Will Thomas
Multimedia Journalist
Roanoke, Virginia
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Following his graduation from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2018, Will Thomas began his reporting career at Wyoming News Now. After two years of covering Casper and Cheyenne, he joined the WDBJ7 newsroom in August 2021.
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The first ever “Pride Ball” brought a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and its history to the Taubman Museum of Art Friday night.
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Roanoke artist Jane Gabrielle wanted to bring more awareness to Roanoke City Public Schools students experiencing homelessness.
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The celebration will include performances from the “Iconic House of Ninja” and “Fashionista Roanoke.”
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The Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority recently purchased a 12 acre property in northwest Roanoke near the Shenandoah Avenue and Peters Creek Road intersection.
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Families Expecting Deliverance Using Prayer has advocated for gun violence awareness and prevention since 2005.
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The Grandin Theatre Film Lab began in 2016 and students work all school year for this final project.
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Drivers out on Virginia highways and interstates during Memorial Weekend most likely saw quite a bit of bumper to bumper traffic.
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Roanoke City Council shot down a rezoning request for the potential project on May 15.
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Fleet Feet Roanoke wants to highlight trail running in the Roanoke Valley, while also shining a spotlight on a local small business.
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WDBJ7 spoke with Justin Garrison, an associate professor of political science at Roanoke College, to hear about the potential impacts a default would have.
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Aramark and Teamsters Local Union 171 have been unable to reach an agreement on a new contract.
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If approved, the new school start times will begin next school year.
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The curfew will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for anyone 17 years old or younger.
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Currently Montgomery County and the Town of Blacksburg don't charge fees for EMS ambulance transports.
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The Washington Park Pool is gone for the 2023 summer but Roanoke City’s Department of Parks and Recreation is dedicated to still bringing fun to the park.
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Since his passing, countless members of the Star City community have come out to share the mark he left on so many.
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The CHS Class of 2023 are now the final seniors to graduate as the school will become the middle school for Alleghany Highlands Public Schools in the fall.
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All officers who died in the line of duty since 1892 had their names read, followed by the ring of a bell in each person’s honor.
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The Evans House will be demolished to make way for the new pool off Orange Ave.
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The annual event honors and remembers cyclists who have been injured or killed on public roadways.
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The Commonwealth Transportation Board is making its way across Virginia to share and hear feedback about the draft for its 2024-2029 Six-Year Improvement Plan.
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A Monday proposed ordinance would add an additional step of oversight to Council when it comes to approving the grant funding that the commission gives to area organizations.
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Developers were hoping to get approval to bring a coffee shop to the 1.1 acres of land.
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Roanoke City Council continues to discuss potentially expanding the hours or adding more enforcement to the city’s current curfew for kids.
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Before his speech, he took the time to honor Kingston Campbell, a six-year-old boy who was shot and killed in Lynchburg Monday night.
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"Swatting" has been a problem for nearly a decade now. It's specifically when people call in false threats that will prompt a response from SWAT teams.
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Community members and leaders are calling the murder of Campbell senseless, the shared grief over the tragedy was clear.
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The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs secured their first President’s Cup win over the Birmingham Bulls.
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The potential future campaign also sparked a conversation from Roanoke City Council members about what needs to be done now.
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For almost seven decades, the Vinton Dogwood Festival has been a special tradition for residents and visitors.
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Oak Grove Park has gone through a complete transformation in six months time.
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Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport leaders gave the community a look into their updated master plan Thursday evening.
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Roanoke Parks and Rec and Roanoke Mountain Adventures teamed up for a beginner bike maintenance class Wednesday night.
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The Budweiser Summer Series returned to Elmwood Park Wednesday night with Brett Young.
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Attorney General Jason Miyares hosted an update on “Operation Ceasefire” in Lynchburg Tuesday afternoon. Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea and Chief of Police Sam Roman were both in attendance.
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The supervisors voted to make the real estate tax rate 70 cents per $100 assessed value.
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The fields at New Freedom Farm will be filled with fun on Saturday and Sunday as the 5th annual Freedom Fest returns.
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The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon brings in thousands from the state, country and world each year.
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That makes the $80 million for the new career and technical education center and $50 million for renovations of Glen Cove and W.E. Cundiff elementary schools officially funded.
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For the department, the positive is that they are making progress.
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The Gun Violence Prevention Commission believes communication needs to be better to find a solution to gun violence.
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Alleghany Highlands Public Schools rolled out its proposed elementary school redistricting plan April 6. At Monday night’s School Board meeting, the community had a chance to share opinions.
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The Sleep in Heavenly Peace New River Valley Chapter has worked since 2020 to provide beds for kids who don’t have them.
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Montgomery County, like many entities, is working on its proposed real estate tax rate for the coming years.
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Martinsville Speedway is preparing for the return of race weekend but kicked off the celebrations on Wednesday with "Track Laps for Charity."
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The Roanoke City School Board approved the proposed names of the administration they’ll move into in the fall of 2024 and the career and technical education facility that will open beside William Fleming High School in January 2024.
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The discussion featured the athletes who’ve paved the way and the current athletes who are continuing the mission of shining a spotlight on women’s athletics.
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A more-than-four-hour workshop saw Roanoke and regional leaders discuss intervention, prevention and enforcement of gun violence in and around the Star City.
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Virginia Tech is home to the largest collegiate Relay For Life.
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