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Columnists

ROBERT L. MARONIC: Is Phase Two Of Trump‘s Peace Plan In The Gaza Strip Doomed To Fail? – Part I

Phase one of Trump‘s twenty-point peace plan in the Gaza Strip, which began on October 9, called for a ceasefire, cessation of military operations, along with a hostage and prisoner...

FRED FIRST: Approaching the Longest Night

Yes, you’re right—if you’ve even noticed—that this space has been neglected for some weeks now,...

A Life Well-Lived: Shirley Padgett Lester (1947-2025)

Shirley Padgett Lester of Vinton went to her heavenly reward October 4. Below is the...

BOB BROWN: How the White House Functioned With a Diminished Biden “Presidency”

Permit me to think out loud as an old-fashioned person who respects authority, history, and...

JOHNNY ROBINSON: The Gratitude Perch

On the old road up Mill Mountain, part of Roanoke’s fabulous greenway system, there’s a...

Managing a Difficult Insect Pest on Houseplants

A sticky substance on plant leaves, plant stands, and the floor are often the first clue alerting gardeners to a problem. If a closer...

SCOTT DREYER: How To Boil A Country – Part 2

Don’t be misled. Galatians 6:7 (The Message) A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. ...

H. BRUCE RINKER: Trump’s New Clothes

“The Emperor Has No Clothes” was a folktale published in 1837 by Hans Christian Anderson, a Danish author. The plot begins with two swindlers in...

SCOTT DREYER: How To Boil A Country – Part I

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. - James 1:16 (NIV) “Don’t know much about history” was a hit song in 1960, and even...

SCOT BELLAVIA: I Was a Tour Guide at The Capitol

Giving tours of the Capitol Building was my favorite responsibility the semester I interned in the House of Representatives. I had the chance to...

MIKE KEELER: Go FC Marine!

You may have missed this tiny but statistically amazing bit of news. Here’s the first thing you need to know. The English Premier League that...