Opinion Roundup: N.C. could be key to control of Senate; Cooper's plans to reopen the state; COVID-19, black funerals, and the 'importance of goodbye'; and more.

Thursday, Apr. 23, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: Nurse anti-protestor heckled by ReOpen NC protestors; virus-challenged voting process should be nonpartisan effort; dying alone and other 'scary aspects' of the coronavirus through the eyes of two nurses; no 'Winter Lights' in Wilson this year; luminaries light up to honor hospice staff; and more.

ReOpen NC protesters heckled a nurse about her weight. Why she stayed strong. (N.C. McClatchy reports) – Amber Brown, an oncology nurse practitioner, arrived in Raleigh wearing a mask, goggles and a blue protective gown with the phrase “Rally Together and Die Alone” written on it. As she maneuvered through the crowd of protesters, the hostility and heckling started when another counter-protester grabbed her arm and said, “You’re with us.” In front of the Legislative Building, other medical professionals dressed in scrubs, masks and lab coats awaited the ReOpen NC protesters. So Brown found a spot and stood there in a silent protest. Protesters converged on her, first attacking her weight. Some called her a strain on the healthcare system, saying obesity kills more people than the coronavirus. But she stood strong.

ROSE HOBAN: Emergency Medicaid proposal could provide coverage for many newly unemployed. But many will still be left behind. (N.C. Health News reports) -- Medicaid, which supports millions of low income North Carolinians has seen a lot of changes in recent months, and there are liable to be more coming.

Random Testing (The Insider reports) -- Two branches of state government have embarked on separate studies to determine how common coronavirus is across the state’s population — each partnering with different universities. The existence of two initiatives stems in part from a disagreement between Gov. Roy Cooper and Senate leader Phil Berger, who’s been advocating for the “random sample testing” for a month.

Black Funerals, COVID-19, And The Importance Of Saying Goodbye (WUNC-FM reports) -- N.C.'s stay-at-home order includes a prohibition on gatherings of more than 10 people. In Durham, that restriction is no more than five people. Even though health experts say social distancing is critical in saving lives during this pandemic, it's been difficut for people not to gather at funerals.

Coronavirus patients usually die alone, nurses say (WRAL-TV reports) -- A nurse at Duke Regional Hospital and a nurse from High Point who is working in New York City during the coronavirus pandemic describe the "scary" aspects of the virus.

CARL BLANKENSHIP: Lawsuit: Citadel resident paid $11,000 a month, now seriously ill with COVID-19 (Salisbury Post reports) -- Marjorie Garvin, a resident at the Citadel at Salisbury nursing home who is seriously ill after testing positive for COVID-19, is suing the company in charge of the facility for negligence related to the care and conditions she experienced. The Citadel has become a major center of new COVID-19 infections in the county.

Lillington nursing home reports three cases of coronavirus​​​​​​​ (WRAL-TV reports) -- Harnett County health officials say three cases of coronavirus have been confirmed at Universal Healthcare Lillington, a nursing home and rehabilitation facility.

35 days, 2,300 meals: Morehead City man's idea feeds thousands (WRAL-TV reports) -- Jay Davis from Morehead City started a social media campaign to feed hungry people and support local restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hospice of Davidson County lights luminaries to honor its employees (The Dispatch reports) -- Hospice of Davidson County is shining a light in what feels like a dark, uncertain time. Normally reserved for the holiday season, the care facility has lit its luminary display -- to honor its staff during this challenging time. Seventy lights now line the front of the Hinkle Hospice House, representing the number of employees serving those with life-threatening illnesses.

Raleigh's first pay-what-you-can cafe remains busy during pandemic (WRAL-TV reports) -- The Triangle's first pay-what-you-can cafe remains open to serve meals for those in need.

DREW C. WILSON: Wilson Winter Lights won't shine this year: COVID-19 downturn scraps fundraiser (Wilson Times reports) -- Wilson Winter Lights, the annual lighting of the Wilson Botanical Gardens between Thanksgiving and Christmas, is another casualty of COVID-19.

DAMON CIRCOSTA & DAVID BLACK: COVID-19 is a challenge to our voting process. Let’s meet it with a nonpartisan effort. (N.C. McClatchy column) -- If our world is an ant mound, this novel coronavirus was a boot that stepped on us all. But after an initial burst of confusion, ant colonies rebuild. Here in N.C., so must we. A key component of rebuilding is making sure our democracy functions. At the State Board of Elections, we are laser-focused on making sure you can exercise your right to vote, no matter what challenges COVID-19 will bring.

N.C.’s tight Senate race could be key to controlling chamber. COVID has pushed it online. (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- N.C.’s U.S. Senate race between Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham is being shaped — like so much else these days — by the coronavirus pandemic. Considered by many the most important Senate race in the nation, the campaign is largely an online affair right now, with the candidates forced out of traditional face-to-face campaigning and, like many in the state, into chats and conference calls by the deadly virus and government shutdowns.

‘A hell of a drug’: How partisanship is infecting the debate over coronavirus response (N.C. McClatchy reports) --Disagreements over N.C.’s stay-at-home restrictions are falling increasingly along partisan lines, as some Republicans call for loosening restrictions soon and Democrats back Gov. Roy Cooper’s call for a slower, more cautious approach. The debates range from whether to hold a NASCAR race, to unemployment benefit hassles, to rules on what Walmart can sell. Political scientists say the partisan split is a predictable one, thanks to each party’s core ideology and base of support.

Cooper expected to announce reopening plan today afternoon (WRAL-TV reports) -- Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to lay out a three-part plan today that would allow data to determine when to lift the restrictions of his stay-at-home order, in place since March 30. A source familiar with the governor's plans.

The governor is ready to start reopening N.C. What does that look like? (N.C. McClatchy editorial) -- Gov. Roy Cooper is preparing plans this week to reopen the N.C. economy, and an announcement on his proposed path ahead could come as early as today. There’s some pressure on Cooper — neighboring governors have taken aggressive steps to loosen and remove stay-at-home restrictions, and “reopen” advocates want the same to happen here. We hope and expect Cooper to be thoughtful in balancing commerce and public health. It’s worked for him and N.C. so far. The governor, however, should do the following moving forward:

Once Quiet, N.C. Republicans Push Cooper For Reopen Plan (WFAE-FM reports) -- Republican Senate leader Phil Berger sent N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper a letter Wednesday asking why the governor has not laid out a “step-by-step” plan to reopen the economy. He then said, “the fact that no such plan has been publicized may lead to a reasonable conclusion that no such plan exists.”

Deserted downtowns in Wake County hope for resurgence (WRAL-TV reports) -- This is Knightdale -- plenty of empty sidewalk benches on empty sidewalks. But this could well be Wake Forest or Cary or Morrisville or Apex.

Nurses, Tillis say N.C. stay-at-home restrictions need to remain in place (WRAL-TV reports) -- Hundreds of people marched through downtown Raleigh on Tuesday demanding that state leaders reopen businesses shuttered during the coronavirus outbreak. The effort disappointed nurses caring for virus patients and even Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, who said it's too early to relax restrictions under the stay-at-home order Gov. Roy Cooper issued last month.

Forest, other Republicans press on reopening N.C. (WRAL-TV reports) -- An uptick in rhetoric as Gov. Roy Cooper prepares to announce his initial plan on easing stay-at-home restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Political protest group gaining statewide attention has local ties (Morganton News-Herald) -- Morganton’s Ashley Smith serves as press coordinator for Reopen NC, a Facebook group started April 7. She has been against the shutdown since Cooper’s March 17 announcement where he closed restaurants and bars for sit-down service. She said she has been taking guidance from and following Dan Forest, N.C. lieutenant governor and President Donald Trump.

DOT to expand drone usage for deliveries during pandemic (WRAL-TV reports) -- The state Department of Transportation has agreed to allow firms to use drones to deliver medical supplies and food during the coronavirus outbreak.

Hispanic community expresses concerns about immigration ban (WRAL-TV reports) -- President Donald Trump is planning to temporarily suspend immigration to the U.S. due to the coronavirus outbreak.

N.C. reports 1st death of state prisoner (AP reports) - Officials announced the first COVID-19 -related death of an offender inside N.C.’s state prison system, reinforcing the dangers of the virus within a population behind bars in which hundreds have tested positive.

First inmate in state prisons dies from COVID-19 at Pender Correctional Institution (Port City Daily reports) -- An inmate at Pender Correctional Institution has died after testing positive for Covid-19, marking the first death of an inmate at a N.C. state prison. The inmate died at a hospital as a result of pre-existing health conditions complicated by Covid-19, according to a release from the N.C. Department of Public Safety

N.C. unemployment office promises 800 more people answering phones by the end of the week (WRAL-TV reports) -- The sheer number of claims is partly to blame for frustration some feel in getting benefits. WRAL has received emails for some of those applying for unemployment, and most have a common theme.

Mass testing at Mountaire Farms begins today amid COVID-19 outbreak (WRAL-TV reports) -- Mountaire Farms confirms two N.C. plants with multiple cases of COVID-19. Testing at Mountaire will begin Thursday.

HALF-TRUE: Is coronavirus the leading cause of death in the U.S.? (PolitiFact/WRAL-TV) -- Mandy Cohen, the health secretary for N.C., said on Monday that "COVID-19 is now the leading cause of death in the U.S." PolitiFact found that statement to be only half true.

N.C. banks gear up for more small biz loans - but $341B likely already committed (TechWire/WRAL-TV reports) -- N.C.'s banks and others around the country are gearing up for another expected onslaught of COVID-19 relief loans once new funding is approved by Congress.

Small businesses have more help coming (WRAL-TV reports) -- The streets are empty, doors are closed and for many small businesses, it's been a nightmare to get help from the federal government.

TREVOR DUNNELL: Eastern N.C. observes spike in alcohol sales (Kinston Free Press reports) -- Alcohol sales have risen since the beginning of the stay at home order in Eastern N.C. and with restaurants closed, the spike has come mostly from ABC stores. Alcohol sales have increased during March 2020 in Onslow (16%), Craven (23%), Jones (2%), Lenoir (17%), and Carteret (25%) as compared to March 2019, according to the North Carolina ABC Monthly Sales Report.

Trump Administration Takes Aim at Wealthy Universities (Inside Higher Ed reports) -- Facing criticism from the president and a warning from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Princeton, Stanford and -- eventually -- Harvard say they won't take millions in stimulus funds to help their needy students. What about Duke, Wake Forest and others in N.C.?

Fetzer courts controversy again with new effort to shape ECU Board of Trustees (N.C. Policy Watch analysis) -- Tom Fetzer had a problem — again. It involved East Carolina University — again. Fetzer, a member of the UNC Board of Governors, inserted himself into yet another hiring decision about the school. This time it was the question of Van Isley’s appointment to the ECU Board of Trustees.

Test cancellations could change how colleges pick students (WRAL-TV reports) -- With the SATs canceled because of the coronavirus, a lot of college-bound high school students are wondering how college admissions will work this fall. But experts say some changes in higher education are long overdue, and they could work to students' benefit..

LIZ BELL: What will COVID-19 mean for N.C. preschool? (EdNC reports) -- N.C.’s public preschool program, N.C. Pre-K, ranked in the middle of similar programs throughout the country on such measures as spending, access, and quality in the National Institute for Early Education’s State of Preschool 2019 report. And Steven Barnett, NIEER’s senior co-director, said the state should rethink its pre-K structure to survive the economic impacts of COVID-19.

EVAN CASTILLO: 'There is something we can do about it': Students host virtual mock WHO summit (The Daily Tarheel reports) -- The UNC chapter of the American Mock World Health Organization planned for months to host an international in-person conference in April. But after the spread of the coronavirus led to the closure of UNC's campus, the group switched the format and theme of the event — and met over Zoom for the 2020 AMWHO COVID-19 Virtual Summit. The chapter planned to host the AMWHO 2020 international conference on refugee migrant health, but after UNC’s abrupt closure, the executive team changed the theme to the COVID-19 pandemic and worked to bring the experience online. AMWHO breaks students into groups to discuss sub-themes which included research and development, economic impact, vulnerable populations and mental health. These groups write a working paper with resolutions to their respective themes, and then send them to the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Transport manager one of four Chapel Hill Schools workers battling COVID-19 (WRAL-TV reports) -- Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools Transportation Manager Jonathan Norris is fighting for his life against COVID-19, and three other school system workers have also tested positive.

Goats, horses and turtles: Learn virtually about the animals at N.C. State's College of Veterinary Medicine (GoAskMom/WRAL-TV reports) -- For the future veterinarians out there, N.C. State's College of Veterinary Medicine has created a handful of videos that provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the school and a little bit about the animals it cares for.

Virus forces salary cuts, furloughs at Vidant​​​​​​​ (Greenville Daily Reflector reports) -- Vidant Health on Wednesday announced it is implementing furloughs, salary reductions and schedule changes in response to challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

N.C. medical group lays off workers, cites virus (AP reports) -- A health group says it has closed 11 of its offices in N.C. and laid off more than 170 support staff workers, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders that resulted from it.

Demand quadruples for regional medical supply distributor trying to meet hospital needs (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- A medical supply company, which provides much-needed personal protection equipment, is finding new ways to meet hospital needs during the novel coronavirus crisis. Medline Industries, based in Illinois, has N.C. distribution centers in Lincolnton, with 300 workers, and Concord with 75 employees. “We’re covering all of N.C. and can get anywhere within 24 hours,” said Jesse Greenberg,

ANNE BLYTHE: Sex talks with the dentist? (N.C. Health News reports) -- As HPV-related oral cancer increase, the N.C. Oral Health Collaborative launches an awareness campaign.

With visitors banned, hospitals devise ways to communicate with patients and families (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- In this age of COVID-19, computers, phones, even baby monitors stand in for face-to-face contact.

‘It just doesn’t seem right.’ Atrium Health reduces nurses’ hours amid coronavirus crisis (N.C. McClatchy reports) --Patient advocates warn the actions taken by Atrium and other hospital systems could negatively impact patient care.

N.C. receives federal support for rural hospitals (Triangle Business Journal reports) -- With the coronavirus pandemic forcing shutdowns of revenue streams for hospitals across the country, N.C.'s struggling rural hospitals have received a cash infusion from the federal government. On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $2.5 million in funding awarded to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) specifically earmarked for supporting rural hospitals in the state. The money comes from the Health Resources and Services Administration's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, which received more than $150 million in funding from the CARES Act passed by Congress.

N.C. hospitals seek nearly $500 million bailout due to pandemic (Carolina Public Press reports) -- Health systems say revenues lost from suspension of elective procedures have placed them in precarious financial shape, with rural hospitals hit hardest.

Gauges Added to Improve Flood Prediction (Coastal Review reports) -- The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership recently funded three new gauges for the state Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network to help better predict flooding in the low-lying northeast region.

After two-week closure, three Brunswick beaches reopen; Kure and Carolina still closed (Port City Daily reports) -- Less than two weeks after closing the public beach strand due to the coronavirus, many of Brunswick County’s southern beach towns have reopened their public access points.

Beer, wine distributors aid food deliveries (AP reports) -- A number of beer and wine distributors in N.C. are volunteering their tractor-trailers to help stock the state’s grocery stores and food pantries in the midst of the coronavirus.