Payton Williams

Payton Williams grew up in Southwest Oklahoma and worked as a journalist there covering arts, the military and healthcare. He moved to Southwest Virginia in 2022 and enjoys writing, hiking and caving.

Environment

Roanoke's Tree Canopy Has Fallen Over the Last Decade. City Leaders Are Now Trying To Restore It.

Roanoke's tree canopy coverage was at 26 percent in 2019, down from 48 percent at the beginning of the decade.

Addiction

Facing Record Overdoses, Roanoke Picks Priorities for Opioid Settlement Money

Roanoke hopes to spend millions in opioid relief funding on peer recovery specialists, housing assistance and training for doctors and EMTs.