Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
Protestors gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in downtown Roanoke around noon, calling for Governor Northam to return a $10,000 donation from the consortium behind the Mountain Valley Pipeline that was donated to his Political Action Committee “The Way Forward.” The Clean Money Coalition is also calling on Attorney General Mark Herring to investigate and report on conflicts-of-interest concerning the MVP donation. The Reverend David Denham is with Represent Roanoke Valley and the Clean Money Squad:
A freshman GOP Congressman who represents parts of our area says decisions on marijuana legalization rest with individual states not the federal government. WFIR’s Clark Palmer has more.
Annette Lewis and David Moore-TAP/ Ian Price photo
Total Action for Progress has launched a new fundraising arm that also helps build business skills for those involved in its operation – TAP Books. Most of those donated books will be sold online via Amazon and E-Bay; others too expensive to ship versus the profit realized will be offered to TAP clients in various programs. David Moore is the director for TAP Books, which he calls a “social entreprenuership” effort that is already raising money for TAP programs – $30,000 to date:
Melrose Library – G Marrano photos
It’s the largest branch in the Roanoke Public Library system outside of the main library downtown. Today they cut the ribbon for the new 4-million dollar Melrose library, which is located on the Goodwill Industries Melrose Avenue Jobs campus. At 15,000 square feet its more than twice the size of the old Melrose branch – with upgraded computer stations, a “STEM” and arts dedicated lab, and community meeting rooms. Sheila Umberger is the library system’s director:
