Opinion Roundup: Terrorism in our communities, Democratic wave faces GOP gerrymandering, hurricane recovery efforts and more

Monday, Oct. 29, 2018 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: North Carolinians respond to synagogue shooting, GOP rushing to save House seats from onslaught of Democratic money, N.C. justices to take case on Court of Appeals number, students still struggling with reading comprehension, Smithfield announces plans to cover hog lagoons, demanding a restoration of civility in politics and more.

KACEY CUNNINGHAM: Local leaders respond to Pa. synagogue attack (WRAL-TV reports) -- After mass shooting at a Pennsylvania synagogue killed 11 people, local leaders sent sympathy to the victims and spoke of safety concerns and precautions for those in the area.

Why we all share the blame for Pittsburgh (Fayetteville Observer) -- Through the long lens of history, we will look back at this tumultuous time in America and realize how culpable we all are. We, as a society, draw the boundaries around what we tolerate, and it is time we say, no more.

RICHARD STRADLING: North Carolinians respond to synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary, Sen. Thom Tillis and Rep. David Price were among those who issued statements following the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

MICHAEL FUTCH: Beth Israel Congregation holds vigil to mourn Pittsburgh victims (Fayetteville Observer reports) -- Eleven candles were lit before a vigil got underway in the sanctuary of the Beth Israel Congregation. Those candles burned in honor of the 11 victims who were killed during a shooting spree at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday.

JENNIFER FERNANDEZ: 'Rally Against Hate and Violence' to be held Tuesday night at Temple Emanuel (Greensboro News & Record reports) -- About the time Rabbi Fred Guttman was talking about the rise in anti-Semitism during services Saturday in Greensboro, a gunman in Pittsburgh was opening fire during a baby-naming ceremony at a synagogue there, killing 11 and wounding several others. Guttman learned about the deadly shooting after his sermon, and soon after organized a "Rally Against Hate and Violence" Tuesday night at Temple Emanuel in Greensboro.

RAGEN ROBINSON: Vigil planned in Winston-Salem to remember victims of Pittsburgh massacre (Winston-Salem Journal reports) -- The members of Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, along with supporters and friends throughout the community, will do what they always do when hatred turns innocent people into targets, said Rabbi Mark Cohn. “We will gather. We will pray,” Cohn said in a message on Facebook. “We will surround ourselves with the love of friends and support for each other.” The Winston-Salem temple will host a vigil Monday, Oct. 29 to remember the people slain Saturday at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh.

JENNY DRABBLE: Pittsburgh synagogue shooting leaves local temple members rattled (Winston-Salem Journal reports) -- An anti-Semitic mass shooting that left 11 dead in Pittsburgh, Pa., has shaken the Jewish community across the country.

JOE HEIM & SAMANTHA SCHMIDT: American Jews’ worst fears become reality with synagogue massacre (Washington Post reports) -- As threats increased, as online abuse grew more vicious, as the defacing of buildings with swastikas became more common, the possibility of violence loomed over Jewish communities in the United States.

DAVID NAKAMURA: Critics say Trump fosters toxic environment for political violence he denounces (Washington Post reports) -- President Trump has denounced recent attacks and called for national unity. But his critics accuse him and the GOP, in a cynical pursuit of political power, of going beyond partisan political talk into demagoguery of racial minorities, foreigners and prominent Jewish political figures.

ALEX DEROSIER & GARY D. ROBERTSON: Flush N.C. Democrats hope to reverse GOP control (AP reports) -- N.C.'s energized and financially flush Democratic Party is casting its get-out-the-vote net this year into areas once ceded to rivals as it strives to wrest the legislature from Republicans and end a long-running battle between lawmakers and the executive branch. The party has its work cut out for it: Although N.C. has come to be seen as a swing state nationally, its state legislature is as deeply Republican as anywhere in the South, with veto-proof GOP supermajorities in both houses — aided by favorable redistricting — and many seats Democrats never even bothered to contest.

JONATHAN MARTIN & ALEXANDER BURNS: GOP Rushing to Save House Seats From Onslaught of Democratic Money (New York Times reports) -- As the 2018 midterm campaign enters its final full week, House Republicans are rushing to fortify their defenses in conservative-leaning districts they thought were secure, pouring millions of dollars into a last-minute bid to build a new firewall against Democrats. It is a similar story in North Carolina, where Mr. Trump touched down on Friday to help a couple of Republican candidates running in conservative districts near Charlotte who have been out-raised by Democrats and have had to rely out on outside groups.

DAVID LIEB: Democratic wave faces GOP gerrymandering in US House races (AP reports) -- As a freshman congressman, Republican Ted Budd seems to have several strikes against him as he faces his first re-election in his N.C. district. He belongs to the same party as the president, a historical negative in midterm elections. President Donald Trump's national disapproval ratings have risen since taking office. And Budd faces a female challenger in a year when women's political involvement has been intensifying. Yet Budd has at least one built-in advantage: He's running in a district intentionally drawn to favor Republicans.

KRISTINE PHILLIPS: In some states, ballot measures offer a Trump-free rallying cry (Washington Post reports) -- “There’s quite a bit of evidence ... that turnout is higher when you have these salient initiatives on the ballot. And it has to do with how salient they are,” said Caroline Tolbert, a University of Iowa political science professor.

Vote no on constitutional amendments (Elizabeth City Daily Advance) -- In politics, if you’re trying to pass something controversial, one of the oldest tricks in the book is to pair it with something less controversial and present them together as a package. Another trick to gain passage is to flood the zone — overwhelm the audience.

Five governors oppose two constitutional amendments (Greenville Daily Reflector column) -- The N.C. General Assembly has had its share of face-offs with the courts. Repeatedly, judges have ruled unconstitutional any laws that would give executive power to the legislature — most recently blocking a legislative raid on the appointment power of the governor.

MICHAEL BRAGG: ‘We have an opportunity right now to say never again’: Rev. Barber fires up Winston-Salem crowd ahead of midterm election (Winston-Salem Journal reports) -- With just a little more than a week to go until the midterm elections, the Rev. William Barber stood before a church crowd in Winston-Salem and stressed how important this election is.

DAVID SINCLAIR: Richard Hudson, Frank McNeill Face Off for Congressional Seat (Southern Pines Pilot reports) -- Former Aberdeen Mayor Frank McNeill Jr. believes he can bring a “fresh perspective” to Congress, which he says is “completely broken”

PAUL WOOLVERTON: In Senate District 19, Can Democrat deViere knock out high-ranked Republican Meredith? (Fayetteville Observer reports) Republican state Sen. Wesley Meredith in 2010 rode a red wave of Republican-choosing voters — energized by their dislike for Democratic President Barack Obama — that knocked the Democrats out of power in the General Assembly for the first time since the 1890s. -- This year, former Fayetteville City Councilman Kirk deViere hopes for a blue wave of Democrat-choosing voters — energized by their dislike for Republican President Donald Trump — to help him oust Meredith. The Meredith-deViere race is one of the state’s major legislative battles a

WESLEY YOUNG: Medicaid marks the fight between Lambeth and Besse in House 75 (Winston-Salem Journal reports) -- Disputes over the scope and funding of Medicaid mark the fight between incumbent Donny Lambeth and his challenger Dan Besse in the contest for House District 75 in the N.C. General Assembly.

PAUL WOOLVERTON: N.C. Senate 21: Former chaplain Leever challenges incumbent Clark (Fayetteville Observer reports) -- Voters in Hoke County and the northwestern corner of Cumberland County are deciding whether to reelect Democratic Sen. Ben Clark or replace him with Republican Timothy Leever in the Senate District 21 race.

How we see Mecklenburg’s five NC Senate races (Charlotte Observer) -- With Democrats seeking to break Republicans’ supermajority in the NC Senate, Mecklenburg voters will have a say on five Senate races. Here’s how the Observer editorial board sees them.

TIM BUCKLAND: Baby Trump balloon floated at Wilmington’s Greenfield Lake (Wilmington Star-News reports) -- Depiction of president brought cheers, detraction to stunt and organizers of the get-out-the-vote event

Polls must be above reproach (Winston-Salem Journal) -- Recent reports of improprieties at Forsyth County voting booths are disturbing. Our elections should be free of scandal and poll workers so far above reproach that claims about their misbehavior are laughable.

RICK GLAZIER: Let’s demand a restoration of civility in politics (Fayetteville Observer column) -- Civility breeds civility and incivility breeds incivility in all aspects of our life. Campaigning and holding public office are no different. I ran in 16 primary and general elections for both the School Board and the N.C. House of Representatives and was honored to serve our community.

CELIA RIVENBARK: Face it -- protesting doesn’t pay (Wilmington Star-News column) -- When money is literally the only currency you have, it’s hard to imagine that everybody else doesn’t look at life the same way. When your soul is bereft of any loftier goals, making more money dictates every decision you make and every action you take. Once you understand that mindset, you understand the current president.

KAY MCSPADDEN: Young people are getting the message, and it’s not a good one (Charlotte Observer column) -- Actions speak louder than words, but some words offer optimism and encouragement. We read John Donne’s Meditation XVII, his sermon inviting us to embrace each other’s humanity. “No man is an island,” he assures us. “Every man’s death diminishes me.” Humane words too many adults have forgotten. I hope this November young voters will turn those words into action.

MICHAEL FUTCH: Incumbent Richardson faces Devore in legislative race (Fayetteville Observer reports) — The race for the state House District 44 seat pits an incumbent Democrat and General Assembly veteran against a former chairwoman of the Cumberland County Republican Party who advocates for policies she believes serve the greater good of the community.

DAWN LIM & SUMMER SAID: Saudi Oil Giant Wants Former N.C. Official Kevin SigRist to Run Its Retirement Money (Wall Street Journal reports) -- Saudi Arabia’s state oil company is turning to Kevin SigRist, a former N.C. state pension executive to manage its retirement money at a time when U.S. ties to the kingdom are under scrutiny. … SigRist has more than two decades of experience with overseeing money for public pension systems in the U.S. He was deputy executive director of Florida’s largest state pension and most recently the chief investment officer for N.C. Retirement Systems, which has roughly $100 billion in assets.

EMMY VICTOR: By the numbers: How many people were helped during Florence (WRAL-TV reports) -- Here's a look at how many people received help in N.C. during Hurricane Florence.

People, businesses in 3 more counties can seek Florence aid (AP reports) -- Now residents and business owners in over one-third of North Carolina's counties can seek federal aid to cover uninsured or underinsured damage from Hurricane Florence last month.

IBM to acquire Red Hat in $34 billion deal; Red Hat to remain ‘distinct unit’ (WRAL-TV/TechWire reports) -- IBM and Red Hat announced that IBM will acquire Red Hat in a deal worth $34 billion. Raleigh-based Red Hat will remain a “distinct unit” within IBM, CEO Jim Whitehurst told employees.

GARY ROBERTSON: IBM set to acquire N.C.-based Red Hat in $34B deal (AP reports) -- IBM announced it will acquire North Carolina-based open-source software company Red Hat in a $34 billion stock deal that the technology and consulting giant's chief executive says will advance the company to the next step in cloud computing.

Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst: Why do the deal with IBM? (WRAL-TV/TechWire reports) -- Red Hat president and CEO Jim Whitehurst shared this email with Red Hat associates about why Red Hat agreed to merge with IBM in a deal worth $34 billion.

CATHERINE KOZAK: Renovated Center Showcases First Flight (Coastal Review reports) -- Once planned for demolition, the National Park Service instead restored the early-1960s modernist visitor center at the Wright Brothers Memorial, which recently reopened after the two-year, $5.8 million project.

N.C. justices to take case on Court of Appeals number (AP reports) – N.C.'s highest court says it will hear arguments on whether the legislature can trim judgeships from the state's intermediate-level appeals court through attrition.

JOE MARUSAK & ANNA DOUGLAS: Woman faces charges after yelling at black neighbor ‘You don’t belong - get out of here!’ (Charlotte Observer reports) — Police say criminal charges are pending for a white woman who is seen in a video confronting two African-American women in an apartment parking lot in south Charlotte. The video, which one of the women posted on Facebook on Friday, shows a middle-aged white woman approach two black women and call them “b----” and asking “Is your baby daddy here?”

Charlotte woman fired over filmed racist rant at black neighbor (Charlotte Observer reports) -- A white North Carolina woman filmed going on a racist rant at her black neighbor has been fired from her job.

ABBIE BENNETT: Millennials rush to these 2 NC cities because of high pay, plentiful jobs (Durham-Herald Sun reports) — What are the best metro areas for millennials to find jobs and higher pay? Turns out, of the top 50 cities in the U.S., two of the best for millennials are in NC, according to recent studies.

VIRGINIA BRIDGES: In Durham, children are often restrained in court. Is it a violation of state law? (Durham-Herald Sun reports) — Some attorneys and juvenile justice advocates have criticized Durham County’s routine practice of shackling youths, who can be as young as 6, being held in juvenile detention. They say restraints can cause long-term psychological damage in children, many of whom have already witnessed or experienced traumatic events.

JOSH SHAFFER: UNC case on sex assault records heads to NC Supreme Court (Durham-Herald reports) — The N.C. Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear the case several media outlets have brought against UNC-Chapel Hill asking for identities of students and employees found responsible for rape and sexual assault.

JORDAN WILKIE & FRANK TAYLOR: Former guards allege pattern of inmate abuse at NC county jail (Carolina Public Press reports) — Inmates at the Cherokee County Detention Center were repeatedly ordered to beat up other inmates, according to two former Sheriff’s Office employees who allege a pattern of mismanagement at the jail that has lasted over several years.

One student shot, another in custody at high school south of Charlotte (WRAL reports) -- The Matthews Police Department confirms a student was injured following a shooting at Butler High School in Matthews. WCNC in Charlotte reported another student is in custody and the scene is now secured.

Students are still struggling with reading (Winston-Salem Journal) — NC’s children aren’t learning to read fast enough or well enough. That’s despite the state’s Read to Achieve program, which has spent more than $150 million on a third-grade reading campaign.

ALLEN JOHNSON: Judge rightly shames UNC about ‘Silent Sam’ (Greensboro News & Record column) -- An Orange County judge last week found a “Silent Sam” supporter guilty of punching a student during dueling protests for and against the Confederate monument at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Schools should be prudent in scheduling makeup time (Wilmington Star-News) — As school systems revise calendars, they should be mindful that the people they serve -- as well as school employees -- have been through a catastrophe. Many, in fact, still are out of their homes.

LIZ SCHLEMMER: NC Cherokee Say The Race To Save Their Language Is A Marathon (WUNC reports) — Jakeli Swimmer keeps a little black notebook nearby while he teaches. The worn pages of the spiral notebook are covered in his scrawled notes and doodles of legends he has heard since childhood. The notes are vocabulary he has written in English, his first language, and words he’s learned in Cherokee, his native language.

KATE ELIZABETH QUERAM: New Approach for Hurricane Recovery Efforts (Route 50 reports) -- A coastal county in North Carolina created an entirely new office to coordinate recovery efforts among federal and state partners.

N.C.’s weakened storm-related building codes cause for ‘great concern’ (Port City Daily reports) -- In the wake of Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael, coastal areas across the nation are taking stock of how prepared they are for a powerful storm. Especially in developing areas, a major part of that means asking questions about building codes.

RICK ARMSTRONG: Wake County sees more deer-related crashes than anywhere else in NC (WRAL-TV reports) -- A local man knows roads can be more dangerous this time of year after a deer crossing the road caught him off guard one year ago.

GREG BARNES: Smithfield Announces Plans to Cover Hog Lagoons, Produce Renewable Energy (N.C. Health News reports) -- The world’s largest hog producer says it will cover 90 percent of lagoons on North Carolina’s finishing farms in 10 years and convert methane gas into renewable energy.

N.C. must decide what path to take on hurricanes (Wilmington Star-News) — Since 1954′s Hazel, the state had weathered storms fairly well. That luck has run out over the past few decades. The people of NC need to answer two big questions: 1. Do we think that experiencing three major-flood-producing hurricanes in 20 years is a “new normal”? 2. If yes, based on what we’ve seen since 1999, should we try to mitigate potential destruction and loss of life?

ABBIE BENNETT: ‘Hazardous’ cliffs created by erosion on NC island beaches could worsen (Durham-Herald Sun reports) — Chunks of beach on one NC island have been swept away by rough ocean conditions, leaving cliffs in its wake. On Bodie Island – known for the famous black and white striped lighthouse – cliffs have formed on beaches and could worsen, according to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

WILLIAM NORRIS: Water utilities take on challenges of emerging contaminants (Fayetteville Observer column) — During its August community meeting in Fayetteville, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Associate Director for Ecology informed the audience that an estimated 4,500 “contaminants of emerging concern” are in our nation’s waterways, including dozens of PFAS chemicals, such as GenX.

KEMP BURDETTE & DERB CARTER: Water woes require action, not just research (Wilmington Star-News column) — After more than a year of uncertainty, fear and anger over the safety of their drinking water, they want action now to make their water safe for themselves and their families. The General Assembly’s “vision” thwarts necessary action.

STEPHANIE CARSON: Native Plants Provide Pit Stops for Bird Migration through NC (Public News Service reports) — Chances are more than a few North Carolinians turned on their heat this weekend and dug out winter clothes as temperatures start to drop. The same shifting season is also prompting birds to fly south for the winter, but increases in urban development sometimes make it difficult for them to find food.

RICHARD CARVER: Health-care advocacy groups oppose state treasurer's proposal for State Health Plan (Winston-Salem Journal reports) -- Two prominent state health-care advocacy groups – the N.C. Health Care Association and the N.C. Medical Society – have come out swinging in their opposition to state Treasurer Dale Folwell’s plans for a provider reimbursement strategy with the State Health Plan. Folwell wants to change how health care providers are reimbursed in an initiative that could save SHP members up to $60 million initially and $300 million overall.

YEN DUONG: Segregation is ‘On the Table’ at Charlotte-wide Community Event (N.C. Health News reports) -- Over 6,000 Charlotteans participated on October 24 in “On the Table” conversations about the impacts of segregation on the city, including how it affects health outcomes.

VALERIE BAUERLEIN: New Immersive Haunted Houses Mean More Thrills for Guests—More Rules for Zombies (Wall Street Journal reports) -- In a waiting room at a makeshift asylum, a 6-foot-2 orderly in bloody scrubs grabbed 20-year-old Christian Banner by the arms. The menacing figure pulled Mr. Banner through a hidden tunnel into a room where a doctor in a leather mask revved a chain saw and gestured toward an operating chair. “Hell, no!” Mr. Banner yelled, recoiling in horror. That’s exactly the terrible feeling promised by a ticket to the Sawmills Horror Fields in Sawmills, N.C.. The business is part of a new wave of Halloween-inspired amusement centers that use a bit of roughhousing to scare the bejesus out of customers—an experience that has to fall well short of a criminal complaint.

ALFRED CHARLES: Workers at Cary software firm snag $1 million from huge Mega Millions jackpot (WRAL-TV reports) -- One single ticket had all of the numbers to lay claim to the $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot earlier this week but 14 Wake County co-workers managed to snag some of that huge jackpot for themselves.

JANINE BOWEN: Durham WWII veteran dies at 105 (WRAL reports) — A World War II veteran from Durham died Saturday at the age of 105. Jerry Smith, a Jones County native, signed up with the Navy Seabees, a construction battalion, when the Second World War started. What started as a nine month stint turned into 23 months of service.