Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a new $588K grant boosts Virginia Tech research in Blacksburg

Make time for Sinkland Farms 4th Annual Wine Festival — Sinkland Farms Rustic Chic Weddings, Events & Farm Festivals on the Blacksburg…

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Sunday September 6th Patch AM
Sunday September 6th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hey hey Blacksburg! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a new $588K grant boosts Virginia Tech research in Blacksburg
  • How much are Blacksburg drivers paying at the pump today?
  • Have you seen this man with ties to Blacksburg?

Also on today's calendar: Nrv Aarp/Toc Health Fair and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: Why are elevator jokes so good ? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Blacksburg Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Blacksburg Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Blacksburg. Advertisement

Weather forecast:

  • Sunday: A stray t-storm; not as warm, with a high of 74 and low of 61 degrees.
  • Monday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 76, low: 56.
  • Tuesday: Nice with clouds and sun, with a high of 78 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. $588,671 HHS Grant to Virginia Tech (nrvnews.com) — Virginia Tech in Blacksburg has received a $588,671 federal grant to study the yellow-fever-carrying mosquito Aedes aegypti, potentially strengthening the university's public health research profile. Congressman Morgan Griffith highlighted the project's role in understanding disease risks in the Western Hemisphere. The work will be led by faculty in Tech's Entomology department.
   

2. Virginia Gas Prices: Cheapest and most expensive places to fill up - Sept. 4, 2026 (wsls.com) — Drivers in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford area are paying about $3.94 for regular gas this Labor Day weekend, slightly above the Virginia average. With diesel near $5.81, New River Valley residents heading out of town may want to compare stations using tools like GasBuddy to shave a bit off their holiday travel costs.
   

3. Man reported missing from Halifax County (wdbj7.com) — Local authorities are searching for 55-year-old Bryan Kast, who has been missing since early August and is known to have ties to Blacksburg and the New River Valley. He was last seen in Halifax County and may be driving a blue 2012 Nissan Maxima with Virginia plate UBK-4111. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.
   

4. 20 iconic dive bars in Virginia that locals love (vadogwood.com) — Blacksburg's own Top of the Stairs earns a spot among Virginia's most beloved dive bars, celebrated as a longtime hangout for Virginia Tech students and alumni. The piece highlights its signature Rail drink, TotSchos, and Tuesday karaoke, alongside other quirky watering holes across the commonwealth that regulars say feel like a second home.
   

5. 13 Beautiful Cities In Appalachia Where $2,000 A Month Covers Retirement (moneydigest.com) — Blacksburg makes this Appalachian retirement shortlist as a relatively affordable college town where an estimated $1,897 a month can cover basic living costs. Local seniors can trim expenses further with Monday shopping discounts at more than 40 downtown businesses and free rides on Blacksburg Transit, helping fixed incomes stretch without sacrificing access to culture and nature.
   

📸 Around Blacksburg

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Blacksburg

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Blacksburg Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Does anyone know what's going on in the skies around Blacksburg today?
    There is a large plane flying very low sometimes accompanied by a helicopter. Off the wings of the airplane is a long cable with some kind of round… (Nextdoor Mount Tabor)
  • Rootsong Farm stand tomorrow (Saturday) September 4th from 9-2.
    820 Heather Drive We've got the goods! Fresh this week: Spinach Primo Greens mix Petite Kale mix Mustard greens Lunch box peppers Shishito… (Nextdoor On Campus VT)
  • Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. posted a job opening for Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist in Blacksburg. Apply here.
  • Virginia Tech University posted a job opening for Assistant Manager - Turner Place in Blacksburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Blacksburg here.

Ok Blacksburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Because they work on so many levels ! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Blacksburg