Laurence Hammack

Roanoke

Veteran Roanoke Times reporter, covering environmental issues, including the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and business and enterprise stories.

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Articles

Judge approves settlements for 5 babies hurt at Henrico Doctors' NICU

1 week ago | richmond.com | Laurence Hammack

SALEM – A judge in Salem approved settlements Friday that resolved likely lawsuits from the families of five toddlers, who as newborn babies suffered broken bones and other injuries while being cared for at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.
Judge approves settlements in Salem in Richmond-area hospital injury cases

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

A judge in Salem approved settlements Friday that resolved likely lawsuits from the families of five toddlers, who as newborn babies suffered broken bones and other injuries while being cared for at the Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.
One year later: A look at the Mountain Valley Pipeline

1 week ago | dailyprogress.com | Laurence Hammack

One year after the Mountain Valley Pipeline was completed, scars on the landscape along parts of its route through Southwest Virginia remain fresh. From the top of Poor Mountain in Roanoke County, a strip of bare earth can be seen cutting a swath up and down a wooded slope — marking the path of a buried pipeline that began transporting natural gas to East Coast markets on June 14, 2024. Construction crews have spent the past year working on final restoration.
Mountain Valley Pipeline still faces problems, foes say

1 week ago | godanriver.com | Laurence Hammack

One year after the Mountain Valley Pipeline was completed, scars on the landscape along parts of its route through Southwest Virginia remain fresh. From the top of Poor Mountain in Roanoke County, a strip of bare earth can be seen cutting a swath up and down a wooded slope — marking the path of a buried pipeline that began transporting natural gas to East Coast markets on June 14, 2024. Construction crews have spent the past year working on final restoration.
Roanoke police: woman found dead outside her home

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

What began as a missing person report is now a homicide investigation into the death of a Roanoke woman. The body of Meagan Martin, 40, was found outside of her home in the 1400 block of Downing Street NW Tuesday, police said. Martin last spoke to family members on Saturday, according to the Roanoke Police Department.
Motorcyclist who struck deer on Blue Ridge Parkway dies from his injuries

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

A motorcyclist who struck a deer on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Floyd has died from his injuries. Shortly before noon June 1, Edward Zigata, 60, of Shallotte, North Carolina, was headed north on the parkway when he collided with a deer crossing the road, according to the National Park Service. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Zigata was thrown from his motorcycle and seriously injured.
Mountain Valley Pipeline still faces problems, foes say

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

One year after the Mountain Valley Pipeline was completed, scars on the landscape along parts of its route through Southwest Virginia remain fresh. From the top of Poor Mountain in Roanoke County, a strip of bare earth can be seen cutting a swath up and down a wooded slope — marking the path of a buried pipeline that began transporting natural gas to East Coast markets on June 14, 2024. Construction crews have spent the past year working on final restoration.
Former doctor at pain clinics sentenced to 40 months in prison

2 weeks ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

A former physician was sentenced to 40 months in prison Tuesday for illegal prescriptions from a chain of Western Virginia pain clinics where, authorities said, turning a profit took precedence over treating patients. Duane Dixon, 66, was part of what was referred to as a “den of thieves” at L5 Medical Holdings, a now-defunct company that operated five Pain Care Centers, including ones in Blacksburg and Christiansburg. “Was he the leader of that den of thieves?
Salem woman convicted in fatal shooting of her boyfriend

3 weeks ago | roanoke.com | Laurence Hammack

A Salem jury convicted Wilma Jean Jones of murder Thursday, rejecting her testimony that shooting and killing her boyfriend was the only defense she had to his threats and abuse. Jones, 45, stood impassively as the jury’s verdict was read: Guilty of the second-degree murder of Joshua Dwayne Dickson, using a firearm in the crime, and possessing the black .22-caliber pistol as a convicted felon. At about 9 p.m. Sept.
Inspector for MVP claims he was fired for reporting safety concerns

3 weeks ago | martinsvillebulletin.com | Laurence Hammack

A welding inspector for the Mountain Valley Pipeline says he was fired for reporting corrosion of the metal pipe as it was being installed in 2023, about the time a federal safety agency voiced concerns about what it called “a pipeline integrity risk.”Michael Barnhill made the claims in a lawsuit filed in Monroe County, West Virginia, where the buried pipeline crosses the state line and enters Giles County on its way through Southwest Virginia.