Colby Johnson

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - Google has announced a change to its planned data center in Botetourt County, saying the first of three buildings will use air-cooling technology instead of water cooling. The shift will reduce the facility's water draw from Carvins Cove, but concerned residents and a Virginia Tech researcher say the change comes with its own environmental trade-offs.

Chief Booth said Flock cameras have helped police save lives and catch suspects faster. He said the department has an audit process in place to prevent misuse.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - A group of Franklin County residents has filed a formal complaint and a request for investigation against the chair and vice chair of the Board of Supervisors and the county administrator, asking the Commonwealth's Attorney to investigate the three for potential violations of county rules or state law.

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - The future of the largest piece of undeveloped land in the city of Roanoke remains uncertain, with private landowners holding the key to what ultimately happens to Evans Spring.

BOTEOTURT COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 Tuesday to create a new commission to study the impact a Google data center will have on the region's water resources, drawing strong opposition from residents who wanted the county's planning commission to lead the effort.

Larrowe said the county began reaching out to potential commission members Wednesday, starting with individuals from a judicial background. Candidates must live outside Botetourt County and have no connection to the county's government, Google, or the data center industry.

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - A Botetourt County planning commission member is voicing concerns over the impact a planned Google data center could have on the region's water supply, as county leaders take steps to evaluate the project independently.

Published Jul. 31, 2026 at 9:51 PM GMT+2 | Updated 7 minutes ago

Republican incumbent Ben Cline and Democratic challenger Beth Macy both say they have concerns about the project's water use and the transparency of county leaders, but they disagree on the role the federal government should play in regulating data centers.

In addition to urban archery, the Roanoke Police Department is seeking approval for six to eight officers to kill deer within city limits using suppressed rifles.