Digital News Supervisor
Roanoke VA
Pat was born and raised in Reno, Nevada, and studied journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno.
He became a top 40 radio disc jockey in 1983, at age 19. and was in radio mostly full-time in Reno and Sacramento, CA until 2006. He moved from music radio to news/talk as a news anchor and then talk show host.
2006 is when he became a writer and producer of a new Reno 10pm CW newscast, and when that ended in 2008, he moved to the ABC affiliate as a producer. That led to stints as assignment manager and digital content manager over the course of his 11 years there. An honor was when he was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters' Hall of Fame.
In 2019, his wife retired, their kids being grown, and they decided to try another part of the country, so they sold the house, packed everything into PODS and headed east. During the trip came this opportunity, and here he is!
Pat is a huge fan of the Bee Gees, Michael Keaton, the LA Dodgers and the color purple.
Updated: May. 28, 2024 at 10:58 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
The body of a suspect in a sexual battery case was found after a search in Alleghany County.
Updated: May. 16, 2024 at 10:45 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
John Lloyd Webb, 46, and Margaret Ann Mullens, 30, face charges.
Updated: May. 15, 2024 at 12:34 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
”I really didn’t believe it!” he told lottery officials when he redeemed his winning ticket. “It feels great!”
Updated: May. 15, 2024 at 10:35 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Flags in Virginia are lowered Wednesday because of Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, per an order by Governor Youngkin.
Updated: May. 9, 2024 at 4:21 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Kati Louise Villoch, 27 of Wytheville, was arrested Thursday morning.
Updated: May. 7, 2024 at 7:14 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas and Gray News staff
The alert was canceled Tuesday evening after the child was found safe, according to the Scott’s County Sheriff’s Office.
Updated: May. 7, 2024 at 12:10 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Marquel Solomon is set for a jury trial August 22, 2024 in Lynchburg Circuit Court on one charge of Involuntary Manslaughter.
Updated: May. 3, 2024 at 1:07 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Deputies are working to establish a motive for the attempted theft.
Updated: May. 2, 2024 at 12:05 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
A 14-year-old has been charged with Threat to Bomb a Building after an incident in Lynchburg Thursday morning.
Updated: May. 2, 2024 at 11:55 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
The REAL ID driver’s license and identification card have a small star in the upper right corner to indicate they meet federal regulations that establish minimum security standards.
Updated: May. 1, 2024 at 1:44 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
The School Board is in the process of evaluating the report and determining what additional actions may be necessary.
Updated: May. 1, 2024 at 12:46 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Raymond Uttaro will face sentencing August 8, 2024.
Updated: Apr. 26, 2024 at 6:06 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Kulpreet Singh was arrested and charged with malicious wounding and reckless handling of a firearm for the shooting of Collin Walker of Montvale.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2024 at 4:43 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Jon Pieter Vanbreemen was accused of traveling from Covington to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to engage in sexual activity with two girls.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2024 at 12:53 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
The grand jury indicted Joseph Richard Walker, 30 of Roanoke, and Garrett Isaac Williams, 21 of Lynchburg.
Updated: Apr. 17, 2024 at 2:04 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Michael Hightower, Jr. is in custody in Webb County, Texas, awaiting extradition to Virginia.
Updated: Apr. 15, 2024 at 1:22 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Governor Glenn Youngkin has ordered US and Virginia flags to be flown at half-staff Tuesday to honor the 32 people killed in a shooting at Virginia Tech April 16, 2007.
Updated: Apr. 15, 2024 at 10:37 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
The driver of a truck who hit a house in Franklin County Sunday sustained minor injuries.
Updated: Apr. 13, 2024 at 6:44 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
One person was taken to a hospital in critical condition after a lawnmower flipped.
Updated: Apr. 11, 2024 at 12:59 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Dominique Cornelius Grant, 36 of Collinsville. is being held in the Martinsville City Jail without bond.
Updated: Apr. 10, 2024 at 12:37 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
The task force has arrested 48 people on drug and firearm violations, with resulting convictions leading to sentences totaling almost 700 years.
Updated: Apr. 10, 2024 at 11:03 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
A Roanoke County preschooler has a new jacket, thanks to a firefighter/paramedic crew that showed up at the child’s school to help after an injury.
Updated: Apr. 9, 2024 at 2:58 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Tuition and mandatory fees for Virginia undergraduate students will increase $474, to $15,950 annually, and out-of-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees will increase $1,084, totaling $37,777 annually.
Updated: Apr. 8, 2024 at 4:38 PM EDT
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By Kaitlyn Dillon and Pat Thomas
A missing 14-year-old girl from Franklin County has been located, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
Updated: Apr. 8, 2024 at 8:47 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
A pickup belonging to a man reported missing from Alleghany County has been found in West Virginia.
Updated: Apr. 5, 2024 at 6:43 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Megan Duffy comes to Blacksburg from Marquette University to replace former Coach Kenny Brooks, who left to take the same job at Kentucky.
Updated: Apr. 3, 2024 at 5:10 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas and Andrew McMunn
Authorities said K9 Riven died while protecting his assigned corrections officer, staff, and other inmates at Sussex State Prison.
Updated: Apr. 3, 2024 at 4:58 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas and Jordan Gartner
A lucky lottery winner won a $1 million prize even while playing a different game than she thought.
Updated: Apr. 3, 2024 at 3:09 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Drugs and cash were seized as part of the investigation.
Updated: Apr. 3, 2024 at 2:27 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Rivan, a Belgian Malinois that would have turned 6 April 30, joined the Virginia Department of Corrections in 2019.
Updated: Apr. 3, 2024 at 11:00 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
A Christiansburg woman has won a $1 million Powerball prize, though what she was aiming for was a Mega Millions jackpot, according to Virginia Lottery.
Updated: Apr. 2, 2024 at 11:30 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
One driver was cited for making an unsafe lane change.
Updated: Mar. 31, 2024 at 7:26 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
“Our thoughts are with the family affected by this unfortunate incident, including the loss of their pets.”
Updated: Mar. 29, 2024 at 10:59 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
VT security guards reined them in and got them back home.
Updated: Mar. 28, 2024 at 12:25 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Kenneth Sayers, 56, was sentenced Thursday in Wythe County Circuit Court to 28 years and 3 months in prison.
Updated: Mar. 26, 2024 at 11:52 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Virginia Tech women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks is leaving the university to to take the head coaching job at the University of Kentucky.
Updated: Mar. 25, 2024 at 1:35 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Pierce Douglas Martin and Matthew David Durham, both 19, are charged with misdemeanor vandalism.
Updated: Mar. 25, 2024 at 12:56 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Police say a dark-colored vehicle with its lights off was seen being driven from the area.
Updated: Mar. 22, 2024 at 12:51 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Police say there is no indication the driver was speeding or impaired at the time of the crash.
Updated: Mar. 21, 2024 at 7:01 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Police say a boy was taken to a hospital for treatment of what appeared to be critical injuries.
Updated: Mar. 21, 2024 at 11:32 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Virginia Tech women’s basketball center Liz Kitley will not play in the 2024 NCAA tournament.
Updated: Mar. 21, 2024 at 10:26 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
"There will be a void in many hearts, but the memories will fulfill. RIP brother We will take it from here Brother.”
Updated: Mar. 21, 2024 at 8:51 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
The kits will likely stay at the wildlife center until at least this fall, when they can be released.
Updated: Mar. 20, 2024 at 3:40 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
"After hearing evidence, Judge Saunders ruled there was not probable cause and dismissed the charges."
Updated: Mar. 20, 2024 at 3:15 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
The National Transportation Safety Board continues with its investigation into the crash of the plane that was scheduled to land at Ingalls Field in Bath County after leaving Florida.
Updated: Mar. 19, 2024 at 1:57 PM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Virginia Tech women’s basketball center Elizabeth Kitley has been named a Sporting News first team All-American.
Updated: Mar. 19, 2024 at 11:27 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
The winning ticket matched the first five numbers and missed only the Powerball number.
Updated: Mar. 18, 2024 at 11:43 AM EDT
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By Pat Thomas
Richard Herman Albers, 63, is charged with four counts of using communications systems to solicit a juvenile and two counts of attempted production of child p*rnography.
Updated: Mar. 12, 2024 at 12:14 PM EDT
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By Patsy Montesinos and Pat Thomas
All five people aboard the plane were killed.
Updated: Mar. 11, 2024 at 11:05 AM EDT
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By Leila Mitchell and Pat Thomas
The occupants of the plane, a twin-engine IAI Astra 1125, were the pilot, first officer and three passengers, one of whom was a juvenile.
