building in Blue Ridge Commerce Park. Plus a week shaped by tight budgets: Roanoke schools finalized a budget with $14 million in cuts; the Roanoke Parks Foundation says it is done working with the city; a state report flagged Carilion Giles and LewisGale Pulaski among 13 rural Virginia hospitals at risk of closing; the historic Grandin Theatre is building a $535,000 underground space as it reinvents itself as a live-performance venue; and IRS data shows the Roanoke Valley has become a landing spot for people leaving Fairfax County. The Week Ahead: Party in Elmwood and Josh Turner at the Berglund Center on Thursday, First Fridays and the start of the Juneteenth Freedom Jubilee in Botetourt on Friday, and a packed Saturday — Darius Rucker at Elmwood Park, Caribbica Fest on Market Street, and the Rainbow Run on the Greenway. Closing the show: the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center is raising orphaned bobcat kittens to release back into the wild.
  June 15, 2026
• S01E09
  The D-Day Memorial Turns 25, Virginia Tech's Record Gift, and a 175-Year-Old Mill Comes Back On Saturday, the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford marked two anniversaries at once — 82 years since the Normandy landings and 25 years since the memorial opened — adding 14 names to its wall of the dead after decades of uncertainty. We get into why the memorial is in Bedford (the Bedford Boys) and why this anniversary lands differently now. Plus: Appalachian Power is seeking a rate increase that would add about $9 a month to a typical bill starting in 2027. Virginia's first onshore wind farm, Rocky Forge, is rising on North Mountain in Botetourt — 13 turbines taller than a 60-story building. Orange Avenue in northwest Roanoke gets a redesign with its summer repave. Parkway Brewing is opening a second taproom downtown in The Bower. And it was a huge week for Virginia Tech: a record $75M gift, the new Hokie Ventures revenue arm, a new rector after Gov. Spanberger removed John Rocovich, and final approval of new dorms that will relocate a campus columbarium. Events: the Salem RidgeYaks are home all week against Fayetteville, the World Cup kicks off (USMNT plays Friday — watch at Hotel Roanoke's FIFA Alley), Party in Elmwood returns Thursday, the Eureka Recreation Center ribbon cutting is Friday, and Music on the Mountain caps the week Sunday. Closing the show: Big Spring Mill in Elliston reopens after nearly four years dark — same equipment, same recipes, same 'A Number 1' seasoned flour, hand-tied bags and all, after 175 years.
  June 8, 2026
• S01E08
  Roanoke's Budget Cuts, Evans Spring Returns to Council, and Moon Dirt in Rocky Mount Roanoke City Council adopted a $421.5M FY27 budget 5–2, closing a $19M shortfall without raising taxes — about 30 positions cut and $50M pulled from capital improvements. Days later the school board unanimously approved its own cuts: PLATO reduced, activity buses limited to Monday–Thursday in spring sports season only, preschool for 3-year-olds reduced. Plus: the Evans Spring master plan is back before Council tonight with three options on the table, including a community push to add conservation as an acceptable use of the 150-acre tract. Cardinal News on Roanoke's permit delays — the planning department is a third short-staffed, one builder waited 8 months for a duplex permit. Columbia Gas is seeking an 11% rate hike, about $10.81 more a month starting October. And the final piece of the Roanoke River Greenway opened at Explore Park, completing a vision first identified in 1995. Events for Memorial Day weekend: Dark Star Orchestra Tuesday and Wednesday, Cardinal News 250 Trivia and Ride of Silence Wednesday, Lou Gramm Friday, Festival in the Park Saturday and Sunday, the Urban Cookout Sunday, and the 44th annual Vinton Memorial Day Parade on Monday plus the Salem VA Medical Center ceremony and community pools opening for the season. Closing: middle schoolers from Benjamin Franklin Middle in Franklin County won NASA's Plant the Moon Challenge on their first try.
  May 18, 2026
• S01E07
  The Redistricting Ruling Lands, Roanoke City Schools' First Rezoning in 50 Years, and the Cheesy Western Goes to NYC The Virginia Supreme Court ruled 4–3 Friday to strike down the April redistricting referendum, voiding the new map voters had approved. The 2024 maps stay for November. Rep. Ben Cline is back in his current 6th District against Beth Macy, and Tom Perriello is pivoting back to the 5th to face Rep. John McGuire. Plus: Roanoke City Schools is rezoning five elementary schools — first major rezoning in 50+ years, board vote May 26. Speed cameras coming to I-81 in Roanoke and Botetourt, $100 fines, work-zone enforcement. The city is wrestling with the Berglund Center's future as casino-anchored development faces unanimous legislative opposition. The Roanoke Valley uses less water than it did 20 years ago, which is the county's argument for Google's data center. And a Blacksburg nonprofit just abolished $51M in medical debt across Southwest Virginia. Events: Cardinal News 250 Trivia Tuesday, Boogie on the Mountain Wednesday, David Nail and Jackyl & Buckcherry Friday, and the Local Colors Festival Saturday at Elmwood Park. Closing with Texas Tavern's Cheesy Western making its debut at Hamburger America in Lower Manhattan.
  May 11, 2026
• S01E06
  Redistricting at the State Supreme Court, Roanoke's Gunshot Detection Debate, and a Daisy Art Parade The Virginia Supreme Court could rule any day on whether to throw out the redistricting referendum, with Reps. Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith among the plaintiffs and former Roanoke delegate William Fralin leading the opposition. Plus: Roanoke City Council approved 75 new Flock gunshot detectors over real pushback, Governor Spanberger spent her 100th day signing education bills in Roanoke, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $237M contract for the next stretch of I-81 widening, Carilion opened a midwifery clinic in a maternity care desert, and the drought is biting local farmers. Events this week: RidgeYaks home all six nights, Jay Leno at the Berglund, the 4th annual Daisy Art Parade Saturday, Forkapalooza, and Music on the Mountain on Mother's Day. Closing with a Virginia Tech student who identified a brand-new species of dinosaur — three times older than T. rex.
  May 4, 2026
• S01E05
  Redistricting Reshuffles Roanoke's Congressional Race, Big Changes at Virginia Tech, and a Saturday of Festivals Virginia voters narrowly approved a mid-decade redistricting referendum, redrawing Roanoke's 6th Congressional District from heavily red to slightly blue — and the local field is already shifting. Sam Rasoul announced he won't run; Tom Perriello pivoted from the 5th to the 6th. Plus: VT AD Whit Babcock is retiring after 12 years, Spanberger named four new VT Board of Visitors appointees ahead of the presidential search, VDOT's I-81 widening project is underway, the Member One / Virginia Credit Union merger has locked some members out of their accounts, and Catawba's Homeplace Restaurant reopened after five years.
  April 27, 2026
• S01E04
  Blue Ridge Marathon Returns, Roanoke Closes a Budget Gap, and the Dogwood Festival Takes Over Vinton The 2026 Blue Ridge Marathon brought thousands of runners downtown with a projected $2 million economic impact. Plus: Roanoke and Carilion Clinic launch RoVa Labs, a biotech incubator projected to create 250 jobs. The city closes most of a $19 million budget gap without raising taxes. Virginia Tech raises tuition 2.9%. The Rail Yard Dawgs split the first two games of the President's Cup semifinal. And the Botetourt Chamber formally endorses Google's data center project.
  April 20, 2026
• S01E03
  Virginia Tech's President Steps Down, Rail Yard Dawgs Sweep Playoffs, and Down by Downtown Returns Virginia Tech President Tim Sands announces he's stepping down after 12 years — and questions swirl about whether the timing is political. Plus: the Rail Yard Dawgs sweep their playoff series, the 611 locomotive is running summer excursions, Salem Valley 8 closes after 50 years, and Roanoke's music scene is having a moment.
  April 13, 2026
• S01E02
  Google's Data Center Divides Botetourt, Vinton Opens a New Park, and Roanoke Crime Drops The community responds to Google's $3 billion data center in Botetourt County — supporters see a generational investment, critics want answers on water. Plus: Vinton's new War Memorial Park, Smith Mountain Lake under stress, rising costs for farmers, Carilion's CTE investment, and Roanoke crime down 23%.
  April 6, 2026
• S01E01
  Pilot: Google Bets $3B on Botetourt, Budget Cuts, and the RidgeYaks Debut Our first episode — Google officially announces a $3 billion data center in Botetourt County, the city and schools face budget cuts, thousands rally for No Kings, Blacksburg preps for legal marijuana, UVA women make March Madness history, plus the week's events and a therapy dog named Maggie.
  March 30, 2026