Opinion Roundup: The EPA comes to town, school security gets tighter, eternally waiting at the DMV and more

Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: EPA hears pleas to get tough on GenX, committee asks residents if toppled Confederate monument should return to Durham, GOP leaders appeal party labels court ruling, beefing-up school security, DMV announces new measures to cut customer wait times and more.

Governor, groups ask judges to block referendums (AP reports) -- Legal motions by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and interest groups to keep constitutional amendments proposed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly off November ballots are back in court. A three-judge panel scheduled arguments Wednesday on requests by Cooper, the state NAACP and Clean Air Carolina to block referendums while lawsuits they filed challenging ballot language continue.

WENDY WEISER, DANIEL WEINER: N.C. legislature’s power grab disregards basic principles of democracy (Brennan Center, NYU analysis) -- When political pundits talk about “post-truth” politics, they tend to focus on national debates, and particularly on a certain public official’s Twitter feed. But we shouldn’t forget that the trend is also gaining momentum at the state level. The closely divided state is (once again) the canary in the coal mine. Its GOP-dominated Legislature is seeking to expand its own power — including the power to change electoral rules for partisan advantage, as it has repeatedly tried to do — by misleading voters into changing the state’s constitution. Whether it succeeds will depend on the willingness of both courts and the public to stand up for democratic values.

5 ex-governors seek to be heard on amendment questions (AP reports) — NC’s five former living governors want state judges to hear them on why two constitutional referendums should be removed from this fall's ballots.

KIRK ROSS: On Ballot this Fall, an Historic Power Struggle (Coastal Review Online reports) — With a deadline for printing ballots for the 2018 elections fast approaching, court challenges and high-level opposition are putting a focus on proposed constitutional amendments that could shift a considerable amount of power from the governor to the General Assembly.

Another attack on voting in N.C. (Charlotte Observer) — If you give up on voting, then you give in to the intent of a law that penalizes felons even after they’ve been incarcerated for their crimes. That law is a vestige of a time when the state sought to disenfranchise African-American voters.

Ex-governors take a stand (Fayetteville Observer) — It was a group that would have a hard time agreeing on where to eat lunch, or even on a good color for wallpaper. They certainly aren’t of one mind about politics. But there they were, all five living former governors, two Republicans and three Democrats, together on the same stage for the first time ever, singing in perfect harmony.

GOP leaders appeal party labels court ruling (WRAL reports) — NC legislative leaders will challenge a trial judge's decision allowing a state Supreme Court candidate accused by some of masquerading as a Republican for electoral mischief to appear on the ballot with a GOP designation.

FELICIA SONMEZ: Democratic House candidate Kathy Manning airs TV ad saying she won’t back Pelosi for speaker (Washington Post reports) — Nancy Manning, who is running against Rep. Ted Budd (R) in the Republican-leaning district 13th Congressional District, had previously announced that she would not support Pelosi, making her one of more than two dozen Democrats to do so. But her new TV ad places her among only a handful of candidates to take their opposition to the airwaves.

KATE ELIZABETH QUERAM: In N.C., voters help choose design for voting stickers (Route 50 reports) -- Three months ahead of the general election, officials in Durham County are offering voters the chance to cast a ballot in a different type of contest—a competition to select a new design for the coveted “I Voted” sticker distributed at the polls.

PANTS ON FIRE: Could this NC constitutional amendment make abortion illegal? (PolitiFact analysis) -- BlueNC said the proposed victims’ rights constitutional amendment will "pave the way for making abortion illegal." Attorneys and legal experts say the path to such fallout not only is unclear, but unlikely. One expert described the claim as "absurd." And James Protzman failed to offer evidence that an amendment which is completely unrelated to reproductive rights could outlaw abortion. We rate this claim Pants on Fire.

WILLIAM SHAW: Dark Money Is Damaging to NC Democracy (Southern Pines Pilot column) — When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of “Citizens United” on Jan. 21, 2010, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in his dissenting opinion that the majority’s ruling “threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across this Nation.” He added that “A democracy cannot function effectively when its constituent members believe laws are being bought and sold.”

AMBER PHILLIPS: West Virginia’s efforts to impeach state’s Supreme Court is just latest in worrisome trend (Washington Post reports) -- West Virginia headlines a potentially troubling trend among state legislatures this year of politicians moving to exert control over a separate branch of government. Lawmakers in 16 states, including N.C., have considered more than 50 different bills to minimize the role of state courts or make it harder for judges to do their jobs, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice, which described this as an “assault” on the judicial branch:

MAGGIE BROWN & ALFRED CHARLES: DMV announces new measures to cut customer wait times, boost service (WRAL reports) — Facing heavy criticism for long lines that form even before the offices open, the Division of Motor Vehicles announced a host of measures designed to cut wait times and improve service at its statewide offices.

DMV announces more steps to tackle overload (AP reports) — The Division of Motor Vehicles is announcing more steps to address crowded driver license offices and long wait times, including: sending staff to the busiest offices and having call centers help customers find nearby offices with available appointments.

After rejection, governor picks Croom for special judgeship (AP reports) — Gov. Roy Cooper wants to elevate a local judge to be a special Superior Court judge after the General Assembly rejected one of his recent choices. Cooper announced Tuesday that longtime Wake County District Judge Craig Croom is his nominee to become a special trial court judge.

JANINE BOWEN: Committee asks residents if toppled Confederate monument should return to Durham (WRAL reports) — One year after protesters toppled a Confederate monument in Durham, city leaders are working to decide what to do with the site and other Confederate monuments.

MICHAEL BRAGG: Racial bias toward students alleged in complaint against schools in Winston-Salem, Forsyth; coalition demands new Ashley Academy (Winston-Salem Journal reports) — A federal complaint filed against Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and the school board over building conditions at an elementary school claims that students were discriminated against on the basis of race.

CULLEN BROWDER: Entry buzzers, security cameras to greet Wake students in new school year (WRAL-TV reports) — With school shootings in Florida and Texas still fresh in minds, the Wake County Public School System continues to beef up security at its 187 schools to prepare for the opening of traditional-calendar schools in two weeks.

DANIELLE BATTAGLIA: Phoenix Academy's new system can tell when someone fires a gun in school (Greensboro News & Record reports) — After a sobering string of school shootings, Phoenix Academy is going high-tech to keep students safe. Introducing the Guardian Indoor Active Shooter Detection System. Like the name says, it detects when a gun is fired in a building and can alert police and those inside so they can get to safety.

JENNIFER BOWMAN: Buncombe County will sue contractor, ex-managers named in alleged kickback scheme (Asheville Citizen Times reports) — Buncombe County will sue former managers Wanda Greene, Jon Creighton and Mandy Stone and contractor Joe Wiseman, commissioner Chairman Brownie Newman announced. The move comes a week after the four were indicted by a federal grand jury, and it will be the second civil lawsuit filed by the county since a federal corruption into Buncombe government began more than a year ago.

JOEL BURGESS & JENNIFER BOWMAN: After kickback allegations, Buncombe County to review 'every facet' of contract system (Asheville Citizen Times reports) — Buncombe County will review how it selects and pays private companies in the wake of federal allegations three top administrators took kickbacks in exchange for contracts.

Privatize state's wasteful liquor sales monopoly (Wilson Times) -- North Carolina’s Prohibition-era government monopoly on liquor sales may face its most formidable challenge in decades after last week’s scathing state audit showed widespread waste.

MICHAEL ABRAMOWITZ: Reality-based management healthy for state pension fund (Greenville Daily Reflector reports) -- North Carolina’s state treasurer said last week that the state employees’ pension fund is healthier because he manages what he sees rather than what he would like to see.

Texts, social media used to contact homeowners rebuilding after Matthew (Greenville Daily Reflector reports) – N.C. Emergency Management is using text messages and social media to reach survivors whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Matthew and who still have not applied for housing recovery assistance.

EDDIE FITZGERALD: Finish Line Grants will help students with hardships (New Bern Sun Journal/Kinston Free Press reports) -- Gov. Roy Cooper toured a machine shop at Lenoir Community College and announced LCC will be the first community college in the state to get Finish Line Grant funds, which will help students get through financial emergencies.

Our teachers deserve more (Winston-Salem Journal) — Approximately 1 in 5 teachers in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system work extra jobs outside the classroom. It shouldn’t be so, but sometimes it’s necessary.

NC school gets grant for African-American Heritage Center (AP reports) — A historically black university in N.C. has received a $350,000 grant to turn a 1920s-era school for African-American children into a center to tell the stories of those students and others educated at similar schools.

RHONDA DILLINGHAM: Durham City Council’s vote shows a misunderstanding of charter schools (Durham Herald- Sun column) — Charter schools have been a part of N.C.’s public school system since the law was passed in 1996. It has been over 20 years, but some people still do not understand that charter schools are free, public schools open to all students.

Fan Town Hall: Triangle ADs talk money, TV, rights and rules for student-athletes (WRAL-TV reports) -- In a wide-ranging discussion of rules, rights and the billions of dollars that course through college athletics, the athletic directors of Tobacco Road's top three universities - NC State's Debbie Yow, UNC's Bubba Cunningham and Duke's Kevin White - had candid answers for questions from fans, from each other and from WRAL's Jeff Gravley.

NICK STEVENS: Friday night lights go dark; Chapel Hill won't field varsity football team (WRAL-TV reports) -- Chapel Hill High School will not field a varsity football team this fall due to a lack of participation, according to a release from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. According to the school system, there were not many upperclassmen who came out for the football team. However, the junior varsity football team will compete as scheduled.

Taking Mark Johnson’s #NCReads tips to understand wording of constitutional amendments (Cafifeinated Rage column) -- Every week, State Supt. Mark Johnson releases an “NC Reads Reading Tip” on his Twitter account to give suggestions to parents and guardians about how to help foster and greater love of reading at home. Considering those who have propped up Johnson as the state’s leader of the public school system also intentionally wrote the text for the constitutional amendments to be confusing and opaque, maybe using some of the NC Read Reading Tips to try and understand these six amendments would be helpful.

STEPHANIE CARSON: Winning the Battle Between Outdoor Play and Screen Time (Public News Service reports) — It's hard to compete with a child's drive for more screen time, especially as boredom sets in on a long summer day, but at least one North Carolina land trust offers parents an alternative to video games and phone apps.

GILBERT BAEZ: EPA gets earful from Cumberland residents on GenX (WRAL reports) — Cumberland County residents sounded off to state and federal environmental officials over their concerns about GenX and other unregulated chemical compounds.

STEVE DeVANE: EPA hears pleas to get tough on GenX, other contaminates (Fayetteville Observer reports) — State and local officials asked the Environmental Protection Agency to take a stronger role in dealing with potentially harmful compounds such as GenX. EPA officials say they are working to develop tools to deal with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that contaminate drinking water supplies such as the Cape Fear River.

STEVE DeVANE: Chemours cutting off bottled water for hundreds of families (Fayetteville Observer reports) — Chemours will stop providing bottled water to residents whose wells have GenX levels below the state’s current threshold for what’s considered safe. The move means hundreds of families with lesser levels of contamination will have to start buying water or go back to drinking their well water.

GREG BARNES: Residents to EPA: “This is my home.” (Fayetteville Observer reports) — Rusty Goins fought back tears as he told officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about his cancer and other health problems he believes were caused by GenX and other contaminants he had unknowingly been drinking for years.

ADAM WAGNER: Residents to EPA: Do more about GenX, PFAS (Wilmington Star-News reports) -- Agency held its 4th community engagement event in Fayetteville

Speakers at EPA PFAS community engagement event (Wilmington Star-News reports) -- Here are some of the people who spoke at the GenX PFAS community engagement event, speaking about how the discovery of GenX has impacted their lives.

TAFT WIREBACK: Greensboro gets ideas to handle water problems at environmental summit (Greensboro News & Record reports) — The PFOS problem with Greensboro’s drinking water took center stage briefly Tuesday in a daylong, regional meeting authorities held to discuss what to do about the gigantic class of industrial chemicals that includes the compound used for decades in firefighting.

MARTHA QUILLIN: Former NC priest is named in grand jury report on Catholic sex abuse (Charlotte Observer reports) — At least one priest who had served in NC was named in a scorching Pennsylvania grand jury report criticizing the Catholic Church’s handling of reports of sexual abuse in that state for decades.

Katie Cannon, 68, Dies; Lifted Black Women’s Perspective in Theology (New York Times obit) -- Katie Geneva Cannon was born on Jan. 3, 1950, in Kannapolis, N.C. Her father, Esau, and mother, Emanuelette Corine Lytle Cannon, were both ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church but enrolled her in a kindergarten class at a Lutheran church, the only early childhood education available to black girls in Kannapolis.