​Statewide Tornado Drill including a NOAA Weather Radio test will be conducted Wednesday (02/23) at 9:30 a.m. CST/10:30 a.m. EST

Nearly $175,000 will go to the United Way of Southwest Virginia to help Hurley recover from flooding last August. Senator Mark Warner's office announced that the United Way will receive $174,458 from the Appalachian Regional Commission for the Hurley Disaster Recovery Project. The funds will support a public-private partnership that is coordinating long-term recovery efforts. The project will involve assisting 70 households with disaster relief and constructing or rehabilitating 50 homes. Last August, flooding killed one person and destroyed several homes in Hurley, but FEMA denied a request for individual assistance to those impacted. 

Bill to repeal Pound's town charter passes in the House and moves to the Senate. The Virginia House of Delegates unanimously passed House Bill 904 on third reading. The bill that was proposed by Majority Leader Terry Kilgore will repeal Pound's charter effective July 1, 2023, which gives the town time to improve conditions and leadership. If that happens before that date, the town charter will not be repealed. The measure will have to be passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor. 

Clintwood Food City hit by large boulder, but no injuries reported. The Clintwood Volunteer Fire Department reports that they were alerted to the incident at 3:51 p.m. Thursday. A large boulder fell from a hillside and hit the rear of the building. The CVFD says that there was no threat of a building collapse as the wall that was struck was not load-bearing. The grocery store has been in contact with someone to make repairs and remove the boulder, as well as the county building inspector to inspect the damage. The scene was cleared at 4:45 p.m. No injuries were reported in the incident.