Southwest Field Notes: National Black Lung Association to meet next week in Abingdon amid historic high numbers of the disease in central Appalachia 

Tobacco commission's new foundation taps Deborah Gosney as executive director

The Foundation for the Advancement of Southern and Southwest Virginia was created in May to help localities and organizations apply for state, federal and philanthropic funding.

College sports are awash in more money than ever, yet a growing number of schools are losing money on intercollegiate athletics

The number of top schools that are losing money on intercollegiate athletics has nearly doubled over the past decade. Many others are profitable only because schools are subsdizing the programs or imposing mandatory fees on students to cover the costs for what increasingly are professionalized sports.

With classes started, Roanoke school division provides final number of 148 eliminated jobs

It started the academic year with 127 vacancies as well.

Concerns raised over time between city of Roanoke data breach and notification

It was unknown Thursday how many were potentially affected.

Notes from the Square: State seeks input on Virginia's rail plan

Plus: Gov. Spanberger taps more Southwest and Southside residents to serve on boards.