Opinion Roundup: Billboard, BLM and flag; COVID numbers; campaigns; politicians in courts; and more

Thursday, Jul 16, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: BLM and Stars & Bars; COVID numbers and closures; mail-in ballots and Forest's campaigning; Hayes, Vinroot and courts; Harris gets a pass; Schools and COVID; and more.

TYLER DUKES: As new COVID-19 cases continue to rise, deaths in NC may lag behind (WRAL-TV reportrs) -- Despite a steady rise in new COVID-19 cases in North Carolina, the number of new deaths attributed to the disease has kept relatively steady in recent weeks. But public health experts say they don't expect that trend to last. As of the latest data July 15, the state Department of Health and Human Services reports 1,568 deaths from the disease. That's a 14% increase over July 1. But it's nowhere close to the 37% spike in COVID-19 cases the state saw in the same time period.

Asheville’s Wicked Weed closes for COVID-positive worker (Asheville Citizen-Times reports) -- Wicked Weed Brewing on Biltmore Avenue in downtown Avenue closed July 14 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

Doctor: Coronavirus, systematic racism hitting people of color harder (WRAL-TV reports) -- The relationship between social injustice and health inequities is being studied as people of color in the U.S. experience disproportionate high rates of sickness and death due to COVID-19.

Long lines for COVID-19 tests, even longer waits for test results (WRAL-TV reports) -- Many lines to get a COVID-19 test in N.C. are long, and some people are reporting waiting more than a week to get their results. State Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said more people are getting tested as confirmed positive cases continue to trend upward.

Stress and bills pile up as bars remain shut down (WRAL-TV reports) -- Bar owners across North Carolina are struggling to pay their bills as the state's phase 2 COVID-19 restrictions persist for several more weeks, forcing their businesses to remain shuttered.

More NC voters choosing to cast mail-in ballots (WRAL-TV reports) -- The coronavirus pandemic may be changing how people vote in North Carolina, with requests for mail-in absentee ballots setting records.

Unclear path forward for photo ID in NC 2020 elections (Carolina Public Press reports) -- Photo ID provision may sway state and federal courts, but requiring it for fall elections could prove a serious headache for elections officials.

Republican convention in Jacksonville will be scaled back next month (Washington Post reports) -- The Republican Party will hold a scaled-back convention in Jacksonville, Fla., next month that includes a mix of outdoor and indoor venues, according to a letter sent to delegates. The Thursday letter from Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, obtained by The Washington Post, said admittance will be limited to only regular delegates for the first three days of the convention — or about 2,500 people. For the final day, when the president attends, delegates will get a guest, and alternate delegates can also attend — or 6,000 to 7,000 people.

NBC/WSJ poll: Biden opens up 11-point national lead over President Trump (NBC News/Wall Street Journal reports) -- Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden holds a double-digit lead nationally over President Donald Trump, with 7-in-10 voters saying the country is on the wrong track, and with majorities disapproving of the president’s handling of the coronavirus and race relations. Those are the major findings of a brand-new national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll that comes three and a half months before the 2020 presidential election, amid a pandemic that has killed approximately 140,000 Americans, and during protests and debate over race in this country. In addition, the poll shows Democrats enjoying an advantage of intensity heading into November, and it has Trump’s job rating declining to 42 percent – its lowest level in two years.

Biden launches new ad in NC, but Trump heavily outspending him on the airwaves (Charlotte Observer reports) -- Former Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday launched a new ad in North Carolina focused on concerns over the coronavirus. “I’m thinking of all of you today across North Carolina,” he says in the ad. “People are frightened. And they’re especially worried about their parents and grandparents and people most at risk . . . This virus is tough but North Carolina is tougher.” A version of the TV and digital ad also is running in Florida, Arizona and Texas, where it is the campaign’s first TV ad. Biden’s campaign is spending just over $500,000 on TV ads in North Carolina, according to Advertising Analytics. That’s a fraction of what President Trump and his allies are spending in the state, according to the company.

Forest attends campaign event in Pequimans (Elizabeth City Daily Advance reports) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Dan Forest discussed the COVID-19 pandemic, economic issues and Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent vetoes of legislation during a meeting with area supporters last week.

Forest, back on the campaign trail, draws maskless group in Statesville (WRAL-TV reports) -- The Republican lieutenant governor, who has downplayed coronavirus risks, is back to a more normal event schedule.

Black Lives Matter billboard goes up alongside giant Confederate flag on NC highway (WRAL-TV reports) -- A giant Black Lives Matter billboard has popped up beside a large Confederate flag alongside a highway in Pittsboro. "Now, when you come off of 64, the first thing you see is the billboard rather than the flag," said one viewer. "Although the flag is still very visible." Both the flag and now the billboard have each caused quite a stir in Pittsboro, a city that has notably been the site of many protests for several months. In September of 2019, the Virginia Flaggers and ACTBAC put up a large Confederate flag off U.S. Highway 64 Business, and said they were preparing to put as many as five Confederate flags around the county.

Asheville Approves Reparations for Black Residents (New York Times reports) --The measure passed by the City Council of Asheville, N.C., would provide funding to promote homeownership and business opportunities, but stopped short of stipulating direct payments.

No criminal charges for candidate in 9th District absentee ballot mess (WRAL-TV reports) -- Mark Harris, the congressional candidate whose Bladen County operative sparked multiple criminal investigations and a do-over election last year in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District, won't face criminal charges over the debacle, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman announced.

N.C. prosecutor ends probe of ex-congressional candidate (AP reports) -- A former N.C. congressional candidate won't face state charges in an absentee ballot fraud investigation that's already led to indictments against his hired political operative and a new election, a local prosecutor said.

JIM MORRILL: As he awaits sentencing, former NCGOP Chair Robin Hayes gets a hand from an old foe (Charlotte Observer reports) -- Twenty-four years after their bitter primary for governor, former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot has reached out to help his one-time adversary, former state GOP chairman and U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes. Hayes is still awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty last October to lying to federal investigators in one of the state’s biggest political corruption scandals. He faces up to six months in prison. Vinroot joined more than a dozen others in offering testimonials to Hayes in letters to U.S. District Court Judge Max Cogburn Jr. In the letter, Vinroot said during their campaign “Robin conducted himself at all times with honor and dignity, and as a gentleman — which he has continued to do in all of my encounters with him throughout the years since that time.” In 1996 Vinroot accused the Hayes campaign of “character assassination” and hitting “below the belt.” Hayes lost that 1996 governor’s race to Democrat Jim Hunt. He later served a decade in Congress and twice as state Republican chairman.

HANNAH CRITCHFIELD: A Year Without Visits: COVID-19’s Impact on Children with Incarcerated Parents (N.C. Health News reports) -- Correctional facilities throughout the state have shut down in-person visitations to help quell the spread of COVID-19, creating one more roadblock for kids trying to navigate the criminal justice system to stay connected with a parent.

Pandemic shutdowns cut NC retail sales by 13% (WRAL-TV reports) -- New sales tax reports provide a glimpse at how the coronavirus-related shutdowns in April affected the state economy, as well as what people were - and were not - spending money on while at home.

Second federal prisoner dies by lethal injection in less than a week (AP reports) --The United States has carried out its second federal execution this week, killing by lethal injection a Kansas man whose lawyers contended he had dementia and was unfit to be executed. The Supreme Court cleared the way for his death early Thursday morning

Another N.C. inmate dies after getting coronavirus (AP reports) -- An inmate at a central North Carolina state prison who tested positive for the coronavirus has died, the Department of Public Safety announced Wednesday.

N.C. treasurer demands 2 DOT executives be replaced (AP reports) -- Republican State Treasurer Dale Folwell called for two top state Department of Transportation executives to be replaced following recent reports of overspending and salary raises at the agency.

As NC plans to reopen schools, some teachers don’t want to ‘put our lives on the line’ (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- Some teachers say it’s not safe to reopen schools next month unless the state provides more money for services such as a nurse at every campus and enhanced custodial support. Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday he’s reopening K-12 public schools in August under a “moderate social distancing” plan that will result in many of the state’s 1.5 million students getting a mix of in-person classes and remote instruction. But some educators say it’s safer to continue using remote learning instead of in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic. NCAE is urging people to sign a “NC Public School Workers Bill of Rights” that says school employees must have a say in school reopening and state lawmakers should provide enough money to fully cover all the state’s school health reopening requirements. For instance, most schools don’t have a full-time nurse to handle the new health screenings required before students and staff are allowed on campus.

Children with special needs could struggle with school safety precautions (WRAL-TV reports) -- Returning to school after months at home is going to be difficult for many children. Plus, schools will have new routines and safety precautions, like wearing masks and regular hand washing, which will be unfamiliar to many children. As parents worry about their kids' ability to adapt, parents of children with special needs have even more challenges to consider.

College students question wisdom of returning to campus during a pandemic (WRAL-TV reports) -- Many North Carolina colleges and universities have begun moving forward with plans to reopen on an adjusted schedule this fall. But as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in the state - especially among young people - many college students are feeling uneasy about the prospects of returning to campus in a few weeks.

NCHSAA delays fall sports until Sept. 1 due to pandemic (WRAL-TV reports) --The N.C. High School Athletic Association has notified its members that it will delay the start of the fall sports season until at least Sept. 1, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

June visits to Cape Hatteras National Seashore near record (AP reports) -- Nearly 400,000 people visited Cape Hatteras National Seashore in June, the second highest total for the month in the history of the park and coming despite the COVID-19 pandemic, park officials said Wednesday.

Kerr-McGee Restoration Projects Selected (Coastal Review reports) --More than $12 million worth of habitat restoration projects have been identified in the first phase of a plan to offset environmental damage at the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. site in Navassa.

Winston-Salem police allege 87-year-old man fatally shot 54-year-old neighbor and one of her dogs (Winston-Salem Journal reports) -- Early Wednesday, an 87-year-old man walked to his neighbor’s house and shot her to death, also killing one of her three dogs, Winston-Salem police said. Hermon Lowell Aycoth and Karla Ragsdale Essick, 54, lived across the street from each other for years in the city’s southeast, but on Wednesday, Aycoth was arrested and charged with Essick’s killing.