Good morning, Blacksburg.

A 12-year-old owner of Frankie’s Spicy Farm launched the spiciest hot sauce on Dec.

30, drawing local food lovers to try the new product. The farm now offers the sauce as a bold addition to its lineup.

Residents can drop off real Christmas trees free of decorations at Claytor Lake State Park's Marina parking lot from now through Feb.

1 to support fish habitats (donors get free park admission, or a one-day parking pass during Jan. 9-10 closure).

Strong winds up to 60 MPH caused more than 2,000 power outages across the Commonwealth Tuesday morning, leaving many without power.

Utility companies advised residents to charge devices, prepare emergency kits, and follow outage apps.

Starting Thursday, Jan.

1, 2026, baby food makers in Virginia must test for lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium (existing products are exempt) and parents will see results online via QR codes on packages.

Groundbreaking has taken place for the $264.5 million New River Valley Rail Project, which will connect Christiansburg and the region to Washington, D.C. by 2027.

Governor Youngkin joined local officials in Cambria in April, and workers have begun installing new tracks in Radford (the project aims to support local growth).

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Virginia Tech nearly $1.6 million on Dec.

30 to support a three-module project studying risky driving habits and boosting safety education in local high schools (using camera data, surveys, and training feedback).

Effective Jan. 1, 2026, a new Virginia law will eliminate out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer screenings (covering mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs) for patients with state-regulated insurance to improve access to early care.

On Dec. 24, 2025, over 300 runners took part in the Frosty 5K in Blacksburg; Jonas Roach won first place with a time of 16:49.46 in a spirited holiday race.