January 31, 2008Detecting a killerFor Friday: We will add our support to the effort by Sen. Edwards and Del. Shuler to allow localities to require carbon monoxide detectors in rental units. Giles schools and fly ashIn our Sunday NRV Current editorial, we'll urge the Giles County Schools Board to either assert control over a group proposing a fly ash dump along the New River or disavow any relationship with the group. Discuss Thursday's editorialsVirginia needs redistricting reform A war without end or oversight Discuss Thursday's commentary and lettersWe've spoiled kids rotten Valley Forward's promises don't add up High Knob tower is worth the price Thursday's letters can be read here. January 30, 2008Signing statementsFor Thursday: President Bush is again picking and choosing which laws he wishes to obey. He attached signing statements to a defense bill that says he might not allow to occur key provisions - including oversight of war contractors. Discuss Wednesday's editorialsBush nails his legacy Discuss Wednesday's local commentary and lettersHistory will judge Bush harshly The cruelty of the circus Wednesday's letters can be read here. January 29, 2008About those earmarksFor Wednesday: President Bush threatens to veto any appropriation bill that doesn't cut earmarks in half -- like he asked Congress to do last year. Depends on the meaning of "half." While the earmarks found in 2007 bills number 11,000, slightly fewer than the 13,000 of 2006, the actual dollar amount was halved from $29 billion to $14 billion. Electricity oversightFor Wednesday, we're writing about the electricity. The legislative commission that oversees electricity utilities in Virginia wants to preserve its existence for a few more years. It should, sort of. There's a role for a body to assist the lawmakers on highly technical legislation, but it shouldn't be one composed of lawmakers who take huge donations from the power industry. Discuss Tuesday's editorialsDriver fees won't end painlessly Discuss Tuesday's commentary and lettersThe SCC: a matter of exquisite balance Media fail to report on surge Tuesday's letters can be read here. January 28, 2008The bag debateFor Tuesday: In Virginia, the shopping bag debate doesn't come down to paper or plastic but "state or local" control. Localities can't ban plastic bags even if they want to. A Senate bill seeks to change that. Repealing abusive driver feesFor Tuesday, we are writing about the repeal of abusive driver fees. There's broad agreement that they need to go, but not necessarily how. We'll argue that they should be repealed retroactively and that lawmakers should look at increasing the gas tax to make up the deficit that will remain. Discuss Monday's editorialsPanic (and politics) on Pennsylvania Avenue Discuss Monday's local commentaryThe health care market is killing us Put Explore Park in the state's hands Instant record checks are no threat Monday's letters can be read here. January 27, 2008Discuss Sunday's editorialsThe power and influence of Wal-Mart The Wal-Marting of the world continues and, for once, this might not be such a bad thing. Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott last week pledged to use the retail giant's clout to help solve the world's most pressing environmental problems. Holding on to Advance Auto Parts The decision by new Advance Auto Parts CEO Darren Jackson to hire three former Best Buy executives may give some hint of the business approach he'll bring to the auto parts and accessories retailer. But the fact that all three, in addition to coming from Best Buy like Jackson, also live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area should give Roanoke area economic development officials even more cause for concern that Advance, the only Fortune 500 company based here, might eventually defect from the region. NRV Current Editorial Montgomery County teachers need a raise For a community with a major university that attracts smart people, Montgomery County certainly has slipped on its schools. The county's teachers are among some of the worst paid in the state. When the school board asks for money to award raises this year, county supervisors should listen. Discuss Sunday's local commentaryBoucher needs to wean district off coal I listened recently to Rep. Rick Boucher's interview on WVTF as he made the case for increased federal investment in clean coal technologies. While there may be local jobs at stake, one might argue that the investment made in Boucher's campaigns over the years by the coal and electric generation lobbies is the impetus for his plan to sponsor federal legislation and use our tax dollars to pursue this research. Read today's letters here. Discuss Trejbal's column on the NRV's delegatesThe NRV three go to Richmond The General Assembly session is in full swing, and the New River Valley's delegates have introduced their bills, cast some votes and revealed much about their priorities and character. Discuss Sunday's New River ForumA merged FNB will remain involved in the community It was rewarding to read about FNB and our outstanding employees' considerable charitable efforts throughout the region and in particular in the New River Valley ("Fear of philanthropic loss comes with bank merger," Jan. 13). FNB has long considered itself a good neighbor and supporter of events and organizations that enhance quality of life and help those in need. We're very proud of that. January 26, 2008Discuss Saturday's editorialsPoliticking instead of governing Virginia House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, and his GOP colleagues have elevated churlish behavior to a troubling level this year. When they are not killing bills secretly in subcommittee meetings, they are overturning tradition on the House floor. Naughty in Staunton It's bad enough that a local prosecutor in Staunton is pursuing obscenity charges against an adult video store. Now the U.S. Justice Department has joined in. The war on terrorism apparently hasn't given it enough to do. Discuss Saturday's local commentaryHeadline to be added Now that almost a year has passed since the horrific events of April 16 on the Virginia Tech campus, perhaps people can consider more rationally the proper placement of the Virginia Tech memorial to the victims. The location chosen -- in front of the most photographed and perhaps most visited building on campus, Burruss Hall -- is totally inappropriate. Read today's letters here. January 25, 2008Naughty in StauntonFor Saturday: It was bad enough when a local prosecutor in Staunton decided to pursue obscenity charges against an adult video store. Now the U.S. Justice Department has joined in. Stimulating the economyFor Monday we will comment on the compromise on the "economic stimulus" plan to increase the national debt by $150 billion so that maybe some of it ends up in circulation. Maybe delegates need a timeoutOn Saturday, we'll run an editorial about the childish behavior instigated by Republicans in the House of Delegates. Discuss Friday's commentariesFNB deserves thanks for moving on merger Bond lives in Bedford. Though I am not accustomed to writing letters for publication, I felt a need to answer a couple of letters to the editor regarding the FNB merger. As a past chairman of the board of Bedford Federal Savings Bank and a former member of the corporate board of FNB, I have always felt that I had a fiduciary responsibility to the stockholders of Bedford Federal, and I still do. Read here. Find Friday's letters here. Discuss Friday's editorialsShooting down a gun sales reform In voting no Wednesday, state Sen. John Edwards of Roanoke cast the most disappointing vote of all in this year's failed attempt to close Virginia's gun show loophole. Read here. Closing the accused teacher loophole In Virginia, it's possible for a teacher to commit a sex crime against a student and still land a job in another classroom. Right now dozens of teachers have been convicted of crimes yet still retain licenses, according to The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot. Read here. January 24, 2008Shooting down a sensible gun-sale lawFor Friday: In voting no, state Sen. John Edwards cast the most disappointing vote of all in this year's failed attempt to close Virginia's gun-show loophole. Advance AutoFor Sunday, we'll be writing about the disturbing Minneapolis-centric tilt of Advance Auto's new CEO, and recommend that Roanoke do some serious courting to ensure that Advance's corporate headquarters stay put. Wal-Mart: the global citizenFor Sunday: Wal-Mart’s pledge to lead the world in setting social and environmental standards could influence China. Montgomery County teacher salariesFor our Sunday NRV Current editorial, we'll be writing about whether Montgomery County should pay its teachers better. The school board's $100 million proposed budget seeks a 9 percent raise for employees. Discuss Thursday's editorialsPaying for growth Railroading a decision Discuss Thursday's local commentary and lettersA need yet for books, parents Enough, already! The choices are overwhelming Thursday's letters can be read here. January 23, 2008Discuss Wednesday's editorialsEnd Virginia's Sunday prohibition It could be a Super Bowl party or any other Sunday dinner event. You've invited several friends over for a good time. An hour before they arrive, you remember your boss enjoys vodka tonics. Whoops, no vodka in the cabinet. Well, you can just pop out to the liquor store and pick some up. Not in most of Virginia. SCC plays vital role in project approvals Sen. Frank Wagner doesn't want the State Corporation Commission scrutinizing small windmill farms. He's proposed legislation to exempt wind farms, like the Highland County project, that produce less than 50 megawatts from SCC authority. That would be a big mistake, eliminating very necessary environmental safeguards. Discuss Wednesday's local commentaryFor lots of reasons, keep it green Dan Radmacher's column "Rockledge won't make, or break, Mill Mountain" (Jan. 6) expresses the feelings of many who believe that building a restaurant in Mill Mountain Park is a neutral proposition that won't affect the Roanoke Valley or Mill Mountain. There are sound reasons, however, that go beyond the great "potential for failure" (noted by the editorial board) that suggest negative consequences to developing the park. Don't turn more beds into less autonomy Thank you again, Roanoke Times, for bringing mental disability awareness to our community. I am always pleased when such important issues receive constructive attention from the media. In the news story "Plan calls for space at mental hospital" (Jan. 9), The Roanoke Times addressed an issue that has been at the heart of mental disability jurisprudence and policy for decades: How do we increase access to quality mental health care without impinging upon the autonomy of individuals with mental illness? Read today's letters here. January 22, 2008Railroading a decisionComing soon: We will comment on Del. Dave Nutter's proposed budgetary trick to require that Salem host the intermodal yard. Impact feesFor later in the week, we'll be writing about a proposal to allow localities to replace voluntary “proffers” with mandatory impact fees is a good starting point. Local officials are suspicious of the bill because it is supported by homebuilders — and because it would cap impact fees at $8,000 per house in Northern Virginia and $5,000 in the rest of the state. The bill needs to be tweaked, but it is long past time for the General Assembly to grant localities the ability to make developers pay for the extra cost their projects will place on local infrastructure such as roads, schools, sewer and green spaces. Wind powerFor Wednesday, we'll look at an unwise proposal by Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, to exempt smaller wind power plants from State Corporation Commission review. End the Sunday liquor prohibitionFor Wednesday, we are writing about Virginia's ban on Sunday liquor sales. A bill in the General Assembly would lift the ban in a few locales. It should lift it statewide. Ideally, this would be part of an overall privatization of liquor sales, but just allowing Sunday sales would be an improvement. Discuss Tuesday's editorialsPreserving the presidency Discuss Tuesday's local commentary and lettersThe miles not driven Read Tuesday's letters here. January 20, 2008Discuss Sunday's editorialsStudy up on school taxes Virginia's schools should not have to go begging at city councils and county boards of supervisors every year. It is high time the commonwealth let them levy property taxes for themselves. The General Assembly is not even close to going that far, but several bills at least would study the idea. Who monitors the monitors? This is how far occupants of the Bush White House, past and present, have taken venality: Even efforts to police corporate corruption have become nothing but an opportunity to cash in. NRV Current editorial St. Albans warrants historic consideration The private Radford University Real Estate Foundation serves a public university, and that university no longer wants a campus on the site of the former St. Albans Hospital. As the foundation decides what to do with the land, it should reach out to local residents interested in historic preservation. Discuss Sunday's local commentarySociety would benefit if Vick stayed on the field When I conducted grant-funded research in the Virginia Penal System in 1974, prisons served three disparate services: 1) protect society from violent or dangerous felons; 2) punish criminals for their misbehavior, and 3) educate and rehabilitate felons for their return to society. Guards, trainers/educators, counselors and prison administrators worked interdependently to |