Good morning, Blacksburg.

The Big Event, the second largest student-run service day in the nation, will occur Saturday morning in Blacksburg and nearby areas where thousands of Virginia Tech students, faculty and staff will complete nearly (1,200) community service projects to thank local supporters.

george emilio sanchez (writer and performance artist) will show his play In the Court of the Conqueror at the Moss Arts Center (the Cube) on April 24 and April 25 at 7:30 p.m. He will lead a talk after each show to explain how old Supreme Court decisions affected Native nations.

Virginia Tech students will honor late luthier Daniel Foster with a memorial concert on April 13 at 1 p.m. at room 150 in the Creativity and Innovation District on campus — 12 of his stringed instruments will be played together for the first time, as works by Bach, Popper, and Brahms are performed by students, faculty, and his granddaughter.

Virginia Tech economists say the United States economy is not in a recession yet but could slip into one if tariffs keep raising prices and slowing consumer spending.

They noted softening consumer spending plus lower business investment and rising household debt as warning signs that may hurt growth if trade tensions worsen.

Montgomery County Public Schools needs an extra $5.6 million for new programs but only $2.7 million has been approved so far.

County leaders proposed to raise the advertised real estate tax by one cent from 75 to 76 cents per $100 to help fund the programs + a public hearing will be held today from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Montgomery County Government Center.

Virginia Alliance for Semiconductor Technology has grown its training program to help adult learners start semiconductor careers by offering lab work, online lessons and internships with experts; registration for the third cohort begins May 26.

The program was started in 2023 by Virginia Tech’s Masoud Agah and now offers lower costs for veterans.

Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering graduate programs were highly ranked in the U.S. News & World Report released Tuesday, with four programs in the top 10 + several others in the top 50.

The rankings show the college’s strong work in research and teaching.

Virginia Tech’s public health program led by Kathy Hosig is working to slow opioid abuse by sharing evidence-based prevention materials with local partners—funded by the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority.

The project teams up with schools and local groups to teach substance misuse prevention and improve mental health support with help from Master of Public Health students.

Florida State Seminoles at Virginia Tech Hokies Baseball

1-5 p.m. — English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park — Tickets required — Come watch the Hokies face off against the Seminoles in an exciting afternoon of college baseball.

The Grass Is Dead: Bluegrass Tribute

8 PM – 12 AM — The Milk Parlor — $ — Experience America's original bluegrass tribute to the music of the Grateful Dead and beyond!

Bonsai Painting Night at Beliveau Farm Winery

6-8 p.m. — Beliveau Farm Winery — Ticket sales end March 21st, 2025 — Unleash your creativity while sipping wine and painting your own bonsai masterpiece.