Virginia

Virginia Tech grads living in LA share wildfire experiences

Published

1 year ago

January 10, 2025

Virginia Tech grads living in LA share wildfire experiences

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – Firefighters are continuing to battle the devastating fires in Los Angeles that have destroyed thousands of homes and led to the evacuations of over 180,000.

While the fires are thousands of miles away those flames have connections to our hometowns. WDBJ7 spoke with two Virginia Tech Alumni living in Los Angeles on Thursday. While neither of them have had to evacuate their homes, they shared what it’s like to be in LA during the fires and how people there are handling the destruction.

“It definitely feels like a little apocalyptic, just the sky being somewhat black and grey. Here it’s more like the sun is covered by the smoke so it’s just very eerie,” said Jillian Ostick, a 2017 Virginia Tech graduate who lives in Los Angeles.

Ostick lives in the South Bay area of Los Angeles about 10-15 miles from where the fires are.

“It’s close by but in terms of being evacuated or anything we’re very safe down here. We’re really just affected by the air quality and being worried about other people,” she said.

Ostick works in residential real estate and says many of her clients have lost their homes or evacuated and her team is currently working to help them find rentals.

“People have lost everything and they’re just scared but I think people have a place to stay and have resources. Our team is collecting blankets and clothes and is just messaging out to everybody ‘If you need help, no questions asked just fill out this form’,’” she said. “A lot of people did have to just pack up quick last night if they were in an evacuation area.”

Leah Gay is a 2014 Virginia Tech Graduate who is from the Blacksburg area. She lives in the West Hollywood area of LA and hasn’t had to evacuate yet but says she is prepared to do so if needed.

“Everything so far in our area has just been super smokey, there’s been ash on the ground, on the car, everything like that but in terms of actual fires our area is safe,” said Gay. “Last night we got a new fire that was in the Hollywood Hills. It’s since been contained so that’s good but we could see those flames, the second you open the door it smelled like you were right in a fireplace. It was super close to us so we could see it, especially with the night sky it was super illuminated with all that fire.”

Gay said that she is remaining alert and closely following the latest updates on the fires.

“There’s an app called Watch Duty that pretty much everyone in LA is using for updates. It gives you real-time information about where first responders are being placed and where needs to be evacuated, where the flames are even if they’re moving in a certain direction. It’s a really great app, it has an amazing map in it so you can see in real-time who is being affected and what you need to do next,” she said.

Gay said that she does know several people who have had to evacuate. She said that it is an emotional time in Los Angeles.

“It’s super heartbreaking, so many people’s lives have been affected by this. It feels almost like COVID outside how there are so many less people out on the streets, many people are wearing masks to stay safe from the smoke, so it’s kind of feeling like a completely different Los Angeles,” she said.

Both Gay and Ostick said that people are already doing everything they can to help those who have lost everything to the fires. They both noted that there are many places where people can donate to help those in need.

While not everyone in L-A has had to be evacuated from their homes, the smoke from the fires is causing major air quality problems that can be harmful to people. The air quality is being adversely affected as far as 100 miles from the fire.

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Virginia

Virginia vs. Arizona State – First Four NCAA tournament extended highlights

Published

6 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Virginia vs. Arizona State – First Four NCAA tournament extended highlights

Women’s Basketball

March 19, 2026

Virginia vs. Arizona State – First Four NCAA tournament extended highlights

March 19, 2026

Watch the highlights from No. 10 Virginia and No. 10 Arizona State’s matchup in the First Four of the 2026 women’s NCAA tournament.

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Virginia

States demand refunds on ‘illegal’ Trump tariffs as Maryland and Virginia join $166B push – WTOP News

Published

18 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

States demand refunds on ‘illegal’ Trump tariffs as Maryland and Virginia join 6B push – WTOP News

Maryland and Virginia are part of a growing, multistate push to force Congress to refund more than $166 billion in tariffs, after the Supreme Court ruled the Trump policy illegal.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones on push for tariff refunds

Maryland and Virginia are part of a growing, multistate push to force Congress to refund more than $166 billion in tariffs, after the Supreme Court ruled the Trump policy illegal.

Attorneys general in more than a dozen states, including Maryland and Virginia, are arguing the money to pay for President Donald Trump’s tariffs came straight out of consumers’ pockets.

In a letter to lawmakers, Democratic attorneys general say more than $166 billion was collected from over 330,000 businesses and individuals, and they want that money returned automatically, with interest, without requiring claims or court action.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said the tariffs ultimately hit consumers hardest.

“We want the money that was borne by consumers … back in their pockets,” Jones told WTOP. He pointed to estimates showing the average Virginian paid about $1,700 more last year because of tariffs.

“That’s groceries, rent, diapers — real money for real people,” he said.

Jones said key sectors in Virginia, including agriculture, forestry and the Port of Virginia, were also hit, with container traffic declining as tariffs took hold.

The coalition is calling on Congress to create a uniform refund process and ensure businesses pass reimbursements along to consumers.

Jones said affordability concerns cut across party lines.

“People are having a hard time making ends meet,” he said. “That money belongs to them, and we’re using every tool we have to try to get it back.”

Back in February, the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs, handing him a stinging loss that sparked a furious attack on the court he helped shape.

Trump said he was “absolutely ashamed” of some justices who ruled 6-3 against him, calling them “disloyal to our Constitution” and “lapdogs.” At one point he even raised the specter of foreign influence without citing any evidence.

WTOP’s Nick Iannelli and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Virginia enters NCAA Tournament with eyes on return to March Madness success

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Virginia enters NCAA Tournament with eyes on return to March Madness success

PHILADELPHIA, PA (WTKR)- Virginia fans were on top of the world in April of 2019. Their Cavaliers were on top of college basketball, hoisting their first national championship at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The Wahoos’ NCAA Tournament showing since then has been anything but stellar. Since that 2019 triumph, UVA is 0-3 in the Big Dance with first round losses to Ohio (2021), Furman (2023) and a First Four drubbing at the hands of Colorado State (2024).

Ryan Odom has Cavalier Nation thinking Virginia is on the brink of reversing course. Winners of 13 of their last 15 games, the Cavs enter the 2026 tournament as the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, 29-5 after a tight ACC championship game loss to Duke and take on Wright State Friday afternoon in hopes of tipping off a deep run into the bracket.

UVA is averaging 80.6 points per game, the highest point output the program has seen in more than two decades and different that the methodical defense-first style played by the Cavaliers under Tony Bennett. The Cavaliers average more than 28 three-point attempts per game and make around 10.

The orange and blue can crash the glass, entering the NCAA Tournament No. 18 nationally with 40.21 rebounds per game.

Odom’s squad is still performing at the defensive end, holding opponents to 68.4 points per outing. The Cavaliers lead the country in blocks with 6.5 per game, paced by Ugonna Onyenso, who tallies nearly three swats per contest by himself. He had nine blocks this past Saturday alone, setting an ACC title game record, part of 21 total blocks during the tournament, which also signified a new high-water mark. The Cavs also hold teams to 39.53 percent from the floor, good enough for 13th in the country.

Thijs De Ridder paces Virginia with 15.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, pacing three Cavaliers averaging in double figures. Malik Thomas chips in 12.4 points per game, while Sam Lewis adds 10.8 points per contest. Chance Mallory, Jacari White and Onyenso give Odom plenty of depth off the bench.

The head coach himself has taken four teams to the Big Dance and is 1-3 in the event. Odom put his stamp on March Madness, when his UMBC Retrievers became the first No. 16 seed to top a No. 1 seed in 2018, topping the Virginia program he currently leads. The lead Wahoo has also guided Utah State and VCU to the field of 68.

UVA will take on a Wright State squad that enters 23-11 on the year and has won five in a row and 18 of its last 22. The Raiders claimed the Horizon League crown to punch their ticket to the tournament.

With a win Friday afternoon, Virginia would advance to Sunday’s second round against either Tennessee or Miami (OH).

WTKR News 3 sports director Marc Davis is in Philadelphia following the Cavaliers and will have coverage both on-air and online throughout the tournament.

Click here to see how we use AI at WTKR News 3.

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