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I missed this during the run-up to the Pennsylvania primary, but with Oregon still a few weeks out, it's worth talking about. A group of scientists has proposed holding a debate between Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama just on science and technology issues.

It sure would beat a debate focussed on flag pins and phantom sniper fire. As it is, issues of science and technology, though they are some of the most important for the nation's future, get shallow treatment by candidates. Global warming, Internet infrastructure, data encryption, intellectual property law, patents and trademarks, net neutrality, NASA funding, evolution education, violent video games, and others are good topics for a debate.

Let's have a debate now and another in the fall between John McCain and whoever winds up being the Democratic nominee. Does the old guy even know what e-mail is? Is he in the Ted Stevens tubes camp?

Would you tune in for a debate grounded in science and technology?

In our Sunday NRV Current editorial, we'll write about the work being done by one Christiansburg citizen to force town government to open up. The secretive council and town manager don't like to share, but Carol Lindstrom has been gathering together public documents through Freedom of Information Act requests. It's cost her hundreds of dollars, but she's getting the stuff online. Check out her under-construction site that already has the town charter and mp3s of some council meetings.

For Thursday: Sen. James Webb's GI bill to increase educational benefits to military veterans who have seen active duty since 9/11 is gaining needed momentum to pass Congress. President Bush, even as he presses for hundreds of billions dollars more in war spending, say's he'll veto additional benefits for the men and women he places in the firing line.

What do you want to talk about today?

Roanoke has so much potential

Chuck White

White is the president of Charles E. White Inc, a remodeling and contracting company in Roanoke.

In my almost half a century, I've spent countless days hiking, biking and hunting in the mountains, as well as fishing and floating on rivers. Nothing is better than being on a mountain or a river.

As fine as Mill Mountain is, it is, when all is said and done, a city park. Read here.

Read Wednesday's letters.

Re-elect Harris for Roanoke mayor
What the incumbent has lacked in forthrightness he has made up for in setting priorities and working to advance them.

Roanoke voters have the advantage this year of knowing how two of the four candidates for mayor have performed in the job: Incumbent Nelson Harris is being challenged by onetime Mayor David Bowers, as well as two political unknowns. Read here.

For Roanoke council, Lea, Price and Rosen
The Democratic slate offers more diverse and independent voices than the challengers.

Independent candidates in the Roanoke City Council race deserve thanks for challenging the Democratic candidates, who would have coasted to victory without opposition otherwise. The independents invigorated the campaign by forcing the party's slate to stand up to scrutiny. Unfortunately, the independents didn't fare too well. Read here.

Wednesday, we'll also make our endorsement in Roanoke's mayoral race.

For Wednesday we will make endorsements in the Roanoke City Council race.

For later in the week, we are writing about proposals supported by presidential contenders John McCain and Hillary Clinton to create a gas tax holiday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Barack Obama, the other major party contender, opposes the idea.

It's a terrible idea. The benefit to individual motorists would be small, while the harm to federal transportation funding would be great. McCain and Clinton should be ashamed of such pandering.

A road plan remains elusive
Legislative gridlock might lead to regional solutions that would doom many of Virginia's roads.
Virginians, particularly in this part of the state, might as well get used to traffic delays. Highways will grow more crowded, interchanges will go unbuilt, and new transportation alternatives will go unfunded. An embarrassing lack of leadership on all sides leaves little hope that the partisan and transportation gridlock that plague the commonwealth will end soon.
Read more.

Johnson, Garst and Daulton for Salem
Salem has a fine slate of candidates to choose from in the May 6 city council election.
Even with the late withdrawal of incumbent Chris Clemens from the race for Salem City Council, voters have several good candidates to choose from. Clemens will have to give up his seat on council after receiving a temporary appointment to a General District Court judgeship. That leaves five very qualified candidates running for three seats.
Read more.