ICE Arrests, Youngkin’s Final Address, Fed Showdown, and a Catawba Comeback — WFIR News Express 1-15-26

On this Thursday, January 15, 2026, WFIR News Express begins in Petersburg, where federal immigration agents made arrests near the downtown bus station in a highly visible operation that sparked community concern after video went viral.In Richmond, Governor Glenn Youngkin delivers his final State of the Commonwealth Address, calling Virginia a “winning state,” highlighting record business investment, and warning lawmakers against changes to the state’s Right-to-Work law. Lawmakers also roll out the Affordable Medicine Act, which would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board aimed at extending Medicare-negotiated drug prices to hundreds of thousands of Virginians not on Medicare.In Martinsville, a bitter political feud unfolds as a city councilman accuses the mayor of financial misconduct tied to the firing of the former city manager, with both sides now facing threats and a court hearing set for next week.At the national level, a Justice Department investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell draws criticism, with Senator Mark Warner warning the probe may be an attempt to pressure or remove Powell over interest-rate policy.In Central Virginia, a Data Center Summit in Lynchburg tries to address growing debate over proposed facilities in rural counties, while in Catawba, the legendary Homeplace Restaurant is set to reopen under new ownership with a focus on community and employment for people with special needs.We also cover a new TSA rule requiring travelers without a Real ID to pay a $45 ConfirmID fee, and a major eight-story apartment development now under construction in downtown Blacksburg.That’s the latest from WFIR News Express — your trusted source for local, state, and national headlines.