Andanh.com

The very first thing you notice when you walk into Chubbies is the cash register. Can't miss it. You'll be standing directly at the front counter as you come through the door. It's a tiny restaurant. But it's a tiny restaurant with a big heart -- not to mention the bear of a guy running it.

Roanoke school officials are considering stricter academic requirements for student-athletes to help them maintain good grades and, possibly, earn college scholarships.

Under the proposal, starting in the 2009-10 school year athletes would be required to maintain a 2.0 grade point average the semester before they can participate in sports. Athletes whose cumulative high school GPA is less than 2.0 on a 4.0 scale would have to take part in a tutoring program.

COVINGTON -- The Alleghany Highlands could save more than $7 million a year and reinvest much of it to help its slumping economy. To achieve that, it would have to consolidate its four local governments and two school systems, a consultant told the region's business and political leaders Wednesday.

In black letters beside a busy boulevard, a Salem convenience store is railing against fuel thefts that have risen with gasoline prices.

"If you want free gas, eat beans," says the message board at Pure Fast Stop on Apperson Drive. "Must prepay."

STUART -- A former Patrick County radio station owner and news director will serve three years in prison for convictions on child pornography charges.

Before his sentencing began Wednesday, Jamie Thomas Clark, 33, talked outside the courthouse about how his convictions for possession and distribution of child pornography had destroyed his life.

When does forever not mean forever?

Take the case of an 1832 Bedford County property deed, as interpreted by County Attorney Carl Boggess.

Ruby Dooley, a resident agitated over a current plan for part of the county-owned property on Falling Creek Road, snagged the attention of Boggess and the board of supervisors earlier this month when she presented the nearly 2-century-old deed. It states that the property was conveyed to the county at that time "to erect a poorhouse and work house forever." The potential snag raised by Dooley caused the board to delay action earlier this month on a parks and recreation master plan that related to the property.

Climate protection initiatives in Southwest Virginia got a boost Wednesday as Virginia Tech announced it would begin work on a plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

The announcement followed international recognition earlier this month of climate change initiatives in Blacksburg and Roanoke.

Summary: Hispanics are urged to become active in their community by joining civic groups and volunteer organizations.

Entre la comunidad hispana en general, ya sea en los barrios latinos de las grandes ciudades o en las esparcidas por las zonas rurales, existe una considerable baja participación de sus miembros en la vida cívico-social de sus localidades.

Two Roanoke city employees who were seriously injured as the result of an April traffic crash have sued the drivers involved in the wreck for a total of $3.4 million.

On the morning of April 2, William Gravett, Carl Andrews and Larry Rice were working at the traffic signal control box at 13th Street and Patterson Avenue Southwest when a car and a truck collided at the intersection, then struck all three workers. The truck ended up on top of the signal box with Gravett trapped inside. According to witnesses, after rescue workers pulled Gravett out of the box, they worked on him for 20 minutes before taking him to the hospital.

Police investigating last week's robbery of a North Roanoke County bank have released new images of the suspect and are asking for the public to help identify the man.

The suspect entered the BB&T branch in the 6600 block of Williamson Road just before 3 p.m. May 21 and demanded cash, Roanoke County police said.