City council’s narrow vote advances Hopetree development

First council vote set for HopeTree’s latest rezoning proposal

Public hearing set for HopeTree’s revised zoning request

With Election Day just weeks away, candidates for the Salem City Council led a community conversation Thursday night at a forum at the Andrew Lewis Middle School Auditorium.

Salem Sheriff’s Office announced this morning that its acting Sheriff, April Staton, has announced her resignation.

HopeTree proposed selling over half its property to a developer who would build up to 340 residences and several businesses

HopeTree wants to sell a portion of its campus to developers to build hundreds of homes and small retail businesses

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines in Southwest Virginia.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines in Southwest Virginia.

Senator Tim Kaine will hold a virtual discussion with frontline health care workers today. Kaine will also talk about his effort to pass the Health Care Provider Protection Act, which aims to reduce and prevent suicide among health care professionals. Salem City Council will meet tonight. Members could also approve a bonus for city workers, with full-time employees receiving $1,000 and part-time $500. If approved, City Council will take up the issue next week.

ROANOKE, Va. – Salem City Council will hold a public hearing about money received from the CARES Act. The city received $2.2 million during the last fiscal year. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce holds a candidate forum today. Incumbent Republican Ben Cline will take on Democrat Nick Betts today at noon. Radford City Schools returns to face-to-face hybrid learning today.

SALEM, Va. – On Wednesday morning, the Salem City Council named its new mayor and for the first time in the city’s history, it’s a woman. After the newly elected members of council were sworn in, they nominated and selected Renee Turk as the new mayor. Turk is no stranger to politics; her brother Ray Ferris was on Roanoke City Council for a number of years. Nelson Harris is a former Roanoke mayor and local historian, most recently publishing a history of the Roanoke Valley during the 1940s. He said Turk is not only making Salem history, she’s making regional history as both Vinton and Roanoke City have never had female mayors.

ROANOKE, Va. Road work could impact your commute this week. The Giles County School Board will meet in closed session today to interview a finalist for the principal position at Macy McCalugherty Elementary/Middle. The Botetourt County School Board will meet this morning and could name a new superintendent, following a closed meeting to discuss the position. The school board could also approve the instruction plan for the reopening of schools and the health plan for athletics. Salem City Council will meet today, holding a closed session to consider candidates for the assistant city manager position.

ROANOKE, Va. There's a community testing event for COVID-19 today in Buena Vista. Salem City Council holds a budget work session today. Another work session could be held tomorrow, if needed. The Salem Economic Development Authority will hold a special meeting today. Temporary traffic signals will become operational today in Alleghany County.

SALEM, Va. – On Monday night, Salem City Council decided it will allow new homes to be built on the largest remaining piece of undeveloped land in the city. The approval of requests on the Simms Farm land will allow R. Fralin Companies to build more than 125 new single-family homes on the property. Council hosted its meeting at the Salem Civic Center to make room for a large crowd, and more than a hundred people showed up for the vote. The issue was tabled in October after an overflow crowd listed numerous complaints to the council about the proposed project. Despite the backlash, Salem Mayor Randy Foley said it’s the right decision, adding that this type of development is in the city’s long term plan.

Columbus Day Weekend is one of the deadliest on Virginia's roads. Last Columbus Day weekend, 13 people died and 734 were injured. Salem City Council meets today. There's a dedication today on Capitol Square in Richmond to unveil the Virginia Women's Monument. Homecoming activities kickoff today at Virginia Tech.

SALEM, Va. - As the City of Salem plans to take the developers of a proposed hotel and restaurant near the Civic Center to court to get back that land, those developers are speaking exclusively with 10 News. Developers said the city told them the site was within an opportunity zone, but it turns out the zone is across the street. We identified the ability to incorporate land across the street, within the opportunity zone, in our development ... Council chose to deny the request effectively killing the project." In their statement, developers said, "No one asked if we were even in town. In a statement, a city spokesperson said the developers "have not complied with the contract, in which they agreed to reconvey the land to the city.