Roanoke City faces what the city manager calls a “very tight budget year” and says tough choices will have to be made.

A batch of puppies was dropped off at the Regional Center for Animal Care & Protection late on Sunday night, and the center is now asking for the owner to come forward.

Multiple public schools in Roanoke City are closing early due to power outages that do not have an estimated restoration time.

A nearly century-old building in Roanoke, known to many as the former main office of Roanoke City Public Schools, is set to undergo a major transformation. The site, however, holds deeper significance for the community as it originally served as an all-Black high school built in 1928. Roanoke City Public Schools held a ceremony Friday to commemorate its historical importance and celebrate its future as a Community Empowerment Center.

Budget conversations continue between Roanoke City and Roanoke City Public Schools.

With massive layoffs at the Department of Education, many are left wondering about the impact on local schools.

Children in Roanoke are celebrating the magic of reading with blankets, PJs, and book characters.

A Roanoke City mother says bullying led to her daughter being hospitalized, and she worries not enough is being done to protect her.

Roanoke City schools are facing a $9 million budget shortfall, prompting concerns from officials and parents about the impact on education funding and city operations.

Discussions for Roanoke’s fiscal year 2026 budget are underway, with school funding emerging as a major point of debate.

Roanoke City high schools have a problem with overcrowding, and during a joint meeting between the Roanoke City School Board and the City Council, they plan on tackling this issue.

Roanoke City high schools have a problem with overcrowding, and during a joint meeting between the Roanoke City School Board and the City Council, they plan on tackling this issue.

The Roanoke region is facing a surge in potholes due to an active winter marked by frequent snowstorms and fluctuating temperatures. Morgan Dean, a spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic, highlighted the impact of these weather conditions on roadways, noting that the cycles of freezing and melting have significantly damaged the infrastructure.

The VSP has issued a “Missing Person with Autism Alert” on behalf of the Roanoke City Police Tuesday night.

Trinity United Methodist Church in Southwest Roanoke is being transformed into affordable apartments for seniors.

With sunshine helping to melt much of the ice on the roads, conditions have been improving across the area. However, a new challenge has emerged—fallen trees.

During Black History Month, gentrification in Roanoke City is the topic of a series of panel discussions every Thursday.

A new affordable housing project in Roanoke is moving forward.

A new affordable housing project called The Roanoke Gateway Project is coming to Southwest Roanoke.

Feb. 7 is National Wear Red Day, a day to raise awareness for cardiovascular disease—the number one killer of women in the U.S.

Roanoke City Public Schools have made significant strides in addressing their transportation challenges. After experiencing initial setbacks, the district is now successfully ensuring students arrive at school on time.

The Berglund Center is excited to announce that the Grammy-winning rock band Train will perform live at Elmwood Park in Roanoke, Virginia, on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025.

A group of Virginia Tech students wrapped up the university’s MLK week in Roanoke, learning about the city’s black history and performing community service.

Hidden Valley Middle School experienced two days of swatting incidents, according to the school’s website.

The Least of These Ministry, also known as TLOT, is seeing an increase in the number of people it serves, and it could use your help.

No Hungry Kid is helping expand access even further into 2025 with new school nutrition grants. RCPS, Montogomery Co. Public Schools and SCPS were awarded money as part of that expansion.

Roanoke’s 911 Center is stepping into the future with the launch of its new Next Generation 911 (NG911) system, a cutting-edge digital network that’s transforming the way emergency calls are handled.

The Town of Vinton, and Roanoke and Botetourt Counties want to make their roads safer with an initiative called Safe Streets and Roads for All.

Two rezoning plans in Roanoke City are moving forward, the developments in Riverdale and the foundry aim to rezone land to urban center districts for community use.

A Roanoke man made a court appearance on Thursday following his indictment for an October 2022 bank robbery, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia said.

As the region deals with the aftermath of the recent winter storm, icy conditions continue to make travel challenging. While main roads are typically prioritized for snow removal, many back roads and parking lots remain neglected, with crews still working around the clock to make roads safe and bring conditions back to normal.

Thousands of people are still in the dark Tuesday morning due to a wintry weather mix that has hit a large portion of Central and Southwest Virginia.

As winter weather approaches, schools in our region are taking steps to ensure the safety of students and staff.

Roanoke City is speaking on winter weather preparations for the coming weekend.

Progress has been made in the Star City to ensure that prepared food and beverage taxes are collected and properly paid to the city.

Schools are adopting diverse disciplinary strategies for student cell phone use, focusing on compliance and personal development.

Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts is warning the public about three cases of rabies reported in our region.

Mayoral Candidate David Bowers has requested a recount in the 2024 Roanoke City Mayoral Election.

Roanoke City schools are celebrating an exciting future. Their new administration building, the Booker T. Washington Community Empowerment and Education Center, will officially open in July.

Provisional ballot count shows Joe Cobb with a small lead for Roanoke Mayor.

Roanoke City firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a building in the 1800 block of Blue Hills Circle Northeast.

In Roanoke's mayoral race, David Bowers claims victory with a 19-vote lead over Joe Cobb, who awaits the counting of provisional and absentee ballots before conceding.

Nick Hagen will be first Republican on Roanoke City Council since 2000.

The winning candidate in the race for Roanoke City Mayor is separated by 19 votes.

Vice-Mayor Joe Cobb discussed his campaign for the Roanoke City mayoral race Saturday

Roanoke College released its poll for the upcoming races in the Star City Wednesday.

Roanoke College has released its poll for the upcoming races in the Star City.

Roanoke City Police Chief Scott Booth took questions from the community Monday afternoon.

Former Mayor David Bowers discussed his campaign for the Roanoke City mayoral race Sunday

Efforts are underway to support businesses in tax compliance

The Virginia Community College System had leaders in the Skilled Trades come together early Tuesday.

Roanoke City is brewing up something special in a part of Southwest.

Roanoke City’s faith community is coming together to put an end to gun violence. The first public event for the new group “Roanoke Justice Ministries” was held on Sunday.

Stephanie Moon-Reynolds joins us to discuss her Roanoke City mayoral campaign.

Candidates discuss Roanoke’s future at forum

If you’re in the dark Friday afternoon, you’re not alone!

Emergency leaders say that the National Guard has staged two helicopters in Roanoke ready to respond as Helene is in our area.

Roanoke City prepares for Hurricane Helene with swift water rescue teams, advanced stormwater monitoring, and coordinated emergency management efforts, urging residents to stay home and stay safe.

Officers who shot and killed a man in Roanoke this June have been officially cleared.

Local police departments are using new tools to help them find criminals.

The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts are telling people to roll in, roll up and roll out.

Pedro Szalay's Dance Español program enriches Roanoke fourth graders by combining dance education with Spanish language lessons.

Friday marks the start of a busy election season, as early voting began across Virginia.

A Roanoke City School teacher was arrested on Wednesday following an online undercover chat operation that the Investigations Division of the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office conducted with whom they suspected to be a sexual predator.

A recent increase in rabies cases in the Roanoke Valley has local veterinarians and health officials on high alert.

Early voting in Roanoke City starts Friday, allowing residents to vote without needing an excuse, aiming to reduce election day lines and increase convenience.

We are just a couple of weeks away from the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce’s Mayoral Candidate Forum which is taking place on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

A Roanoke City man has been arrested and charged with three felonies after what the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is calling a “consensual encounter” at a business in the Boones Mill area.

A hot-button issue that could provide more housing is back in the spotlight.

Kai Lansana was sentenced to life in prison in Roanoke City Circuit Court today stemming from his involvement in the murder of 24-year-old Salonya Evans in Roanoke in 2019, according to RPD.

The Meals on Wheels program is facing cuts as pandemic-related federal funding ends on Sept. 30.

A juvenile was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after sprinting into a roadway and getting hit by a vehicle, according to the Roanoke Police Department.

Drug addiction is a continuing problem across the nation and in our area, but Roanoke has seen some progress.

Today a Roanoke City tattoo shop is offering flash tattoos of pets and giving a large portion of the proceeds to the Roanoke Valley SPCA.

A love for our pets is permanent, but how about putting it in ink? And to make it better helping out local shelter pets.

Council members heard the proposal to address overcrowding during a joint meeting with the Roanoke City School Board. Leaders will spend the next few months studying the issue further.

Strong storms left thousands without power. Crews worked into the evening to restore power.

A health alert has been issued by Roanoke City and Alleghany Health districts notifying residents that a rabid raccoon has been found near Main Street in the Glen Wilton area of Northern Botetourt County, we’re told.

Roanoke families faced significant transportation issues on the first day of school, with late buses and unreliable app updates causing confusion and concern.

Educators are finding a lot to be happy about with the latest Virginia SOL or Standards of Learning exam scores. The test scores are up, and the rate of absenteeism is down, according to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office.

Roanoke City Public Schools students are kicking off their first week of school, and the new year is bringing new changes.

Roanoke City Schools are making sure their students are heading into the classroom with everything they need to succeed.

Roanoke City schools are addressing the challenges faced by over 600 homeless students by providing essential support and stability.

A local mortgage company is pitching in to help Roanoke City Schools.

After dealing with flooding, fallen trees and power outages, the Debby downpour is now over.

The Star City is using grants from FEMA to acquire and demolish properties in areas prone to flooding.

National Night Out will be taking place across the country on Tuesday.

The city is committing to zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2035.

It’s back to school here at WSLS! And with back to school comes the cute back-to-school pictures we all know and love: Backpacks and smiles waiting for the bus. But did you know some back-to-school pictures can put your child’s privacy at risk?

It’s the last day to donate school supplies to students in need during our Load the Bus Event.

VIrginia Western offered up to two free week long camps per student to rising 10-11-12th graders in Roanoke City schools.

WSLS is partnering with Roanoke City, Salem City, Roanoke County, and Craig County Public Schools for Walmart’s Load the Bus program during tax-free weekend.

A man is behind bars after investigators say he set several fires downtown, damaging three vehicles.

If you’ve noticed deer in your yard eating all of your favorite plants and flowers, you’re not alone. Roanoke City said it’s received several complaints from residents already this year.

Many lawmakers have called on President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. However, what would happen if he drops out?

Roanoke County’s 911 system is now back up and running, according to county officials.

Governor Youngkin's executive order to create cell phone and social media-free schools has sparked widespread debate among parents, educators, and officials over balancing technology use and distraction-free learning environments.

One of the first Black-owned medical practices in Southwest Virginia is being recognized.

First responders are warning people from setting off their own fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Roanoke City is offering a range of free family activities this summer, including the Freedom Festival and daily pop-up recreation at Washington Park.