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.
Education
Awards
Updated: Jun. 2, 2023 at 11:48 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The first ever “Pride Ball” brought a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and its history to the Taubman Museum of Art Friday night.
Updated: Jun. 2, 2023 at 11:02 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Roanoke artist Jane Gabrielle wanted to bring more awareness to Roanoke City Public Schools students experiencing homelessness.
Updated: Jun. 2, 2023 at 12:05 AM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The celebration will include performances from the “Iconic House of Ninja” and “Fashionista Roanoke.”
Updated: May. 31, 2023 at 11:05 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority recently purchased a 12 acre property in northwest Roanoke near the Shenandoah Avenue and Peters Creek Road intersection.
Updated: May. 31, 2023 at 10:37 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Families Expecting Deliverance Using Prayer has advocated for gun violence awareness and prevention since 2005.
Updated: May. 30, 2023 at 10:33 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The Grandin Theatre Film Lab began in 2016 and students work all school year for this final project.
Updated: May. 30, 2023 at 10:11 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Drivers out on Virginia highways and interstates during Memorial Weekend most likely saw quite a bit of bumper to bumper traffic.
Updated: May. 26, 2023 at 12:28 AM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Roanoke City Council shot down a rezoning request for the potential project on May 15.
Updated: May. 25, 2023 at 11:53 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Fleet Feet Roanoke wants to highlight trail running in the Roanoke Valley, while also shining a spotlight on a local small business.
Updated: May. 25, 2023 at 11:17 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Fallon Park Pool will open to the public on June 2.
Updated: May. 24, 2023 at 11:32 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
WDBJ7 spoke with Justin Garrison, an associate professor of political science at Roanoke College, to hear about the potential impacts a default would have.
Updated: May. 24, 2023 at 11:09 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Aramark and Teamsters Local Union 171 have been unable to reach an agreement on a new contract.
Updated: May. 24, 2023 at 12:24 AM EDT
|By Will Thomas
If approved, the new school start times will begin next school year.
Updated: May. 23, 2023 at 11:47 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The curfew will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for anyone 17 years old or younger.
Updated: May. 22, 2023 at 9:48 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Currently Montgomery County and the Town of Blacksburg don't charge fees for EMS ambulance transports.
Updated: May. 22, 2023 at 9:36 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: May. 20, 2023 at 12:18 AM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Since his passing, countless members of the Star City community have come out to share the mark he left on so many.
Updated: May. 19, 2023 at 11:30 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: May. 19, 2023 at 12:16 AM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: May. 18, 2023 at 11:56 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The Evans House will be demolished to make way for the new pool off Orange Ave.
Updated: May. 18, 2023 at 12:03 AM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The annual event honors and remembers cyclists who have been injured or killed on public roadways.
Updated: May. 16, 2023 at 10:53 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: May. 16, 2023 at 10:34 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: May. 15, 2023 at 11:39 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Developers were hoping to get approval to bring a coffee shop to the 1.1 acres of land.
Updated: May. 15, 2023 at 10:44 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Roanoke City Council continues to discuss potentially expanding the hours or adding more enforcement to the city’s current curfew for kids.
Updated: May. 4, 2023 at 11:13 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: May. 4, 2023 at 10:41 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
"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.
Updated: May. 3, 2023 at 10:59 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Community members and leaders are calling the murder of Campbell senseless, the shared grief over the tragedy was clear.
Updated: May. 3, 2023 at 12:20 AM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs secured their first President’s Cup win over the Birmingham Bulls.
Updated: May. 1, 2023 at 10:27 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The potential future campaign also sparked a conversation from Roanoke City Council members about what needs to be done now.
Updated: Apr. 28, 2023 at 9:48 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
For almost seven decades, the Vinton Dogwood Festival has been a special tradition for residents and visitors.
Updated: Apr. 27, 2023 at 9:48 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Oak Grove Park has gone through a complete transformation in six months time.
Updated: Apr. 27, 2023 at 9:27 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport leaders gave the community a look into their updated master plan Thursday evening.
Updated: Apr. 26, 2023 at 10:23 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Roanoke Parks and Rec and Roanoke Mountain Adventures teamed up for a beginner bike maintenance class Wednesday night.
Updated: Apr. 26, 2023 at 10:05 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The Budweiser Summer Series returned to Elmwood Park Wednesday night with Brett Young.
Updated: Apr. 25, 2023 at 10:59 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: Apr. 25, 2023 at 12:16 AM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The supervisors voted to make the real estate tax rate 70 cents per $100 assessed value.
Updated: Apr. 21, 2023 at 10:37 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The fields at New Freedom Farm will be filled with fun on Saturday and Sunday as the 5th annual Freedom Fest returns.
Updated: Apr. 21, 2023 at 10:11 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon brings in thousands from the state, country and world each year.
Updated: Apr. 20, 2023 at 10:39 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: Apr. 20, 2023 at 10:11 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
For the department, the positive is that they are making progress.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2023 at 10:42 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The Gun Violence Prevention Commission believes communication needs to be better to find a solution to gun violence.
Updated: Apr. 17, 2023 at 10:35 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: Apr. 14, 2023 at 9:48 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
The Sleep in Heavenly Peace New River Valley Chapter has worked since 2020 to provide beds for kids who don’t have them.
Updated: Apr. 13, 2023 at 9:19 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Montgomery County, like many entities, is working on its proposed real estate tax rate for the coming years.
Updated: Apr. 12, 2023 at 10:29 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Martinsville Speedway is preparing for the return of race weekend but kicked off the celebrations on Wednesday with "Track Laps for Charity."
Updated: Apr. 11, 2023 at 11:55 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: Apr. 11, 2023 at 11:35 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: Apr. 10, 2023 at 10:59 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
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.
Updated: Apr. 7, 2023 at 11:12 PM EDT
|By Will Thomas
Virginia Tech is home to the largest collegiate Relay For Life.