Opinion Roundup: No more fans at big sports tournaments; evidence from bribery case just 'tip of iceberg'; new healthcare provider for state retirees; and more.

Thursday, Mar. 12, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: Coronavirus concerns empty stands at this year's state/national basketball tournaments; 'wider world of intrigue' revealed in bribery case evidence; UNC system shifts classes online; SEANC has a new leader; VA video appointment pilot program launched in Boone; and more.

MOSTLY FALSE: Did Cooper's approval ratings 'plummet' after his budget veto? (PolitiFact/WRAL-TV reports) -- The N.C. Republican Party said Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has "seen his approval rating plummet" after vetoing the GOP-controlled legislature's budget.

'Tip of an iceberg': Evidence in N.C .bribery case hints at more intrigue (WRAL-TV reports) -- Dan Forest, Roy Cooper, Tim Moore: Some of N.C.'s most powerful politicians are name-checked in evidence from donor Greg Lindberg's federal bribery trial.

Lobbyist to lead N.C. state employees' group (AP reports) -- A longtime lobbyist for N.C.'s leading state employees' group is its new executive director. The State Employees Association of N.C. announced Ardis Watkins now leads the group's day-to-day operations. She succeeds Robert Broome, who resigned recently after about two years at the job with the 47,000-member association. SEANC had no information on reasons for Broome's departure. He didn't immediately return a phone messages seeking comment.

N.C. State Employees Association boss resigns, shortly before 2020 legislative session (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The head of N.C.’s main lobbying group for state employees stepped down suddenly Wednesday. Robert Broome has led the State Employees Association of N.C., or SEANC, for the last two years. It’s unclear why he left. SEANC’s announcement of his resignation on Wednesday does not provide a reason, and Broome could not immediately be reached for comment.

Humana to provide Medicare plan for retired state workers in N.C. (AP reports) -- New service contracts awarded for N.C.'s health insurance plan for state employees, teachers and retirees should save state government and enrollees significant money over time, State Treasurer Dale Folwell says. Folwell announced over the past week winning bids to administer the State Health Plan and to offer Medicare Advantage coverage to retired government employees and their dependents.

N.C. politician tweets Musk to build new truck plant in N.C. … but Nashville looks to be top contender (TechWire/WRAL-TV) -- Tesla is looking for a location to build its planned Cybertruck, and it will be thousands of miles from its only US auto assembly line in California. CEO Elon Musk disclosed via tweet late Tuesday that he is scouting locations to build the truck and that it “will be central US.” The response tweets included a state senator from N.C., a member of Congress from Arkansas, the president of the Joplin, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

New Legislator (The Insider reports) -- A Cabarrus County psychiatrist who won a Republican primary last week will soon join the N.C. House to finish out the term of the late Rep. Linda Johnson, R-Cabarrus. GOP leaders in House District 82 selected Kristin Baker to fill the vacancy, according to a tweet Wednesday from Stephen Wiley, House Republicans’ caucus director.

N.C.’s Mark Meadows: The Right’s new ally in the West Wing (N.C. Policy Watch) -- Republican Rep. Mark Meadows has a new job in the White House — a promotion that could elevate the status of the Tar Heel State in the eyes of the president and strengthen ties between the Trump administration and conservatives in Congress.

Fast-Growing NC Cities Say Census Critical for Boosting Resources (Public News Service reports) -- In the coming weeks, North Carolinians will have a chance to fill out their U.S. Census forms online or by mail.

ROSE HOBAN: What’s it like to get coronavirus? It depends on who you are. (N.C. Health News reports) -- While most cases of disease caused by COVID-19 will be mild, for certain people, it could be deadly.

ANDREW CARTER: ACC tournament will keep fans out of its remaining games amid coronavirus outbreak (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The ACC will close the remainder of its men’s basketball tournament to spectators, beginning with today’s quarterfinals, ensuring that games will be played in a mostly empty Greensboro Coliseum amid the emerging threat of the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus disease.

Americans snap to attention on virus as big events canceled (WRALSportsFan/AP/WRAL-TV reports) -- Wednesday was the moment that the larger American public came to the dawning realization that the toll of the virus would be unavoidable for months to come, perhaps longer. In the matter of hours Wednesday afternoon, the signs were everywhere. The NCAA announced that the rite of spring for so many Americans — its college basketball tournament — would be played before largely empty arenas.

N.C. records eighth case of coronavirus (AP reports) -- An eighth case of coronavirus has been confirmed in N.C. The latest patient is from Wake County, where five other residents tested positive. N.C. DHHS said the new case involves a traveler from Indiana who visited Biogen in Raleigh last week,.

HALF TRUE: Is the flu more deadly than the coronavirus? (PolitiFact/WRAL-TV reports) -- In a Feb. 3 segment on Daily Blast Live, a live daytime news and entertainment program, Dr. Drew Pinsky lambasted press coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and said "you're more likely to die of influenza right now."

UNC system shifts most classes online to combat coronavirus (WRAL-TV reports) -- The UNC system will halt most in-person classes at all of its campuses by the end of next week to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.

NCHSAA: Basketball championships still on, but unsure if changes will need to be made (HighSchoolOT/WRAL-TV reports) -- NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker said that the association is not sure if recent developments involving UNC system schools and the NCAA mean the NCHSAA will have to make changes to the basketball state championships.

Two more Triangle residents test positive for coronavirus (WRAL-TV reports) -- Two new patients have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, one in Wake County and another in Durham County.

N.C. hospitals prepare for coronavirus​​​​​​​ (WRAL-TV reports) -- Womack Army Medical Center has laid out its measures to handle any potential outbreak of flu, other respiratory illnesses and coronavirus (COVID-19).

Don’t wait on sports to do the right thing with coronavirus, N.C. (Charlotte Observer ) -- It’s probably not time yet for N.C. or its municipalities to forbid fans from attending sporting events because of the Covid-19 virus, but that moment may be coming soon. If it does, our state and local governments shouldn’t leave it to sports teams and organizations to make the difficult but right call.

Gov. Cooper: NC has not gotten all the coronavirus testing supplies it needs from CDC (Charlotte Observer reports) -- N.C. has not yet received all of the novel coronavirus testing supplies it needs from the CDC to continue testing in the way it wants, Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday. Cooper spoke in Charlotte after meeting with business and health care leaders one day after declaring a state of emergency in North Carolina over the new coronavirus.

With events in flux, know the refund policy for your tickets (5 On Your Side/WRAL-TV reports) -- If you have tickets to a concert, game or show and, because of the coronavirus, don't want to go, a refund is not automatic. While some venues and ticket brokers are loosening rules for cancellations and exchanges, the information is changing rapidly. When events are held, ticket holders can be left holding the bag if they simply decided to stay home. But if a venue cancels or postpones an event, you have more options.

IMARI SCARBROUGH: Resource guide for preparing, preventing and dealing with COVID-19 in N.C.​​​​​​​ (Carolina Public Press reports) -- The threat of coronavirus is not only to public health but also to economic stability and quality of life. Panicked reactions and spreading or listening to rumors about the illness can do more harm than good, public health experts warn. A calm and reasonable response, equipped with good information is the smartest strategy. To help with this, Carolina Public Press is providing the following resource guide, with basic information and guidelines about where to find more information. This guide will be updated and expanded with new information while the COVID-19 crisis persists.

BENJAMIM SCHACTMAN: Wilmington’s Azalea Festival responds to coronavirus concerns, county officials offer ‘guidance’​​​​​​​ (Port City Daily reports) -- Organizers for the city’s largest annual festival say there are currently no plans to cancel the Azalea Festival. While acknowledging concerns that have preemptively shut down other major events — including Austin’s SXSW festival — Azalea organizers say they will plan additional precautions for dealing with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel form of the coronavirus, while forging ahead.

TOM CAMPBELL: Will Coronavirus be as bad as the 1918 flu epidemic in North Carolina? (Richmond County Daily Journal Opinion) -- My dad was four-years-old when his mom died from the Spanish Flu. She was one of a reported 13,000 North Carolinians who died as a result of the H1N1 virus that started in 1918. My father remembered it as a sad and scary time. Many are wondering whether the current COVID-19 or coronavirus, as it is known, could be as bad.

​​​​​​​NHCS attorney Wayne Bullard resigns, citing ‘outrageous attacks’ against him, denies wrongdoing (Port City Daily reports) -- Wayne Bullard, the attorney for the New Hanover County Schools district and Board of Education, announced his resignation, citing “extreme harassment” by “several members of the public.” The announcement comes on the heels of an article detailing Bullard’s recent filming of ‘call to the audience’ speakers during a Board of Education meeting.

NCHSAA takes emergency action to alleviate shortage of girls lacrosse officials​​​​​​​ (HighSchoolOT/WRAL-TV reports) -- The N.C. High School Athletic Association has announced steps it is taking to alleviate the shortage of girls lacrosse officials, particularly in the Triangle area.

KAYLA LASURE: Video medical appointments for veterans piloted in Boone (Watauga Democrat reports) -- Hoping to cut down on time a veteran may have to travel to a medical center for care, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has piloted several sites across the nation for video visits with providers — including in Boone.

NEIL COTIAUX: Stein gives HCA until month's end to answer questions (Carolina Public Press reports) -- N.C. attorney general now expects HCA’s answers on Mission Health’s quality of care, charity care and billing practices by the end of March.

Climate change will make N.C. hotter and more humid, report says (Durham Herald-Sunreports) -- N.C. is hotter than it was in the mid-1890s, scientists said, and it’s highly likely greenhouse gases will drive up average temperatures in the state through the middle and end of this century. NC State’s N..C. Institute for Climate Studies released a report detailing how temperatures, precipitation and flooding will increase as heat-trapping greenhouse gas concentrations rise.

More Heat, Floods, Storms ‘Virtually Certain’ (Coastal Review reports) -- A report released Wednesday by the N.C. Institute for Climate Studies puts the latest science on global climate change and sea level rise in perspective for N.C.

Environmental Grants (The Insider reports) -- Attorney General Josh Stein joined environmental organizations for a grant award ceremony at Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy to announce $482,000 in grants for the western N.C. region.

Duke, Dominion, Southern won't hit clean energy targets at current pace: Report (Utility Dive Report) -- Duke Energy, Dominion Energy and Southern Company are not making investments consistent with their clean energy goals, according to a report from Synapse Energy Economics.The three utilities make up 4.2% of total U.S. carbon emissions and 12.4% of U.S. power sector emissions, which constitute about a third of U.S. overall emissions.