Morning Roanoke! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️
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Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 7 more events.
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1. Roanoke scam targets people whose family members have been arrested (wdbj7.com) — Roanoke City residents are being warned about scammers posing as deputy sheriffs who call families of recently arrested people and demand money for a supposed bond or release. The Sheriff's Office stresses it will never request payment over the phone and urges anyone receiving such a call to hang up, independently verify with law enforcement, and remember: stop, verify, don't send money.
2. 'The need really is there': Roanoke rallies around struggling food pantry (wsls.com) — St. Francis House Food Pantry in Roanoke City is scrambling to replace thousands of pounds of USDA food it no longer receives, and local groups are stepping up with donation drives. Residents are being asked to drop off shelf-stable items like peanut butter, canned meats, and fruits at the Campbell Avenue pantry during weekday mornings, or support Feeding Southwest Virginia's nearby Salem facility.
3. After awkward council moment, a lawsuit challenges Roanoke's prayer policy (wvtf.org) — A Roanoke resident is suing the city and its vice mayor in federal court, claiming his religious rights were violated when he wasn't allowed to deliver a Satanic Temple prayer at a recent council meeting. The confrontation unfolded after the scheduled pastor didn't appear, leading to a tense exchange, Cotes reading his prayer over the Pledge, removal by police, and a multimillion-dollar lawsuit.
4. Roanoke nonprofit seeks sponsors for 6th annual Dining With Dignity event (wfirnews.com) — A Roanoke ministry is gearing up for its sixth annual Dining with Dignity event on Oct. 10 at Elmwood Park, offering an elegant outdoor meal for unsheltered neighbors. The Least of These Ministries, which also runs daily services and housing initiatives in Roanoke, is urgently seeking sponsors and volunteer waitstaff teams to help fund and staff the evening.
5. William Varnier Named WDBJ General Manager (tvnewscheck.com) — Roanoke's CBS affiliate WDBJ will soon have a new leader, as Gray Media appoints veteran broadcaster William Varnier general manager effective October 5, 2026. Varnier, raised in Central Virginia and experienced at several CBS and ABC stations, comes from award-winning work at Kansas City's KCTV to oversee WDBJ's operations here.
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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: By starting with a large fortune. (Thank you Kourtney Z. for sending it in!)
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