Roanoke Opportunity Zone Push, Greensky Bluegrass at FloydFest, Dominion Merger Review | Roanoke Valley's Morning News — July 22, 2026

Miss the morning broadcast? Catch up on the top stories impacting the Roanoke Valley and the Commonwealth of Virginia for Wednesday, July 22, 2026.In this episode of Roanoke Valley’s Morning News, hosts Joey Self and Ian Price cover Roanoke City’s upcoming legislative agenda priorities, major lineup changes for FloydFest, and growing roadside safety concerns surrounding local license plate reader cameras across Virginia.Roanoke Legislative Agenda Hearing: Roanoke City Council began drafting its 2027 legislative wish list, where Mountain View Neighborhood Association President Alicia Grubb advocated for Opportunity Zone designation for Mountain View and Hurt Park to spur investment, while community members also called for stronger tenant protection laws against unsafe housing and retaliatory evictions.Greensky Bluegrass Replaces FloydFest Headliner: Organizers announced Greensky Bluegrass will replace Friday night headliner Tedeschi Trucks Band at FloydFest following Susan Tedeschi's emergency appendix surgery, with ticket rollover options available for single-day pass holders.Roadside Camera Safety Concerns: Road safety advocate Steve Eimers warns that many Flock license plate reader cameras across Virginia are mounted on rigid posts lacking breakaway safety mechanisms, though Flock Safety maintains it utilizes certified breakaway poles where required.Healthcare Coverage Rally: The "Protect Our Care Virginia" advocacy group launched a new campaign calling on Congress to restore healthcare funding, with Representative Don Beyer noting that 100,000 Virginians lost ACA plans following federal law changes last year.Special Session Request for Dominion Merger: State Senator David Suetterlein and Delegate Joe McNamara are calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger to convene a special legislative session to extend the state's 180-day review period for a proposed $67 billion merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra.Bedford County Names New Fire Chief: Jason Ferguson has been named Bedford County's next Fire and Rescue Chief starting August 17, bringing over two decades of regional emergency medical experience after six years leading Botetourt County's Fire and EMS department.Virginia Tech Presidential Search: The search to replace outgoing Virginia Tech President Tim Sands moves to the interview stage, with Board of Visitors members appointing a six-person subcommittee to interview top candidates.Daylight Saving Time Vote Opposition: Virginia Congressman James Walkinshaw detailed his vote against permanent Daylight Saving Time, warning of pitch-black winter mornings for students and citing health and safety concerns.Salem Ridgeyaks Rainout: The Salem Ridgeyaks fell 7-4 to Augusta in a rain-shortened seven-inning contest, despite a late-game grand slam.Boston Red Sox Win Streak: Interim manager Chad Tracy praised team execution as the Boston Red Sox carry a 14-game winning streak into today's doubleheader against Baltimore.Rail Yard Dawgs Staff Departure: Longtime athletic trainer Travis Johns is leaving the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs to pursue a new opportunity after serving with the team since its inaugural 2016 season.NFL Training Camp Kickoff: The Carolina Panthers report to training camp today, while Washington is set to begin reporting on Friday ahead of the August 6 preseason opener.Stay informed on the go—subscribe to the WFIR News Express feed for your daily Roanoke Valley news updates.📌 Local & Regional Headlines🏆 WFIR Sports Wrap-Up