Opinion Roundup: Trump stumps on primary eve; concerns over election accuracy; study abroad programs canceled over coronovirus worries; treating Parkinson's symptoms with music; and more.

Monday, Mar. 2, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: Trump in N.C. on eve of primary; second fatal prison fight in a week; protests at Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting; barber's talk heart health with clients; music helps Parkinson's patients reconnect; and more.

VANESSA WILLIAMS: N.C. Democrat frustrated with both parties after establishment backs her rival, GOP meddles in Senate primary (Washington Post reports) -- Democratic Senate candidate Erica Smith, 50, who is African American, says she feels she has been disrespected by both political parties: Republicans who are using her to damage the perceived front-runner in the primary and Democratic leaders who endorsed Cunningham because they didn’t think she could win.

Nearly 800,000 early voters in NC — mainly Democrats — already had their Election Day (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The countdown is on for Super Tuesday, with just two days left before voters in 14 states cast their ballots for the presidential primary. But nearly 800,000 voters in N.C. have already made their way to the polls. Compared to the last presidential primary in 2016, early voters this year saw everything from more voting days, longer polling hours, inclement weather, an all-but uncontested Republican presidential primary and a larger pool of candidates on the Democratic side. All of these factors may have had some effect on when, where and how N.C. residents voted. And these factors make it difficult to compare voter turnout to previous years.

Pitt County has solid early voting turnout (Greenville Daily Reflector reports) -- Early voting in the Pitt County primaries ended on Saturday with 12,503 ballots cast, a higher turnout than the 2008 and 2012 presidential primaries but 669 votes short of the 2016 total.

Presidential campaigns make stops in Fayetteville ahead of primary election (Fayetteville Observer reports) -- Democratic campaigns for two presidential candidates made stops in Fayetteville in hopes of swaying undecided voters or those who have yet to vote. More than 18,000 Cumberland County residents voted early ahead of Tuesday’s primary election.

There's an election Tuesday. Here's what you need to know. (WRAL-TV reports) -- Vote! Vote! Vote!

Legislator who compared Lincoln to Hitler faces strong challenge from his own party (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Could controversial N.C. Rep. Larry Pittman lose his seat in the Republican primary?

Trump keeps to routine with N.C. rally on primary eve (AP reports) -- President Donald Trump’s scheduled N.C. today keeps to his recent routine of rallying in states on the eve of their presidential primary votes.

As early voting ends, presidential candidates back in N.C. (AP reports) -- Democratic presidential candidates are back campaigning in N.C. as early in-person voting ends in the state for the Super Tuesday primary.

Before Super Tuesday, four Democratic hopefuls make their final pitches in N.C. (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Even as S.C. voters reshaped the presidential race, Democratic candidates made a final weekend push in N.C. ahead of a primary that already has seen record spending. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar spoke at a Democratic fundraiser in Charlotte Saturday night. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg held a town hall in Raleigh, where former Vice President Joe Biden had rallied supporters earlier — just hours before winning Saturday’s South Carolina primary. Their appearances came days before N.C.’s Super Tuesday primary. Only two states — California and Texas — have more delegates at stake.

Biden: 'The comeback starts' in the Carolinas (WRAL-TV reports) -- In a pre-primary rally in N.C. and on the day of the S.C. primary, one-time Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden told voters how much he needs them.

Presidential candidates promise billions to HBCUs in outreach to black voters (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- In their final stops in N.C. before Tuesday’s primary, Democratic presidential contenders Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden opted for appearances at historically black colleges and universities. It’s just the latest example of the importance presidential campaigns have placed on HBCUs and on voters who care about the institutions, including students, administrators and a highly connected and engaged alumni base. All of the major Democratic candidates and President Donald Trump have released plans that include policies for helping the schools. N.C. is home to 11 HBCUs. Sanders, a Vermont senator, appeared before a capacity crowd of 1,400 at the C.E. Gaines Center at Winston-Salem State University on Thursday. Another 700 waited outside.

3 open House seats draw slew of candidates in N.C. (AP reports) -- N.C. is teeming with candidates for Congress in Tuesday’s primaries, as three of the state’s 13 U.S. House incumbents are not seeking reelection. Nearly 30 primary candidates are scrambling for the seats now held by three Republicans. Reps. Mark Walker of Greensboro and George Holding of Raleigh are leaving because their districts changed dramatically after state legislators redrew the congressional map 3½ months ago. The redistricting made Holding's 2nd District and Walker's 6th District extremely likely for Democrats to win in November, politicians from both parties say. In the far-western 11th District, where GOP Rep. Mark Meadows also announced he wouldn't run again, the retooled boundaries still favor a Republican, said Chris Cooper, a Western Carolina University political science professor. Five Democrats are running in their 6th District primary and four Democrats are seeking their party's nomination in the 2nd District. In the 11th District, 12 Republicans are on the primary ballot hoping to succeed Meadows, a former House Freedom Caucus leader and one of President Donald Trump’s strongest congressional allies. The large number of candidates increases the likelihood of a May GOP runoff. The leading vote-getter Tuesday would have to get above 30% of the vote to avoid one. Five Democrats also filed for the seat.

Voters worry about election accuracy ahead of tight N.C. primary, polls find (Durham Herald-Sun reports) Many voters in N.C. question the security and accuracy of the state’s elections ahead of the Democratic primary on Super Tuesday. The new poll from Meredith College found Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg all within the poll’s margin of error at about 17% each.

7 candidates want to lead N.C. public schools. Where are they getting their money? (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Two candidates running for state schools superintendent head into Tuesday’s primary election having raised significantly more money than their opponents. Democrat Jen Mangrum and Republican Craig Horn have each raised $50,000 more than their nearest competitor in their bids to win their party nominations next week. They’re competing for the seat being vacated by Superintendent Mark Johnson, who was elected in 2016 but is running for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor instead of seeking re-election. The magic number in the five-person Democratic primary is for the top finisher to get at least 30% of the vote to avoid a runoff election. With only two Republicans, the top vote getter moves automatically to the November general election.

Recipe tips, baseball and the pledge: How NC Lt. Gov. candidates try to stand out (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- In an especially crowded primary election candidate field, candidates to be N.C.’s lieutenant governor are using unique tactics to find the spotlight. There are mailers and fundraisers and endorsements, and of course policy positions. But there’s also marijuana and the Pledge of Allegiance. The incumbent, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, is running for governor. The open seat has drawn 15 candidates.

N.C. auditor candidate was put on probation after stalking charge (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- A Republican who wants to be state auditor was put on probation in connection with a stalking charge, and also has been accused of refusing to obey orders from police, causing a scene at a concert and threatening a man’s family over money. Anthony Wayne Street, 38, of Brunswick County, has not been convicted on the criminal charges, which date back to 2012. Those charges, all misdemeanors, include simple assault, stalking, resisting a public officer, disorderly conduct and communicating threats. Street faces Tim Hoegemeyer in the GOP primary.

Is Bernie Sanders worth the risk, N.C.? No! (Charlotte Observer/N.C. McClatchy editorial) -- Sanders has the presidential primary lead heading into Super Tuesday. Who’s giddy about that? Republicans. ... Primary voters should worry that Sanders is just the kind of foil Donald Trump needs in 2020. There’s a real risk that Sanders not only will lose but will take Democrats down with him in battleground states, blunting years of momentum and dashing an opportunity to change the direction of N.C. and the country. It’s a risk N.C. Democrats shouldn’t take.

Protesters against Sons of Confederate Veterans conference turn against police (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- What started out as a protest against a Sons of Confederate Veterans annual conference at the Embassy Suites near Brier Creek turned into a protest against police Saturday afternoon. The Sons of Confederate Veterans, or SCV, has held the Stephen D. Lee Institute annually since 2003. During the conference, members hear lectures about the Civil War, the Confederacy and Southern history. This year’s event was expected to host 50 to 60 SCV members.

Police line Brier Creek parking lots to keep protesters back from Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting (WRAL-TV reports) -- About 100 people marched in the cold in Brier Creek to protest an annual meeting of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

LIZ BELL: Here’s why the census matters for young children (EdNC reports) -- As April 1, Census Day, approaches, you’ll get a letter in your mailbox telling you how to give basic information about your household to the U.S. Census Bureau. In N.C. and beyond, advocates are pushing to ensure that children under 5 years old are counted. This simple task has enormous consequences. It will shape the distribution of billions of federal dollars and many congressional seats throughout the next decade. Young children are among the groups most likely to be missed during the census, but money and planning for services that affect their development — from nutrition and health programs to early education slots — are based on this population count.

PATRICK WOODIE: Census 2020: Rural N.C. must be counted (Winston-Salem Journal column) -- At the Rural Center, we’ve had the privilege to work in communities all across rural North Carolina, and we’ve seen firsthand that it’s not the size or location of a town that makes it a great place to live and raise a family — it’s the people who make it a community. However, people are only one essential ingredient for thriving rural communities. The other part? Well, that’s a more complicated question, but it boils down to a combination of resources and representation.

N.C. prison reports second fatal fight in a week (WRAL-TV reports) -- A N.C. prison inmate was killed in a fight with another offender.

N.C.'s Central Prison gets first female warden (WRAL-TV reports) -- N.C.'s Central Prison in Raleigh has named its first female warden.

Why a Seattle tax software company sees its future growing significantly in Durham (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The tax software company’s offices overlooking Durham Bulls Athletic Park could soon be bursting at the seams.

Wake DA says county commissioner’s travel spending is related to his elected role (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The Wake County district attorney said her office found no legal basis to investigate a county commissioner’s travel spending.

Court: flash-bang grenades are weapons of mass destruction (AP reports) -- "Flash-bang" grenades often used by law enforcement officials are weapons of “mass death and destruction," N.C.'s Supreme Court has declared.

N.C. Carolina Supreme Court censures Superior Court judge (AP reports) -- N.C.'s Supreme Court has censured a Superior Court judge for violating the judicial code of conduct and for actions that brought the judicial branch into disrepute.

CELIA RIVENBARK: Pence on white, hold the mayo (Wilmington Star-News column) -- The real threat? More classic anti-American sentiment espoused by the liberal media and perpetuated by the Deep State.

Mexican government and Wake schools partner to help Latino adults earn their diplomas (Durham Herald-Sun) -- Wake County schools are partnering with the Government of Mexico to help Latino adults in the Raleigh area work toward earning high school diplomas. The new “Plaza Comunitaria” program at Washington Elementary School in Raleigh will use materials provided by the Mexican Consulate to help Spanish-speaking adults improve their literacy skills. Wake County Superintendent Cathy Moore and Claudia Velasco, Consul General of Mexico in Raleigh, were at Washington for a ceremony signing the paperwork creating what will be the sixth Plaza Comunitaria program in N.C.

Students Say UNC Needs To Step Up To Prevent Sexual Assaults (WUNC-FM reports) -- About three thousand undergraduate women start their college careers at UNC-CH each fall. By the time they graduate, nearly half are likely to experience sexual assault or misconduct. A quarter are likely to experience assaults that meet the definition of rape -- and that’s only the women. Those numbers are based on the anonymous responses of college seniors at UNC-CH who participated in the largest survey ever about sexual violence.

Wake Works to support students training for skilled, in-demand jobs (WRAL-TV reports) -- A new program will offer students free tuition, free training and long-term career potential thanks to a new partnership with Wake Tech and Wake County.

Colleges in Maryland, N.C. cancel Italy programs (AP reports) -- Flagship universities in Maryland and N.C. have canceled study abroad programs in Italy and are working to bring students home amid the continuing spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Coronavirus worries forcing students, colleges to make tough decisions on travel (WRAL-TV reports) -- Spring break is just days away for college students. However, worries about the coronavirus are forcing some to change their plans as schools put restrictions and recommendations on travel for students and staff.

Red Hat’s Toronto office closed after person with coronavirus entered building (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Red Hat offices in Toronto are closed after a person who tested positive for coronavirus entered another tenant space in the building, according to a statement from Red Hat. The offices will be closed at least until March 8 “to allow for coordinated deep cleaning of our office suite and the building’s common areas,” said the statement emailed by Stephanie Wonderlick, Red Hat vice president of corporate communications. Red Hat associates in Toronto were asked to work from home while the offices are closed, according to an email sent to associates.

ENC sees higher number of flu-like illnesses (Kinston Free Press reports) -- Coronavirus commands the headlines, but flu season continues its annual winter onslaught. A sampling of state public health providers shows widespread cases across Eastern N.C., more than this time last year.

NANCY MCLAUGHLIN: N.C. barbers talk heart health with clients (Greensboro News & Record reports) -- Cutting back on salt reduces the risk of heart disease. So does exercising.

DHA says all McDougald Terrace residents will be home by April (WRAL-TV reports) -- Durham Housing Authority officials announced on their website that all McDougald Terrace residents will be home again by the first week of April.

Music therapy helps Parkinson's patients reconnect mind with muscles (WRAL-TV reports) -- Certified music therapist Rachel Shell with First Health Moore Regional uses music to address speech, movement and recall for individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

Observer moves to digital Saturdays, with expanded Friday, Sunday print editions (Charlotte Observer reports) -- In December, we shared the news with our subscribers that beginning March 7, The Observer will become a digital-only publication on Saturdays. With this change, subscribers on Saturdays can access our eEdition — a digital replica of the newspaper — with its expanded ExtraExtra section or, for updated live news, our website, charlotteobserver.com. Access to these digital editions is included in your subscription. The Saturday eEdition will have the same mix of local, national, international and sports news as usual, but in a digital format instead of printed edition.

1995 book chronicled white graves in Currituck County. Now, a group is doing the same for African American cemeteries (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot reports) -- A Currituck County group plans to record all the gravestones of African Americans — work that could take years.