Major Winter Storm Ahead, Gun Safety Bills Advance, and Roanoke Crime Trends — WFIR News Express 1/22/26

On this Thursday, January 22, 2026 edition of WFIR News Express, all eyes are on a major winter storm expected to impact Southwest and Central Virginia this weekend. State Police are urging drivers to stay off the roads as forecasts call for significant snow, ice, and extreme cold, while hardware stores report a rush on storm supplies. The Berglund Center also announces a schedule change for the Guns and Hoses hockey game due to the weather.At the General Assembly, lawmakers advance multiple public safety and health proposals. Gun violence prevention advocates say new political leadership creates a rare opportunity to strengthen red flag laws and background check requirements. A House subcommittee also advances legislation establishing a right to obtain contraceptives, while senators consider Autumn’s Law, which would criminalize aggravated bullying and require schools to report severe cases to law enforcement.In Roanoke, police arrest a suspect in a deadly shooting beneath the Tazewell Bridge, even as the police chief reports overall violent crime declined in 2025, with fewer gun homicides and a sharp drop in use-of-force incidents.Nationally, a Virginia Tech political scientist explains why President Trump is focusing heavily on foreign policy in his second term, despite domestic economic concerns. And locally, new details emerge about why the Science Museum of Western Virginia’s lease at Center in the Square will not be renewed, citing water usage, costly damage, and differing visions for the future.That’s the latest from WFIR News Express — your source for weather alerts, public safety, and the issues shaping our region.