🌱 Record COVID-19 Hospitalizations + Shooter Arraignment

Up and at 'em, Roanoke! It's Tuesday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on around town today.

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First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 47 Low: 29.

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Here are the top three stories in Roanoke today:

1. According to a recent report from Carilion Clinic, the Roanoke area is seeing record high hospitalizations due to COVID-19. Carilion officials are stressing the community to receive the vaccines and boosters in an effort to decrease the infection rate. The clinic reports that nearly eight hundred people in Roanoke were hospitalized from the virus in January. (WSET)
2. The Roanoke man who was charged in the Blacksburg shooting is to be arraigned today. Jamel Flint, 24, allegedly killed one person and injured four others during the shooting at Melody Hookah Lounge on Friday night. Flint faces one count of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted first-degree murder along with a count of using a firearm during the murders. (WSLS 10)
3. Michael C. Maxey, Roanoke College President, has been elected Chair of Council of Independent Colleges Board of Directors. The Council is a collection of 760 different nonprofit independent colleges and universities that work together to advance public understanding of independent higher education. Maxey has been on the Council Board since 2018 and was named vice-chair of programs in 2021 where he presided over meetings of the Board. (The Central Virginian)

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Today in Roanoke:

• School Board Meeting At The Roanoke School District (6:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Roanoke FireEMS Department celebrates Captain Craig Sellers Day in recognition of 40 years of service to the community. (Facebook)
• City of Roanoke, Virginia - Government announced that the DMV will be at the Roanoke Public Library this week. Click to see the services that will be offered and for times. (Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools thanks their staff for making the WVPEC Teacher Recruiting Job Fair a huge success. (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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.