More help is on the way for farmers and others in the agricultural community in southwest Virginia devastated by Helene.

Agricultural losses from Helene could total more than $125 million, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Many people throughout Southwest Virginia rely on wells for their fresh drinking water. Virginia Tech, in partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, is providing affordable water testing kits for those people.

You might love to get into the Halloween spirit early, but your Jack-O-Lanterns might be looking a little scarier than they should come time for trick or treating.

The Virginia Tech Department of Entomology reported that this type of worm is becoming widespread across the state of Virginia, and since 2019, they’ve been spotted in multiple different areas, including Bedford County, Montgomery County, and Lynchburg.

The invasive insect is known for killing crops and leaving behind a sticky honey dew.

Common places for ticks include tall grass and in brushy forested areas, but it’s not unheard of to find them while you’re in your outside in your neighborhood or doing yard work. That’s why experts want you to be vigilant.

A new coalition is teaming up with local non-profits to fight food insecurity in Rockbridge County.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – When you open your window to enjoy the spring weather, you’ll hear more than a breeze — the 17-year cicadas are back. Millions of cicadas from brood IX will emerge after 17 years underground, and as many as 1.5 million cicadas could inhabit each acre. “Communities and farms with large numbers of cicadas emerging at once may have a substantial noise issue,” said Eric Day, Virginia Cooperative Extension entomologist in Virginia Tech’s Department of Entomology. “Hopefully, any annoyance at the disturbance is tempered by just how infrequent — and amazing — this event is.”That noise you hear is the mating call of male cicadas who are trying to attract the females. For more information, you can read the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s factsheet here.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines across the country and Southwest Virginia. The Virginia Cooperative Extension holds its annual Fall Forestry and Wildlife Field Tours today. The tours promote resource management and focus on wildlife management practices. You have until 5 p.m. today to submit comments about the qualities you want to see in Roanoke's new police chief. We have a link to the survey on wsls.comLynchburg's Growth Through Opportunity Program present level three certificates to participants today.