Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
Traffic camera One day in late September I went to Norfolk during the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. There was a flashing sign on Settlers Landing Road in Hampton indicating that the I-64 eastbound ramp was closed during those hours. At the foot of the downtown Hampton side of the bridge is a sign saying “Detour East Interstate 64 Right Lane.” When I came off the bridge on the Norfolk side, I got in the middle lane which directs traffic to the I-64 eastbound ramp. After sitting at the red light for several minutes, I finally realized that the light was not going to turn green. Cars in front of me began going through the red light. I went through the red light. A couple of weeks later I received a citation in the mail showing my car going through the light and charging me $50. I paid the ticket. There is no detour as noted with the above sign. If the ramp is closed during those hours, then why can you enter onto the ramp from the Hampton University campus or from Phoebus? If the engineers do not want the middle I-64 lane to be used, then it should be blocked so no cars enter that lane during the 3-6 p.m. period. The city of Hampton and the camera company are making a killing through entrapment. Someone should audit the monies collected and refund those monies until proper procedures can be put in place to properly direct the traffic during this time period. Jack Miller, Hampton FDA actions I am deeply concerned about the FDA’s recent action to prevent patient access to desiccated thyroid extracts (DTEs), a treatment that is an essential treatment option for Americans suffering from hypothyroidism. As a board-certified endocrinologist and devoted health care provider, I call on the FDA to reverse their decision against DTEs. Restricting access to these essential medications would cause unnecessary suffering for the patients who rely on DTEs for hypothyroid symptom relief. Some patients prefer this therapy to FDA-approved alternatives. I want to thank the lawmakers who recently urged the FDA to reverse course and protect patient access to DTEs. Please join me in applauding these lawmakers, and in calling on the FDA to act responsibly and preserve this time-honored treatment — for the people it matters to most. Dr. Timothy Petersen, endocrinologist, Virginia Beach Fake narrative President Donald Trump has always exploited others to serve his self-interest, yet he’s been alarmingly successful at getting people to ignore facts and accept his narrative. He whines about the “Russia Russia Russia hoax,” but actually perpetuates a “Russia Russia Russia hoax” hoax, because the facts confirm that he solicited and used Russian assistance in the 2016 election campaign. His schemes to overturn the 2020 presidential election are also well-documented. That investigation ended only because Trump was reelected and now he wants compensation of $230 million and to punish the prosecutors who were only following the evidence. More fake narratives: “No Kings” rallygoers were labeled domestic terrorists and then old and pathetic, which is contradictory. The president appears determined to shake confidence in our elections, despite scant evidence of voter fraud. He has placed election deniers in key positions to potentially overturn Democratic election victories by “finding” voter fraud. Let’s not forget that 127 current members of Congress who took an oath to the Constitution, and then refused to certify the 2020 election. In boxing’s corrupt history, the challenger often had to knock out the incumbent title-holder because he was unlikely to win the judges’ decision. Knocking out MAGA with “no doubt” election victories in 2026 and 2028 is our only escape from authoritarianism. With two competitive congressional races, Hampton Roads voters can play a pivotal role. David Meyerholz, Virginia Beach
