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Short takes

Quick views on some of the week's news.

These little piggies stayed home

One more time, folks: People are catching H1N1 -- also known as swine flu -- from people, not pigs, though pigs, a cat and a ferret have caught the virus from people. ...

Sculpting an arts and cultural district

Roanoke City Council is looking to deepen its support of the arts. New state legislation allows localities to create arts and cultural districts and offer them a variety of support, including forgoing certain taxes. ...

Speeders no longer need to look up

Virginians, can you keep a secret? Those signs on the highways that warn, "Speed limit enforced by aircraft"? Well, they aren't true anymore. ...

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After Barack Obama was elected last year, there was hope around the world that the U.S. might finally assume a leadership position in the fight against global warming. But when the Climate Congress convenes in Copehagen next month, delegates from the United States will have nothing.

The fault lies not with Obama, but with a Democratic Congress that couldn't pass climate legislation in time to demonstrate that the United States is taking the threat seriously and is ready to be a global leader on this most pressing of issues.

Or so we'll argue in an editorial we're writing for Monday.

Make SOL report public

A principal accused of cheating says testimony clears her. She should release the transcript.

Stimulating to excess

At great expense, Congress sweetens the deal for homebuyers.

There's one sure way William Fleming principal Susan Willis can back up her claim that she did not cheat and deserves her job back: Release the transcript and recommendation from the panel investigating the claim.

We are planning an editorial for tomorrow that urges Willis to do so. The Roanoke School Board cannot say anything about a personnel matter. Willis told Roanoke Times reporter Courtney Cutright that she feels vindicated. There's a one, good way to verify that.

We're writing our NRV Current editorial today about electoral hiccups in Montgomery County on Tuesday night. First there was an error in a spreadsheet formula that caused delays in reporting results.  Then there was a data-entry error that for a while reported the wrong winner in a race.

No one wants to see those sorts of problems, but in our editorial we will commend Registrar Randy Wertz and his staff for catching them.  They did not rush to produce results but instead made sure everything added up.  Nor should anyone take this as an indictment of electronic voting machines. There are plenty of reasons not to like them, but this wasn't their fault.

Gov.-elect McDonnell

Republicans swept Virginia's statewide races and grew in number in the House. The question now is what good they'll do for the commonwealth.

Roanoke must honor its commitment

The city and redevelopment authority promised to build low-income housing.

The votes are counted and the people have spoken. Thursday, we'll congratulate Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell on a well-run, focused campaign and express the hope that the Republican who ran as a moderate candidate is the Republican who shows up in the governor's mansion.

The New River is both wild and scenic

Washington needs to hear from Southwest Virginians that they want to protect a beautiful stretch of the New River.

When floating on the New River north of Glen Lyn, one passes through a truly glorious landscape. Forested mountains rise above an unspoiled river. The Appalachian peace of our forefathers survives for 19 miles that wind to Bluestone Lake in West Virginia. The National Park Service has been studying that particular stretch of river for nearly two decades, trying to decide whether to name it a National Wild and Scenic River. The public has until Friday to comment on the Park Service's findings, and we hope Southwest Virginians who cherish the region's natural resources take the time to weigh in. This is important because the Park Service recommends the river not receive the designation.
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