Voices of the Valleys

Holiday sales: Nov. 23-29

Luanne Traud — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:34:09 GMT

We enter the holiday shopping season with mixed reports on the economy and consumer confidence. Will you be spending more or less than in recent years?

Hate crime law: Nov. 2-8

Luanne Traud — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:35:38 GMT

Could adding sexual orientation to the federal hate crime law pose a threat to the freedom of religious expression?

Terrorists: Nov. 16-22

Luanne Traud — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:35:31 GMT

Do you agree with the Obama administration's plan to prosecute the the Sept. 11 terrorists in federal court? What would you do with them?

Swine flu vaccinations: Oct. 5-12

Luanne Traud — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:19:06 GMT

Should governments or employers mandate swine flu -- or any -- vaccination?

Mill Mountain: Nov. 9-15

Luanne Traud — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:11:34 GMT

Roanoke plans to place Mill Mountain's slopes in a conservation easement. How protected they will be from potential development, like roads, trails and inclines, is to be determined. City Council is ducking a discussion about what, if any, type of further development should be allowed on the top. What would you want?

Voting: Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Luanne Traud — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:38:19 GMT

Does your vote matter?

Social Security payment: Oct. 19-25

Luanne Traud — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:50:11 GMT

Do you agree with President Obama's plan to send $250 payments to retirees and people with disabilities because they are not scheduled to receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment?

Michael Jackson: June 29-July 5

Dan Radmacher — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:27:34 GMT

What are your reflections on the life, career and death of Michael Jackson?

Banning books: Oct. 12-18

Luanne Traud — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:25:16 GMT

How should schools handle challenges by a parent to books, videos, curriculum?

Health care: Sept. 14-20

Luanne Traud — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:40:13 GMT

What essential feature must be included in a successful health care reform bill?

Offshore energy: Sept. 28-Oct. 4

Luanne Traud — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:48:06 GMT

Are new energy sources to be found off Virginia's coast? Do you favor wind farms and/or oil and gas drilling?

A civil debate on health care reform: Aug. 10-16

Dan Radmacher — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:46:46 GMT

Are health care opponents at town hall meetings exercising thuggery or their First Amendment rights? Are they furthering the debate or stifling it?

Remember to put your official fewer-than-300-words answer in italics.

Obesity: Sept. 21-27

Luanne Traud — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:07:35 GMT

What, if anything, should communities do to promote better health and smaller waistlines?

McDonnell's thesis: Sept. 7-13

Luanne Traud — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:23:54 GMT

Should Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell's 1989 thesis be a factor in the race?

Unions: Aug. 31-Sept. 6

Luanne Traud — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:41:59 GMT

Is there a place for unions in the modern workplace?

$1.5 billion cuts: Aug. 24-30

Luanne Traud — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:26:34 GMT

Are there any sacred programs that should not be considered as Gov. Kaine eliminates $1.5 billion from the state budget? What would you cut instead?

Beach read: July 13-19

Luanne Traud — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:34:17 GMT

What's you favorite beach book?

Economic recovery: Aug. 18-23

Luanne Traud — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:10:03 GMT

Is the recovery plan working? Rate your confidence in the economy.

Amphitheater: July 20-26

Luanne Traud — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:26:33 GMT

Should Roanoke build an amphitheater?

Trusting sources: Aug 3-9

Luanne Traud — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:03:30 GMT

How do you assess the validity of information sources? How do you separate truth from fiction, the spin doctors from those without an agenda?

Standards of Learning: June 22-28

Luanne Traud — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:13:47 GMT

Should the state revisit its Standards of Learning tests and the emphasis placed upon them for determining whether schools are succeeding?

Cellphones and driving: July 27-Aug. 2

Luanne Traud — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:27:19 GMT

Should drivers be banned from using cellphones to talk, text or do anything else that might distract them?

Clean Energy: July 6-12

Luanne Traud — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:39:02 GMT

Is the American Clean Energy and Security Act, passed by the House and now before the Senate, the right approach?

Gays in the military: June 15-21

Luanne Traud — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:56:40 GMT

Should the don't ask, don't tell policy for gays serving in the military be lifted?

Torture: April 20-26

Luanne Traud — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:51:18 GMT

The Justice Department released Bush administration memos describing brutal interrogation techniques that were permissible for the CIA to use. President Obama said CIA officers who used those techniques would not be prosecuted. Should this end investigations into torture and preclude prosecution of everyone involved?