State and National Government
Del. Sam Rasoul
Roanoke Delegate Sam Rasoul will soon play a key role in state education matters when he becomes chair of the House Education Committee. Rasoul says there are many areas where Governor Youngkin and General Assembly Democrats can find agreement despite their many differences. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
A representative in our region spoke out against President Biden’s supplemental request for Israeli aid. WFIR’s Ian Price has more.
One of Virginia’s top elected officials says Israel is justified in responding as it has in Gaza — and the U.S. would respond the same. WFIR’s Alex Torres has that story:
A Congressman from our area asks the CDC director about conflicts of interest at the agency. WFIR’s Ian Price has more.
G Marrano photos
The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce held its 32nd annual Pre-session Legislative Meeting and Breakfast this morning at the Salem Civic Center. With the Democrats gaining control of both General Assembly chambers as of January – but with a Republican Governor, Glenn Youngkin, having veto power, Roanoke Democratic Delegate Sam Rasoul says there is still room for bi-partisanship. Rasoul,
Republican Delegate Joe McNamara and GOP State Senator David Suetterlein spoke about joint efforts to eliminate the local grocery tax, more public education and mental health funding and additional state money for transportation projects including I-81 improvements. Rasoul is optimistic.
A Roanoke-area congressman says special counsel David Weiss for the Hunter Biden investigation is changing his tune. WFIR’s Alex Torres reports:
Shortly before holding his regular weekly press conference today, US Senator Tim Kaine says he found out that the new FBI headquarters would NOT be located in Springfield and Fairfax County. Kaine also pointed to a letter released today from FBI Director Christopher Wray, who expressed concern that the person making the final determination that a Greenbelt, Maryland property near Landover was the best site – came from someone with former professional ties to the parcel owner. Funding for the new FBI headquarters must be approved by Congress and Kaine hinted there may be some recourse there. Kaine, fellow Democratic US senator Mark Warner and Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin joined forces to lobby for the Springfield location.
Karen Hult (VT photo)
The surprise General Assembly sweep of both chambers on Tuesday night by the Democrats – despite the tireless efforts of Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin as he sought a GOP sweep – should make for an interesting 2024 legislative session, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports: