March 31, 2007Comment on Saturday's editorialsBallroom is saved, but dangers remain Clear the air Comment on Saturday's local commentary and lettersAlways faithful, no matter where or how long Saturday's letters can be read here. March 30, 2007College tuition keeps climbingFor Monday, we're writing about tuition increases at Tech and Radford. College is quickly moving beyond affordability for most families. Virginians have state lawmakers that consistently underfund higher education to thank. There were some hopeful signs this year, but we have a long way to go. Virginia lawmakers should go along with a restaurant smoking banFor Saturday: Virginia House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith says a restaurant smoking ban, as proposed by Gov. Tim Kaine, would apply to all sorts of unintended places -- "anywhere where food is served outside of your residence." Griffith and other opponents of the ban are just blowing smoke. The Corinthian BallroomFor Saturday, we're taking on the difficult issue of the Corinthian Ballroom. The Fire Board of Appeals rejected the fire marshal's citation requiring the owners of the building to create a second exit to the street and lifting a business-ending occupancy limit of 49 on the facility. But the safety issues remain - and as Roanoke tries harder to preserve older buildings, these issues will undoubtedly arise again. Electricity rate hikeFor Monday: A State Corporation Commission hearing examiner has determined that rates charged Appalachian Power Co. should increase by 3.9 percent rather than the 25.4 percent the company has collected on an interim basis since October. If the ruling stands, customers will be due large refunds. However, some have been under tremendous hardships for several months now paying substantially higher bills. Comment on Friday's editorialsHousing chief stumbles on his own ax Comment on Friday's local commentary and lettersSlow awakening to scope of brain injuries Friday's letters can be read here. March 29, 2007For Sunday: Bush proposes to cut National Cancer Institute fundingAs the nation's attention has been fixed on the cancer cases of two high-profile individuals, Elizabeth Edwards and Tony Snow, a troubling bit of info has seeped out: President George Bush's proposed 2008 fiscal year budget calls for an estimated $11 million reduction in funding for the National Cancer Institute, the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training. Granted, the cut represents a small portion of the $4.78 billion Bush has earmarked for NCI in his proposed spending plan. But he makes this baffling proposal as the number of new cancer cases in inching upward, from 1,334,100 in 2003 to 1,399,7790 in 2006, according to the American Cancer Society. That number is expected to reach 1,444,920 this year. Now certainly is not the time to reduce funding for cancer research. Veto on annexation extensionFor Friday: Gov. Kaine rightly vetoed a bill that would have extended the moratorium on annexation in Virginia. More thought should be given to this, to the commonwealth's sytem of pitting cities and counties against each other and to finding a way to encourage regionalization of services. With its director's resignation, Roanoke's housing authority needs to focus on stabilityFriday we'll comment on the resignation of Roanoke's housing authority director less than a year after he took the job. Ellis Henry complained about micromanagement from the authority's board of commissioners, but the board's questions about planned layoffs don't sound onerous. They sound responsible. The board now needs to concentrate on finding a director who will bring stability to an agency that has been in turmoil for too long. Capping commercial space in BlacksburgFor our Sunday Current editorial, we'll be commenting on a proposed rule in Blacksburg that would require any retailer larger than 80,000 square feet to get permission from the town to open. Translation: If Wal-Mart, Target or such want to open, they'll have to sell their plan to the council. It's a good idea that will help the town preserve its character. If people want the big-box experience, they need only drive five miles to Christiansburg. Comment on Thursday's editorialsVirginia's re-regulation surge Comment on Thursday's local commentary and lettersAbout self-respect Oh, the possibilities for Roanoke Thursday's letters can be read here. March 28, 2007PuppiesFor my Sunday column, I'm writing about puppies. There's a simmering controversy in the New River Valley over the decision by ZooQuatic Pet Center to start selling puppies. The burning of a puppy mill last week didn't help matters. ZooQuatic is legally entitled to sell puppies, and if they think that's a good business decision, more power to them. At the same time, anyone who doesn't like it is equally entitled not to shop there and to lobby their lawmakers to change the law on puppy mills. Bottom line on dog adoption, though, is that people should head to their local shelters. Virginia's Gov. Kaine stokes the fire for an untested electric regulatory hybridOn Thursday, we'll comment on the electricity reregulation bill that Gov. Tim Kaine amended before signing. His changes appear to improve the legislation, but Virginia shouldn't be rushing to embrace an industry-conceived "hybrid" regulatory scheme that should have been given more thought. ITT's hefty penaltyFor Thursday: ITT Night Vision, a Roanoke company that makes night vision goggles for the military, will pay a $100 million fine for having shared its secrets with foreign governments. This security breach could cost U.S. military personnel their advantage on the battlefield. Comment on Wednesday's editorialsThe governor buys highways a few years Kaine smokes out the House Comment on Wednesday's local commentary and lettersPeople who love (old growth) forests too much Wednesday's letters can be found here. March 27, 2007Transportation Band-AidGov. Kaine included some smart amendments to the General Assembly's tranpostation plan that lawmakers should support. Voters should not be fooled, however, that this is anything but a short-term fix to a long-term problem. Transportation problems are not going to disappear. Smoking banFor Wednesday: Gov. Kaine amended a bill that would have done away with nonsmoking sections in restaurants to push for a smoking ban in restaurants. It's a start, although we can't help but wonder how the governor can grasp the public health issue in restaurants but can't see the need for a smoking ban in any enclosed place that the public gathers. Comment on Tuesday's editorialsDead for forever and a day Bring Confederate history to Lexington Comment on Tuesday's local commentary and lettersThat whacky Inhofe; what fun Carilion and public accountability Tuesday's letters can be read here. March 26, 2007A year and a dayFor Tuesday: Virginia lawmakers need to consider allowing prosecutors to pursue homicide charges against suspects in cases where the victim dies more than 365 days following an assault. The current "year-and-a-day" rule dates to the 13th century and does not reflect today's modern medicine. Move the museum of the confederacyFor Tuesday we're writing about talk of moving the Museum of the Confederacy from Richmond to Lexington. It would be a good fit in that new location. Comment on Monday's editorialsThe absence of influence Too often the public has been subjected to the grand launches followed by eventual recalls of products that have reached the marketplace with Food and Drug Administration approval. That leaves the public wondering how unsafe products ever make it to pharmacy, drugstore and grocery store shelves. Surely those in whose hands approval or denial rests have only the public's best interest at heart.
Several new swatches of the scenic New River will be protected from development by easements paid for by a federal conservation program. Comment on Monday's local commentaryCarilion Biomedical Institute is creating dividends The Carilion Biomedical Institute has achieved many exciting milestones since its creation in 1999. Some are visible, such as the activity at the Riverside Center on Reserve Avenue. Some are less visible, but just as important to the development of the region. The CBI board of directors has asked me to share our progress report with the community.
In other words, if our most injured warriors-on-terror languish in squalor and bureaucratic morass at the military's flagship hospital, what is happening to veterans of other wars: World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the first Gulf War? What about those who served in peacetime? I'll tell you; I doctor them every day.
March 25, 2007Comment on Sunday's local commentary and lettersVirginia's transportation dead end A historic market, a dynamic downtown An attack by the press Comment on Radmacher's columnThere's little good to show after four years Comment on Sunday's editorialsLessons learned in database incident In search of missing loved ones Current editorial: Comment on Trejbal's columnA license plate doesn't make you special Years ago, when my parents piled the kids into the van for an interstate vacation, one of the games we played was spot the license plates. It's a common enough game, but its days are probably waning now that many family vehicles have back-seat DVD players to keep the kids entertained. March 24, 2007Comment on Saturday's editorialsMill Mountain inns and outs The Mill Mountain Advisory Committee's opposition to allowing an inn on Roanoke's mountain park is precipitate, all right, but a useful kick in the pants.
For all you cooped-up dogs, Roanoke is giving you a place to run free. It's the best news since retractable leads lengthened your tether. Comment on Saturday's editorialsMill Mountain inns and outs The dog days of Fishburn Comment on Saturday's local commentariesCoal-to-liquid fuels carry too steep a price Legislators, including Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, have proposed bills to encourage coal-to-liquid fuels and other measures helpful to the coal industry (Feb. 26 Associated Press article, "Boucher renews his push for liquefied coal as fuel"). If successful, these representatives will be instrumental in the widespread destruction of the Southern Appalachian Mountains due to mountaintop removal coal mining.
Comment on Saturday's local commentary and lettersCoal-to-liquid fuels carry too steep a price Saturday's letters can be read here. March 23, 2007On Mill Mountain, any inn at all is far from a done dealOn Saturday, we'll comment on the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee's early opposition to allowing an inn to be built on Roanoke's mountain park. The group's vote was precipitate, but city officials should take it as a reminder that -- as they put out a request for proposals -- one option should remain "build nothing." Dog daysFor Saturday: Roanoke agreed to experiment with allowing dogs to run off lead at a city park. Without fencing, the experiment is doomed. Comment on Friday's editorialsLibrary's future rests with Craig County Comment on Friday's local commentary and lettersWho's killing the Easter Bunny? Friday's letters can be read here. March 22, 2007Montgomery reassessesFor Sunday's Current we will weigh in on Montgomery County's challenge to find a tax rate that doesn't hammer long-time property owners who are seeing their values soar but allows enough funds to handle the county's growth. Coming Friday: Market plan only kills what sustains downtownCenter in the Square should promptly head back to the drawing board on its plan to revamp Roanoke's Market Square. The current proposal has seeped out in bits and pieces over the past few weeks, beginning with news that the plan could boot the Roanoke Weiner Stand from its quarters. Now we learn that the plan could displace more than half of of the vendors who sell goods on the farmers market. Center's aim is to create a more visible entrance, and presence. That, we can understand. But to rid the market of what arguably is its biggest draw is just a plain bad idea. For Friday: Library's future rests with Craig CountyThe Girl Scout who several years ago organized a project to open a library in Craig County must be shaking her head now, wondering how her noble effort could become tangled in such a mess over money. The state library board this week pulled supplemental funding out from under the county's fledgling library for this fiscal year. The state library director said the library had fallen short on local support. The financial onus now rests on community shoulders. And if Craig County truly wants a library, it must support one - not just with quarters in a bucket, or year-to-year appropriations, but with long-term dedicated dollars. |