Opinion Roundup: Cooper steps out front on offshore drilling debate

Friday, July 21, 2017 -- A roundup of opinion, commentary and analysis on Governor Cooper's remarks against oil exploration along N.C.'s coast, a set of discouraging figures on our state's justice system, a public push against a major pipeline proposal and more.

MARK HIBBS: Cooper Vows to Lead Offshore Drilling Fight (Coastal Review column) -- Gov. Roy Cooper, during an appearance Thursday at Fort Macon State Park, said the state’s environment and “robust coastal economy” are not worth the risks from offshore oil drilling and exploration.

The price of justice (Greensboro News & Record) -- In late 2015, High Point and Elon universities conducted important polling for a commission established by N.C. Chief Justice Mark Martin. The findings made a sad statement: 80% believed the wealthy receive better treatment in court; 73% thought ordinary citizens can’t afford to bring a case to court; 76% believed a person without a lawyer was less likely to get a fair deal.

COREY DAVIS: Opponents pan impacts of proposed gas pipeline (Rocky Mount Telegram analysis) -- A thong of people mostly opposed to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline packed the Brown Auditorium at Nash Community College. Several people wore clothing and held up signs that showed their strong opposition to the 42-inch gas pipeline.

FERREL GUILLORY: Education at issue amid budget and economic rip currents (EdNC column) -- This summer, caution flags have gone up — in the form of two research reports — that alert North Carolina to worrisome fiscal and economic currents. Neither is a report specifically on education. But both have implications for schools, colleges, and universities in a state that devotes around 57 percent of its General Fund to education.

TAYLOR KNOPF: STePs Toward Shortening ED Wait Times for Mental Health Patients (N.C. Health News) -- North Carolina's telepsychiatry program is starting to make a dent on how long people in mental health crisis spend in the emergency room.

STEPHANIE CARSON: Churches Finding Ways to Worship Son and Sun (Public News Service) – This Sunday, at least one N.C. church will be thankful for the sunny weather of late. First Baptist Church of Mount Olive recently worked with a private company to construct two solar farms on its property - generating more than 20,000-megawatt hours of energy every year.

ABBY PHILLIPS: Sessions learns loyalty can be a one-way street with Trump (Washington Post column) -- The attorney general, who was one of Trump’s most important early supporters, became the latest ally to suddenly fall out of the president’s good graces.