Opinion
Opinion Roundup: Trump courts minority voters; coronavirus readiness; utility rate increases not your imagination; grab the tissues - spring has sprung early; and more.
Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: Trump opens offices to gain minority votes; N.C. prepares for coronavirus; hockey hero shines light on kidney foundation; Ft. Bragg military families and retirees could lose access to on-post healthcare; state chefs and restaurants semi-finalists for the "The Oscars of food"; and more.
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Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: Trump opens offices to gain minority votes; N.C. prepares for coronavirus; hockey hero shines light on kidney foundation; Ft. Bragg military families and retirees could lose access to on-post healthcare; state chefs and restaurants semi-finalists for the "The Oscars of food"; and more.
CAMPAIGN 2020
JORDAN WILKIE: N.C. voters headed to polls amid misinformation, disinformation (Carolina Public Pess reports) -- After Winston-Salem police help expose disinformation campaign, it’s apparent efforts to meddle with elections have hit N.C., but voters can fight back.
Egad! Rides to vote? (Greensboro News & Record) -- Oh, the horror! Young people are leaving their high school campuses in droves ... to (gulp) vote. That pretty much sums up the current tempest in our Guilford County Schools. Oh, the horror! Young people are leaving their high school campuses in droves ... to (gulp) vote. That pretty much sums up the current tempest in our Guilford County Schools. …Impressed by what it has seen in Guilford County, Wake County Schools is considering following suit next year with its own buses to the polls. It’s an idea worth spreading, though odds are somebody won’t like it. Especially in this state, where making it harder to vote has become a popular pastime. That’s what really ought to be scaring us.
With swag and slogans, Trump campaign to open office for black voters in Raleigh (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- President Donald Trump is preparing to experiment with a novel campaign tactic: brick-and-mortar community centers targeting minority voters that will open in select cities across the country, including Raleigh. The Trump campaign will open heavily branded field offices in the coming weeks across the nation, hoping to attract black voters with swag, billboards and graphics promoting the president’s policies in support of historically black colleges, opportunity zones, school choice and criminal justice reform.
Trump campaign will open storefronts in swing states to reach black voters (New York Times reports) -- The centers will register voters, sell campaign merchandise and promote policies that have benefited African-Americans, the campaign said. The centers, which will be about the size of a small storefront, are planned for Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro, N.C.
Pittman Challenger (The Insider reports) -- One of the N.C. House's most controversial legislators is facing his strongest Republican primary challenge yet. Former Cabarrus County Commissioner Jay White is running against Rep. Larry Pittman, who's elicited news headlines and rebukes from his own party for comparing Abraham Lincoln to Adolf Hitler and suggesting that "communist Democrats" were involved in mass shootings. White is the first well-known challenger that Pittman has faced in years from his own party. The Concord attorney mentioned Pittman's Lincoln-Hitler comments briefly in the press release announcing his candidacy, but he says he's not making it the focus of his campaign.
U.S. election security chief visiting N.C. city (AP reports) -- Days before the primary, N.C. is getting visited by the nation's homeland security chief to talk about election security this year.
Did Warren lose teaching job due to 'pregnancy discrimination'? (PolitiFact/WRAL-TV) -- Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren tells a different story today than she once did about how she lost a teaching job shortly after graduating from college.
Klobuchar's Triangle campaign swing includes Fox News town hall (WRAL-TV reports) -- U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar will make her first N.C. appearance with a rally in Raleigh and a town hall meeting in Cary on Fox News. She also will be in Charlotte on Saturday.
How a split black vote in S.C. could boost Bernie Sanders (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Bernie Sanders has proven that he can expand his base and win in a diverse state. But in S.C., he faces an even steeper test. After struggling mightily with nonwhite voters during his 2016 presidential campaign, the Vermont senator has made significant inroads with Latino voters. Sanders won half of them on his way to a commanding victory in last week’s Nevada caucuses, according to entrance polls.
Fact Check: Just How ‘Lenient’ Is N.C’.s Blocked Voter ID Law? (WFAE-FM reports) -- You don't need an ID to vote in the N.C. primaries. That's because a federal court put a state law on hold until a case challenging voter ID can be heard. Last week, a state appeals court blocked it indefinitely. In his response to the federal ruling in December, House Speaker Tim Moore described the law as "one of the nation's most lenient voter ID laws."
‘Transform this country’ to lift people out of poverty, Bernie Sanders says in N.C. (Charlotte Observer reports) -- At an Ash Wednesday service and forum, Sen. Bernie Sanders became the third presidential candidate to make a pilgrimage to Rev. Barber’s church.
Cooper, Forest need primary wins before governor’s showdown (AP reports) – N.C.'s Democratic governor will have to defend his seat against the highest ranking Republican official elected statewide in this fall's general election if each wins his respective party primary next week. Gov. Roy Cooper and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest are running for their party nominations on Super Tuesday, as are candidates seeking the Council of State's other nine statewide positions.
N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein often takes on Trump. 3 Republicans want to beat him. (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein frequently takes on President Donald Trump in court. Republican primary voters have three choices for who will try to beat Stein in November, and they come from three different legal backgrounds. They are Sam Hayes, Chris Mumma and Jim O’Neill. Stein won by only fractions of a percent in 2016 — a rare bright spot for N.C. Democrats in a year Trump carried the state.
Cannabis, Confederates and saving farms: The primary for NC agriculture commissioner (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- N.C. Democrats have tried unsuccessfully in past elections to defeat incumbent Republican state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, who has held the office for the past 15 years. Troxler is unopposed in his party’s primary, but three Democrats are vying for the nomination to take on Troxler again in the general election. One of them, Walter Smith, previously went up against Troxler in the 2016 general election and lost. This time, Jenna Wadsworth and Donovan Watson are also hoping for a chance to face off with Troxler.
Our choices for Lt. Gov, N.C. Superintendent and Agriculture primaries (Durham Herald-Sun) -- The Lieutenant Governor doesn’t have much power, but that doesn’t stop candidates from lining up every four years for a job that’s seen as a pathway toward the governor’s office. In 2020, 15 candidates are running to replace Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. In the Democratic primary, three candidates stand out: N.C. Reps Yvonne Lewis Holley of Wake County and Chaz Beasley of Mecklenburg, and N.C. Sen. Terry Van Duyn of Buncombe. The best fit for the Lt. Gov role is Van Duyn. The Republican primary also features a solid lineup of qualified candidates, including NC Sen. Andy Wells and U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services appointee Renee Ellmers. We believe former NC Rep. Scott Stone would be the most effective.
-- Seven candidates will be on the primary ballot to replace Mark Johnson, who is running for lieutenant governor. All are highly qualified, and within their respective parties, little separates the candidates on the issues. Five Democrats are contending in their primary: Jen Mangrum, a professor of education at UNC-Greensboro; Michael Maher, the assistant dean of professional education at NC State University; James Barrett, a former member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board; Keith Sutton, the current chair of the Wake County school board; and Constance Lav Johnson, a Charlotte educator and activist. We recommend Mangrum in the Democratic primary. On the Republican side, State Rep. Craig Horn faces Catherine Truitt, the chancellor of Western Governors University, an online university. We recommend Horn in the Republican primary.
-- Three Democrats are competing to take on N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler in November. It will be a tall order keeping the four-term Republican incumbent from a fifth term, but Democrats think farmers and a majority of voters may be ready for a change in the office that oversees N.C.’s No. 1 industry. The candidates are Walter Smith, Jr., 67, a Yadkinville farmer who has lost twice to Troxler as the Democratic nominee; Jennifer Wadsworth, 31, a member of the Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors; and Donovan Alexander Watson, 25, a Durham County farmer and operator of his family’s produce business. Smith is a solid candidate who wants to protect family farms and help farmers diversify their crops, but after two campaigns that fell short, it’s time for a new challenger. We recommend Wadsworth.
Judge loses fight to block critical Charlotte TV story days before election (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- WBTV can continue publishing stories about Judge Aretha Blake after the Mecklenburg County judge was denied a court order to stop the Charlotte TV station from presenting critical information about her record. Blake says the station’s reporting in past and planned stories about her is untrue and especially damaging close to the election. She has sued WBTV and reporter Nick Ochsner for libel and slander in connection with a Feb. 6 story alleging that Blake mishandled dozens of cases in Family Court.
Extraordinary N.C. court review on voter ID sought (AP reports) – N.C. Republican legislative leaders want the state’s entire Court of Appeals to hear arguments on a ruling by three of the court’s judges that set another barrier to implement voter photo identification.
New Politics Website (Duke U. News) -- Polis: Center for Politics at Duke University has launched a new website called "NC Politics 2020." From interviews to breaking news stories and current candidate polls, NC Politics 2020 plans to deliver an array of political content. "This is an important evolution for our Center and for Duke and the Sanford School of Public Policy," says Center Director Pope "Mac" McCorkle. "North Carolina is a pivotal Purple state whose politics and policies have far-reaching implications. This website captures what makes this state uniquely compelling."
BOB HALL: Hot tips and a hotline for primary voting (Wilson Times column) -- All the chatter about hacking voting machines and fake ads can be overwhelming, but don’t become confused or discouraged. Here are some tips so you can use your precious right to vote.
Economy, health care, politics: What N.C. voters are thinking heading into Super Tuesday (Elon University Poll) -- An Elon University poll surveyed voters on the minimum wage, trade policy, affordable housing and other issues. Here's the results.
POLICY & POLITICS
Former Smithfield Foods union treasurer sentenced for spending dues on guns, groceries (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The former secretary-treasurer of the union representing workers at the Smithfield Foods plant will serve six months in prison for embezzling tens of thousands of dollars in union dues.
In fight over Picasso piece lost during Holocaust, lawmakers side with Jewish family (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- In 1938, a Jewish family in desperate need of funds to escape the Holocaust during World War II sold a Pablo Picasso painting for $12,000, lawyers said. Nearly 82 years later, the Supreme Court is poised to decide the fate of the painting, titled “The Actor.” Descendants of the family staked a claim on the artwork that lower courts rejected. Now 10 current and former members of Congress — including U.S. Reps. David Price, D-N.C., and Deborah Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. — are urging justices to take the case, saying the appeals court flouted what’s known as the HEAR Act in denying their claim.
NCDOT bought part of a Ringling Bros. circus train and now isn’t sure what to do with it (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- When the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus shut down in 2017 it donated or sold off the railroad cars that made up the two, mile-long trains that carried performers, animals and equipment to shows around the country. Nine of those train cars ended up on a state-owned rail line deep in the woods of Nash County, where they’ll likely remain until their owner, the N.C. DOT, figures out what to do with them.
N.C. a hotbed for military technology needs (WRAL-TV/TechWire reports) – N.C. is well positioned to capitalize on the economic growth opportunities being driven by the defense industry due to key technologies and capabilities available in the state, according to a new study.
Dozens of texts, emails added to evidence in N.C. political donor's bribery trial (WRAL-TV reports) -- Campaign mega-donor Greg Lindberg's own former attorneys testified briefly in his federal bribery trial as his current legal team tried to keep the jury from seeing their client's handwritten notes.
Long way to go in properly recognizing black history (Wilmington Star-News) -- Victors write history and in Wilmington the victors in 1898 were the white supremacists who overthrew the government. They killed many black people and ran others out of town, wrongs that have never been righted.
CELESTE GRACIA: New Durham PD Unit To Address Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Backlog (WUNC-FM reports) -- The Durham Police Department will soon have a fully staffed unit dedicated to investigating sexual assault cold cases.
Suing the Boy Scouts (Winston-Salem Journal Opinion) -- The national Boy Scouts of America declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week following sex abuse lawsuits filed by thousands of former scouts. However, it won’t affect local groups which have separate holdings and properties, according to the chief executive for the Old Hickory Council of the BSA based in Winston-Salem. Unfortunately, at least six men with area ties can be found among the thousands accused in BSA documents, with the majority of known abuse happening in the late 1970s and mid-’80s.
EDUCATION
College hoops corruption witness testifies in N.C. agents case (WRAL SportsFan/WRAL-TV reports) -- A cooperating witness from the federal corruption investigation into college basketball testified Wednesday against a former college football player charged with violating N.C.’s sports agent laws nearly a decade ago. Louis Martin “Marty” Blazer III testified for about two hours in the trial for Christopher Hawkins, who is charged with providing cash and other improper benefits to Dallas Cowboys defensive end Robert Quinn and two other former Tar Heels football players. The one-time financial adviser testified that he paid Hawkins to help him entice players into signing with him after turning pro.
Black students in N.C. are more likely to be punished, civil rights group finds (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Racial bias in N.C.’s public schools is leading to black students being punished too much and falling behind academically, according to data released by a civil rights group. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice released “racial equity report cards” for the state and for individual school districts showing that black students are more likely to be suspended and referred to the court system than their white classmates. The report cards also show that black students are lagging behind white students academically.
Snow days: Is school canceled more often now? (New York Times reports) -- A snow day is the most random of childhood holidays, bestowed from above, with no way to plan for it other than having your sled on standby.
Local schools, universities unveil plans to keep students safe from coronavirus (WRAL-TV reports) -- Wake County Public Schools are expected to release their plans for combating coronavirus spread, should it reach N.C. Likewise, UNC and Duke both have students abroad during this coronavirus outbreak. They are making preparations for those students.
Community honors three Chapel Hill shooting victims (WRAL-TV reports) -- Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha had big ideas for how they wanted to help the world. Sadly their lives were cut short 5 years ago by violence. The community is making sure their memory lives on. This year, several groups are coming together for the Interfaith food drive.
CARL BLANKENSHIP: Lawsuit alleges discrimination by former RSS Exceptional Children Department heads (The Salisbury Post reports) -- A lawsuit filed Dec. 30 alleges racial discrimination by former Rowan-Salisbury Schools Exceptional Children Director Candace Lindstrom and former Program Director Karen Sylvester. The school district is also named as a defendant.Allegations in the suit include that Lindstrom only disciplined Clark-Parker after a complaint from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
HEALTH
GILBERT BAEZ: Proposed health care changes would impact military families, retirees (WRAL-TV reports) -- The military is proposing changes in health care benefits that could force retirees, their families and active duty families off post. The 61-page proposal outlined to Congress says 38 facilities, nine at Ft. Bragg, will no longer see retirees or families of service members.
N.C. gears up for coronavirus as infection continues global spread (HEALTH/(WRAL-TV reports) -- N.C. is taking federal health officials' warning about an impending coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. to heart.
How do you prepare for coronavirus? (WRAL-TV reports) -- State and federal health officials are urging Americans to prepare for a possible widespread coronavirus outbreak. But how do people prepare?
SARAH OVASKA: Flu cases starting to subside in N.C., country, but kids still at risk (N.C. Health News reports) -- This year’s flu season has been among the deadliest for children in the last 15 years.
Emergency goalie's effort as kidney transplant survivor shines light on effort (WRAL-TV reports) -- When Carolina Hurricanes emergency goalie David Ayres achieved hockey hero status with his performance in last Saturday's game, his feat also helped him champion a cause that means a lot to him as a kidney transplant survivor.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Get ready for bugs, pollen and misery. Spring has sprung early in the Southeast (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Spring has arrived early in the Southeast, meaning a longer season of misery and suffering for some. Lilacs and honeysuckles, which are among the first plants to show leaves in the spring, have started doing so earlier than usual across the region, according to the National Phenology Network.
Aquarium Vet Emily Christiansen Talks Turtles (Coastal Review reports) -- She nearly opted to major in linguistics, but Emily Christiansen, veterinarian for the N.C. Aquariums, instead chose biology and a career where she must understand ailing sea creatures and communicate with students and researchers.
JOHN MARKS: Here’s the latest Duke Energy plan for Lake Wylie coal ash. And what to do about it. (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- N.C. environment officials are listening as plans settle for almost two decades of future coal ash cleanup at a Lake Wylie site. N.C. DEQ is holding a public hearing on plans to excavate coal ash at Allen Steam Station on the northern end of Lake Wylie a day after a similar hearing for excavation at Marshall Steam Station on Lake Norman. The Allen plant meeting wraps up a series of 10 such hearings related to the excavation of almost 80 million tons of coal ash at six Duke Energy sites, and recycling ash from four more.
KEVIN RIDDER: It’s Not Your Imagination — Utilities Are Seeking More Rate Increases (The Appalachian Voice reports) -- Around two dozen people lined up to pass through the metal detector of the Burke County Courthouse in Morganton, N.C., for a public hearing held by the N.C. Utilities Commission is holding the hearing as it considers a proposed rate hike that would increase utility bills by approximately $100 a year for the average Duke Energy Carolinas ratepayer in the state. At the same time, the company’s sibling Duke Energy Progress is also requesting their own rate increase. Both of these are happening only two years after the companies’ last rate cases in N.C. The changes would mean an average 14.3% rate increase for Progress residential customers and and 6.7% average increase for Carolinas residential ratepayers in the state.
...AND MORE
N.C. restaurants, chefs named semi-finalists for James Beard Awards (WRAL-TV reports) -- A collection of N.C. restaurants and chefs have been named semi-finalists for national James Beard Foundation awards whcih are often referred to as "The Oscars of Food."
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