Bob Leweke

News Director / Morning Edition Host

Bob Leweke is WMRA's News Director and Morning Edition host.

Before coming to public radio in 2003, Bob had worked for The Roanoke Times as a circulation manager and writer.  He later became a member of the communication faculty at Pikeville College in Kentucky, and at Bridgewater College in Virginia, where he taught public speaking, mass media law, communication theory and other courses.  Bob holds degrees in communication and political science from Virginia Tech, and a doctorate in mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  In 2015 and 2016, the readers of the Daily News-Record voted him “Best Radio Personality.”

In his hours away from WMRA, Bob enjoys music, cycling, reading and movie-watching, and spending time with his family doing all of the above.  He also plays the drums for The Sustainers, a Harrisonburg "rock & soul" cover band.  You can follow him on Twitter @WMRAnews.

Ways to Connect

Ed Gillespie Campaign Seeks to Unseat Mark Warner

By • Jun 24, 2014

Ed Gillespie is a Republican political strategist, former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, and was also an advisor to President George W. Bush.

General Assembly Passes Budget, Ending Stalemate

By • Jun 13, 2014

Virginia Public Radio is reporting that the three-month budget impasse has ended. 

The American Liszt Society Festival Comes to Harrisonburg

By • Jun 4, 2014

The American Liszt Society was founded 50 years ago to honor and promote the music of Hungarian composer Franz Liszt, with annual concerts and conferences around the country.

Senator Mark Warner Calls For Shinseki to Resign

By • May 30, 2014

Virginia Senator Mark Warner yesterday called for the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki.

The (Musical) Education of Ethan Bortnick

By • May 23, 2014

He’s been on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  He’s appeared on Oprah. 

The WMRA Listener Hour

By • Mar 15, 2014

Tell us why you love public radio on WMRA.

Senator Tim Kaine on the McDonnells, Iran, Medicaid Expansion, and More

By • Jan 23, 2014

Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia is traveling across the state this week...

The 'Real' Thanksgiving?

By • Nov 27, 2013

As you plan this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, you might want to consider what the Pilgrims really ate.

McAuliffe & Clinton Stumping in Virginia

By Terry Ward & • Oct 29, 2013
Terry Ward

Early Tuesday morning, October 29, 2013, Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, along with President Bill Clinton, made a campaign stop at James Madison University in Harrisonburg as part of their “Putting Jobs First” tour.

Future Campaign Stops:

Wednesday, October 30 at 10:45am
Charlottesville
The Paramount Theater
Tickets link: here
 

Skyline Literacy and International Literacy Day

By • Sep 5, 2013

Since 1987, Skyline Literacy, based in Harrisonburg, has been working with adults who need help with reading and writing skills, applying for their GEDs, and even helping immigrants apply for citizenship.

Paulette Moore of Occupy Harrisonburg on OWS, One Year Later

By • Sep 17, 2012

The protests in New York City that came to be known as Occupy Wall Street began one year ago today, and spread to cities nationwide, including, last October, Harrisonburg.

Governor Tim Kaine: Budgets, Taxes, Republicans and the U.S. Senate

By • Sep 3, 2012

Former Governor Tim Kaine is running against former Republican Governor George Allen for the U.S. Senate.

Governor Kaine appeared on the campaign trail with President Obama in Charlottesville in late August, during which he said “Virginia will not go back, and the nation will not go back.”  Bob asked him what Republican programs or policies he believes would do that.

Allen on 'Repeal & Replace', Guns, and the Budget

By • Aug 10, 2012

Republican George Allen is running to retake the U-S Senate seat he lost in 2006 to Jim Webb, who is retiring after one term.

Andy Schmookler: Democratic Candidate for the 6th District

By • Jun 28, 2012

Andy Schmookler is the Democratic challenger to 6th District Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte in the November elections.

Virginia's 6th District covers all or part of Shenandoah, Rockingham, Highland, Augusta, Alleghany, Bath, Bedford, Rockbridge, Botetourt, Roanoke and Amherst Counties.  Bob Leweke spoke with Mr. Schmookler, who began by describing why he is running.

Find more about Andy Schmookler.

BackStory Special: Monumental Disagreements

By • May 25, 2012

Coming up Monday, May 28th, at 3pm.

For Memorial Day, Virginia Insight takes the day off, and the American History Guys take time to consider how and what Americans have memorialized.  They’ve been wondering about the marble statues of presidents and those faces blasted into mountains — what do they really represent?  Turns out, their meanings often say more about their creators than the people they memorialize.  The Washington monument itself was the subject of decades of controversy about what sort of country the founders meant this to be.

Mining the History of Nelson and Albemarle

By • May 24, 2012

Sculptor Kierk Ashemore-Sorensen is part owner of Alberene Soapstone Company and knows a lot about the history of soapstone mining in Nelson and Albemarle County.

Jessie Knadler: Finding Herself in Rockbridge County

By • May 24, 2012

Former NYC magazine writer Jessie Knadler (shown with baby June) left the bright lights and big city for a man, bungalow and eight acres in Rockbridge county. And in the process found herself...

Sculpting the Past

By • May 22, 2012

Coming up Friday, May 25, at Noon.

Sculptor Kierk Ashmore-Sorensen is part owner, and the institutional memory, of Alberene Soapstone Company in Schuyler, Virginia.

Arun Gandhi: Lessons from Grandfather Mahatma

By • Apr 17, 2012

Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Arun Gandhi, talks about lessons learned from his grandfather.

Mock Convention Time at Washington & Lee

By • Feb 7, 2012

Just about every four years since 1908, the students at Washington and Lee have staged a mock convention to predict the presidential nominee for the party out of power… and this year that’s the Republicans.

Former Governor and U.S. Senator George Allen on Running for the Senate

By • Jan 27, 2012

Former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator George Allen is the expected Republican nominee for Virginia’s open U.S. Senate seat in November, the same seat he held until his defeat for re-election in 2006. He recently spoke about the issues in this year’s campaign, and about the federal government's role is in creating jobs.

National Day of Listening 2011

By • Nov 24, 2011

By Bob Leweke

Harrisonburg, VA – Four years ago, the StoryCorps folks came up with the idea of encouraging Americans to take an hour on the day after Thanksgiving and record a conversation with a loved one. I talked with the founder of StoryCorps, David Isay, about the National Day of Listening, and what's new about this year's event.

National Day of Listening

 

Occupy Charlottesville

By • Nov 11, 2011

By Bob Leweke

Charlottesville, VA – We recently met one of the organizers of the Occupy Harrisonburg movement. For about three weeks, there's been a similar group of protesters in Lee Park in Charlottesville. I asked Zac Fabian, one of the organizers there, how the Charlottesville protests got started, and how he got involved.

Occupy Charlottesville on Facebook

 

Occupy Harrisonburg

By • Nov 2, 2011

By Bob Leweke

Harrisonburg, VA – The Occupy Wall Street Movement has spread around the country, including to cities in Virginia. I recently talked to Paulette Moore, one of the participants who has helped organize the protests at Court Square in Harrisonburg, and I asked her how it all got started.

Occupy Harrisonburg on Facebook

 

Proposed Amphitheater for Harrisonburg

By • Jun 27, 2011

By Bob Leweke

Harrisonburg, VA – Is a downtown open-air amphitheater in Harrisonburg's future? Businessman David Miller hopes so. He recently proposed an amphitheater and park to be constructed near the Farmer's Market, and the project is open for public comment. Bob Leweke asked him how financing and operating the amphitheater would compare to the city's controversial Heritage Oaks Golf Course, which currently operates at a deficit.

Liz Lerman Turns Science into Dance

By • Jan 21, 2011

By Bob Leweke

Listen to the Story

Harrisonburg, VA – The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange was founded nearly 35 years ago, and closes out its latest project, "Ferocious Beauty: Genome," January 23, 2011, at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts at James Madison University. The show was inspired by the mapping of the human genome. Liz Lerman, founder of the Dance Exchange, talks about the unusual combination of science and dance.

David Isay and the National Day of Listening

By • Nov 23, 2010

By Bob Leweke

Predatory Lenders and Wall Street in 2008

By • Nov 8, 2010

By Bob Leweke

Lexington, VA – The subprime mortgage crisis of 2008 involved more than just less-than-qualified applicants eager for a deal on a mortgage. Some lenders engaged in fraudulent practices designed to deceive homeowners and mortgage brokers. Earlier, Bob Leweke asked Mike Hudson, a reporter with the Center for Public Integrity, for examples of these subprime predatory sales practices.

Handley Regional Library Budget Woes

By • Jun 24, 2010

By Bob Leweke

Winchester, VA – Monday evening on All Things Considered you may remember hearing about the results of a study by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which found that public libraries nationwide continue to expand their digital services while facing budget cuts and shortened operating hours. And libraries in our area are no exception.

Ed Clark Tours the Gulf of Mexico

By • Jun 18, 2010

By Bob Leweke

Waynesboro, VA – Ed Clark is the president and co-founder of the Wildlife Center of Virginia near Waynesboro.

He recently returned from a 6-day trip to the Gulf of Mexico, sponsored by the Humane Society, to get a first-hand look at the damage to wildlife and to the habitat there.

On tours by helicopter and by boat, Clark traveled along the coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

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