🌱 ROA Receives Additional Funding + RCPS Students Honored at FCCLA

Good morning! Ian here with the Roanoke Daily and a quick dive into what's going on in town.

First, today's weather:

Sun and some clouds.

High: 88 Low: 70.

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Here are the top five stories today in Roanoke:

1. The Roanoke Regional Airport was given $15 million in extra funding from the Infrastructure and Jobs Act that was passed into law in 2021. It was recently presented with a check for that amount by Senator Mark Warner in a small press conference at the airport's main terminal. The additional funding will go towards opening an additional gate and improving the overall experience for travelers as they move through the facility by moving the TSA to a new location. "I’m proud to present $15 million from the infrastructure bill that will go to the Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport. That will mean additional traffic, that’ll mean more flights out of Roanoke. One of the things I’m concerned about is the leakage of traffic down to Charlotte, or even sometimes people, if you’re going cross-country, driving all the way up to Dulles,” Warner said. (WFXR)
2. Roanoke City Police have identified the killer of 16-year-old Jaquice Kearney. On April 26, 2021 Kearney was shot in the vicinity of the 2900 block of Salem Turnpike and died later at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Police say Ta’Juan M. Johnson, 16, of Roanoke, plead guilty to second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of murder in Roanoke Circuit Court. “We commend the actions of the Roanoke Police Department personnel who were involved in this case from the beginning. The loss of such a young life is difficult enough, but it is particularly more tragic when the life is taken by another young person. Thank you to everyone who worked with both diligence and compassion on such a difficult case," a police department Facebook post said. (Roanoke Times)
3. Roanoke Regional Airport officials said airport traffic is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels this year and are dealing with a pilot shortage as a result. Nationwide pilots have been in huge demand for a few years as aging pilots retire and younger people have been slower to pick up where they're leaving off. "We’re almost back at 2019 levels as far as numbers go, it’s just a different type of travel, it’s a leisure travel versus quite so much business travel that we had back in 2019 but it’s coming back. Hopefully the pandemic is subsiding, and we continue to grow, and we get the pilots back in the cockpit," said ROA's executive director Mike Stewart. (WDBJ)
4. Roanoke County High School students Skylar Fitzgerald, Dakota Vaughan and Olivia Bott recently earned gold medals in "Professional Presentation" at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America National Leadership Conference competition held in California at the San Diego Convention Center. Fitzgerald and Vaughan are students of William Byrd while Bott is a student of Glenvar. All three are students at the Burton Center for Arts and Technology. They joined thousands of other FCCLA student members, advisers and guests for the annual event to network with fellow members, attend leadership workshops, take part in competitive events, explore career pathways and learn from industry experts. (Vinton Messenger)
5. Northside High School was recently recognized in its efforts to call attention to teen traffic safety at the Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO) Awards Banquet held on the JMU campus in Harrisonburg. Students from nearby Liberty and Jefferson Forest high schools were also among the 15 award winners. YOVASO honors schools, students, teachers and law enforcement from across Virginia who demonstrate exemplary efforts to encourage safe driving and passenger safety among teenagers. (WSLS)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Free Yoga for the People at the Main Roanoke Public Library (7:30 a.m.)
• The Famous Tuesday Night Beer Ride, starting at Twin Creeks Brewing Co. (5:45 p.m.)
• Line Dancing with Angela & Kamronn at Corned Beef and Co. Bar and Grill (7 p.m.)
• Live music: GOTE at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Check out the playground progress at Lincoln Terrace Elementary School! Thank you to our Operations Team for working hard on this project!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Check out the size difference between these sisters. One has quite a bit of catching up to do! They and their mom have gone out to foster care so that they can all do some growing up." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• The Rescue Mission of Roanoke: "We have so many great things happening this month! Our Back 2 School Blast is coming up and we need your help to get teachers the supplies their kids need!" (The Rescue Mission of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "Before you start cooking, move the grill away from siding, decking and other things that can catch fire." (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)

That's it for today. I'll see you tomorrow!

— 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