Opinion Roundup: 9th District debate, 2019 legislative agenda, underage binge drinking and more

Wednesday, May 8, 2019 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: 9th Congressional District debate, more bills debated as NC 'crossover' deadline nears, redistricting bills stagnant as Supreme Court mulls political gerrymanders, underage binge drinking a growing problem, oil drilling risks and more.

STEVE HARRISON: In Final 9th Debate, GOP Candidates Face Tough Questions (WFAE-FM reports) -- Tuesday night's Republican debate was hosted by radio station WBT, home to conservative programming like Rush Limbaugh. But it was not a friendly venue.

JIM MORRILL: 9th District candidates talk guns, residency and outside money in their final forum (Charlotte Observer reports) -- In their final debate, Republicans running in the 9th District faced pointed questions, including one who defended her million-dollar support from an outside group, one who defended his controversial bill and one who talked about his extra-marital affair. Eight of the 10 Republicans met in Monroe for the debate sponsored by WBT radio. It came a week before the special primary that will send one of them into an election against Democrat Dan McCready and two third-party candidates.

TRAVIS FAIN: Do-over primary in 9th Congressional District a week off (WRAL-TV reports) -- In case you forgot, a Republican primary in the 9th Congressional District is underway.

LINDSAY WAGNER: House budget proposes even less transparency for NC’s already unaccountable school voucher program (N.C. Policy Watch reports) -- Already among the weakest nationally in terms of accountability, North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship, as the private school voucher program is formally known, needs more transparency, not less. Yet despite this, House lawmakers approved a budget bill last week that would do just the opposite by removing one of the very few requirements in law that does offer taxpayers a modicum of accountability: the provision that some voucher schools must tell the public how their students are performing academically.

JOE JOHNSON: Pro-life rally calls on House to follow Senate to override Cooper’s veto of abortion bill (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- About 200 people gathered near the Legislative Building Tuesday evening to urge members of the N.C. House to follow their state Senate counterparts and override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 359.

No House action on final vote for abortion bill veto outcome (AP reports) -- A deciding vote on a bill vetoed by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper which addresses how live infants born during unsuccessful abortions are treated medically won't happen until at least next week.

More bills debated as NC 'crossover' deadline nears (AP reports) -- The General Assembly has almost completed its biennial process of separating policy legislation between those with a chance of becoming law and those probably going back to the drawing board.

The legislature is about to finalize its 2019 agenda. Here are 5 things to know. (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The “crossover deadline” is looming in the legislature. What that means for the bills you care about.

TRAVIS FAIN: Redistricting bills stagnant as Supreme Court mulls political gerrymanders (WRAL-TV reports) -- Half a dozen proposals to change the way N.C. draws election lines sitting in committee.

TRAVIS FAIN: Education bills moving through Senate (WRAL-TV reports) -- Charter schools could get local money for buildings, retired teachers could be rehired and voucher program would widen.

T KEUNG HUI: Teachers who fail their licensing exams could stay in the classroom under Senate bill (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- North Carolina teachers could get additional time from state lawmakers to pass the licensing exams needed to keep their jobs and remain in the classroom. The N.C. Senate voted 46-2 to allow school districts to issue three-year, non-renewable limited licenses to their teachers who are in danger of losing their jobs because they failed their licensing exams. Lawmakers said that districts, particularly rural ones, are worried about losing good teachers who aren’t able to pass their required licensure exams.

LAURA LESLIE: House OKs bill for stricter laws for emotional support animals (WRAL-TV reports) -- State House lawmakers voted nearly unanimously to require certification of emotional support animals by licensed medical professionals, and to make it a misdemeanor to misrepresent an uncertified pet as a disability-related therapy animal.

MATTHEW BURNS & LAURA LESLIE: House-passed bill seeks to outlaw holding cellphone while driving -- if it's distracting (WRAL-TV reports) -- Despite concerns that it either goes too far or doesn't do enough, a bill outlawing distracted driving passed the House. House Bill 144 would make it illegal for a driver's hands to be occupied "in distracted behavior that impairs or otherwise restricts the proper operation of the motor vehicle and results in operation that is careless, reckless, or heedless."

TRAVIS FAIN: Expunction bill for juveniles set for Senate vote (WRAL-TV reports) -- Other criminal justice reform efforts likely to die as legislative deadline approaches.

TAYLOR KNOPF: Second Chance Act would help ex-offenders get housing, employment (N.C. Health News reports) -- Easing the way to expunging a criminal record means it would be easier for ex-offenders to access the things needed for a healthy life.

GARY ROBERTSON: House OKs cellphone ban, billboard measure before deadline (AP reports) -- One NC legislative chamber wrapped up its work on Tuesday before a deadline the General Assembly imposed on itself this week so that the universe of bills filed during this two-year session can be narrowed.

ANDREW DUEHREN: Tillis Primary Foe to Focus Campaign on Loyalty to Trump (Wall Street Journal reports) -- Republican Sen. Thom Tillis will face a primary challenge in his bid for re-election in 2020, a development that places loyalty to President Trump at the center of what will likely be one of the most competitive Senate races this cycle.

Gov. Cooper now at home after back surgery (AP reports) -- Gov. Roy Cooper is recovering at home a day after back surgery.

EMMY VICTOR: Underage binge drinking a growing problem, state leaders say (WRAL-TV reports) -- State leaders say 94 percent of youth believe underage drinking is a problem, and nearly 67 percent of middle and high school students know another teen that has tried alcohol at least once.

KASEY CUNNINGHAM: CBD businesses continue to grow across NC (WRAL-TV reports) – Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the compound from part of a hemp leaf, and it makes some major claims to help with anxiety, stress or muscle aches and pains. CBD businesses are popping up all over the Triangle and the number of hemp farmers here in North Carolina has more than tripled in the past year.

GILBERT BAEZ: Decade later, DNA match leads to arrest of 'do-rag rapist' in dozen Cumberland sex assaults (WRAL-TV reports) -- A DNA match has led authorities to charge a Parkton man in a dozen Cumberland County sex assaults from a decade ago, investigators said.

AMANDA LAMB: John Edwards, daughter learn from each other practicing law together (WRAL-TV reports) -- After leaving politics behind, John Edwards returned to his roots to practice law again with close friend and longtime business partner David Kirby. But they now have another Edwards in the mix.

JODI GLUSCO: Lots of available, fast internet puts Raleigh on top of cord-cutters list (WRAL-TV/Techwire) -- In a report on "The State of Cordcutting," Raleigh's widely available broadband internet put the City of Oaks on top of cities nationwide where it makes sense to cut the cord.

MATTHEW BURNS: Life sentence thrown out for Raleigh man convicted of killing man outside his home (WRAL-TV reports) -- The state Court of Appeals has thrown out the conviction of a Raleigh man accused of killing a man outside his home in 2016 and granted him a new trial. In 2018, jurors found Chad Cameron Copley, 40, guilty of first-degree murder in the 2016, death of 20-year-old Kouren-Rodney Bernard Thomas. Copley was sentenced to life in prison without parole. According to a ruling by Judges John Tyson and Donna Stroud released Tuesday, the prosecutor’s argument during the trial that "Copley shot Thomas because he was black" is not supported by any evidence and is "wholly gratuitous and inflammatory."

DANIELLE BATTAGLIA: Six shootings in 18 hours. That's what happened to Greensboro and High Point on Monday (Greensboro News & Record reports) -- A 7-year-old girl playing on a High Point porch with friends Monday night was struck by two bullets — yet another victim in a continuing string of violent incidents plaguing the area.

MYRON PITTS: Colvin’s shot at N.C. Civil War & Reconstruction History Center a surprise (Fayetteville Observer column) -- Mayor Mitch Colvin fired a shot heard ’round the state last week with a Facebook post that questioned a funding request for the N.C. Civil War & Reconstruction History Center.

JOHN HINTON: Jeers, cheers during Dixie Classic Fair name forum; hundreds turn out to talk about proposed change (Winston-Salem Journal reports) -- A local minister was loudly booed as he talked about the reasons he wants to change the name of the Dixie Classic Fair during a public forum Tuesday night.

NEILL CALDWELL: Child porn arrest points to limited NC oversight of church day schools (Carolina Public Press reports) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security arrested a Greensboro church day school employee last month on multiple sexual charges related to children. The arrest did not originate with local or state oversight but resulted from an international tip, according to Homeland Security. Only later did the State Bureau of Investigation become involved. State oversight for private schools in N.C. is limited. Beyond requiring fire drills, protective eyewear for shop and science classes, immunization records and standardized testing, there is not much that state law demands of private schools. And some of the oversight that does exist doesn’t apply to preschools, especially those operated by houses of worship.

RICHARD ADKINS: Students disappointed when board says 'no' to tribal wear at graduation (WRAL-TV reports) -- Two Warren County High School seniors asked the Warren County School Board for permission to wear their eagle feather and beads on their caps to honor their Native American heritage. The school board said 'no'.

TOM FOREMAN: Suspect in shooting at NC university indicted (AP reports) -- A grand jury has indicted a 22-year-old man on murder and other charges in the shooting attack at a NC university that left two students dead and four others wounded, a prosecutor's office announced Tuesday.

University receives $5M grant to expand Duke Gardens (AP reports) -- Duke University has received a $5 million grant to improve the 55-acre Sarah P. Duke Gardens on campus, which attracts about 400,000 visitors each year.

CAMMIE BELLAMY: School board tackles neighborhood schools, racial bias training (Wilmington Star-News reports) -- A packed agenda Tuesday evening brought redistricting, racial-bias training and an $85.3 million budget proposal before the New Hanover County Board of Education.

LIZ BELL: Charter Schools Advisory Board approves virtual school’s request to change management (EdNC reports) -- The Charter Schools Advisory Board (CSAB) approved a recommendation to the State Board of Education on Monday that would allow one of the state’s two virtual charter schools to change the educational management organization (EMO) that oversees it.

And now, measles, a disease that's a threat to all (Greensboro News & Record) -- Ironically, those who hew to the anti-vaccination fictions are typically well-educated and well-off financially, and they cross party lines. We can only hope their better judgment, if not their better angels, eventually prevails. They are placing themselves and their loved ones at risk by avoiding immunization. Not to mention the rest of us.

Oil drilling risks N.C. coastal economy, mayors worry (AP reports) -- Mayors from along the North Carolina coast are discussing the costs of offshore oil drilling if something goes wrong.

Coastal Leaders to Discuss Offshore Drilling (Coastal Review reports) -- The state Department of Environmental Quality, coastal mayors and state officials will meet Wednesday in Manteo for a mayoral roundtable on the risks of offshore drilling.

GREG BARNES: DEQ requires municipalities to test for PFAS, 1,4 dioxane in Cape Fear River basin (N.C. Health News reports) -- The intent of the requirement is to develop a basin-wide strategy for reducing the level of the compounds to state stream standards.

LORI WYNN: New Tsunami Research Rides on Small Waves (Coastal Review reports) -- NOAA scientists studying meteotsunamis say learning more about these smaller tsunami-like waves that reach N.C. beaches generally unnoticed could help in forecasting storm surge and coastal flooding.

How to identify N.C.'s snakes -- and steer clear of them (WRAL-TV reports) -- Experts say more than 30 different species of snakes live in N.C. Most live in wooded areas, but they can also be found in your own backyard.

JEFF HAMPTON: After swimming deaths on Outer Banks, lifeguard stand added to popular Frisco beach (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot reports) -- At least 20 people died over the last three years while swimming in waters off the National Park Service beaches on the Outer Banks.

Heed the danger of rip currents (Fayetteville Observer) -- Justin Hinds wasn’t the sort of person you’d expect would easily fall victim to the ocean. He was, after all, a Marine, stationed at Camp Lejeune.