Priest Abuse Allegation, Murder Arrest, George Mason DEI Investigation, Afterschool Funding Uncertainty, & More

On the Friday, July 18, 2025 edition of WFIR News Express, WFIR brings you the latest headlines from across Southwest Virginia and beyond:• A Florida lawsuit accuses a Roanoke-area priest of sexually abusing a child in the early 2000s – though he is not named as a defendant• Roanoke County man charged with second-degree murder after death of his wife on Yellow Mountain Road• U.S. Department of Education investigates George Mason University over possible civil rights violations tied to DEI policies• Senator Tim Kaine pushes for release of federal afterschool funding amid a nationwide pause• Bristol man sentenced to 8 years in meth trafficking case connected to Georgia prison inmate• Virginia State Police now investigating a suspected homicide in Henry County after earlier hit-and-run report• Roanoke's trail system shines nationally as USA Cycling Championships continue through the weekend• Total Action for Progress to celebrate its 60th anniversary this October at the Virginia Museum of Transportation• New “smart vapes” with playable games raise alarm for public health advocates, with concerns about youth targeting• Rabid raccoon found in Botetourt County – second case reported since June• Country music legends Alabama and Exile to perform at Roanoke’s Berglund Center this September