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Roanoke City Manager Cowell Resigns. Here's What Led Up To It.
City Hall

Roanoke City Manager Cowell Resigns. Here's What Led Up To It.

In the wake of toxic workplace claims, City Manager Bob Cowell resigned and Council installed Mayor Sherman Lea as an acting city manager.

  • Henri Gendreau
Henri Gendreau May 21, 2024 • 7 min read
Feline Fine? Not One but Two Cat Cafés Compete for Cuddles and Adoptions in Roanoke
Business

Feline Fine? Not One but Two Cat Cafés Compete for Cuddles and Adoptions in Roanoke

Two different visions — both combining cats and cafés — are competing for the attention of Roanoke cat lovers.

  • Henri Gendreau
Henri Gendreau May 21, 2024 • 4 min read
Goodwill
Poetry

Goodwill

Why would anyone buy a pair of used underwear? / I ask myself as I search through a bin / of miscellaneous clothing at Goodwill.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler May 21, 2024 • 1 min read
Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 5/22 to 5/29.
Happenings

Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 5/22 to 5/29.

We scoured 30 disparate community calendars (yes, 30) so you didn’t have to.

  • Lindsey Hull
Lindsey Hull May 21, 2024 • 11 min read
Roanoke City Councilman Priddy To Resign Next Month, Move to Northern Virginia
Politics

Roanoke City Councilman Priddy To Resign Next Month, Move to Northern Virginia

Priddy made the announcement 18 months into a Council term left vacant by disgraced former councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr.

  • Lindsey Hull
  • Henri Gendreau
Lindsey Hull, Henri Gendreau May 14, 2024 • 4 min read
Roanoke Changes School Funding Policy, Which District Fears Could Cost It Millions
Education

Roanoke Changes School Funding Policy, Which District Fears Could Cost It Millions

City Council said the change will allow for flexibility in spending taxpayer money, while school officials decried it as harmful.

  • Henri Gendreau
Henri Gendreau May 14, 2024 • 4 min read
Ramblings: Roanoke Landmarks in Danger of Neglect, Group Warns; Schools Weigh Student IDs; Council Ups Top Official Pay
Ramblings

Ramblings: Roanoke Landmarks in Danger of Neglect, Group Warns; Schools Weigh Student IDs; Council Ups Top Official Pay

What are Ramblings? Ramblings are a collection of short items that have caught our attention for one reason or another.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler May 14, 2024 • 5 min read
Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 5/15 to 5/22.
Happenings

Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 5/15 to 5/22.

We scoured 30 disparate community calendars (yes, 30) so you didn’t have to.

  • Lindsey Hull
Lindsey Hull May 14, 2024 • 11 min read
In Roanoke's Food Scene, Mergers and Acquisition Offer Path To Nimble Growth
Food

In Roanoke's Food Scene, Mergers and Acquisition Offer Path To Nimble Growth

Owners of local Roanoke food establishments say recent shifts will allow them to reinvest in the business and grow anew.

  • Layla Khoury-Hanold
Layla Khoury-Hanold May 7, 2024 • 8 min read
Roanoke City Council Decides To Keep Property Taxes Steady After Vice Mayor Floats Rate Cut
City Hall

Roanoke City Council Decides To Keep Property Taxes Steady After Vice Mayor Floats Rate Cut

City Council members on Monday rebuffed any effort to reduce property taxes this year, but expressed sympathy with exploring that option in the future.

  • Henri Gendreau
Henri Gendreau May 7, 2024 • 4 min read
Ramblings: Detours for Wasena Bridge Cause Concern; Council Lobbied on Gaza Ceasefire; School Board Finalists Compete
Ramblings

Ramblings: Detours for Wasena Bridge Cause Concern; Council Lobbied on Gaza Ceasefire; School Board Finalists Compete

What are Ramblings? Ramblings are a collection of short items that have caught our attention for one reason or another.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler May 7, 2024 • 6 min read
Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 5/8 to 5/15.
Happenings

Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 5/8 to 5/15.

We scoured 30 disparate community calendars (yes, 30) so you didn’t have to.

  • Lindsey Hull
Lindsey Hull May 7, 2024 • 12 min read
Roanoke City Council Told That Assistant City Manager Verbally Attacked, Physically Threatened Employee, Emails Show
Investigation

Roanoke City Council Told That Assistant City Manager Verbally Attacked, Physically Threatened Employee, Emails Show

After the employee quit, a senior official urged Council to fire Assistant City Manager Brent Robertson and City Manager Bob Cowell.

  • Henri Gendreau
Henri Gendreau Apr 30, 2024 • 5 min read
Roanoke Homeowners Sue City Over Policy Ending Exclusively Single-Family Zoning
Housing

Roanoke Homeowners Sue City Over Policy Ending Exclusively Single-Family Zoning

A mayoral candidate and a former city attorney are among the dozen plaintiffs asking a Roanoke judge to invalidate the law.

  • Henri Gendreau
Henri Gendreau Apr 30, 2024 • 3 min read
Ramblings: Roanoke Names Parks Director; City Partners To Help Washington Park Cottage; Newspaper Union Inks Contract
Ramblings

Ramblings: Roanoke Names Parks Director; City Partners To Help Washington Park Cottage; Newspaper Union Inks Contract

What are Ramblings? Ramblings are a collection of short items that have caught our attention for one reason or another.

  • Roanoke Rambler
Roanoke Rambler Apr 30, 2024 • 5 min read
Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 5/1 to 5/8.
Happenings

Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 5/1 to 5/8.

We scoured 30 disparate community calendars (yes, 30) so you didn’t have to.

  • Lindsey Hull
Lindsey Hull Apr 30, 2024 • 12 min read
Roanoke School Board Appears Receptive To Restricting Student Cell Phone Use
Education

Roanoke School Board Appears Receptive To Restricting Student Cell Phone Use

Superintendent Verletta White said she would convene a working group that will come up with more concrete recommendations.

  • Henri Gendreau
Henri Gendreau Apr 23, 2024 • 3 min read
Roanoke Valley Municipalities Have Room To Grow Tree Canopies, Study Finds
Environment

Roanoke Valley Municipalities Have Room To Grow Tree Canopies, Study Finds

While the city has a goal of a 40 percent tree canopy coverage, a new study estimated Roanoke's tree canopy at 33 percent.

  • Henri Gendreau
Henri Gendreau Apr 23, 2024 • 3 min read
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