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Years ago, when the D.C. snipers were arrested, one of my colleagues said she believed John Muhammad, the older shooter, was mentally ill. Our editor said, "No, he's a turd."

That conversation comes to mind as I listen to all of the armchair, psycho-analyzing of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. While I'm sympathetic to mental illness, we need to understand it's a serious disorder -- not an excuse for folks who are just plain turds. This dude fits that category, with honors, (and his wife wouldn't win any Mother Teresa awards, either.)

To suggest that this conniving schemer is grappling with mental illness insults the truly mentally ill.

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Jessica Lankford made her way to the Salvation Army's Angel Tree at Valley View Mall with hands busy juggling gifts and a heart moved by the spirit of generosity.

"It's just something that we do," said the Troutville mother of three small children. Her family has made strangers' Christmas wishes come true for seven years.

"It's very important. The amount we spend on the angel kids is what we spend on our kids," Lankford added. Read more »

...and when did they know it?

Does the stunning political scandal in Illinois taint the president-elect and does the man who vowed transparency have some 'splainin to do?

Read more »

To: The people running Explore Park

Re: This debacle with Larry Vander Maten

When you committed to this prenuptial agreement with developer Larry Vander Maten, I never publicly said, "It'll never work."

But darn, if the thought didn't cross my mind. Read more »

When you get lucky once and beat a double murder charge in a case that polarized the nation along racial lines as O.J. Simpson's did, live the rest of your life as the Invisible Man.

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Imagine you're a self-proclaimed, Neo-Nazi leader who routinely spews hatred and disdain against blacks, Jews and others.

You get arrested on a charge of encouraging violence against a juror and end up in federal court in Chicago.

You're sitting before U.S. District Court Judge William Hibbler, who belongs to a group of people you have derided as "half-ape" and "n-----s."

In other words, he's black.

Maybe if you're William A. White, you look up at the man sitting in judgment of you, and the vile words you have written and the hatred you have incited flash before your eyes: Read more »

Is Roanoke becoming the most scandal-plagued city in Virginia?

Sure, we're not Chicago or even Detroit, where the former mayor is behind bars.

But six scandals in six years that touch on sex, politics, procurement and conflicts of interest make you wonder: Is there any other municipality in Virginia that's worse? Read more »