Opinion Roundup: Immigration arrests, Hispanic advocacy groups, Asheville redistricting, school safety and more

Tuesday, April 24, 2018 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: Immigration arrests draw new accusations, Pitt-based Hispanic advocacy group expands statewide, Gov. Cooper proposes million-dollar NC budget deal to improve school safety, Duke University considers policy banning all undergraduate-faculty romantic relationships and more.

Posted 12:51 p.m. Apr 24, 2018 — Updated 12:51 p.m. Apr 24, 2018

Tuesday, April 24, 2018 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: Immigration arrests draw new accusations, Pitt-based Hispanic advocacy group expands statewide, Duke University considers policy banning all undergraduate-faculty romantic relationships, Gov. Cooper proposes million-dollar NC budget deal to improve school safety and more.

CAMPAIGN 2018

TRAVIS FAIN: GOP's Woodhouse deposed, releases opposition research wish list (WRAL-TV reports) -- Dallas Woodhouse answered some questions declined to answer others and seized an opportunity to hand rumors to reporters.

KIRK ROSS: Senate plan to draw Asheville districts could set off battles (Carolina Public Press) -- City leaders and Democratic legislators question General Assembly scheme to draw new district maps, point to previous court defeats when lawmakers targeted other cities

POLICY & POLITICS

Actual malice in election challenges (Greensboro News & Record) -- Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour will decide this case sometime soon, but for those of us in the business of being factual and fair in what is said about people, this would appear to be a clear case of innocent people having been portrayed as guilty with apparent disregard for the accuracy. Truth is the ultimate test in defense against libel (and slander). But will truth win in the arena of politics?

EMERY DALESIO: Dozens of prison workers debilitated since NC escape attempt (AP reports) -- North Carolina's understaffed prisons remain a dangerous place for employees six months after the bloodiest escape attempt in state history left four workers dead, according to agency data and separate case reports.

AMEXANDERIA BORDAS & MARK BARRETT: Cooper proposes million-dollar NC budget deal to improve school safety (Asheville Citizen-Times reports) -- Gov. Roy Cooper touted his proposal to spend an additional $130 million on public school safety and prevention across the state while on a visit to an area high school. The proposal comes after an increased number of shooting threats have been made to schools in Western North Carolina, resulting in lockdowns, arrests, heightened fear among parents and student protests demanding changes be made to keep schools safer.

Governor stresses education, safety in visit to WNC (Hendersonville Times-News reports) -- Education investment took center stage for Gov. Roy Cooper, as he and other top state officials made several stops in Western North Carolina. The governor’s budget will include $130 million for investments to protect students and prevent school violence.

MIKAYA THURMOND: Planning for tragedy: NC officials want to tackle school shootings before they happen (WRAL-TV reports) -- Keeping kids safe at school is the top priority on Monday for the Governor's Crime Commission. For the first time, a special committee will meet to discuss school safety. Local chiefs of police, district attorneys, and the director of the SBI will all be in attendance. The committee will conduct a series of forums to gather and share information, listen to concerns and identify possible strategies for preventing school gun violence.

MATTHEW BURNS: More school nurses among legislative school safety checklist (WRAL-TV reports) -- A House subcommittee on Monday approved six recommendations that lawmakers say will help make schools in North Carolina safer, from an app to report potential threats anonymously to putting more nurses in schools.

GARY ROBERTSON: Threat teams, peer counseling recommended for school safety (AP reports) -- Some North Carolina legislators agree public schools will be safer if support professionals are directed to work together to identify troubled youth and young people mentor classmates.

GILBERT BAEZ: Fayetteville council adopts rules to begin forcing member out (WRAL-TV reports) -- The Fayetteville City Council on Monday night adopted rules for a rarely used ‘amotion’ procedure to possibly remove Councilman Tyrone Williams.

FRANK TAYLOR: Immigration arrests draw new accusations, protests (Carolina Public Press) -- Lawyer says agents blocked access to immigration clients after arrests. Protesters converge on agent picnic. ICE spokesman responds to criticism. Congressman condemns arrests.…

NAOMI PRIOLEAU: (WUNC-FM reports) -- Most Structurally-Deficient Bridge In NC Scheduled For Full Replacement (WRAL-TV) -- The year was 1955. Dirt roads covered much of Greensboro and Guilford County. Then, the Interstate Highway System was passed and Bridge 299 was born.

BRIAN WYDKWYCH: Film attempts to show migrant farm workers in a new light (Greenville Daily Reflector) -- This journey, from soil to spoon, is the subject of a pair of local film makers’ upcoming documentary, which chronicles the lifestyle and trials of migrant farm hands, called “At a Stranger’s Table: A Discussion of the Latino Migrant Farm Workers’ Plight in Eastern North Carolina.”

SETH THOMAS GULLEDGE: Pitt-based Hispanic advocacy group expands statewide (Greenville Daily Reflector) -- A local advocacy group that supports the growth and expansion of opportunities for the Latino community is taking some of that expansion for themselves, announcing two new centers across the state. The Association of Mexicans in North Carolina, or AMEXCAN, a Pitt County-based Latino advocacy group announced last week the opening of offices in Elizabeth City and Raleigh.

RICHARD BURR & THOM TILLIS: N.C. benefits from the tax law (Fayetteville Observer column) -- Back in January, we told North Carolinians about a few of the ways the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Congress passed and President Trump signed at the end of last year, was putting more of your hard-earned dollars back in your pocket. Last week, as we filed our taxes, we were relieved this was our last time filing under the old system.

VP Pence leaves a lot out of his tax-cut message (Charlotte Observer column) -- Vice President Mike Pence touted tax cuts in Charlotte Friday, but his points need some clarification.

Former N.C. Lt. Gov. Pat Taylor Jr. dies at 94 (AP obit) -- Former Lt. Gov. Pat Taylor has died more than 45 years since serving as the state's second-highest executive branch official.

EDUCATION

KELLY HINCHCLIFFE: NC ranks 37th in nation for teacher pay, 39th in per-pupil spending (WRAL-TV reports) -- North Carolina ranks 37th in the nation for average teacher pay, according to estimates released by the National Education Association.

'Revolt against Folt!' Students march on UNC chancellor's office, demanding arts money (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- UNC art students marched on Chancellor Carol Folt's office to protest lack of funding for art instruction.

JESSICA PATRICK: Duke University considers policy banning all undergraduate-faculty romantic relationships (WRAL-TV reports) Officials at Duke University are considering a new policy that would prohibit all romantic relationships between undergraduate students and faculty.

New museum offers a chance to acknowledge a shameful history (Charlotte Observer) -- New museum remembers a shameful lynching history that included North Carolina.

HEALTH

BRYAN MIMS: A warning from Troxler -Wear your DEET this summer (WRAL-TV reports) -- North Carolina's chief farmer has sworn off red meat and pork all because of a tick bite. North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, who was bitten by a Lone Star tick last summer while on his farm, is now warning people to protect themselves from ticks.

THOMAS GOLDSMITH: New DHHS Map Puts Communities’ Needs in Sharp Relief (N.C. Health News reports) -- People with an eye for health and statistics can put together a wealth of information about North Carolina from a “story map” newly created by the Department of Health and Human Services.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

JOHN DOWNEY: Wrangling continues over N.C. law meant to settle solar disputes with Duke Energy (Charlotte Business Journal column) -- Eight months after legislators adopted a hard-won compromise on the future of N.C. solar and other renewables, alternative energy partisans may have gotten less than they bargained for.

… AND MORE

Richard Jenrette, 89, Wall Street power, Raleigh native, dies (New York Times obit) -- Raleigh native Richard H. Jenrette, who was a founder of the first Wall Street firm to offer shares to the public and who, after selling it to the giant but ailing Equitable Life Assurance Society, presided as chief executive over the company’s revival, died Friday in Charleston, South Carolina. He was 89.

NATALIE MATTHEWS: Stormy Daniels to make stop in Raleigh on national strip-club tour (WRAL-TV reports) -- Stormy Daniels, the infamous porn actress and stripper, will be making a stop in Raleigh this summer as part of her "Make America Horny Again" tour - a play on President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.

$100K lottery win takes home health aide's breath away (WRAL-TV reports) -- Linda Wiseman had to stop and catch her breath after seeing five zeroes appear on her Millionaire Bucks scratch-off ticket.

D.G. MARTIN: New novels from four of North Carolina’s best writers (Winston-Salem Journal column) -- Is the cold weather really over at last? And if the warmer season is here, what are some good books you should consider for your spring reading list?

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