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Changing the Narrative of 11th St. NW, Water Authority Board Preps Data Center Vote, Urban Renewal Apology Advances

Roanoke's 11th St. NW among areas for city Main Street program; water authority slated to vote on key data center vote; equity board sends urban renewal apology to city council.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Sep 10, 2025 • 3 min read

Councilman To Ask for Evans Spring Redo, Corner Booth Bakes with Sourdough, Volunteer Sues Roanoke Habitat

Phazhon Nash will seek to restart city council's discussion of Evans Spring's future, Layla Khoury-Hanold's Corner Booth column returns, Habitat for Humanity faces lawsuit.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Sep 3, 2025 • 3 min read

Jury Finds Former State Sen. Bell Defamed Student, Buddhist Temple Breaks Ground, Our New Q&A Series Tackles Segregation

A Roanoke County jury sends a resonating defamation ruling; Buddhists celebrate a week-long ceremony for goal of new temple; E.B. Smith debuts in "Four Quadrants, One City" series.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Aug 27, 2025 • 3 min read

Malfeasance Issue Resolved Per School Chair, No Texting Just Textbooks, Lawsuits Drop Like Flies: Zoning, Cowell, Volosin

City leaders will soon delve back into the school funding formula; high schoolers will learn with no cell phones around; three lawsuits involving city officials are dropped.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Aug 20, 2025 • 3 min read

Roanoke Shootings Take Uneven Toll, Roanoke County Finds No Friendship in Court, Sheriff Candidate Retires

Happy midweek, Rambler readers. We've got a few stories to go with your morning coffee. First, Sinclair Holian, our Report for America corps member, went to two National Night Out events last week. Our goal was to talk to attendees on the north and south sides of the

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Aug 13, 2025 • 3 min read

Ballet Director Exits Stage and Country Citing Trump, Cigars and Hot Dogs Slide into Corner Booth, Zoning Imbroglio Returns

Pedro Szalay leaves the country, in part over current politics; Corner Booth cooks up food news; Roanoke's zoning back-and-forth returns.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Aug 6, 2025 • 3 min read

Possible Data Center Could Be Google's Thirstiest in Virginia, AI Used in Writing Roanoke Manager's Speech, City Asks for Stories, Pics of '85 Flood

Possible Google project prompts regional water warfare; Valmarie Turner acknowledges AI use; Flood of '85 stories sought.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Jul 30, 2025 • 3 min read

Councilman Hagen To Benefit From Inmate Center Lease, Equity Board Revives Urban Renewal Apology, Virginia Tech Won't Run Roanoke Biotech Lab

Councilman Nick Hagen is involved in leasing a space to the city, Roanoke's Equity Board hashes over apology, and biotech lab seeks a new manager.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Jul 23, 2025 • 3 min read

Key Talks Begin to Prevent 'Disappearance' of Jefferson Center, Big Data Comes to Botetourt, Progress in Gainsboro

Talks begin to prevent 'disappearance' of Jefferson Center, big data comes to Botetourt, there's some momentum in Gainsboro

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Jul 16, 2025 • 3 min read

Roanoke Council to Wade Back Into Housing Reforms, Sinclair Holian Is On the Beat, Ramblings Include Closed Garage Update

The four newest Roanoke council members will drive a new effort, Rambler welcomes new reporter, and Ramblings explore three ongoing storylines.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Jul 9, 2025 • 3 min read

First Look at New VTC Medical School Building, Corner Booth Is Back, Roanoke Sheriff Candidate Ends Campaign

New renderings show how a VTC Medical School expansion could look; Layla Khoury-Hanold's Corner Booth column returns; Roanoke's sheriff race makes more news.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Jul 2, 2025 • 3 min read

How Roanoke Will Spend Its Millions in Pandemic Relief, A Summer of Discontent With Roanoke's Pools, Will Hundreds Lose Housing?

Happy first Wednesday of summer, Rambler readers. First this week, Henri Gendreau breaks down how Roanoke spent - or will spend -its $64 million in pandemic relief funding. That required some questions, particularly about an $11 million portion that the city listed as "administration costs (salaries)” in a report

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Jun 25, 2025 • 3 min read

A Look Inside South Roanoke's House in the News, City Sheriff Candidates Lay Down The Law, Bob Cowell Blasts Lawsuits

💡Reader support keeps our journalism chugging. If you value our work, consider becoming a sustaining member today to keep our brand of hyper-local, investigative news free for everyone. Happy Wednesday, Rambler readers. Hope air conditioners are working. First this week, the Rambler team decided to ask for a tour of

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Jun 18, 2025 • 3 min read

Roanoke's Intriguing Tale of Two Cottages, Blame Game Over City Budget, Dems to Pick McNamara Challenger Tuesday

Stories include the saga of two Roanoke cottages, shedding more light on the city's budget mess, and a look at two candidates running to challenge Joe McNamara

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Jun 11, 2025 • 3 min read

Carilion Clinic To End Roanoke School Nurse Program; Corner Booth Cooks Up News On Star City Bodega, Atheling taproom; Ramblings Include Cline Protest

Carilion Clinic is ending its 14-year contract to provide Roanoke school nurses, Corner Booth returns with the latest food scene news, Ramblings include the latest Cline protest

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Jun 4, 2025 • 2 min read

Audit Finds Roanoke's '24 Spending Broke Law, Sale of Run-down Garage Could End Predicament, Ramblings Detail Council Camaraderie

Audit finds that Roanoke's '24 spending broke state law, a sale of the condemned Roanoke Station Garage is being shopped, Ramblings detail some council lighter moments at retreat.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler May 28, 2025 • 3 min read

Gainsboro To Raise Curtain for Theatre Revival Event, Rambler Hires Segregation Reporter, City Eyes School Funding Oversight

Gainsboro will raise curtain for theatre revival event, Rambler hires North Carolina journalist Sinclair Holian, city council continues discussion of school money and oversight.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler May 21, 2025 • 3 min read

Roanoke Homeless Assistance Team Exits Downtown, Volosin Blames Cowell for Budget Mess, Deyerle Zoning Lawsuit Tossed

Roanoke Homeless Assistance Team exits downtown, Volosin blames Cowell for budget mess, Deyerle zoning lawsuit tossed

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler May 14, 2025 • 3 min read
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