Iran conflict tensions, McAfee Knob upgrades, Roanoke road closures & redistricting vote — WFIR News Express 4/7/26

Speaking of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, the last time he took the shuttle bus up to McAfee Knob parking lot on Route 311 two years ago, it was to celebrate the new pedestrian bridge going up over the busy roadway. Kane was back yesterday to note the next phase of improvements to the knob, as WFIRS G Morana reports. On a congressional recess swing through Southwest Virginia, Tim Kaine made a visit to Weston, Ronal County to talk about the $6.3 million in federal funding. He helped secure for a parking lot expansion and other amenities. You have to have a very big table and a lot of people around the table to both plan, decide what works, strike the right balances, to finance, to implement, and then make sure that... experience is what you hope it will be for all these hikers and all these families who will come through. The parking lot expansion along Route 311 on land purchased from private property owners will bring the number of parking spaces up to around 100. Pete Eschleman with Roanuck outside says regional partners have done a good job promoting and investing in local outdoor amenities. And it worked? So now the question isn't how to attract people. It's how to manage that demand. Because once you see it clearly, projects like this look different. This isn't just a bridge. It's not just a parking lot. It's part of a system, the Appalachian Trail, the regional greenway systems. Together, they create a place that people want to choose to be. Senator Kane, an avid outdoorsman who published a book two years ago about his Virginia Outdoor Adventures, secured that new funding from the National Park Service to improve safety and the visitor experience. That includes a permanent restroom building and a shuttle stop for those coming up to McAfee now from stops in Salem. Bernie Moreno, WFIR News. The city of Roanoke will begin Riverland Road pedestrian improvements and Star Trail parking lot enhancements in mid-April, which include a new sidewalk and pedestrian connection from the Garden City Greenway to the Star Trail, a rebuilt parking area with new paving and enhanced lighting. Construction is expected to continue through the fall, a portion of Riverland Road from 9th Street to Garden City Boulevard. will be closed to through traffic during construction. Garden City resident Whitney Prillman Lynch tells WDBJ7, some of those to be impacted did not get a lot of notice of what could be a 300-day closure along Riverland Road. I'm going that direction to get to interstate to go to client's house. I'm going that direction to, you know, go out to pick my daughter up from work or to take her to work. I'm driving that section every day. So yes, it'll be an inconvenience. The Star Trail parking lot, Wilmerman, closed during construction. Alternative parking for trail users is available at the Roanoke Star and Discovery Center and along the Mill Mountain Spur Road. Roanoke City Council has approved $150,000 to help preserve the Washington Park Caretakers Cottage, a building with significant ties to the city's black history. The resolution amended down from an initial $400,000 request passed at yesterday's meeting. The funding will support stabilization, restoration, and potential adaptive reuse of the structure, possibly including a community-oriented amphitheater space.

The building has stood since the 1840s and served as the centerpiece of Roanoke's first African-American park during the Jim Crow era. Council is working to include the funding as they finalized the city budget. The Roanoke Rambler is a new owner. Rone Oak entrepreneur, Ollie Howie, acquired the online publication with the transaction closing March 30th. Howie, 30 years old. is a managing partner of Mount Auburn Venture Partners and serves on Roanoke's Economic Development Authority. The Harvard graduate said he's committed to preserving local journalism and believes a healthy newspaper helps build a stronger, more connected city. Founder Henry Gendro moved to New York earlier this year after a year's long transition process. Founded in 2021, the Rambler has grown to four journalists and numerous freelance contributors. We'll see about the future of our On the Record with the Roanoke Rambler segment as we have discussions with the new owner. As Virginians keep voting on the congressional redistricting referendum, supporters are making their final case for a yes vote. The amendment would allow a one-time round of mid-decade redistricting before Virginia returns to its usual post-census process in 2030. Supporters say it's a response to Republican-led states that have already redrawn maps to help the GOP. Karen Charles Dongo, campaign manager for Virginians for fair elections, says that is exactly why backers want voters to approve it. This yes vote is about leveling the playing field. It's about playing fair. And you can't have other states doing mid-decade redistricting and for Virginians not to respond because Virginians can't bring a stick to a knife fight. Opponents call the ballot language misleading and argue the amendment would simply help Democrats draw more favorable districts in Virginia. Rural representation in Virginia is projected to shrink following the 2030 census, even as most rural areas in the Commonwealth are experiencing growth. Initial estimates show more Americans are moving to urban and suburban areas, particularly in southern states. But in Virginia, outside of select localities in southwest Virginia, most rural counties are actually growing, some by as much as 8%. State Senator Creed Eads represents a rural district between Charlottesville and Lynchburg. He says rural lawmakers have to work harder. Communities that don't grow are going to lose population. Representation has to shift with population. It just means you have to advocate louder for your issues. When you're in a rural area, you have to make your wins, the wins for people in other parts of the state, too. You've got to make it work for everybody. And you've got to be more active and work harder, I think, if you're a rural legislator.

Census data from last year shows all but a handful of rural Virginia counties have experienced population growth. A little more than a quarter of people in the Commonwealth live in rural areas. Southern states will hold 40% of house seats for the first time in history, driven by rapidly growing cities like Charlotte, Fort Worth, and Miami. Franklin County residents are concerned about proposed changes to the county's zoning ordinance. The 400-page draft includes restrictions on chickens and bees in residential areas, language some fear could attract data centers, and limits on RV living. Board Chair Lori Smith says data centers are already allowed at Summit View Business Park under current rules. Supervisor Dan Quinn is holding a town hall April 15th at Glade Hill Fire Station. Officials emphasize the draft is flexible and encourage residents to provide feedback before a final vote expected in July or August. Covington has lifted its boil water advisory that's been in place since March 26th. The advisory was issued after a water mainline break near CSX Railroad caused a service interruption and loss of water pressure. Water samples collected April 1st and 2nd showed no bacteria. Residents can now safely resume normal tap water use. That's the latest. Check back tomorrow for our next update. Ian Price, WFIR News.