A look ahead to what you can expect in 2016

ROANOKE (WSLS10) -Looking ahead now to what's in store for the new year, southwest and central Virginia can expect a lot of changes that will impact the community, from new beginnings in sports, business and industry in the commonwealth, as well as the return of some old traditions.

Deschutes

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After months of campaigning to bring a new craft beer mogul to Virginia, the community will find out if

Deschutes brewery of Bend, Oregon chooses to make Virginia it's new home.

Governor Terry Mcauliffe who's been incentivizing the move is under a non-disclosure agreement with the company, but says the decision is between Virginia and another state.

Volvo

Economically, 2015 will be off to a rough start in Dublin. Volvo plans to lay off 734 employees in February over a three week period. Officials say they expect the layoffs to be permanent in nature.

Education

Education will drastically change as a new law will go into effect, known as ESSA that will replace the no child left behind law of 2002. The new law will encourage states to set caps on the time students spend on testing and will diminish the high stakes associated with these exams for under performing schools.

Blue Angels

The U.S. navy's elite flying group, "blue angels," will fly over Lynchburg once again for the Lynchburg regional airshow in 2016.their flight demonstration will be performed May 21 and 22. Attendance is expected to be at least six thousand.

Radford University

Starting July 1, Radford University will be under new leadership. Dr, Brian O. Hemphill, will take over as Radford University's 7th president.

Virginia Tech

Hokie football will be under new leadership this year as Justin Fuente takes over at Virginia Tech. He will replace frank beamer who retired in 2015 after 29 years.

University of Virginia

UVA is under new leadership as Bronco Mendenhall takes over for the Hoos.

Roanoke Rail yard Dawgs

2015 marks the return of professional hockey in the star city. Roanoke's new hocky team is officially named the Roanoke rail yard dawgs.Roanoke's return to pro hockey after a decade in the deep freeze was greeted at the Berglund Center by hundreds of excited fans. The team will begin play in the southern professional hockey league beginning next fall.

A new President

Election 2016 will continue to be a heated race as the republican and democratic party select their front runners to vie for the presidency. As 2016 begins, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton appear to be the two who's names will be on the ballot...but a lot could change over the next few months if 2016 holds half as many political fireworks around the presidential race as 2015.


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