The heavy rain is causing First Responders to gear up in case someone gets stuck in the rising water. Bobby haynes is one of 26 members of salems swift water rescue team, and says he has had to gear up and save someone from rough waters several times. He says crews have flood gauges throughout the area to keep track of the amount rising water. They also train every month on different swift water rescue techniques. Were told it only takes a few inches to a feet of water for your car to get stuck. And if you see deep water, the best thing you can do is turn around, dont drown. Bobby haynes weve had people with some close call situations and were fortunate enough that those people have come back and taught us the lessons that theyve learned and try to keep us safe. You can read more of these tips and others on wdbj7 dot com. Just click on this story. Police are investigating a homicide in northwest roanoke. After 4 30 yesterday afternoon. Investigators are talking to witnesses and gathering evidence. No arrests have been made, and a Police Spokesman says officers are not actively searching for any suspects. Authorities have not identified the victim. New this Morning Police in danville are investigating a murder. It happened just after 12 15 this morning in the 200 block of halifax street. A man was found dead with apparent gunshot wounds. The name of the victim has not been released. Anyone with information about the shooting is saked to call police. cold toss to leo todaygood morning kimberly good morning everyone we could see another inch or two as we head through the day on top of arty the snow melt and the rain we had over previous days one batches showers moving through right now would some heavier downpours especially down toward the south side be from time to time but we will see more as we head through the day. Thats why flood watches continue until seven oclock tonight for our entire viewing area even had some rumbles of thunder moving through the south side a lot of that tends to fall part though still have that cool air locked in place so the atmosphere more stable soon these thunderstorms develop and drive into the region they tend to fall part but eventually that cooler weather will be scour out would some strong winds and would this one powerful lowpressure center and that will increase our chances for stronger storms as we head through the afternoon heres the rest marginal risk a Severe Weather back into the mountains a West Virginia slight risk roanoke Lynchburg Danville martinsville up toward lexington and even an enhanced risk as you head toward halifax and Charlotte County isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out today main threat will be flash flooding and strong damaging wind us out of these thunderstorms but again like imagine isolated tornadoes not out of the question today if we scour out these cooler temperatures should climb into the upper 50s back down into the 40s but sunday and monday we start to warm back up today were in that cool air wedge early but that it scour out this afternoon thats when we have the best chance of seeing some stronger storms as the main lowpressure center stays to our west we still get that gulf coast moisture and atlantic moisture all wrapped together you forecast for today rain likely isolated storms temperatures topping out pretty much into the fifties to near sixty degrees or so and as you maker way over toward tonight would in a continue would some rain showers changeover snow showers in the mountains seven day planner linda that will have quieter weather and deride airconditioned friday saturday and sunday we really need the dry weather app all this rain again this afternoon Pay Attention be weather aware the potential is there strong storms you is will a you isplex in Botetourt County are on the move. The work began yesterday and the second home will move tomorrow, weather permitting. The land the homes sit on, and the remaining vacant land at the greenfield complex were leased to the countys Economic Development authority. There are no yet. Were still waiting to hear final details, but all signs point to an appearance by donald trump in southWest Virginia next week. Wdbj7 learned yesterday that bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley and his grandson nathan are endorsing trump for president. Their publicist confirmed they are planning to attend a Campaign Event on monday in salem. Trump was last in our area in january at Liberty University in lynchburg salem city officials and Trump Campaign staffers though say no plans have been finalized. Eight years ago, dr. Stanley endorsed barack obama for president. In a Facebook Post last year, he said he made a mistake with that selection. His grandson, nathan, is supposed to perform at the trump event. Ralph stanley will be there, health permitting, according to his publicist. The recent death of blacksburg teenager Nicole Lovell is helping to raise awareness about the potential dangers of the internet and social media. In this weeks mornin newsmakers, were sitting down with nancy hans, with the roanoke county. That organization is among those working to educate kids and their parents about the web. Good morning, nancy. Kimberly mcbroom wdbj7 prev ention Council Spends a lot time talking about alcohol and drug abuse, why is it that you are all are also delving into internet safety . Kimberly mcbroom wdbj7 earlier this week, you hosted a discussion at an Elementary School in the county about the internet safety. What were some of the topics that you covered . Mcbroom wdbj7 what is the best thing parents can do to help navigate the world of apps and social media wtih their kids . Mcbroom wdbj7 since you all do work a lot in drug and alcohol abuse prevention, is there a connection at all to web dangers and addiction . Thanks for being here, nancy. About the Prevention Council of roanoke county, and how it helps young people in our area by heading to our web com. Grab your umbrella and make sure you have your wipers and lights on when you head out on the roads today. Well also take a look at the latest traffic alerts, in your ihometown traffic report. We may be drenched in rain, but its never too late to think about hitting the trails outside. Were talking biking classes, bike trails, and new Nature Programs after the mornin pockets of heavy rain and strong storms possible today. A handful of lesser traveled roads in the new river valley are flooded right now. Theres also thick fog along i77 in the fancy gap area. A viewer shared this photo of big branch road in tazewell county. Careful as you head out. Theres also construction on that road. Its blocked in both directions near falls mill road until march 9th. Gas line installation could slow you down in southwest roanoke. Flaggers will control traffic on rosewood avenue and creston avenue. Thats happening from eight am to four pm now through march 15th. Road work will impact traffic in amherst county. Both directions of Geddes Mountain road are closed from roses mill road to Patrick Henry highway. It should reopen march 18th. Theres a lot explore in roanoke county, we just have to wait for the rain to dry out. In the meantime, wdbj7s Amanda Kenney is telling us what classes and programs we can look forward to this spring and summer. And theres a lot to forward to, especially if you like to be outside. Im with dan lucas at green ridge recreation center. Going on . Bike classes bike trails at explore park 2. What is the Roanoke Mountain adventures partnership . Something new this spring for nature lovers . Still ahead, theres still time to try and stick to that new years resolution of getting fit. What you can do here green ridge this spring and summer. When it comes to attracting new companies in the area, having an interstate is almost always a factor. Coming up after the break, wdbj7s interstate into the hill city might be playing a role in the areas economy. Life as spokesbox is great. People love me for saving them over half a grand when they switch to progressive. So im dabbling in new ventures. It was boardgame night with the dalai lama. Great guy. Terrible player. Go paperless dont stress, girl i got the discounts that you need its a balancing act, but i got to give the people what they want more box. Any words for the critics . What can i say . Critties gonna neg. [ applause ] the what . afternoonso we have the potential of heavy rain flooding severe storms but we also the guilt some areas of fog as he heading out early on up toward the highlands visibility down to zero or less than a quartermile we should say down toward the south side even to the ronald valley seeing some low clouds and fog beware that showers feeding up from the gulf of mexico also tapping into some atlantic moisture the actual lowpressure center stays to our west we have to get through all the moisture had out low before its all said and done again we have a slight risk a Severe Weather today toward Halifax Charlotte county rack she have an enhanced risk back toward the of some severe storms main threat would be torrential rainfall strong damaging wind us in even isolated tornado cannot be ruled out you can see the weather impacts dream one to two 2 inches a rain causing flash flooding severe storms of those locally strong damaging wind gusts and even isolated tornado some of those could be wrapped up and rains are you him and see it but just be aware isolated tornadoes nothing range the when even see it but just be aware isolated tornadoes. Nothing widespread nothing like had along the gulf coast just beware the potential is there temperatures in the thirties and forties right now were in that cool air wedge so were protected from Severe Weather right now with that cool weather will get scour out later this afternoon thats why we have an increased chance of though storms later on with that southerly flow strong jet stream we should scour out the cooler temperatures as you head through the afternoon and then well see that front comes through an and will see Colder Weather on the backside changing over some that moisture to snow showers in the mountains again rain likely today couple strong storms possible temperatures in the fifties evenson low sixties showers likely tonight maybe some snow showers in the day today gusty winds thursday cant loud a couple trees coming down because of the saturated ground and him really dry conditions lynchburg is the largest city in virginia and one of the largest in the United States without an interstate. Experts say those highways drive Economic Growth by attracting employers and connecting major cities to one another. That left us wondering, does lynchburgs lack of an interstate mean its being left off the map . In this special report, wdbj7s tim saunders shows us how the city is overcoming its transportation challenges. Like an artery in the heart, interstate highways carry the lifeblood of americas economy. Millions of travelers and trucks carrying commercial goods move through the freeway system every day. None of that traffic comes anywhere close to lynchburg, the largest city in virginia with no direct interstate access. Lee cobb Economic Development consultant we were always able to overcome that. Lee cobb spent several decades marketing lynchburg as an Economic Development director. Attract two of the citys largest employers j. Crew and frito lay. Luring those companies was not easy. Cobb the tough part was getting them over that barrier where they said they had to be on an interstate. Lynchburg is about an hour from the nearest interstate; a transportation obstacle that was nearly avoided. When the highway system was developed in the 1950s, planners conceived several different routes for interstate 64. One would have taken the highway from richmond into lynchburg following us route 60, but that plan never came to pass. Instead, 64 was routed through charlottesville and staunton, leaving lynchburg with no interstate of its own. Lynchburg has several highways that function like an interstate. Routes 460 and 29 pass through the city as four lane freeways, but that doesnt mean much to companies outside the region who are looking for a red, white, and blue shield on the map. Cobb i had any number of companies that would not even discuss this as a location, because we are not on an Manufacturing Companies employ site selectors, who help them find property for expansion or relocation. One of the top things they look for is an interstate. Christine kennedy Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance a lot of times when we get leads from the state, its nothing more than checking a box. Do you have an interstate . When we have to check that box no, that in some cases could mean we dont get a look. Joe turek economic analyst the absence of an interstate certainly can impede the ability of a community to compete for businesses in the location decision. Joe turek is dean of the school of business and economics at lynchburg college. His school conducted research into why Certain Companies locate in lynchburg, while others avoid the area. Turek the firms that chose not to locate in the lynchburg metropolitan area frequently cited poor transportation as one of the reasons. Kennedy if we get a chance to explain it, it doesnt hinder us. Kennedy and the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance are launching agressive new marketing efforts, designed to show off the regions assets to employers who might not have lynchburg on their list. Place. We have a low cost of doing business here. We have a labor pool ready to work. Benefits like that dont just attract new employers, but also help retain existing ones. In 2011 lynchburgs Economic Development director convinced j. Crew to expand its distribution and call center on dillard drive, adding more than 150 new jobs. Marjette upshur Economic Development director when i talk to our existing businesses, when they are growing their business, the fact that we dont have an interstate doesnt seem to be a real deterrent to them. Marjette upshur says many other factors come into the equation like air service and lack of available land. Upshur when we get our feedback, a lot of times the site itself is what makes a company go one place or another, rather than the fact we dont have an interstate. Still, transportation challenges remain a focus of concern. Shannon valentine, lynchburgs representative on the commonwealth transportation board, is spearheading a new study that examines the impact current transportation on the regions ability to compete. Shannon valentine commonwealth transportation board member its asking what are the challenges facing businesses when it comes to recruitment and expansion. What are the challenges and opportunities . The data will be used to help valentine fight for lynchburgs Transportation Needs and secure funding for those projects. That probably wont include an interstate, now or at any other pont in the near future. Kennedy it is just too expensive and congress right now is not making any long term transportation investments beyond five years. Which means lynchburg is left to work with the roads that already exist. Its a situation that may not have them in the fast lane to attracting jobs and growing the employment base, but economic leaders say theyre still very much on the road to progress. In lynchburg, tim saunders, wdbj7. Its not too unusual to hear about babys being born by c section. But a delivery in england was so unusual, even the im Hillary Clinton and i approve this message. Her lifes work has been about breaking barriers. And so would her presidency. Which is why, for every american whos not being paid what theyre worth. Whos held back by student debt or a system tilted against them country cant reach its potential. Unless we all do. Together. Theres a new baby gorilla at a zoo in britain. But this little girl was delivered by caesarean section. The decision to use the procedure came earlier this month when the mothe showed symptoms of a potentially life threatening condition. Zoo Officials Say the birth marks one of only a handful of times that a baby gorilla has been delivered this way. It was a first for the zoo, and the doctor who usually delivers haman babies. The third ones the charm for donald trump after last nights victory in the nevada caucuses. Why voters and political analysts say hes on a winning streak. We now know how president obama plans to close the Detention Center at guantanamo bay. How many prisoners are still there, and how much the president s plan will cost. And a puppy in South Carolina is recovering, after two teenagers shot it more than a dozen times with a bb gun. Facing. Good morning. Its just after 6 30 on wednesday. Im garrett turner. And im kimberly mcbroom. Nevadas Republican Caucus is over, with another win going to donald trump. As Danielle Nottingham reports, there was no clear victory for second place between ted cruz and marco rubio. After picking up a thirdconsecutive victory in last nights nevada caucuses. Donald trump continues his winning streak. With an eye on super tuesday states sot trump we have great numbers coming out of texas, amazing numbers coming out of tennessee and georgia. Its going to be an amazing two