🌱 City Council Candidate Online Forum + Foster Care Staffing Shortage

Hello! It's me, Ian, host of the Roanoke Daily. Let's get this Tuesday started off right, with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

First, today's weather:

Hot with an increasing chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. So, a typical Virginia summer day.

High: 98 Low: 75.

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Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. Some record high temperatures are set to be equaled or surpassed in Roanoke this week. Our area is on tap for a temperatures in the high 90s most days with the records for this date range being between 95 and 98 and set in the 1920s and 50s. The responsible culprit is a high pressure system normally called a "heat dome" that will be developing throughout the southeast part of the nation. The location of the high pressure system increases the chance for thunderstorms. (Roanoke Times)
2. The four candidates presently vying for the Democratic nomination for Roanoke's City Council are set to speak during an online forum later this week. The event will be held on Thursday at 8 p.m. The primary election is on Tuesday, June 21. WFIR News Talk 960 anchor and director Ian Price will be the moderator and said he plans to ask questions about School Resource Officers and the state of the current structure of City Council. (Roanoke Times)
3. Roanoke area foster care agencies, like many other industries nationwide, are experiencing a staffing shortage and many are unable to fill their needs due to serious delays in the state's processing of new employee paperwork such as background checks. "I have employees that are waiting to get started and their background checks are still not back and it’s right now six weeks," said Natalie Elliott Handy, the CEO of Intercept Health. State officials have said they are in the process of modernizing their systems, but in the meantime foster care operators say they have children sleeping in public buildings because there is no place else for them to go. (WSLS)
4. A recent graduate shared a story about her goal to positively impact lives as she looks forward to college. Janae Jones graduated Friday from William Fleming High School in Roanoke City. She said she persevered through the many hardships, including the deaths of her mother and three school peers, to get to that moment. She plans to attend Virginia Commonwealth University and major in math, a subject that became her favorite because of the efforts of great teachers. (Roanoke Times)
5. A new Farm Trail kicked off in Floyd County Sunday morning and allowed people to visit area farms where local foods are cultivated. Organizers of the event said they hope to hold at least one trail a year to show people up close how the foods they eat are made. "It was inspirational to see people go to the bush, go to the plants for their food and their medicine,” said Farm owner Ed Skopal. (WDBJ)

Today in Roanoke:

• Virginia's Blue Ridge Series Presented By Ridge View Bank: State of Retail (7:30 a.m.)
• The Famous Tuesday Night Beer Ride, starting at Twin Creeks Brewing Co. (5:45 p.m.)
• Fleet Feet Pub Run & Walk at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6 p.m.)
• School Board Meeting - Roanoke School District (6:30 p.m.)
• Dance Artist Talk I: Demetia Hopkins (8 p.m.)
• GOTE at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke City Public Schools said, "A rainbow appeared over Fallon Park Elementary, just as 5th grade graduation began last week! Thank you to the parent who sent us this incredible photo." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA said, "Temperatures are supposed to be HOT this week! 🥵 Many of the dogs in our shelter enjoy pool time during the summer months, and Darma is no exception! Pools allow dogs to play, cool off, and have tons of fun!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Market Building said, "Summertime means Bayou Snowball time!" (Roanoke City Market Building via Facebook)
• Virginia Museum of Transportation said, "Schools out for summer!! Want a way to celebrate?! Join us at VMT for the first ever Movie at the Museum! Museum admission is only $5. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the movie "Night at the Museum" will start at 6 p.m." (Virginia Museum of Transportation via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!

— Ian

About me: Ian Graham is a novelist, screenwriter, and freelance contributing writer. His interests are in politics, history, and religion and the stories and characters he writes about are centered on the explosive conflicts created when the three intersect. He is a firm believer in being yourself… unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Roanoke Daily? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com