🌱 Mill Mountain Zoo's New Arrivals + Bridging The Community Gap

Happy Saturday, Roanoke! Let's start today off on an informed note, shall we? Here's everything you need to know about what's happening today in town.

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First, today's weather:

A shower and thunderstorm. High: 70 Low: 40.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. The weather may be getting colder, but Mill Mountain Zoo is still adding to its animal collection. New arrivals to the zoo include a pot-bellied pig named Odysseus and a flock of 14 wood ducks who needed rehoming. The animals are reportedly adjusting well to their new environment. (The Roanoke Star)
2. Two Roanoke organizations are coming together to put an end to violent crime in the city. On Thursday, Total Action for Progress (T.A.P.) and Roanoke's Gun Violence Prevention Commission hosted their annual Bridging the Community Gap event. In addition to spreading peace and joy through Christmas carols, the groups walked across the MLK bridge downtown to remember the lives lost to gun violence and those who they left behind. (WSLS 10)
3. A police chase involving a stolen vehicle ended in a crash in Roanoke Friday morning. (WDBJ7)
4. A new book by a Roanoke College professor analyzes LGBTQ history in Southwest Virginia. (WFIR News Talk Radio)
5. Want to bring a furry friend into your life? Plenty of adorable animals are up for adoption in the Roanoke area. (Roanoke Patch)

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That's it for today. I'll see you around!

— 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.