3+ week, 5+ day ago (405+ words) The defense attorney for Nathaniel Pridemore, the man accused of assaulting four correctional officers during his murder trial, had a motion to withdraw from the case as Pridemore's defense attorney denied by a judge. This comes after Pridemore filed his own motion aiming to withdraw a guilty plea for the aforementioned assault charges. Pridemore was on trial after being accused of fatally shooting 19-year-old Cash Gaudio and 36-year-old Christina Hamilton when he assaulted four correctional officers. Pridemore was not in court on Monday but instead appeared by video call. He told the judge that - during the trial for the assault charges - he changed his plea to guilty mid-trial. He claims that he was pressured into the guilty plea by "other forces" telling him to be truthful. "The judge asked Pridemore, Did your attorney put the pressure on you to enter…...

5+ day, 8+ hour ago (187+ words) LYNCHBURG, Va. " The College Lake Dam Project in Lynchburg is now complete, linking two natural sites together for the first time in nearly a century, according to city officials. The removal of the high-hazard College Lake Dam has been years in the making. It began after the dam overflowed and was damaged during a major storm in August 2018. Since then, crews have worked to prevent flooding and future damage, while expanding landscaping and trail work. "This project was first and foremost a public safety project," said Erin Hawkins, Water Quality Manager for Lynchburg Water Resources, who served as the project manager for the City. "Removing the risk that this dam presented to people, property and infrastructure downstream of the old College Lake is a tremendous achievement for the City and our partners in this effort." Thanks to the dam's removal,…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (91+ words) Renovations are coming to the Lynchburg Public Library! Starting Monday, staff are getting the building ready for a new look by packing up books and moving furniture. As a result, certain parts of the building will be closed. LYNCHBURG, Va. " Renovations are coming to the Lynchburg Public Library! Starting Monday, staff are getting the building ready for a new look by packing up books and moving furniture. As a result, certain parts of the building will be closed. Officials say they hope to have most of the project underway by December....

1+ week, 5+ day ago (123+ words) 10 News has the latest local breaking news and headlines from Roanoke, Virginia. Get Roanoke, Va., local TV news, Lynchburg, Va., headlines, national news, videos and more from NBC's local affiliate in Roanoke, Va. WSLS 10 LYCNHBURG, Va. " The City of Lynchburg has opened a community survey as part of their search for the city's next Chief of Police. The survey is asking residents to "share their perspectives on the qualities, experience and priorities that should guide the search for the next Chief of Police." The survey will be open from Tuesday to Nov. 25, 2025. You can take the survey here. A "Community Input Session" will also be held at the Heritage High School Auditorium at 6 p.m. on Wednesday....

3+ week, 3+ day ago (175+ words) LYNCHBURG, Va. " The City of Lynchburg has begun its search for its next top cop. Lynchburg has partnered with Raftelis, a professional recruitment and leadership consulting firm, to lead the effort to find a new chief for the Lynchburg Police Department. This search follows the retirement announcement of former Chief Ryan Zuidema, who accepted the position of police chief for the City of Wilmington, North Carolina, in August. "Our goal is to ensure this process reflects the values, priorities, and needs of both our organization and our community," said City Manager Wynter C. Benda. "The next Chief of Police will play a pivotal role in building upon LPD's strong foundation of service, professionalism, and community trust." Raftelis will oversee a recruitment process that includes multiple opportunities for input from residents, community partners, and public safety personnel. Lynchburg will host a Community…...

5+ day, 33+ min ago (331+ words) 10 News has the latest local breaking news and headlines from Roanoke, Virginia. Get Roanoke, Va., local TV news, Lynchburg, Va., headlines, national news, videos and more from NBC's local affiliate in Roanoke, Va. WSLS 10 Gov. Youngkin announces company to invest $1.1 million into manufacturing site in Lynchburg The investment will create 20 new jobs LYNCHBURG, Va. " Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday that Polyzent Trading would invest $1.1 million to develop the company's first manufacturing site in Lynchburg. Polyzent is a Virginia-based startup specializing in the manufacturing of stretch film wrap used for industrial palletizing and shipping. The facility will create 20 new jobs across manufacturing, marketing and management positions. "Polyzent's investment in Lynchburg shows that Virginia isn't just the best place to do business " it's the best place to build, innovate, and grow," said Governor Glenn Youngkin."As our manufacturing sector expands, so does…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (157+ words) Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and Hill City and Bedford County are reminding residents about the importance of properly disposing of and recycling cooking oils and grease. Lynchburg Water Resources and Bedford Regional Water Authority have teamed up to offer free at-home grease disposal kits. These kits help contain drippings from holiday meals. The collected grease will then be recycled into environmentally friendly biofuel. Both organizations say one of the biggest problems in local sewer systems is the buildup of fats, oils, and grease in the pipes. When poured down the drain, this can cause blockages, leading to costly and unsafe overflows into backyards, forests, and streams. The free grease collection kits include a funnel, can lid, sponge, dish scraper, and informational handouts on how to use the items and properly dispose of grease. Community members can pick up…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (245+ words) LYNCHBURG, Va. " A Lynchburg jury on Nov. 17, 2025, found Steven Wayne Thompson Jr. guilty of felony counts of aggravated sexual battery and forcible sodomy, the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office announced. The charges relate to an incident reported on May 27, 2023, when Lynchburg police responded to a sexual assault call at a Floyd Street residence. The victim, described by authorities as hysterical, told officers that Thompson, who had been invited to the home by a friend, sexually assaulted her while she was asleep. According to the victim's account, Thompson had asked her to engage in sexual activity earlier that night, but she declined. After taking medication that caused drowsiness, she went to bed fully clothed, believing Thompson had left. She awoke to find herself naked and Thompson present in her room. When confronted, Thompson reportedly smiled and said they had vaginal, anal, and oral…...

3+ day, 14+ hour ago (199+ words) The Lynchburg Police Department has arrested two men following a high-risk traffic stop connected to a shooting investigation. On Nov. 24, law enforcement began investigating a shooting into an occupied home at 520 Hillside Court involving 19-year-old Octavion Taylor and 18-year-old Amare Scruggs, both from Lynchburg. Authorities noted Taylor had two outstanding warrants at the time. The next day, officers spotted Taylor as a passenger in a vehicle on Timberlake Road. Given his firearm history, outstanding warrants, and the recent shooting, police conducted a high-risk stop in the 7400 block of Timberlake Road. During the stop, both Taylor and Scruggs were arrested, and two stolen handguns were seized from the vehicle. Taylor faces multiple charges, including probation violation, absconding probation, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a stolen firearm. Scruggs was charged with reckless handling of…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (164+ words) Colton Game, Digital Content Producer ROANOKE, Va. " Beth Macy, former Roanoke Times reporter and author of the 2018 book Dopesick, announced she is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia's 6th District as a Democrat in the 2026 midterm elections. Macy officially announced her candidacy in Roanoke on Tuesday at the Historic Fire Station #1. This sets up a contested Democratic primary in the 6th District against Ken Mitchell, the party's nominee in 2024, and Pete Barlow, a former FEMA emergency manager. The seat has been held by Rep. Ben Cline since 2019. The district is reliably Republican; no Democrat has won the seat since 1990. It also went to Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears by around 16 percentage points in the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election. Colton joined the WSLS 10 team as a digital content producer in July 2024, soon after graduating cum laude from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in sociology…...