Schools and cities from Texas to Georgia are shutting down in anticipation of freezing rain and snow forecast for much of the Southern U.S. The severe weather is expected across a stretch from New Mexico to Alabama starting Wednesday night and early Thursday.

Virginia’s state Capitol and General Assembly buildings are going to be closed Wednesday, effectively postponing lawmakers’ first working day of the legislative session nearly two days after a winter storm shut down Richmond’s water system.

An area stretching from Texas to Tennessee is bracing for the expected arrival of freezing rain and snow, as some other parts of the country that already received an arctic blast this week are preparing to go another round with the plunging polar vortex.

If you need assistance with paying your winter heating bills, there is now an opportunity for you to get that help.

Right now patients may experience long wait times.

Virginia is seeing the largest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases yet with more than 12,000 new infections.

Pfizer plans to submit data to the FDA on a pill that aims to save lives after contracting the coronavirus.

Children aged 5-11 can now get a COVID-19 vaccine after the CDC gave the final approval Tuesday night.

Nearly 2.2 million people nationwide are now eligible to receive COVID booster shots after the CDC authorized extra doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines Thursday night.

As coronavirus cases surge and some kids head back to the classroom, children under 12 could be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine earlier than anticipated.

As the push to vaccinate more Virginians continues, local health leaders are warning of a new variant of COVID-19 believed to spread more quickly.

As state leaders celebrate hitting President Joe Biden’s July 4th goal to get 70% of adults vaccinated, local health leaders say there is still work to be done.

CDC leadership along with other government officials updated COVID-19 prevention measures Thursday including vaccine eligibility and mask guidance.

More people across Virginia are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Health officials are breathing a small sigh of relief as demand for coronavirus vaccinations increase.

Virginia health officials have told providers to immediately resume their use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after federal agencies lifted a pause on the vaccine

Virginia is pausing its distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after a recommendation from the FDA.

As COVID-19 vaccine distribution continues, college students are becoming a big focus.

Despite a shortage of Johnson and Johnson vaccines nationwide, Roanoke Valley will have plenty of vaccines next week. But changes are on the horizon after entering Phase 2.

Some areas across Virginia are making the COVID-19 vaccine available for anyone who is 16 and older.

Some areas across southwest Virginia are making the COVID-19 vaccine available for anyone 16 and up.

COVID-19 vaccination will open to the general population in the Roanoke Valley next week.

The state’s lead COVID-19 vaccine expert says the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is looking at new ways to get people who live in rural areas vaccinated. ROANOKE, Va – The state’s lead COVID-19 vaccine expert says the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is looking at new ways to get people who live in rural areas vaccinated. The move comes after a large influx of people from out of town traveled to Danville this week to use the Community Vaccination Center. Dr. Danny Avula says they are scaling back the number of vaccines at the site because of several challenges for people who live in rural areas. Avula says despite social media posts, little to no vaccine was going to waste at the Danville site.

There are thousands of Virginians, calling themselves “Vaccine Hunters,” who spend countless hours collaborating online to track down and book appointments. Chris DeMay lives in Northern Virginia and is the administrator of the “NoVA Vaccine Hunters” group on Facebook. Members of the group scour pharmacy appointments online and post availabilities for others in the group. A search for ‘Roanoke’ in the groups proved it became a favorite target over the last two months. DeMay said he’s seen people from Roanoke use the site to secure appointments in Richmond and Northern Virginia as well, adding there are appointments available now in our region.

In Virginia, state vaccine coordinator Dr. Danny Avula said the state could hit Biden’s goal earlier. But several governors cautioned it must come with a dramatic increase in vaccine supply. “It could be a delay for people to actually get a vaccine because of the operational constraints," she said. We can’t disappoint people who eagerly want a vaccine,” said Pat Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority. Elsewhere, governors met Biden's goal with enthusiasm.

ROANOKE, Va. – The City of Roanoke is relying on international connections to help Latinos locally during the coronavirus pandemic. One of the biggest issues Latinos face when trying to get vaccinated is asking themselves where should they go. Country consuls will be able to target specific zip codes in the Roanoke area and reach out to their clients to help explain vaccination information to Latino families. “I do want people to know you don’t need to have a driver’s license,” Bradbury said. “You don’t need to give your papers.

The Democratic governor said Virginia has already reached a goal of administering an average of 50,000 vaccine shots a day. “The vaccines are a light at the end of a long tunnel, and that light gets brighter, every day,” Northam said at a news conference. Virginia also plans to hold large vaccination sites that could possibly inoculate several thousand people in a day, Northam said. Curtis Brown, Virginia’s state coordinator for emergency management, said at the same news conference that those cities were chosen following an “equity analysis” that found “vulnerable populations” nearby. Dr. Danny Avula, who is leading Virginia’s vaccination efforts, added that the state still has many people who are hesitant to get vaccinated.

ROANOKE, Va – Virginia’s top vaccine expert said everyone in the commonwealth who wants a COVID-19 vaccine should be able to get their first shot by the end of May. Dr. Danny Avula with the Virginia Department of Health said Virginia continues to get increased amounts of Moderna, Pfizer, and now the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Avula said that by the end of the month, VDH will be getting 500,000 doses of the vaccine a week and 650,000 doses a week by the end of April. “It’s very realistic to say that everybody in 1b, who wants to get vaccinated will be able to do that by the end of April, and everybody across the board who wants to get vaccinated, was able to get their first dose by the end of May,” said Avula. The VDH will also start hosting more large-scale vaccination events starting later this week to distribute the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Despite the weather and delays, a second-dose clinic hosted by the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District saw 98% participation. “The federal government is trying to accelerate shipment,” commented Virginia vaccine coordinator Dr. Danny Avula. “The particular variant that popped up in Southwest Virginia [Thursday] is clearly associated with international travel,” said Dr. Avula. Other good news, Walgreens will start sending doses of the coronavirus vaccine to Virginia locations next week, the pharmacy chain said Friday. Beginning Thursday, Feb. 25, it will receive 480,000 vaccine doses per week from the federal government, officials said in a news release.

ROANOKE, Va – More COVID-19 vaccines are on the way to Virginia, but health leaders say it could still take several weeks to move to the next phase of vaccination. Everyone in Virginia who wants a COVID-19 vaccine will get one, according to Dr. Danny Avula with the Virginia Department of Health“The capacity is there. Starting next week, Virginia will see a 5% increase in doses. Avula says while southwest Virginia health districts may not be getting all the doses they want right now, he is impressed with the rollout. Avula says pharmacies like CVS will also help improve vaccination rates in the state.

VIRGINIA – Virginia’s getting more shots in arms thanks to a new federal partnership between the CDC and pharmacies across the country. CVS plans to distribute 26,000 COVID-19 vaccines in the Commonwealth starting next week. “They’re critical to expanding our capabilities,” said New River Valley Health District Director Dr. Noelle Bissell. But a CVS spokesperson said the company doesn’t have a list of exact stores getting vaccines. Starting Feb. 9, people can start making appointments either online, on the CVS Pharmacy App or by calling CVS customer service at 1-800-746-7287.

State health leaders are reassessing their vaccine roll-out plan in an effort to speed up the process. They’re confident that the delay between first and second doses, combined with increased vaccine production, is enough to cover the difference. Moving forward Dr. Avula believes they’ll be at a more consistent 1 to 1 ratio. But Dr. Avula said while that works in more urban centers, our more rural areas are different. It’s to get vaccine distributed equitably to every area and have the local health districts work with their partners to really drive that strategy,” Dr. Avula said.

That’s the message from one local health director addressing shortfalls and confusion over COVID vaccine distribution. As many health districts move into priority group 1b, Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District Director Dr. Cynthia Morrow said they’re facing roadblocks. [Virginians 65 and older, here’s how you can request a coronavirus vaccine]“We recognize that a lot of people are scared, they’re frustrated. That fear and frustration is understandable and we too are frustrated that we have neither the vaccine supply nor the infrastructure to vaccinate everybody at once,” Morrow said. 10 News took those concerns to Virginia vaccine coordinator Dr. Danny Avula who said that we’re dependent on supply from the federal government.