Budget talks stall over data centers, Roanoke comes up empty in Richmond, and rabies confirmed in Bedford and Campbell — WFIR News Express 3/12/26
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32 segmentsIt's Thursday, March 12th. I'm Ian Price. Here's our top local story. Virginia lawmakers face a likely special session as budget negotiations stall over data-centered tax exemptions. Senate President pro temp, Louise Lucas, insist on ending the tax exemption in 27, which could generate nearly $1 billion over the biennium. The House spending bill excludes this provision. Currently, data centers, meeting investment, and job requirements are exempt from state sales tax on equipment until 2035. Governor Abigail Spanberger suggested a compromise, a consumption tax based on energy usage, similar to measures in Minnesota and New York. Budget conferees have until today at 5 p.m. to reach agreement, or lawmakers will be called into special session. The legislative session ends Saturday at 5 p.m. High profile Virginia Democrats recently hosted a press conference regarding flyers encouraging black people to vote against mid-decade redistricting. More from WFIR's Clark Palmer. As we previously told you here on WFIR, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, hit officials with the Virginia NAACP recently raised concerns about deceptive mailers they say are being sent to black voters about Virginia's April 21st redistricting referendum. That featured misused imagery from the civil rights. movement and even invoke Jim Crow. During a press conference this week, State Senator Manny Locke said these flyers are deceptive and deeply offensive. As somebody who grew up under voter suppression and had to actually register under a voter suppression guidelines, I mean, I had to register to vote under what was called dual registration when I first registered to vote in Mississippi. So I know what it's like. And for people to now come along and use those same tactics is not only... you know, disingenuous, but also not just misguided, but stupid. House of Delegate Speaker, Don Scott says the situation is harmful for residents who have been impacted by racist voter suppression tactics. I look, folks, when I see people sending mailers using images from the civil rights movement, brave men and women facing down the KKK, people who marched, who bled, who died for the right to vote to try to trick black voters in Virginia. I take that very personally. The civil rights movement is not a problem. Former Republican State Delegate A.C. Cardoza, who is reportedly behind these mailers, says Richmond politicians are ripping apart majority-minority districts in order to increase the white representatives from Northern Virginia. Clark Palmer, W.F. Fire News. Three rabbit animals were confirmed in Bedford and Campbell counties between March 6th and 9th. A raccoon on Cresview Drive in Forest and two skunks on suburban and Bethany roads in Campbell County.
All in contact with dogs, but no known human exposure. Health officials urge residents to vaccinate pets, avoid wild animals, and report all animal bites to local health departments. A mounting body of evidence points at the U.S. military and its air campaign in Iran as being responsible for a Tomahawk cruise missile. The Kilda reported 168 schoolgirls and 14 teachers. A Virginia U.S. Senator with committee assignments that deals with military matters says that a decision made in D.C. may be partially to blame. More from WFIRS G. Murano. Video clips of a tomahawk missile as it dropped into the girls elementary school based at a former military installation in Tehran. And bomb fragments, Iranians claim were pulled from the rubble of that school. Support a charge that the U.S. says is still under investigation. U.S. Senator Tim Keynes has a department created during the first Trump administration to check and double check to make sure American firepower stays away from civilian targets, in particular women and children, has been drastically downsized. Pete Hegseth about a year ago, announced that he was going to try to shut this mission down, even though Congress had mandated it. While he hasn't completely shut it down, he's reduced the size of the office from more than 200 down to fewer than 40. Kane says during Armed Services Committee hearings, talk often comes up about... reducing civilian risks in time of war. Kane also noted the recent statement from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about a desire to, quote, get rid of the stupid rules of engagement. In wartime. It caused my antenna to go up because it's the rules of engagement. And I've looked at targeting criteria in other military actions, where in the rules of engagement, it makes very clear, minimize civilian risk. Don't hit targets unless there is near certainty that there are no women and children in the targets. This is in other military actions. Multiple outwards report that outdated targeting data may have resulted in the mistaken missile strike. President Trump has asserted that Iran could be to blame, but the U.S. is the only country. believed to be using tomahawk missiles in the Iran conflict. Bernie Moreno, WFIR News. A run-oak woman was sentenced to eight years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $1.8 million in restitution for orchestrating a COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. 32-year-old Jamaica Michelle Austin pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Between June and December of 2020, Austin recruited people via social media to apply for fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans, submitting more than 100 applications for ineligible applicants. Austin helped steal nearly $2 million in fraudulent PPP loans, using proceeds for luxury shopping, vacations to Miami and Puerto Rico, and purchasing a Charlotte home for $70,000 down. She was indicted in 2024 alongside 23 others.
Roanoke's request list for Richmond came back with a goose egg this year. City leaders had hoped a Democratic-controlled General Assembly might help land money for local priorities, but none of the city's request made the cut, including $40 million for an airport terminal renovation, $10 million for an Amtrak station, and $7 million died to airport expansion and an economic study. Vice Mayor Terry McGuire told the runner-Grambler. He was especially surprised the airport funding did not come through, though he said he understands the fiscal reality facing the state. Renek Rimbler editor, Todd Jackson, says council was told Richmond is being cautious. For things like the airport and a downtown study to look at things such as the Burglings Center Entertainment District Casino and the Center in the Square situation with the upcoming departure of the Science Museum and vacant space as well as that proposal to put a fair swell on the roof. But that didn't come through. And what counsel's been told is the... General Assembly's taken a really cautious approach due to all the federal policies and the costs that come back to the state on things like Medicare and Medicaid. Mayor Joe Cobb told the Rambler that with no state dollars coming, private investment may be the key to advancing some of Roanoke's bigger ideas. Rono College has been granted $274,000 in federal funding for Explore at RC. It's innovative dual enrollment lab schools serving high school students across the region. College officials say it will allow explore at RC's mission to expand opportunities for Virginia students by enabling them to take free career-oriented classes that build critical skills and prepare them for success in college and beyond. Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport is again asking the public for food donations and other necessities for their care cupboard that will benefit TSA employees who continue to work at the airport during the government shutdown without a paycheck. The cupboard was established during the shutdown that happened in the fall. Alexa Briel, spokeswoman for the airport, says operations at the airport have been running smoothly thanks to the TSA agents who continued to show up. It really brought us closer together. I think we had over 500 visits during the fall, and I think that shut down was something like over 40 days. And we got to know these folks, and they're really our peers and our colleagues and our neighbors and friends. And the community had a tremendous support for this initiative too. dropping off lots of donations. So we're hoping to see that again. Donations can be made at the care cupboard across from Door 4. Let the parking team next door know why you were there. A new study out of Virginia Tech highlights a quiet economic engine chugging away in Southwest Virginia. WFIR's Emma Thomas has more. The Virginia Creeper Trail is a railway-turned recreational trail stretching 35 miles and connecting Damascus to Abingdon and Whitetop. Dylan Andrews, an economic development specialist with Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement, says a recent report from Virginia highlights the area as an economic cornerstone for Southwest Virginia. Generated anywhere between $61 to $85 million in economic activity in the region, which supported well over 2,000 outdoor tourism jobs.
numbers aren't surprising when you consider the number of travelers who take to the trail each year. Places like Avington, Damascus, and White Top, they are seeing, you know, over 100,000 to 150,000 visitors come visit them every year. When Hurricane Helene hit the area in 2024, it destroyed half of the trail, crippling local businesses nearby. Andrew says rebuilding efforts remain in progress, and while there is no estimated completion date at present, residents have hoped that as they continue to rebuild, they can use the data from tech study to plan for an even strong stronger economic future. Emma Thomas, WFIR News. Declining attendance roles overall in Bedford County, a 100-year-old school that's now operating at less than half capacity, and higher cost to run the school system is in part due to inflation, has led to the possible decision to close Stewardsville Elementary School. It's been mentioned as one option for several years, and tonight the Bedford County School Board could vote to make that happen. Amanda Bryan is PTA President at Goodview Elementary School. She spoke with us before a parents meeting earlier this week. These decisions that the school board has to make are hard. I understand that there's a budget shortfall that they have to make up for. We're not unaware. All of us parents are grownups here. We know what it means to need to spend more money than you have. Closing Stewardsville Elementary at the start of next academic year would also involve moving fifth graders to Stanton River Middle School, with eighth graders there, then moving to Stanton River High School. Fancy designer handbags are up for grabs during the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Virginia Handbag Hullabaloo, a fundraiser being held at the Vinton Moose Lodge tonight. Meredith Burrow is corporate philanthropy coordinator for the local Ronald McDonald House, which offers low-cost overnight accommodations to out-of-town families that are here because a child is undergoing medical treatment at a Roanoke Hospital. Ticket holders will get a small booklet when they arrive. It's shaped like a purse, and it has like words in it, like lipstick, perfume, and they call out the words. And as the card gets filled up, once the card is full, they yell hullaboo, and they can win a designer purse. That includes Coach, Michael Coors, and Louis Vuitton. Burrough says tickets are almost gone. See the Ron McDonald House Charities of Southwest Virginia for more. The handbag hullabaloo will also include a silent auction, raffles, food, and beverages. Congress has recommended Colonel John Ripley, a Radford native, for the posthumous Medal of Honor. Ripley destroyed the Dong Ha Bridge during the Vietnam War by rigging it with hundreds of pounds of explosives to prevent enemy forces from crossing. Ripley died in 2008. Radford honors his memory with a park marker and a bridge named after him at Radford University. That's the latest. Check back tomorrow for our next update. Ian Price, WFIR News.