Job help for Yokohama layoffs, medical cannabis growth, and key General Assembly debates — WFIR News Express 2/3/26

On this Tuesday, February 3, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, we follow up on the planned shutdown of Salem’s longtime Yokohama tire plant, with new help for workers facing layoffs — including free resume and skills services and a job fair this Thursday at the Salem Civic Center.We also look at how medical cannabis suppliers are positioning for Virginia’s future retail marketplace, including expansion plans as companies estimate the potential size of an adult-use market. In Richmond, an area distillery backs legislation that would change how Virginia distilleries can sell certain products at farmers markets, while lawmakers continue the debate over whether the Commonwealth needs a study before repealing the car tax.In Southwest Virginia, Buchanan County considers multi-million-dollar support for the Appalachian School of Law amid a financial crunch. A new housing report highlights how immigrant labor supports construction trades — and what tighter immigration policy could mean for building costs and affordability.We also have a milestone for Traditional Medicinals’ new Franklin County facility, Pulaski County’s first fire marshal now on the job, and an entertainment note as country artist Ella Langley brings her tour to the Salem Civic Center this summer.That’s the latest from WFIR News Express.