Roanoke Murder Sentencing, Virginia GOP Turmoil & Campbell County Eyes Data Center Limits

On this Tuesday, December 2, 2025, WFIR News Express brings you the top stories across Southwest and Central Virginia:• A Roanoke man is sentenced to life in prison for the brutal killing of 80-year-old Susan Williams, a longtime leader of the Local Office on Aging.• Internal frustration grows inside the Virginia GOP, as Loudoun County’s Scott Pio says election losses and outgoing party chair Mark Peake’s leadership failures are pushing the party toward a breaking point.• VMI’s new superintendent, Lt. Gen. David Furness, pledges a “center-line” approach, aiming to restore stability and avoid political controversies that plagued prior leadership.• Holiday shopping boosts small businesses, with Roanoke shops reporting strong Small Business Saturday sales and hopes for continued momentum through December.• Roanoke Police’s iSTAR Unit wins statewide honors, named Virginia’s Crime Analysis Team of the Year, with analyst Brittin Corker also earning New Analyst of the Year.• Campbell County supervisors consider an emergency ordinance to tighten oversight of data centers, requiring special-use permits even on industrial land as residents debate jobs, noise, and tech-sector growth.• Montgomery County School Board weighs major pay raises to fill vacancies in skilled trades and transportation, including salary jumps for HVAC techs, electricians, plumbers, and bus drivers.• Healing Strides launches a benefit auction featuring a Taylor Swift-signed guitar, with proceeds supporting equine-based mental health programs for veterans and first responders.• Friendship Health-Rehab North and South earn Newsweek’s “Best Nursing Homes 2026” recognition, highlighting top-tier care and resident satisfaction.• Berglund Center prepares for its 10th Annual Holiday Craft & Vendor Show, featuring 240+ vendors, free admission, Santa photos, and Toys for Tots donations.🎧 Your fast, reliable daily news update for the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia.