Gene Marrano
For a 4th year “The Gauntlet” small business competition will award the winners cash and services at the Vinton War Memorial tonight.
Downtown Roanoke Incorporated has announced its 2018 Budweiser Summer Series of concerts at Elmwood Park – albeit in late summer as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
The annual Local Colors Festival is this Saturday at Elmwood Park from 11 to 5, kicking off with the Parade of Nations. Corporate sponsorships are harder to come by these days so executive director Beth Lutjen says they will sell 1 and 5 dollar raffle tickets – with some big prizes offered. Local Colors does receive a grant from Roanoke City and has year-round programs in addition to the popular 1-day festival. Hear much more from our live interview with Beth Lutjen on the link below:
The last of the four Democrats running for the 6th District Congressional seat nomination to be heard here is Jennifer Lewis. More with the Waynesboro resident from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
U.S. Senator Mark Warner says he will support the nomination of Gina Haspel to be the Director of the CIA after all. Warner, a Democrat, called it “a difficult decision” in light of Haspel’s alleged role with now-defunct “enhanced interrogation” programs, but he also said she has “served our country with dedication for 33 years.”
News release: U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, announced today that he will support the nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): “Gina Haspel has served our country with dedication for 33 years. In many ways, her story is representative of the thousands of people at the Agency and throughout the intelligence community who serve quietly, without recognition, and often at great personal risk, in order to keep our nation safe from those who wish to do us harm.
“Over the last year I’ve had the opportunity to work with Ms. Haspel in her role as Deputy Director, and I have always found her to be professional and forthright with the Intelligence Committee. Most importantly, I believe she is someone who can and will stand up to the President if ordered to do something illegal or immoral – like a return to torture.
“I acknowledge that this has been a difficult decision. There are valid questions that have been raised regarding the Acting Director’s record, and I have been frank with Ms. Haspel that I wish she had been more open with the American public during this process. However, in both our one-on-one meetings and in classified session before the Committee, I found Acting Director Haspel to be more forthcoming regarding her views on the interrogation program, which is why I asked her to memorialize those comments in writing. I also take to heart the strong support Ms. Haspel has among rank-and-file members of the intelligence community and from intelligence community leaders who served under President Obama.
“I’m going to support Gina Haspel’s nomination to be Director of the CIA. I also respect my colleagues who have made a different decision. “If she is confirmed, the Senate Intelligence Committee will continue to conduct thorough and vigorous oversight over the nation’s intelligence agencies.”
Ed Lynch- Hollins U. photo
The images at the moment are not very promising – violence and scores of Palestinians dead – but a former Reagan White House staffer says finally moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem could lead to more productive peace talks, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
As Mayor Sherman Lea loves to remind people, Roanoke is “a 7-time All-America City”. One big reason is the Star City Reads program that includes partners like Roanoke Children’s Theatre. Its helped raise the reading level for elementary school students in Roanoke City. Jeanne Bollendorf is the director of development for RCT, where the last play of the year is an adaptation of the classic book, Charlotte’s Web. That launches with public performances and matinees for school children next week. You can hear this morning’s complete in-studio conversation with Jeanne Bollendorf below – or watch it on Facebook Live.
Capitals and Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis spoke to CNBC yesterday about the Supreme Court decision yesterday paving the way for legalizing sports betting in all 50 states. And former Virginia Tech defensive back DeAngelo Hall talked his impending retirement after 14 NFL seasons: