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EDITORIAL: $300,000 down, and $1.2 million to go
Public pressure prompted Franklin County supervisors on Tuesday to kick in $300,000 more in support of public schools. The small gesture came with big strings: Supervisors would like the school board to restore middle school sports and send bright freshmen to the governor’s school, and they’d like for people to stop blaming them. Supervisors are not callous villains. No. But they aren’t heroes of public school education, either. Nor when
LETTERS: Downtown’s new Center is great
Downtown’s new Center is great Southwest Virginia really has a gem with the new and improved Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke. As a volunteer this past Saturday, I got to see one of the most beautiful buildings ever. The layout is fantastic. From the aquarium on the first floor to the rooftop on the seventh floor, it is a very organized and beautiful addition to our city. Everyone
COMMENTARY: The case of the patented genes
Angelina Jolie’s genes threatened to kill her. But, for the time being anyway, she doesn’t own them. Jolie revealed last week that she chose to undergo a double mastectomy after testing positive for the BRCA1 mutation. That genetic glitch meant Jolie’s risk of developing breast cancer was as high as 87 percent; her mother died at age 56 of ovarian cancer, which is also associated with the BRCA1 gene. Jolie’s news
The president’s laudable stand
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for the Obama administration. The trifecta of scandals — Benghazi, the seizing of Associated Press phone call records and the inappropriate Internal Revenue Service scrutiny afforded conservative groups — has led to widespread criticism of the executive branch. And with good reason. We expect an administration to do a better job of defending our ambassadors and diplomatic personnel overseas; we demand that the
EDITORIAL: Roanoke County’s rights muddle
The damage to logic being done by ICLEI conspiracy theorists was on full display at the last board of supervisors meeting in Roanoke County. Whether the county eventually suffers the ill effects might depend on this year’s elections. Incumbent Ed Elswick, who is up for re-election in November, offered for consideration a property-rights resolution so ambiguous that the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce’s public policy expert showed up to object.
PICK OF THE DAY: Local government’s failure
On May 14, the same three Roanoke County supervisors (Richard Flora, Charlotte Moore and Mike Altizer) voted in lockstep once again (“Supervisor proposes resolution aimed to protect property rights,” May 15 news story). This time, it was an effort to put down a property rights resolution proposed by Supervisor Ed Elswick, despite previous comments by the trio that they are all “pro-property rights.” The ridiculous and inane arguments they made
COMMENTARY: Students are forced to subsidize college sports
ESPN TV contracts, clothing apparel, ticket sales, etc. There are countless revenue-generating sources from which collegiate athletics derive operational budgets. As much money as college athletic programs produce, there are also substantial costs associated with running these programs. When expenses are greater than revenue, this results in what is known as a budget shortfall. Each of Virginia’s public colleges and universities operated athletic programs with a deficit in 2011 (most
EDITORIAL: Getting answers on uranium
Foes of uranium mining in Virginia say they’ve met with Democrat Terry McAuliffe, the party’s presumed gubernatorial candidate, who has assured them he opposes it — though his campaign says his position hasn’t changed. In the past, he has said he would “need to be certain” it could “be done safely and cleaned up completely” before a state moratorium could be lifted, and “So far I have not seen that.”
LETTERS: Obama’s showing who he really is
Obama’s showing who he really is I hope the editorial department can find room to print this letter. I have been very patient over the last 4 ½ years, lying low and just waiting for the inevitable to happen. It is finally coming to the surface what this president is really made of. I am proud of CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, HLN and some of the other left-leaning media outlets for
EDITORIAL: Cuccinelli’s FOIA turkey
Virginia’s top lawyer is not above the law. Nor is Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli just doing his constituents a favor when he responds to requests for public records. Cuccinelli’s startling epiphany that he is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act came at a convenient moment. He is running for governor while being pelted with questions about his relationship with a businessman who has a pending dispute over state taxes.
PICK OF THE DAY: Artists share their gifts freely
Re: Al Shumate’s letter, “What is art’s real bottom-line value?” May 16: I am sure he offended many, if not all, artists with his comment, “all artists have their hands out for money.” He certainly offended me. I’ve been in the art gallery and picture framing business for 38 years. For 10 of those years, I owned The Cormany and Turner Galley, carrying more than 75 different artists. When a
COMMENTARY: On being an artist of life
“Is this junk or something for your art?” an outdoor blackboard under huge healthy oak trees asks at Wonderland studio. The quote is from a man whose wife was one of the founders of Rockbridge County’s Artists Studio Tour. I was a guest artist on the hill of their property outside Lexington. Encouraged by working with this assemblage artist (not junk artist), I was drift-and-salvage wood guy. An outdoor shed
COMMENTARY: For animals’ sake, it’s time to stop this circus
Having the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus here in Roanoke for performances on five days saddened those of us who love animals. However, The Roanoke Times chose to give this circus lots of free publicity, with one headline reading “The Greatest Show on Earth.” However, animal welfare organizations call it, rightfully, “The cruelest show on Earth,” substantiated by the all-time high penalty of $270,000 imposed on this circus
EDITORIAL: Va. Republicans turn far right
When he dropped his bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination late last year, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said the GOP “has to decide what it wants to be.” “Are we going to be a party that engages in a great ideological debate, or are we going to be a party that’s more focused on winning elections, earning the right to lead and leading responsibly?” Bolling asked. Virginia Republicans answered that question at
LETTERS: When sirens sound, think of responders
When sirens sound, think of responders Most people never think of our police officers and firefighters and the sacrifices they make for us. There is a lot of stress for the families of these men and women who so bravely serve us. When you see a police officer or firefighter or hear their sirens go off, thank God for them. They do their duty so bravely and courageously. I appreciate
EDITORIAL: Taking out the trash
Virginia’s Adopt-A-Highway program is a mess. Records are shoddy. Volunteers aren’t honoring their pledge. Last year, litter was picked up as often as required along fewer than 400 of the state’s nearly 75,000 miles of highway. Even a Virginia Department of Transportation group that included the agency’s commissioner fell short. Cleaning the shoulders of the road is a public service and one that the public isn’t too enthused about pitching
PICK OF THE DAY: Va. is for roadside trash
Virginia’s Adopt-A-Highway program only treats symptoms of a larger disease (“Adopt-A-Highway: Left on the roadside,” May 19 news story). Even if successful, it covers only a fraction of roadsides, most now lined with nondegradable materials just piling up. Glass, metal and plastic containers comprise a huge chunk of trash, so people need strong incentives not to toss such to begin with. Michigan adopted bottle deposits years ago, and that trash
COMMENTARY: Priorities for our fiscal future
As small business owners, my family considers it a tremendous responsibility and honor that our company provides great jobs for our valued employees while giving back to the communities that have made us so successful. We take our responsibility as employers and as taxpayers very seriously. We value the well-being of our employees just as much as we value our customers and our business. Like all Americans, we understand the
LETTERS: Thanks for writing of immigrant successes
Thanks for writing of immigrant successes Thanks for the recent stories on immigrants in our area — Norma Velez (“Breaking boundaries,” April 30 news story) and the Estacios, mother and daughter (“Success, defined,” May 12 news story). These women should be very proud of what they’ve accomplished. Each has overcome hardships and obstacles to become a successful and productive member of the American family. As we debate various proposals for
COMMENTARY: Rocky and Bullwinkle moment for Republicans
“Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!” Reality mirrored fiction on May 14 at the Roanoke County Administration Center. The Roanoke County Republicans looked just as cartoonish as Bullwinkle when choosing their candidate to run in the general election for the Hollins District seat on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. The May 11 firehouse primary ended in a rare 389-389 tie between Al Bedrosian and Mike Bailey. In
1. Natural Bridge, its nearby attractions are up for sale
2. Ex-Salem volleyball coach accused of secretly filming girls faces more charges
3. Roanoke police file charges in stolen canoe caper
4. Former police officer drains 2 holes-in-one in same round
5. Owner says he'll rebuild after overnight fire at Roanoke welding shop
6. Man injured in Roanoke motorcycle wreck Tuesday identified
7. Body of missing Fries woman found Thursday in Grayson County
8. Rocky Mount police investigate 3-month-old's death
9. Festival in the Park gets overhaul, new location (with map)
10. Chad Pinder, Virginia Tech hammer Virginia in ACC baseball tournament
THE ROANOKE TIMES
