Good morning, Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech is hosting Cube Fest from Friday through Sunday at the Center for the Arts, where an international group of artists is offering free immersive audio installations + live performances that transform spaces with spatial sound.

Downtown Heritage Day festival celebrated Montgomery County's 250th anniversary on Saturday, Aug.

15 and featured local music, art vendors, hayrides, and a $10,000 grant to Montgomery Junior Appalachian Musicians (presented by 100+ Women Who Care) in a one-day celebration of local heritage.

Virginia Tech in Blacksburg has received a $20 million National Science Foundation grant to establish an AI-enabled cloud-based semiconductor laboratory (PCL Node) that will expand remote research access for underserved communities.

The lab is part of a national network designed to boost U.S. semiconductor innovation and workforce development.

Thousands of new students and families moved into Virginia Tech on Monday as they began their fall 2026 journey, while the campus continued its search for a new president (following administrative changes from last year).

Local law enforcement and NRVCS now deploy co-response teams that pair CIT-trained officers with behavioral health professionals to manage mental health crises in Montgomery County and Radford.

A report through June shows that since launching in 2024 the program has handled 1,359 calls and saved valuable police time.

Radford mother Lyndsay Lalonde now visits local farmers' markets on Saturday mornings to avoid produce recalled during a summer Cyclospora outbreak; she uses her WIC benefits (available at several market vendors) to buy fresh vegetables and ease food safety worries.

Virginia Tech held its annual Fan Day on Sunday at the indoor practice facility, where fans young and old gathered before the first game in less than three weeks.

Virginia Tech Athletics announced that Evan Hughes has been promoted to director of broadcasting for Virginia Tech Sports Network.

He will host Hokie pregame and postgame shows, broadcast men’s basketball, and oversee more than 40 radio affiliates (a role that builds on his local experience as a Hokie and mentor).

Local Blacksburg track coach Stephen Howard is named assistant coach at Radford University for cross country and track and field, announced by program Director Shelli Sayers; he brings five seasons of championship wins at Blacksburg High School (with 13 team state titles and 15 relay titles) to strengthen RU’s programs.