The Roanoke Rambler

12/27/2024

What's happening this weekend?! Don't miss out on the only Roanoke events calendar you'll ever need. Sign up today to get it FREE to your inbox, every Wednesday:

We scoured 30 disparate community calendars (yes, 30) so you didn’t have to.

12/26/2024

In this week's special winter literary issue, we feature "The Veil," a mysterious tale set in the 17th-century Dutch Republic, by Kelsey Hutton, a Métis author from Canada. Link in comments.

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, Roanoke! 🎄 🕎

We are pleased to finish the year with a special literary issue. Take a break from the fam this week and curl up with these works of fiction and poetry from writers near and far. Full issue link in comments.

12/23/2024

ICYMI: In our latest Ramblings — a collection of short items that have caught our attention — we report on

📈 A sudden promotion for Roanoke's incoming city manager
📝 Policy ideas from the city's equity board left adrift
🚒 A family's donation of land for a new fire station

Learn more: Link in comments.

12/20/2024

What's happening this weekend?! Don't miss out on the only Roanoke events calendar you'll ever need. Sign up today to get it FREE to your inbox, every Wednesday: Link in comments.

12/19/2024

We're partnering with Report for America to bring a reporter covering residential segregation to our community! We're one of 66 local news outlets nationwide to be a 2025 host newsroom.

Learn more in our editor's letter about the beat and how you can contribute: Link in comments.

12/18/2024

Roanoke botched payments to its after-school programming contractor, resulting in lost grant money, threats of litigation and termination of the contract, according to a city audit and records.

Learn more, only in The Rambler: Link in comments. Free to read.

12/17/2024

Great news for Roanoke! We're thrilled to join Report for America as a 2025 host newsroom. We're partnering with the national service program to bring a reporter covering residential segregation to our community. Learn more at www.reportforamerica.org.

More details in tomorrow's editor's letter: Link in comments to start receiving our free weekly newsletter to your inbox.

12/16/2024

Roanoke’s Black history museum plans to leave its downtown home at Center in the Square for the burgeoning Melrose Plaza in Northwest. Center in the Square was not planning on renewing Harrison Museum of African American Culture's same lease, which is up in May 2026.

Learn more: Link in comments.

12/12/2024

In this week’s edition of Ramblings — our collection of short items that have caught our attention — we report on:

🗳️ Maynard Keller challenging Del. Sam Rasoul for Roanoke’s House of Delegates seat
🐈 A second cat cafe opening in Roanoke
🌳 An 8,500-tree planting underway at a regional farm

What are Ramblings? Ramblings are a collection of short items that have caught our attention for one reason or another.

12/11/2024

During Covid, an 86-year-old widow recovering from surgery was left languishing at an understaffed Roanoke nursing home run by a freshman administrator. After family members removed her, she died within days. In a rare move, a state board has sanctioned the center's then-administrator in a case that highlighted the difficulties at long-term care centers during the pandemic.

Learn more: Story ink in comments.

12/09/2024

In keeping with our local, investigative and literary motto, we humbly present “I Found My Grandmother’s Home on Zillow,” a poem by Dave Nash. The New Jersey writer pens a poignant reflection on encountering past memories by impersonal, digital channels: Link in comments.

12/05/2024

ICYMI: Roanoke City Council has picked a Northern Virginia official with a background in housing to become the next city manager. The hiring of Valmarie Turner, Fairfax’s deputy city manager, comes six months after former city manager Bob Cowell resigned under pressure, and a month before a majority of new Council members begin their terms. Learn more about her: Story link in comments.

12/04/2024

Where once Walker Machine and Foundry made metal castings, a proposed apartment complex, restaurant and pickleball courts could forge a new community on the company’s land in Roanoke’s Norwich neighborhood.

Learn more: Story link in comments. FREE to read. Only in The Rambler.

12/03/2024

It's (or to us journos)! As a reader, you can depend on The Rambler for independent, hyper-local and investigative journalism that makes a difference in our community. We have big plans for 2025, but we need 40 new readers, like you, to become supporting members! Can we count on you to help us reach our goal? Link in comments.

12/03/2024

Roanoke Police Chief Scott Booth stood in city hall about a year ago this month with a promise.

“We will reduce crime here in this community, make no mistake,” Booth told reporters after his swearing-in ceremony. “My pledge to you is that when we stand here next year, we'll be standing in a safer community.”

Data on violent crime is bearing that pledge out.

Learn more: Link in comments.