Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
Riley Gaines FB photo
Some members of the Roanoke College women’s swim team say the college ignored their concerns about a transgender woman potentially joining the team. WFIR’s Clark Palmer has details.
Members of the Roanoke College women’s swim team were joined on stage at Hotel Roanoke today by Riley Gaines, a 12-time NCAA all-American swimmer who has spoken out against the inclusion of trans-women in women’s sports. The issue: a biological man – who had been on the men’s squad – who is now transgender had planned to join the women’s swim team – allowed as per current NCAA policy.
A Roanoke College swimmer said not “one single member” of the Roanoke College staff asked them how they felt about the addition of a biological transgender man to the team this fall. Members of the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition who support transgender athletes were also present but did not protest or speak out. At least one of the Maroons swimmers said she considered quitting the team. A Roanoke College spokesperson now says that request to join the women’s team has now been withdrawn. Riley Gaines led off at the podium:
Lacks Statue Ian Price photo
Not only was statue of her dedicated today in downtown Roanoke across from the municipal building – this is also “Henrietta Lacks Day,” across the Commonwealth noted Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea Senior. Unique cancer cells harvested from Lacks, who died in 1951, are still being used for research today. Lea also noted that while the monument to Robert E Lee is now gone from the plaza, the downtown pocket park still honors veterans of foreign wars who were from the City of Roanoke. Mayor Lea after the statue unveiling at what is now Henrietta Lacks Plaza:
Melissa Woodson RAM House. (lL) file photo
RAM House is hoping you will help them celebrate the people who help them carry out their mission. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.
See celebration event ticket info here
ARPA funds have brought nearly 20 new affordable housing properties to Roanoke City. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has more $2.6-million-dollar grant that helped Habitat for Humanity help aspiring journeymen and homeowner’s alike:
G Marrano photos
American Rescue Plan Act federal funding is helping to leverage the work by Habitat for Humanity, which re-habs older homes and builds new affordable housing, often with the help of largely-volunteer crews. Habitat for Humanity-Roanoke has also launched a workforce development program that includes on-the-job training; more on that story tomorrow morning. At a 100-year-old house being renovated on Mountain Avenue Southeast, Roanoke Vice-Mayor Joe Cobb other other city officials took a tour this morning:
Huddle Up Moms – the local non-profit support group for new and expectant mothers – is looking for more volunteer teams to take part in “Roanoke Diaper Duty 2023.” The goal is to recruit 10 teams that will collect 10,000 diapers and 50,000 baby wipes by October 14. Huddle Up Moms has extended the team signup deadline through September 29 on their website. The diapers and wipes collected will be distributed from the “HUM” support shop at The Haven on 5th Street SW. 1 in 12 U.S. families struggles to provide enough diapers. Whitney Good is with Huddle Up Moms:
