By: Zoe Santos, arts, culture, and sports reporter
The Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival in Christiansburg has grown from a small family fundraiser into one of the region’s most beloved seasonal events. Featuring a pumpkin patch, hayrides, live music, and activities for all ages, the festival continues to draw thousands of visitors each year. What began as a way for Susan Sink and her family to support their farm has become a fall tradition for the New River Valley.
By Emily Dorsey, politics and government reporter
The Linkous-Kipps Historical House was approved for an Outdoor Recreational Camp Conditional Use permit in Sept. by the Blacksburg Town Council. The house was established in 1799 and has maintained strong Appalachian roots throughout the years. The Graham family recently took ownership of the property, and with the permit approval, are able to provide various opportunities for the New River Valley.
By: Eli Lamport, Science Reporter
Ponies have roamed 4,000 acres in Grayson Highlands State Park for over 50 years. They help keep the brush down on the park’s iconic bald mountaintops, and are a tourist attraction in their own right. The pony population has been diminished in recent years by predators, raising questions over their future in the park.
By: Sage Mayhew, Health and Wellness Reporter
On the surface, it looks like an ordinary riding lesson. However what’s happening behind the barn doors at Healing Strides of Virginia, is a whole lot more than just riding.
Emily Southern, science reporter
A recent statement by President Donald Trump suggesting a link between Tylenol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy and autism has sparked concern among families, medical experts, and the autism community. In this video, we speak with Ashdon Sigmon, a Rocky Mount mother of a nonverbal autistic child, and Nathaniel Porter, a social science data consultant at Virginia Tech, autistic adult, and father of three autistic children.
Together, they break down the emotional, scientific, and social impact of such claims, from how they influence public perception, to the pressure they place on parents.
By John Tuason, Politics and Government
A small group of protesters gathered on the Drillfield during the Turning Point USA event at Virginia Tech, chanting slogans such as “Hey hey, ho ho, trans hate has got to go” and “No Trump, no KKK, no Fascist USA.” They stood opposite the event line but maintained a peaceful posture, often observed by attendees who held phones and filmed rather than engaging.
By Milana Waller, arts and culture writer
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Business instructor Josiah Showalter has created a well-loved persona for himself known as “Judge on a Scooter”.
Showalter rides a maroon Honda scooter wrapped in the university’s logo around Virginia Tech’s campus. His chosen mode of transportation is not only effective, but instantly recognizable by many Tech students, especially those in the Pamplin College of Business.
In addition to his scooter, Showalter is known for his signature bowtie and oval glasses. Students often spot him at Gillie’s, where he has breakfast every Sunday with his wife, and Weight Club, where he exercises regularly.
Showalter has also gained a following online. His Instagram account, with more than 3,000 followers, features educational and campus related content. During finals week last semester, he interviewed his students and quizzed them on class material as a method for review.
As Judge on a Scooter, Showalter is best known by his business law students, though his charism and authenticity has spread across campus. He even has his own merchandise, with t-shirts with the catchphrase: “Can you feel the law?”
Showalter refers to his wife affectionately as “Pure Evil” and his two children as “Evil One” and “Evil Two”.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How long have you been teaching at Virginia Tech and what classes do you currently teach?
I’ve been teaching for 15 years and I teach Business Law. I’ve always taught business law.
When did you first purchase your scooter and what inspired it?
It was a gift to my family from a dear friend. They wrapped it.
How did your nickname as “Judge on a Scooter” emerge?
My son, Evil Two.
You’ve developed a very recognizable brand and persona. Was that intentional or did it occur more naturally?
All natural.
I’m sure you’ve been recognized across campus and in Blacksburg pretty often. What’s it like being such a familiar face?
And I’m not. I mean, every now and then people will say, “Oh!”. It’s primarily the scooter. It’s not me. My wife does. Pure evil, my wife.
Do you ever get recognized at Weight Club?
I would say maybe every now and then. But a lot of students, not because of the Instagram page but because of the students.
Can you recall any instances with any students that told you that your presence made an impact or a difference?
It’s really moved me the people that have said that I’ve impacted their life.
What positive impacts do you hope to bring to the student body?
Instagram. I was never gonna do it and toyed with the idea because all of you young people are on social media whether its Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat. Last year, the way that the spring semester spring break landed, it was right before an exam. My son suggested, “Why don’t you start an Instagram page?” So I mentioned it in class and one of my TA’s got four or five emails asking if I was going to do it for a review. It’s primarily for education. If you look at the ones during the week, they’re educational. They help to review the concepts we learned in class and my grades went up this past semester. I love that, so that’s good.
Do you think the reels encourage people to study harder?
It gave them an opportunity to review. I didn’t give them all the answers in terms of the questions, but it let them know where I was looking. That started in March. I started that.
Do you have a social media team that runs your Instagram?
My son, Evil Two, and my daughter, Evil One. They collaborated and my wife, Pure Evil, sometimes has a little part in it. But, my son just started law school. He’s not here so I have my adopted Evil Three and Four. They help me out and they are wonderful.
What overall impact do you hope that your scooter rides bring to the student body?
I hope that everybody realizes, and this is what I tell my class: the law impacts everything that you do. I mean, could you feel it when we went to Bollo’s, the law? I mean, seriously, could you feel the law? Because we did. I entered into an implied contract when I bought our coffee. Exceptions, consideration, legality, capacity. It was all there, you know? Think about it.
Are you trying to provide more real world context for students?
Absolutely.
If you could give one piece of advice to Virginia Tech students, what would it be?
I told my kids this every day and I tell my students this because Tech students are the best students. Do your best. Be happy.
Showalter enjoys a cup of Bollo’s house coffee.
John Tuason, Politics and Government reporter
At sunrise in the New River Valley, tractors still roll across fields of soybeans and corn, but the math isn’t adding up. Farmers say they’re paying more than ever to grow crops that sell for less than ever, thanks to the ripple effects of tariffs.
Tariffs have negatively affected many industries in Virginia, but in the New River Valley, it is farming and manufacturing that have been hit the hardest.
Dramatic increases in prices of fertilizer, seed, and diesel fuel plus the retaliatory tariffs by other countries are causing drastic income cuts to farmers across Virginia. Increased prices of raw materials, electronics, and decreased export ability have caused Virginia manufacturers to get hit hard as well. Donald Trump’s tariffs are no longer an abstract concept; they are beginning to shape the landscape of agriculture and commerce in the New River Valley.
Uncertainty is what is highlighting the US global trade policy right now and tariffs are what are causing the most rippling effects among smaller, rural communities.
On August 7th, 2025, Donald Trump’s invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) was put in full swing. The trade disputes caused by these tariffs are beginning to show the ripple effects on rural Virginia businesses. There are both winners and losers in this international game of chicken, with agribusiness bearing the brunt.
“These tariffs implemented by Donald Trump are gambling with farmers’ lives” said John Boyd, the founder of the National Black Farmers Association. “All of my costs have just about tripled and I’m selling my product for a fraction of what I was just a year ago.” Boyd is a farmer in Baskerville, Virginia and he grows soybeans, corn, and wheat. “This is a bad time to be a farmer.”
Xi He is an agricultural trade policy analyst at Virginia Tech. She explained the reasons behind the price increases and the decrease in sellable crops hitting the Shenandoah Valley right now. “Potash is a vital fertilizer that comes from Canada and supplies nearly 90% of the US’ agricultural needs. The production costs of tobacco, corn, soybeans, and wheat have been hit the hardest because of this. This, in combination with the retaliatory tariffs from other countries that are causing reduced demand for US products are hitting Virginia soybeans particularly hard right now.” Said He. These uncertainties have caused many Virginia Farmers to have to gamble their livelihoods.
According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), Virginia exports have decreased by almost 6%. This is due in part to China’s boycott of Virginia’s agricultural products like soybeans. “The only thing we do better than anybody is corn, wheat, and soybeans. It’s all ready to be shipped, but these tariffs are squeezing farmers for more than they can take. Farm bankruptcies are up and so are suicides.” Said Boyd.
“Before the tariffs, Virginia’s agriculture contributed about $3 billion in 2024 and is heavily dependent on agricultural exports. The higher expenses are a huge strain on the broader supply chain, and this causes ripple effects on rural economies.”
Small farms are especially vulnerable to the effects of these tariffs because they lack the financial safety net that bigger farms have. This means less competition for these bigger farm operations. The same market shocks that are rattling farmers are also disrupting Virginia’s other economic foundation: manufacturing.
Manufacturing contributes over $52.3 billion to Virginia’s economy. According to Bill Donahue, the CEO of Genedge, a company that specializes in enhancing the performance of manufacturing businesses in Virginia, “There are really 4 main challenges that we’re seeing because of the tariffs: [1] increased costs for raw materials like steel and aluminum are hitting automotive and construction industries the hardest right now. [2] The supply chain disruptions are interrupting global trade flows coming through the Port of Virginia. [3] Job cuts are hitting everyone right now, but it’s the mid-sized businesses we work with that are getting hit the hardest. [4] The general uncertainty of the economic landscape is disrupting the futureproofing and planning that we develop with these manufacturers.”
All this disruption has caused forced adaptation within both agriculture and manufacturing in Virginia. Farmers have had to diversify their crop production very quickly in response to the effects of tariffs while manufacturers have had to adjust their supply chains and seek domestic suppliers to stay afloat.
The government has responded to these concerns of farmers by aiding them with the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) and manufacturing has seen more exemptions being put into place to help with their increased costs.
Local economies like that of the New River Valley are deeply connected to global trade policy, yet these effects are hardly felt instantly. It will be years until we can understand the full impact of these policies, and it is the smallest farms; the smallest manufacturers that will get hit first.
“We’re just trying to hold steady until this storm passes.” Boyd said.
By: Landon Swanson, Sports Reporter
BLACKSBURG, Va. – A little over three years ago, Blacksburg thought they needed a change. Zack Leonard was hired as the Blacksburg High School football coach to help a struggling program. Now in his fourth season, he is trying to revitalize a team that had been struggling for so long.
After taking over in 2022, the vision was clear build a stable foundation and start from the ground up. The goal was to play with readiness and confidence before they ever took the field. Being prepared before the game helps you execute during the game.
Foundation Building
Football season has begun, and Blacksburg High School has started to find its stride lately under fourth year coach Zack Leonard. Leonard has brought persistence and steady leadership leading the team to victories in a big way.
When Leonard arrived in 2022, the Bruins were struggling as a program in more ways than on the field. With multiple losing seasons in a row before he arrived, things were looking up after his first free seasons in charge.
This fall’s hard work has been paying off as the Bruins started 2-1. The team has shown much resilience and confidence that is key in winning games. The team has gotten steadily better each year under Leonard.
“It’s been a process,” Leonard said. “We had to take every game one at a time, it was tough at the beginning.” Blacksburg struggled to win games for years prior to Leonard to being introduced to the team.
Stepping Stones
The team’s progress this season came into test earlier this season in an away game at Giles which resulted in a win for the Bruins, 40-8. The team came out with tremendous energy easily beating the first opponent of their season, which seemed to transition to week two as well. Week two led to a home game against James River which the Bruins came out on top once again.
Blacksburg High School Football in action. Blacksburg, Va. Sept. 19. 2025. (Landon Swanson, TheNewsFeedNRV)
“When you walk into the locker room there is a major energy difference from where we started to where we are now,” Assistant coach Mike Reynolds said. The belief in the team this year should be the highest it has been in a while.
Not many knew what could be done to bring life back into the program. A coaching change after the previous coach retired required a new system and new methodology for such a struggling team. The team relies more on each other than they do themselves and that is what has become key.
Finding an Identity
The Bruins aren’t leaning on major college prospects every week it takes a team effort. Even the offense and defense work together where the offense might attempt to take a long drive to give the defense a break. This led to Leonard and Blacksburg wanting to play a tough style of football.
“Wanting to play as tough as possible while getting the most out of my players is one of my top priorities this season,” Leonard said.
Playing as a team is the most important thing for many but especially for this Blacksburg team. Each player does well individually they seem to all put together as team when it matters most. Nothing is more important than good communication in football because without it nothing functions properly.
More Than Football
Off the field there are just as many important aspects of football where building strong team chemistry is essential to having a good team. Hanging out as a team and bonding through school or other activities has led Blacksburg to a stronger team chemistry.
Academics is also a major focus for Leonard and the team. “The student part of student-athletes will always come first no matter the circumstance,” he said.
Marcus Green, player, once thought of football as just as a fall activity, something he could do to fill the time but now he sees it as a commitment to his teammates and everyone else to participate. Green also believes this commitment he has brought to this team will help him far beyond high school football as well.
Looking Forward
With majority of the season still to go the Bruins football team has a lot to look forward to. The team wants to win as much as anyone else, but the hunger is stronger as much this year as ever before. The ability this team must win games has already been proven at the beginning of the year when they started with two wins.
Blacksburg High School Sign before their football game. Blacksburg, Va. Sept 19, 2025. (Landon Swanson, TheNewsFeedNRV)
“I thought this would just be something to do at first, but this has become something much more,” Green said. Coming together as a team has meant so much to Green and the rest of the team.
The hopes are high for the coaches and players this year at Blacksburg High School. The transition made from several winless seasons to playoff aspirations are real. Now it’s time to just put everything to the test as they continue playing this season.
by Jonathan Mususa, politics and government reporter
On Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m., young conservatives from Virginia Tech and elsewhere heard Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) and political commentator Megyn Kelly speak on politics, faith, and Charlie Kirk’s legacy, as part of Turning Point USA’s nationwide “This Is The Turning Point” tour of college campuses.
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