Roger Chesley

3 weeks ago | virginiamercury.com | Roger Chesley

U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, you wrote an op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch this week pushing back against the madness emanating from Washington regarding budget cuts and federal job layoffs. It was welcome, given the chaos in D.C., but what took you so long? Are you, a Republican representing Virginia’s 1st Congressional District, really bucking a president from your own party – or is this just PR?

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Roger Chesley

U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, speaks during a hearing before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee April 14, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, you wrote an op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch this week pushing back against the madness emanating from Washington regarding budget cuts and federal job layoffs. It was welcome, given the chaos in D.C., but what took you so long?

1 month ago | virginiamercury.com | Roger Chesley

Some sad – and also hopeful – truths emerge every time Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver nutritious food to disabled residents and senior citizens around Virginia, as my wife and I have done in Chesapeake over the past two years. The national program is now under a pointless attack in Washington, putting thousands in the commonwealth at risk of missing the meals and social connections they rely on.

1 month ago | virginiamercury.com | Roger Chesley

Autumn Bushman’s age when she killed herself is unfathomable, gut-wrenching. The Roanoke County girl was just 10 years old, and her parents say she’d been bullied – citing that as a key factor in her death. Unfortunately, Autumn’s death reflects a troubling national trend: Children are taking their own lives more frequently. Her  March 21 suicide in her own home has caused immeasurable grief for her family, and it has stunned a Southwest Virginia community.

2 months ago | virginiamercury.com | Roger Chesley

by Roger Chesley, Virginia Mercury April 9, 2025 Norfolk State University sharpshooter Diamond Johnson elevated her draft stock for the WNBA with a stellar performance at the Women’s College All-Star Game over the weekend – and may have forced professional teams to give a second look to basketball players at historically Black colleges and universities. Johnson earned the Most Valuable Player award with a stat line of 21 points, four rebounds and two steals in her team’s 71-59 victory.