Epstein Files Demands, Smyth County Child Exploitation Sentence, Roanoke Fatal Crash, AstraZeneca’s VA Mega-Investment

On this Friday edition of WFIR News Express:Senator Mark Warner joins bipartisan calls to unseal the Jeffrey Epstein files, as grassroots pressure builds from within the MAGA movement.A former Smyth County school board vice chair gets 30 years for producing child pornography involving minors—at least 11 victims identified.59-year-old Reginald Campbell is named as the victim in a fatal Roanoke crash that downed power poles and ended in a tree strike.Martinsville’s city manager faces scrutiny over spending as council hires outside auditors amid paid leave and a possible Texas job move.AstraZeneca’s $50 billion U.S. expansion will include its largest-ever drug manufacturing facility—right here in Virginia.Two men face charges in Fauquier County after allegedly shooting down a drone used in a lost dog search.Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific are reportedly in advanced merger talks—a potential shakeup in national freight rail with Roanoke ties.A Salem gym owner encourages parents to carve out quick 15-minute workouts when kids head back to school.A new invasive pest, the box tree moth, has been discovered in Loudoun and Clarke counties—posing a threat to landscaping.Nearly 24,000 syringes safely collected by Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition from Roanoke and West Piedmont as part of public health efforts.Roanoke’s Arts Connect Neighbors program launches with a catalog of creative workshops aimed at strengthening community ties.Carilion Children’s new Rocky Mount clinic officially opens Monday—offering expanded pediatric access for Franklin County families.🎧 Listen now to stay ahead on what’s happening in Southwest and Central Virginia.