Salem veteran imprisoned in Russia, Iran war debate, and Roanoke homelessness response — WFIR News Express 3/19/26

There is some thought that perhaps Israel put pressure on the U.S. to join the military campaign against Iran, which Israel has now expanded to other countries in the region. I don't think there was deception. I don't think it was duping. It was like, this is what we want to do, and we want you to join us. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged multiple presidents of both parties to do this. But American presidents have heard this encouragement and said, wait a minute, what's right for you may not be right for us. And Democratic and Republican presidents before. President Trump, and even President Trump in his first time refused to do it. To date, 13 American service members have been killed in the line of duty since the war with Iran began. A reported several hundred others have been wounded. Gene Marano, WFIR News. The more likely knows are outpacing the probable yes votes on the redistricting referendum. A northern Virginia congressman believes Democrats have to earn votes as WFIR's Clark Palmer reports. Director of the Economic Council Kevin Hassett over the weekend said President Trump has what he needs financially to continue. his ongoing conflict with the rod. Defense Department officials recently told Congress the U.S. spent $11.3 billion in the first six days. During a town hall with Punchbowl News, Northern Virginia Congressman James Walkinshaw said he would be at no vote when the Trump administration asked for additional funding for the conflict. Had the president come to Congress and to the American people and laid out the case for the war in a coherent way that made sense. And if someone like me were to have supported an authorization to go to war, I don't think I would have, but had he convinced me? then I would feel obligated to support a supplemental funding package to pay for it. When it comes to the ongoing partial government shutdown, Walkinshaw says he wants to see the president come to the table and help work through this DHS funding standoff. I do think it is very significant that Democrats, especially over the last two weeks, have put forward legislation in both the Senate and the House to say, look, let's fund everything else at DHS. We can continue to negotiate around ICE and CBP. I think that's a major breakthrough. Democrats have put that on the table. I hope Republicans will accept that before the spring break travel season hits. They should. Walker Shaw says rising gas prices and fallout from the conflict with Iran highlight the need to end this shutdown. Clark Palmer, WFIRE News. 60-year-old Ronald David Robinette of Ridgway was arrested on narcotics charges after Henry County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant early yesterday morning at a home on Acres Road. Deputies found the door is heavily fortified and discovered packages containing fentanyl, digital scales, two stolen firearms, and more than $7,000 in cash inside. Robinette is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and is being held without bond at Henry County Adult Detention Center. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

The new top officials in the Virginia Department of Education that took office when the Abigail Spanberger administration got going are on a listening tour of the Commonwealth, meeting with local school system officials, educators, and parents to address concerns and answer questions they may have. At Northside High School earlier this week, Virginia Superintendent of Public Construction, Jenna Conway, spoke with WDBJ7 about school safety. Just days after an incident in Bedford County where a seven-year-old brought a gun to school. We look at it both in terms of what they call sort of the hard elements of safety, from the security coming in and out of buildings, to the softer elements of does every kid in our system have an adult in their building that they can trust? And how do we strengthen those relationships so that we can know earlier when kids might be at risk? The DOE's listening door continues through April and includes virtual options for those that want to participate online. Roanoke's Hope and Home Task Force is working to address the city's growing homelessness crisis. Since 2019, unsheltered homelessness has increased 467%. and chronic homelessness rose 12.8% last year. A Virginia Tech study found the city needs 4,000 more affordable housing units. The task force recommends creating a central resource hub where people can access services, plus transitional options like tiny homes. Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobbs, this funding will require increasing the tax base and federal support. Next steps include refining recommendations and gathering public input. A Virginia Tech research team recently received FDA approval for a new, minimally invasive kidney stone treatment. WFIR's Emma Thomas has more. Adam Maxwell, a research associate professor in Virginia Tech's Department of Biomedical Engineering, went on the school's curious conversations podcast recently to explain a new method for treating kidney stones that's been nearly a decade in the making. Maxwell says the harmonic ultrasound technique that he and his colleagues pioneered is less invasive and painful for patients. requiring no anesthesia and leaving no bruises on the kidneys, unlike traditional shockwave lithotripsy. He says these advantages mean that the treatment could change the standards of care around kidney stones. If you don't need anesthesia, you can be treated potentially in a doctor's office so you can receive that care sooner. In addition, we think that because it's considerably safer, it may have some role in treating stones that are smaller than five millimeters. That last point is important. he says, because stones under that size are typically treated with a wait-and-see approach, with doctors monitoring them and not acting unless the stone grows. Maxwell says the focus for the harmonic ultrasound technique was on patient comfort and accessibility. We could potentially make a high pressure version of this technology that is considerably more efficient and more effective. But we've really concentrated our efforts on making this more like a first line treatment for stones that you go in and get treated before you need something that's more invasive. Maxwell notes that the treatment is currently about as effective as shockwave lithotripsy. Emma Thomas WFIR News. Salem Fire Station.

on South Market Street received a new fire engine yesterday after a procurement process that took months after a procurement process that took months rather than the typical two to four years fire chief Stephen Simon tells WDBJ 7 The $950,000 engine cost less than competing quotes ranging from $1.1 million to $1.3 million. The purchase is part of Salem's largest ambulance purchase in city history and a broader fleet overhaul. The new engine replaces a nearly 30-year-old rig. Another new truck arrives next week. That's the latest. Check back tomorrow for our next update. Ian Price, WFIR News.