Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Roanoke’s mayor says about crime, investment and your city’s future

Coming up on the Roanoke Patch calendar: BIG LICK CONSPIRACY Comedy Improv Troupe

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Saturday August 29th Patch AM
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Hello Roanoke! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Roanoke's mayor says about crime, investment and your city's future
  • What new broadband money could mean for Roanoke-area connections
  • How a $122M rural health boost could reshape care across Virginia

Also on today's calendar: BIG LICK CONSPIRACY Comedy Improv Troupe and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Roanoke 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 Roanoke Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Partly sunny and humid, with a high of 83 and low of 67 degrees.
  • Sunday: Humid with some sun, temps: high: 88, low: 69. 🌶 Hot!
  • Monday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 93 and low of 71 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Roanoke Mayor Cites Crime Drop and $1 Billion in Business Investment in Annual Address (theroanokestar.com) — Roanoke residents are hearing that downtown crime is down 50% and more than $1 billion in business investment has flowed into the city, according to Mayor Joe Cobb's State of the City address. He highlighted progress on gun violence, police staffing, and technology, while acknowledging ongoing challenges around housing, poverty, mental health, and substance use that will require long-term work.
   

• Top federal broadband official visits Bedford County, touts connectivity (cardinalnews.org) — Roanoke-area residents could see better internet access as Bedford-based provider ZiTel plans BEAD-funded broadband projects in Roanoke and several neighboring counties. During a Bedford County farm visit, the nation's top broadband official confirmed all state BEAD contracts are signed, clearing the way for Virginia's $613 million share to connect tens of thousands of unserved homes and businesses.
   

• Virginia gets $122M in federal funding for rural health services (wfxrtv.com) — From a Roanoke dateline, Virginia officials are touting $122 million in new federal funding aimed at shoring up rural healthcare, including mobile clinics, maternal care, and more community paramedics. Backed by Republican leaders and the Trump Administration, the Rural Health Transformation Program will expand training pipelines, support health-tech innovation, and improve care coordination for Medicare and Medicaid patients across the Commonwealth.
   

📸 Around Roanoke

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 Roanoke

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★ Featured events ★

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📣 Roanoke Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Roanoke PatchAM possible:

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🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • We bring experiences to your backyard.
    We're local, here to connect you to what matters most. We offer free events and enriching experiences that can help with finances, family and fun.... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi neighbor!
    I saw your post and thought I would say hello. I'm a 73 yo widower and have been in the Peters Creek neighborhood for 39 years. (Nextdoor Peters Creek)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Charlie, a dog who went missing in Salem, VA, has been safely reunited with their family after 44 minutes. Message from Owner: "Charlie was lost… (Nextdoor Greater Raleigh Court)
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Seasonal Maintenance Worker ||- Parks and Recreation-Trails and Greenways in Roanoke. Apply here.
  • PSG Global Solutions posted a job opening for Assembler in Roanoke. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Roanoke here.

🗞 Nearby News

Vinton

  • Hometown Eats: Vinton Cafe (wdbj7.com)
  • Junior League of Roanoke Valley reflects on Dolly Parton's legacy of promoting childhood literacy (wdbj7.com)

Cave Spring

  • Cave Spring, William Byrd Set for Experienced Showdown in Week 1 Game of the Week (wdbj7.com)

Salem

  • Wheels of Hope program plans to give away 125 bikes to Salem children (wfxrtv.com)
  • HOMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT: Live music, theater and Sunday outdoor event fill weekend calendar (wdbj7.com)
  • 5 for Good: Peabody company ramps up meal donations to fight hunger (wcvb.com)

Ok Roanoke! 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: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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