Gov. Spanberger Talks Data Center Tax Balance, Lynchburg Keeps Gunshot Sensors, Martinsville Molotov Cocktail Arrest | Roanoke Valley's Morning News – July 8, 2026
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34 segmentsThis is the Roanoke Valley's morning news with Joey Self on WFIR, Roanoke. Good morning at 705 and 70FIR. Cloudy skies 72 degrees. Storms this afternoon and evening could contribute to localized flooding. No traffic time at the moment. And our top local story this hour, the Commonwealth's governor is saying there are no easy answers when it comes to dealing with a data center issue. We get more with WFIRS, Claude Palmer. The two-year state budget approved by the General Assembly last week will impose a first of its kind consumption tax on data centers in the Commonwealth. That lawmakers say will generate $1.2 billion over the course of the biennium. While crafting the budget, lawmakers clashed over the question of whether or not to eliminate tax breaks for data centers. We're due to sunset by 2035. Governor Abigail Spanberger tells Politico tackling the data center issue can be tricky. What do we tell the localities that get 50% of their local revenue? from data centers sales and use tax and property tax right we have entire communities where the school the libraries the fire station i mean is principally being funded because of the types of investments that are coming to that community and on the affordability side that that means that local property tax is not going up that means that local community members are not bearing that direct front Abigail Spanberger says she wants to come well to lead conversations about data centers and do right by localities and benefit from that. What are the standards that we want to set in Virginia for water usage, for backup energy generation? How can we continue to be a place where we are innovating? And, you know, frankly, we have some of that innovation on the horizon. We have large-scale data centers that have already partnered with our utility to create. you know, on-site SMR technology. Now that's still a couple years off. Abigail Spanberger says a data center company that plans to expand their operation in Virginia and spoke somewhat highly of the consumption tax. Clark Palmer, WFIRE News. Coming up this morning as Star City tears down its audio gunshot sensors, another nearby city is keeping its own. And a multi-platinum rock band coming to downtown Roanoke in the fall. I'm Joey Self. I'm Ian Price. Still ahead. A man is facing felony charges after allegedly telling a state trooper he had explosives and wanted to be arrested. Don't forget your umbrella as you head out today as this afternoon is bringing more scattered storms. Hives today reached the upper 80s and low 90s and we'll start to see some lunchtime rain fire off and continue into the early evening. Now, not everyone will be seeing storms or even rain for that matter, so be sure to stay weather aware today. Thursday brings similar temperatures and fewer rain chances, but spotty afternoon showers are still possible. From WDBJ7, I'm First Alert meteorologist Ava Herrera on WFIR. Right now it's 72 degrees. More news, Annie in Price. Joey, first, more data center coverage as members of Roanoke City Council have approved changes that would provide the highest level of public input.
when it comes to future data centers. During Monday's Renox City Council meeting, members voted unanimously to approve updates that allow data center projects by special exception in certain industrial zones. The updates would allow for the highest amount of public input when it comes to bringing in a potential data center. Prior to the vote, Vice Mayor Terry McGuire says he appreciates City Council laying down what he sees as common sense guardrails. But we are not hearing anything about the horrendous environmental impacts, the air pollution impacts, the horrible, I mean, the insane amount of water consumption that some of these facilities utilize. the effluent that they produce, the wastewater that's highly toxic. Who's going to process that? Or is that going to be a Western Virginia Water Authority responsibility? Are we going to pay for that? I just think there are so many questions about these facilities. And I really feel like they're being crammed and rushed forward. McGuire believes counsel made a mistake when it threw support behind the Google Data Center project planned in Botatoc County. As Roanoke tears down its audio gunshot sensors, the city of Lynchburg is keeping its own controversial surveillance technology active. Lynchburg Police utilized two different systems under the flock safety brand, 55 audio gunshot detectors, like the ones being taken down in Roanoke, and 15 video license plate reading cameras, like the ones still active in Roanoke. Despite mass surveillance fears from residents and some city leaders, the department is keeping the combined network in place. Ward 3 councilman Kurt Dimer says the police chief has refused to meet with concerned officials to discuss the technology. The firm stands in the Hill City is a sharp contrast to Roanoke, where the city manager just ordered the removal of all local gunshot audio sensors this week to rebuild public trust following an administrative error. A long-time veterinarian who sold her practice last year isn't getting out of the pet care business. Instead, she's launching the region's first practice dedicated to pets and their families as the end of life draws near. More on Clarity Vet Counseling from WFIRS, G. Murano. Dr. Carey Turnbull launched Clarity Vet Consulting several months ago. It's a mobile service where she meets with ailing pets and families in their home. It often involves counseling as she talks to them about palliative care that may extend the pet's life, hospice care, and then euthanasia. That's actually a lot of my job is helping talk them through, you know, what they envision as. a good death for their pets, what their goals are as far as do they want more time, all of those aspects of end of life. That entails quality of life assessments, pain management, and compassionate final goodbyes in a less hectic and more friendly environment at home, says Turnbull, the motivation behind clarity vet consulting. I mean, ultimately it's more intimate, and they have a lot more time because my appointments.
especially for like initial intake for palliative hospice can take up to two hours. I mean, I think the maximum time I ever had in a clinic was maybe 20 minutes. So it's really difficult to answer all the questions in that time. As a private practice veterinarian, Turnbull cared for dogs, cats, even pet pigs. See clarity vet consulting.com for more on the end-of-life pet services she now offers. Bernie Moreno, WFIR News. A multi-platinum rock band is coming to downtown Roanoke later this fall. Downtown Roanoke Incorporated announced yesterday that 311 will headline the Budweiser summer series at Elmwood Park on Friday, September 25th. The group, known for its blend of rock, reggae, and funk, will be joined by special guest Beach Weather. Tickets for the outdoor concert go on sale this Friday morning at 10 a.m., advanced general admission priced at $49. Live in the WFIR News Center, I'm Ian Price. 712. On the way, we're going to explain how extreme heat is slowing down train travel to and from Roanoke. And on the way in sports quarterfinals set now for the World Cup soccer tournament. We'll bring up to speed on that. Also a couple of notes. Some milestones records set last night in Major League Baseball. It's on the way in sports. WFIR depend on it. Now, a moment in history to celebrate America's 250 years. I'm Bernie Moreno. The framers of the Constitution knew that holding the original 13 colonies together as the United States meant kicking the slavery question down the road. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln in 1863 shifted the Civil War from a conflict to preserve the nation into a moral crusade to abolish slavery. that all men are created equal. Brought you by Okies. Still family owned and operated for 160 years. The news you count on. Local news when you need it. WFIR. All right today, 50% chance to showers his storms high 89. Right now it's 72. Let's head back over to Ian Price. Joey a Martinsville man is facing felony charges after allegedly telling a state trooper he had explosives and wanted to be arrested. State police say a trooper found 32-year-old Morgan Vincent Chambers, parked in the middle of DuPont Road on Monday. Authorities say Chambers told the officer he had Molotov cocktails on his passenger floorboard and wanted to detonate one. Chambers is being held on felony charges for the manufacturing and possession of fire bombs. Legal advocacy groups throughout Southwest Virginia are preparing for potential policy shifts after a high-stakes federal court battle over automatic citizenship and deportations. The rulings handed down this week create different standards for immigration depending on their specific documentation status.
An anonymous teenager who identified herself only as M says public conversations often overlook the human necessity of these safety programs. We have a reason to be mad because we deserve the TPS deal. It's not something luxurious that we want. It's a need. I just feel like people don't understand that. They just go based off what the people say what the media says. The legal dispute centers on temporary protected status, which was originally granted to countries like El Salvador following severe natural disasters. Trump administration officials have defended efforts to end the program, arguing that automatic birthright citizenship acts as an unattended magnet for unauthorized immigration and strains public resources. Extreme heat is slowing down train travel to and from the Star City. Amtrak passengers faced significant disruptions after soaring temperatures forced trains to reduce speeds to just 25 miles an hour through Roanoke. Railroad operators say the extreme heat causes steel rails to expand. creating a high risk for what conductors call sun kinks, where the tracks can shift or buckle under the weight of a passing train. Some travelers reported delays of nearly two hours and are calling on Amtrak to provide better real-time communication regarding trip impacts and onboard air conditioning status. You're never more than 10 minutes from local news. Mornings here on WFIR. I'm Ian Prey. 716, we go to sports baseball, Carolina League, Salem, be Columbia last night, 14 to 5, Hill City, and Charleston, Rained out, Appalachia League, Elizabethan, H. Pulaski, 12, 11, Major League, Boston, over the White Sox 8-1, the Cubs be the Orioles 5, 2, Tampa Bay, down to Yankees, 6, 4, Houston by Washington 6, 3, Pittsburgh beat at 9 and 12, 4. Now, of note from that game, Pirates First Baseman, Ryan O'Hern, had three home runs. He set a franchise record by driving in 10 runs. Also of note, Colorado over the Dodgers Sporting, and that loss, the Dodgers Shohei Otani hit a home run, his 300th career home run. Sad news is Al-Holland-Native, former Major League Baseball pitcher died over the holiday weekend at the age of 73. Holland starred in three sports at Lucy Addison High School, play college ball at North Carolina A&T. In the big leagues, he pitched for Pittsburgh, the Giants, Phillies, Angels, and Yankees. All-star festivities crank up Monday in Philadelphia with a home run derby. The All-Star game follows Tuesday. NBA Kyle Larry resigning with Toronto is so he can retire as a member of the team. Larry played for the Sixers last season. He played nine years in Toronto. WMBA tonight, Golden State will be in Toronto, Minnesota, Connecticut, Indiana is at Los Angeles. Soccer in the World Cup, Mila Messi. Does it again. He has a goal. His eighth of the tournament. He helps Argentina secure a three-two comeback win over Egypt. Setting up the quarterfinals, which start tomorrow with France against Morocco, Friday, Spain, and Belgium. Saturday England plays Norway, Argentina, Argentina, against Switzerland. Tennis, winners at Wimbledon yesterday. Cocoa Golf, Novak Djokovic, Yonix Center in action today, Taylor Fritz. Recent hockey news from the NHL, with the Washington Capitals, Alex Ovetkin, signs a one-year contract to come back and play another season for the Capitals.
Spencer Carberry head coach in the cab said recently, Obie can still help this hockey team in a very big way. He can still continue to defy odds and be a very productive, good NHL player for the Washington Capitals and help us win a lot of hockey games. Like that's the way that I see it going. That audio from the Washington Capitals and the NHL. And coming up Sunday night, NASCAR's Cup Series in Atlanta. That's sports. WFIR. This is the Roanoke Valley's Morning News with Joey Self on WFIR. Roweanoke. From the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge. This is WFIR, Roanoke.