Virginia
West Virginia travel plazas close for renovations
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -Travelers using the West Virginia turnpike should expect some facility closures beginning on Monday.
The Bluestone Travel Plaza on the West Virginia Turnpike will close at 7 a.m. Monday, July 8, 2024, to allow completion of a new travel plaza being built on site, according to the West Virginia Parkways.
The travel plaza will be closed to truck parking until construction is complete at the end of the year.
In February 2023, the West Virginia Parkways Authority approved a contract for $122,820.381.53 with Paramount Builders LLC, of St. Albans, for demolition and renovation of the Beckley and Bluestone travel plazas.

Renovations will include a 24/7 Mountain State Market convenience store, outdoor dining options, expanded parking for tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles, EV charging stations, separated vehicle and tractor-trailer fueling options, a picnic area, and pet relief areas, according to the WVDOT.
“This will certainly have an impact on diesel fuel customers at Beckley and those commercial truck drivers who use the site for overnight parking,” said Jeff Miller, executive director of the Parkways Authority. “We recognize that, and want to assure the traveling public that when these sites are completed and reopened they will be able to enjoy world-class facilities, with expanded offerings over the previous facilities.”
Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
Virginia
Virginia High School Football Top 25 State Rankings – Nov. 24, 2025
After an impressive inaugural season, The Saint James Performance Academy has a spot in the latest High School on SI Virginia Top 25 poll.
St James, which debuts at No. 9, posted an 8-1 mark, only losing to national No. 1 Saint Frances Academy (Md.) in its season finale. St. James posted a win over perennial Maryland powerhouse Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Thomas Dale also joins the Top 25 at No. 22 after eliminating then-No. 14 Manchester in the Virginia Class 6 Region A playoffs. Thomas Dale (10-1) next plays at No. 1 Oscar Smith in the region final Friday.
Oscar Smith, in pursuit of a second straight Virginia Class 6 state title, is followed by Maury, Varina, Green Run and King’s Fork. Huguenot, Benedictine College Prep, Saint James and Louisa County make up the rest of the Top 10.
Here’s this week’s High School on SI Virginia football Top 25:
Previous rank: No. 1
Record: 10-1
Last week: Defeated Lloyd C. Bird, 50-0, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. No. 22 Thomas Dale, Virginia Class 6 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 2
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Warwick, 42-10, Virginia Class 5 Region B semifinal
This week: at No. 5 King’s Fork, Virginia Class 5 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 3
Record: 10-2
Last week: Defeated then-No. 13 Dinwiddie, 14-0, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 7 Huguenot, Virginia Class 4 Region B final, Nov. 29
Previous rank: No. 4
Record: 11-0
Last week: Defeated Salem-Virginia Beach, 28-3, Virginia Class 5 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. No. 13 Indian River, Virginia Class 5 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 5
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Bethel, 45-28, Virginia Class 5 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 2 Maury, Virginia Class 5 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 6
Record: 10-1
Last week: Defeated John Champe, 41-0, Virginia Class 5 Region D semifinal
This week: vs. No. 14 RIverbend, Virginia Class 5 Region D final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 8
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated then-No. 7 Louisa County, 34-11, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 3 Varina, Virginia Class 4 Region B final, Nov. 29
Previous rank: No. 10
Record: 11-1
SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION I CHAMPION
Previous rank: Not ranked
Record: 8-1
SEASON COMPLETE
Previous rank: No. 7
Record: 11-1
Last week: Lost to then-No. 8 Huguenot, 34-11, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 4 REGION B SEMIFINALIST
Previous rank: No. 11
Record: 9-2
SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION I FINALIST
Previous rank: No. 12
Record: 12-0
Last week: Defeated Thomas Jefferson-Richmond, 20-13, Virginia Class 2 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. Poquoson, Virginia Class 2 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 15
Record: 10-2
Last week: Defeated Cox, 42-3, Virginia Class 5 Region A semifinal
This week: at No. 4 Green Run, Virginia Class 5 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 17
Record: 11-0
Last week: Defeated Potomac Falls, 56-6, Virginia Class 5 Region D semifinal
This week: at No. 6 Stone Bridge, Virginia Class 5 Region D final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 13
Record: 11-1
Last week: Lost to No. 3 Varina, 14-0, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 4 REGION B SEMIFINALIST
Previous rank: No. 16
Record: 9-3
Last week: Defeated William Fleming, 37-7, Virginia Class 5 Region C semifinal
This week: vs. Hermitage, Virginia Class 5 Region C final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 18
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Smithfield, 35-6, Virginia Class 4 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. Phoebus, Virginia Class 4 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 19
Record: 7-2
SEASON COMPLETE
Previous rank: No. 21
Record: 9-2
SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION II CHAMPION
Previous rank: No. 23
Record: 9-2
Last week: Defeated Fairfax, 28-7, Virginia Class 6 Region C semifinal
This week: vs. Lake Braddock, Virginia Class 6 Region C final, Nov. 29
Previous rank: No. 24
Record: 10-2
Last week: Defeated then-No. 9 Battlefield, 21-6, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 23 Woodbridge, Virginia Class 6 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: Not ranked
Record: 10-1
Last week: Defeated then-No. 14 Manchester, 27-21, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal
This week: at No. 1 Oscar Smith, Virginia Class 6 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 25
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Colonial Forge, 35-34, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal
This week: at No. 21 North Stafford, Virginia Class 6 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 9
Record: 10-2
Last week: Lost to then-No. 24 North Stafford, 21-6, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 6 REGION B SEMIFINALIST
Previous rank: No. 14
Record: 10-2
Last week: Lost to Thomas Dale, 27-21, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 6 REGION A SEMIFINALIST
Virginia
Virginia Beach fire displaces two adults, claims life of pet
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Virginia
James Franklin appears on ESPN broadcast during Virginia Tech-Miami
College football Week 13 straight-up picks
Before The Snap’s Week 13 picks include USC-Oregon, BYU-Cincinnati, Pitt-Georgia Tech, Missouri-Oklahoma and Utah-Kansas State.
Newly hired Virginia Tech football coach James Franklin was on-site for the Hokies’ game against Miami on Saturday, Nov. 22, and made a brief appearance with the ESPN broadcast crew.
Franklin, wearing a Virginia Tech hoodie, explained his decision to the job.
“I think the first thing is, they were very aggressive from the beginning,” Franklin, who was fired by Penn State in October, told ESPN. “They had a plan in place, it wasn’t like, ‘let’s work through this together.’ they already had a plan in place, which I think was very helpful in the process.
Franklin led the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season and entered 2025 with huge expectations with numerous returning starters. However, Penn State lost three consecutive games to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern before Franklin was fired in October.
Franklin is now tasked with revitalizing Virginia Tech, which has won more than seven games just twice since 2018.
Legendary coach Frank Beamer, the best coach in Virginia Tech history, also gave Franklin his blessing, signifying his confidence in the Hokies’ next leader.
“I got a ton of respect for what he has been able to do across his career, but obviously specifically here at Virginia Tech. So I wanted to call him to pay respect, number one. He built this program. Everybody loves him and his family. … I called Frank Beamer, I said, ‘Coach, about to make this decision. Before I do, I want your blessing to be sure you’d comfortable with me taking over your program.’”
Franklin hasn’t coached, and won’t coach a Virginia Tech game until 2026, but he accomplished an important first step since being officially introduced Nov. 19.
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