What's News Today: May 16, 2016

What's News Today (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

(WSLS 10) - The Pulaski County School Board meets today to discuss the search its next superintendent. Dr. Thomas Brewster announced his resignation last week after ten years with the school system. The meeting begins at 4 p.m.

Senator Tim Kaine will speak today at the Virginia Military Institute commencement ceremony. Nearly 325 cadets will graduate. 54 percent of them will commission into one of the Armed Forces. 52 members of the class are Distinguished Military Graduates.

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The Montgomery County Sheriff's Offices holds its annual Fallen Officers' Memorial Ceremony today. It will honor officers killed or injured in the line of duty during 2015 as well as those who lost their lives in Montgomery County in the past. 128 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2015. The ceremony begins today at 5 p.m. at Memorial Plaza.

Twenty-three people will graduate today from the XLR8 Lynchburg Regional Governor's STEM Academy. Courses at the academy are dual enrolled, giving high school students the chance to earn college credit in biotechnology and mechatronics. All students enrolled in the program are expected to continue their educations, some at Central Virginia Community College and some at a four year college.

Nine middle and high school students in the Lynchburg Young Entrepreneurs Academy will receive "CEO status" today. The students graduate from the program today after launching nine businesses in the Lynchburg region. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a program that takes students through the process of starting and running businesses over the course of a year, working with industry leaders and educators to write business plans, pitch ideas to investors and start their companies.

Nighttime traffic delays are possible this week on Wards Ferry Road in Lynchburg. Traffic will be down to one lane as crew mill and pave the road between Melinda Drive and Water Gate Drive. Work is expected to continue through the end of the month.

Virginia Tech hosts a panel discussion today on drones in America. The discussion will focus on developing public policy for the unmanned aircraft systems. Virginia Senator Mark Warner will give opening remarks. A recent study shows that drone-enabled services will from $170 million today to $8.7 billion by 2025.

Roanoke City Council will receive the annual report on homelessness in the city. The survey shows a 15 percent drop in the city's homeless population from last year. Nearly two-thirds are men with children under the age of 18 making up 14 percent. The study shows that the homeless population has dropped by nearly 45 percent since 2009.