Government and Politics - The Roanoke Rambler (Page 13)

Activism Around Evans Spring Develops As Roanoke Nears Pick For Master Plan Consultant

Since Roanoke City Council voted to pay for a development master plan, a small group of activists has been strategizing.

Politics

As Roanoke City Council Races Heat Up, Democrats and Republicans Turn to PAC Money

The use of PACs shows how closely candidates are running as party tickets in a race that will determine a majority of the City Council makeup.

Politics

Robert Jeffrey Was Convicted and Sentenced to Prison. Now He's Suing To Get His Seat Back on Roanoke City Council.

Robert Jeffrey Jr. is asking a judge to toss out a November special election to fill his seat and force City Council to reinstate him.

Education

Roanoke Schools Headquarters Should Be Named For Black Educator Who Blazed Public Service Trail, Civic Leaders Say

Some residents say the name of Roanoke native William Robertson should grace the school district's new administration building.

Policing

City Seeks Analysis of Roanoke Police Department As Agency Faces Staff Shortage, Lawsuits

Roanoke's police department seeks to be "more responsive and nimble," the city manager said.

Transportation

Roanoke Gives Green Light To Seek Funding for Williamson Road Traffic Reconfiguration

Plans to change the four-lane stretch to two car lanes, a center turn lane and bike lanes have garnered mixed reactions.

City Hall

Roanoke City Council Created An Equity Advisory Board Two Years Ago. Here's What It's Been Up To.

Roanoke City’s panel on equity emerged in 2020 amid a nationwide reckoning over racism.

Housing

Roanoke Housing Commissioners Hear How They Could Enhance, Expand Affordable Housing Units

“So your recommendation is, essentially, ‘Do this as quickly as you can,’” the commission's chairman told a consultant.

Politics

Scope of Blame Widens in Volosin Campaign's Use of Sample Ballots During Roanoke City Council Primary, Complaints Say

Family of Peter Volosin and Vivian Sanchez-Jones passed out sample ballots, complaint filed by losing candidate alleges.

City Hall

Roanoke Parks Nonprofit Seeks To Raise Funds That City Can’t

Through private philanthropy, the Roanoke Parks Foundation is intended to enhance the city’s parks, centers and trails.

Education

Roanoke School Board Welcomes SROs In Every School, Punts On Student ID Badge In Approving $1.7 Million Safety Package

As part of safety improvements, the district would also add counselors and establish a 24/7 safety tip line.

Education

Artificial Intelligence, Clear Bags, Counselors Among Roanoke City Schools' Ideas To Keep Kids Safe

Roanoke's school board is weighing how to spend more than half a million dollars to improve safety for 13,000 students.

Politics

Among The Contenders For Roanoke City Council: Three Openly Gay Men.

If Democrats sweep the general election, Roanoke's city council would have the most gay members among any single Virginia locality.

Politics

Cobb, Sanchez-Jones and Volosin Picked As Roanoke's Democratic City Council Nominees — But Not Before A Rare Party Rebuke.

The trio will make up the Democratic ticket for four-year City Council seats in the Nov. 8 general election.

Transportation

Williamson Road Is Roanoke's Deadliest For Pedestrians. A New Project Seeks To Fix That.

A proposal for the Northeast Roanoke corridor would add bike lanes and convert four traffic lanes to two with a center turn lane.

Politics

Roanoke Voter Registrar Filed Police Report Over Vandalism, Harassment As Primaries Loom

Campaign signs were damaged and passing drivers have been harassing election staff and would-be voters.

Policing

Roanoke Police Lose Top Leaders As Department Faces Lawsuits Alleging Discrimination, Retaliation

It's not clear whether the litigation played any role in the recent departures of the department's two deputy chiefs.

Development

City Takes Another Look At Development of Northwest Roanoke's Evans Spring Area

City Council stressed no specific plans exist for Evans Spring, where a controversial development proposal fell through in 2020.