Stewartsville Elementary to close, iGaming concerns grow, assault firearms ban sparks sales surge, and Roanoke events ramp up — WFIR News Express 3/13/26

Claude Palmer, WFIRE News. Virginia lawmakers are negotiating two key data center bills before Saturday's adjournment. SB 94 would require industrial zone siting and assess noise, water, and environmental impacts for facilities using 100 plus megawatts. SB 553 would mandate public disclosure of data center water usage. Both pass their respective chambers but differ in details, requiring conference committees to resolve differences. Governor Abigail Spanberger awaits the final versions. A runo gun shop is experiencing a massive sales surge as Virginia's assault firearms ban awaits the governor's signature. Mitchell Tyler, co-owner of Safe Side Tactical, reports the daily firearms sales are eight to ten times higher than before the legislative session. Many of the most popular firearms that are commonly in use in Virginia are becoming unavailable, Tyler said. The bill would make selling or transferring semi-automatic guns a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine, effective July 1st. Senator Bill Stanley opposed the bill, arguing it penalizes lawful owners. Senator Saddam Islam Salim based the bill in a 1994 federal ban. U.S. Senator Mark Warner calls the legislation he helped author a landmark, the Bipartisan Road to Housing Act, which has cleared the Senate. It contains more than 40 housing provisions to build more homes and bring down cost, as WFIRS G. Morano explains. Mark Warner has some skin in the game on the Road Act. It includes legislation that I wrote that would make it easier for more houses to be built in America. We have an enormous housing crisis. We have cost of housing going up. dramatically. You know, the average age for a first-time home buyer in America is 41. That's incredibly bad. This bill is all about supply. It is very bipartisan. It was overwhelmingly passed in the Senate. It includes provisions to make it easier to get through the regulatory process. Another provision would prevent large institutional investors from purchasing certain single-family homes. The Homes are for People, not Corporations Act. A bill in there called the Reside Act that makes it easier to take abandoned buildings or old strip malls and turn them into housing. It increases the ability in banks to support community development housing. It's not going to solve the problem, but it's the first positive step that's truly bipartisan that we've done on housing, I would argue, in more than a decade. One clause would allow for more manufactured housing to be used by updating a federal definition that will allow that type of housing to meet more zoning guidelines. The bottom line says, Warner, we need to build more houses that bring artificially high cost down due to a lack of inventory. The House must vote on this version of the bill and could make some changes. Bernie Moreno, WFIR News. Henry County Sheriff's Office arrested 38-year-old, Jamie Randolph Foley of Collinsville.

following a narcotics search warrant execution. Foley faces charges for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Investiator seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, suspected heroin, pills, suboxone strips, and $1,9.89 on Wednesday. This marks Foley's third narcotics arrest. He was out on two drug-related bonds and has a Florida probation violation warrant. 23-year-old William James Smith was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the January 22 death of his two-month-old daughter, Brianna Smith in Lynchburg. Smith received 40 years, 10 suspended for felony murder, and 10 years, 5 suspended for felony child abuse, maximum sentences for both charges. Autopsy revealed 18 fractured ribs, skull, and leg fractures, and blunt force injuries to internal organs. Dr. Pepper Park at the Bridges normally kicks off its season in late April, but this year the outdoor music and special events venue will debut on Saturday with the Green Envy St. Paddy's Day party. Dr. Pepper Park president, Wainette Anderson. Said live in studio yesterday that she's had request in the past to hold a St. Paddy's Day event there. We're going to have a lot of Irish food, snacky food, and sweets and all kinds of great things at the event. Just kind of a laid-back, chill vibe. And we've got 2.3 acres, of course, so you can bring your chair. Super easy to park. The event, of course, is from 12 until 6. Kids, 12 and under are free. Adults are $5 in advance and $8 at the gate. We have $5 shake and the Jared Stout Band, two local favorites. Dr. Pepper Park will also host a comedy series this year, a number of tribute bands, and the return of Roanoke Winfest this fall. St. Paddy's Day partiers this Saturday at Dr. Pepper Park are encouraged to wear green. Here that complete conversation with Annette Anderson on our website or watch it on Facebook. All the dates aren't filled in yet, but the monthly five points outdoor concert series at the Dog Bowl will debut in 2026 with Chatham County Line on May 2nd. That's the outdoor music venue next to Black Dog Salvage. Same as it ever was, a Talking Hedge tribute band is up next on June 6th. Later this year, the monthly Dog Bowl concerts include the Steep Canyon Rangers and Sky Dog, an Alman Brothers band tribute. Eating fish for Lent, especially on Friday, is a time-honored tradition for many of the Christian-based faith. To that end, Taziki's Mediterranean restaurant on Franklin Road in Roanoke has brought back a grilled fish meal with a side salad for Lent, which ends this year on April 4th, Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.

Shana Pleasance is the General Mandra at Taziki's Roanoke location. We don't do this all the time. We do it once a year that we bring our fish back. Usually kind of going towards into spring for Lent. It is a hit. Everybody loves our grilled fish. Everybody loves the fish. The blackening seasoning that we use for our tilapia is absolutely wonderful. And we make our homemade caper dill sauce. It is so good. Pleasance says the community response has been good since Taziki's opened its doors eight months ago next to First Watch in the Kay Ivey Market Center. That's where Earth Fair and Mellow Mushroom are as well. That's the latest. Check back on Monday for our next update. Ian Price, WFIR News.