🌱 Man Who Shot Teen Found Not Guilty + RCAHD COVID Equity Grant

Happy Friday, people of Roanoke! Here's everything you need to know going on in town today.

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First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and not as warm. High: 68 Low: 50.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. Roanoke prosecutor Don Caldwell is standing by a jury's verdict that the man accused of killing a local 16-year-old is not guilty. On Wednesday, a jury found Demarcus Glenn not guilty on four felony charges after he fatally shot 16-year-old Tyler Polumbo during a Denniston Avenue drug deal in 2019. Glenn maintained that Polumbo drew a gun on him, causing him to shoot the teenager. Caldwell wrote that juries are often tasked with difficult questions and that his office "fully accepted" their decision. (WSLS 10)
2. The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD) has announced that it is seeking grant proposals from a diverse array of organizations to support its community-wide goal of "ensuring greater equity and access to COVID-19 vaccines," especially among underserved communities. RCAHD, in coordination with the Virginia Department of Health, will select a number of community-based partners that will most effectively support us in achieving its goal. Organizations such as community health clinics/centers, coalitions, faith-based organizations, and more that serve RCAHD's population(s) of focus will be considered. (Press Release Desk)
3. In honor of National Drug Take-Back Day, prescription drug take-back sites will be open tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. across Roanoke, including the Towers Mall CVS, Solutions Center at 2328 Melrose Ave., and the 9th Street CVS. (Roanoke Times)
4. Project Support is hosting the fourth annual Barktoberfest, a dog-centric outdoor festival supporting mental health awareness, tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Elmwood Park in Downtown Roanoke.
5. According to a sign posted on the door of Abuelo's Restaurant yesterday, the chain'sRoanoke location, which had been open since 2006, is now permanently closed. (WDBJ7)

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Today's Roanoke Daily is brought to you by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Huntsville!

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Today in Roanoke:

• Monster Crush Mania | Callaway VA (7:00 PM)

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Did you know you can feature your local business here for just $79/month? Click here to learn more.

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you soon! If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.