Good morning, Lynchburg.

Lynchburg is ranked No. 9 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Places to Retire list (a national ranking released this month), which evaluated more than 850 cities on affordability, health care, retiree taxes, jobs, and quality of life.

The Amherst Apple Harvest celebrated its 55th year on Oct.

17 and Oct. 18 and drew more than 7,500 people to Amherst County High School, with more than 150 vendors, local artisans, food providers, small businesses, and entertainers.

Amherst County High School Theatre placed third in the state and will travel to Lexington in March to compete at the Southeastern Theatre Conference.

A collaborative initiative through the Owen Cardwell Center for Leadership will launch in early 2027 to connect families of children ages 0 to 3 to existing services and build neighborhood advocates in zip codes (24501 and 24504) without changing partners' programs or funding.

Amherst County voters are deciding whether to allow pari-mutuel gaming, a move that could bring a Rosie’s Gaming Emporium and, supporters say, jobs and about $44 million in regional economic output while opponents warn of crime and threats to the county’s small-town character.

Mary Pope M. Hutson (president of Sweet Briar College) was named chair of the Virginia Board of Historic Resources last week and will oversee state preservation policy and review nominations to the Virginia Landmarks Register.

Eagles Nest Regeneration LLC will use a $1.1 million Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority grant to renovate a house in Daniel's Hill and open a residential treatment center for women.