Opinion Roundup: VA coronavirus questionnaire triggers traffic delays; appeals judge staying out of voter i.d. case; Dorian's hefty bill to ferry division; and more.

Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: Alleviating coronavirus fears in N.C.'s rural counties; state pension can withstand market downturn; prep helped prevent Bull City data breach; school workers tell state leaders about the difficulty of living on minimum wage; OBX's blind horse dies; and more.

Could virus cancel the GOP convention? For now, organizers are monitoring things (Charlotte Observer reports) -- As many as 50,000 people from around the world are expected to come to Charlotte this summer for the Republican National Convention. But could the convention be canceled? The novel coronavirus outbreak not only has caused havoc with financial markets but disrupted travel and forced cancellation of conferences in the U.S. and around the globe

Appeals judge to keep out of N.C. voter ID case (AP reports) -- A N.C. appeals court judge won't participate in any deliberations over litigation that challenges the constitutionality of the state's latest voter photo identification law.

Rep. Mark Meadows tests negative for COVID-19 but will self-quarantine as precaution (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Rep. Mark Meadows, who will be Trump’s new chief of staff, came into contact with a person at CPAC who tested positive for COVID-19. Meadows, of North Carolina, tested negative for the coronavirus.

A Right-Wing Billionaire Was Just Convicted of Bribery, and He’s Dragging Republicans Down With Him (Mother Jones Magazine reports) -- On Thursday, Greg Lindberg, one of the largest Republican political donors in North Carolina and a self-described billionaire insurance baron, was convicted of trying to bribe a state official who oversaw his businesses. It’s a case that has torn the Republican firmament in the state apart—right before a pivotal election year with new maps that are expected.

N.C. treasurer: State pension fund will withstand market downturn (WRAL-TV reports) -- As global markets continue to plunge amid fears that the new coronavirus will slow economies in the U.S. and abroad, some N.C. investors aren't seeing a major dent in their portfolios.

Living without a living wage: At the ever-growing bottom of the American economy, a low-wage worker becomes a minimum-wage activist (Washington Post reports) – Sara Ferrington walked through the bus terminal for an hour with a few other workers with N.C. Raise Up, the N.C. branch of the national Fight for $15 movement to unionize workers and raise the minimum wage. She asked people how many hours they worked. “Too many,” said a school janitor. She asked how much money they made. “Same as everyone. Minimum,” said a woman wearing broken glasses. She asked everyone to write a personal message about their lives — messages Sara and the other workers hoped to deliver to N.C. leaders later that month during a hearing about the minimum wage at the State Capitol.

Durham city, county preparation prevented data breach when hack happened (WRAL-TV reports) -- It appears that employees of Durham governments, at the city and county level, separately clicked on links in an email allowing a known malware virus access to those government networks.

Letters sent to jail had drugs hidden behind the postage stamps, N.C. sheriff says (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Letters sent to a prison in N.C. were carting drugs — but not in envelopes, according to the sheriff’s office. Opioids were hidden behind the postage stamps on letters sent to four inmates at Bladen County Detention Center in Elizabethtown. The substances were buprenorphine and naloxone, which treat opioid dependency and can reverse overdoses but are “routinely abused.”

KAYLA LASURE: Student starts Watauga effort for 'Second Amendment sanctuary'(Watauga Democrat reports) -- A petition started by an Appalachian State University student is soliciting signatures to request that Watauga County become a “Second Amendment sanctuary,” following a movement of other municipalities where officials have passed a resolution stating they would oppose efforts to restrict a citizen’s right to bear arms.

She helped convict 5 teens in NBA star’s grandfather’s death. Was testimony coerced? (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The victim was NBA star Chris Paul’s grandfather, who died of a heart attack after he was beaten, his hands tied and his mouth bound.

Jailed over $100 bill, Charlotte doctor says she was targeted because she’s black (Charlotte Observer reports) -- Cordula Lutz and her mother had this tradition: Every time the Charlotte physician visited her childhood home in Maryland, her mom would give her one or more $100 bills. During Lutz’s trip home last June, Lutz’s mother handed her two. One of them sent the doctor to jail.

EDDIE GARCIA: Carolina Curious: How Will Opportunity Zones Shape Our Cities? (WFDD-FM reports) -- When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed, the legislation included six pages that could have a big impact on cities.

Teacher/Blogger Takes Sunshine Day Award For Public Records (WFAE-FM reports) -- Justin Parmenter, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher and blogger, was honored Monday by the North Carolina Open Government Coalition for his use of public records in researching the state's controversial Istation contract.

ECU faculty gets up close look at eastern N.C. (Greenville Daily Reflector reports) -- While many ECU students are traveling to classic spring break locations, ECU faculty members and administrators are taking a two-day road trip to 14 eastern counties.

FALSE: Fact check: Trump blames Obama for limits on coronavirus testing (PolitiFact/WRAL-TV reports) -- In remarks at the White House, President Donald Trump faulted his predecessor for making it harder for the government to ramp up testing for the coronavirus.

What's the coronavirus death rate? Here's why it's hard to estimate. (PolitiFact/WRAL-TV reports) -- Estimated death rates for the new coronavirus have varied among different countries and demographic groups. Experts told PolitiFact it will be a while before health officials can say with precision what the death rate is. The final rate could be higher or lower than the 3.4% the WHO reported March 3.

Local universities consider canceling classes if coronavirus outbreak worsens (WRAL-TV reports) -- Universities across the United States are canceling face-to-face classes and moving instruction online in an effort to keep coronavirus from invading campuses. Campbell University and Shaw University are preparing to follow suit if needed.

Rural N.C. counties ramp up preparations, tamp down fear as coronavirus testing expands (WRAL-TV reports) -- Public health officials say N.C. will see more cases of coronavirus infection before the current outbreak is over, and rural counties are trying to prepare as they tamp down fear.

GILBERT BAEZ: Coronavirus questionnaire backs up traffic at access to Fayetteville VA hospital (WRAL-TV reports) -- Vehicles stacked up Monday morning outside the parking area at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center after the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs established a new screening process to protect patients and staff from coronavirus.

NCHSAA says it is monitoring coronavirus, but no plans to alter schedules (HighSchoolOT/WRAL-TV reports) -- With two confirmed cases of coronavirus in N.C., the N.C. High School Athletic Association is asking schools, participants, and spectators to take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Tillis said restaurant employees shouldn’t be required to wash their hands (Washington Post reports 02-03-2015) -- Once we’re done debating whether children should be vaccinated, we can move on to other pressing public health questions, such as whether eateries can force their employees to wash their hands after they use the bathroom. At least one freshman U.S. senator thinks, “nah.” Because freedom. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), at the end of an appearance Monday at the Bipartisan Policy Center, volunteered a story about “his bias when it comes to regulatory reform.”

N.C. officials: 5 more coronavirus cases for 7 total statewide (AP reports) -- Five more N.C. residents have tested positive for the new coronavirus strain, bringing the number of cases to seven statewide.

5 Wake County residents test positive for coronavirus after Biogen conference (WRAL-TV reports) -- Five more N.C. residents have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Vidant layoffs centered at Greenville facilities (Greenville Daily Reflector reports) -- Vidant Health laid off nearly 200 people due to decreasing Medicaid reimbursements and increasing costs, with most of those layoffs affecting administrators and workers in Greenville, the system announced.

Butterfield blames lawmakers for Vidant Health layoffs (Wilson Times reports) -- Wilson’s congressman says the N.C. General Assembly’s refusal to expand Medicaid is “a major contributor” to Vidant Health’s decision to lay off 191 employees, but Republican state legislators say the evidence suggests otherwise. U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-Wilson, said he faults the state legislature for failing to expand Medicaid eligibility. State Sen. Bob Steinburg, R-Chowan, countered Butterfield’s assessment Monday. In a news release, Steinburg cited a the right-leaning Foundation for Government Accountability study released last month that concluded Medicaid expansion “has not materially improved hospitals’ financial health.”

Vidant Health laying off nearly 200 workers (WRAL-TV reports) -- Vidant Health is telling employees nearly 200 workers will be laid off because of a budget shortfall.

KAYLA LASURE: Mental health crisis response: Panelists discuss mental health staff, law enforcement roles (Watauga Democrat reports) -- The National Alliance on Mental Illness High Country chapter hosted a five-person panel on March 2 to discuss the working relationship between mental health workers and law enforcement. The panel covered topics such as court-mandated treatment, mental health crisis response protocol, crisis intervention teams and programs like pre-booking diversion.

Dorian Damage to Ferry Division Tops $4M (Coastal Review reports) -- Although damage was not as widespread as that from two hurricanes in 2018, NCDOT’s Ferry Division says Hurricane Dorian in 2019 resulted in more than twice the $1.7 million cost of those storms combined.

THOMAS SHERRILL: Watauga an 'emerging' area for Lyme disease cases (Watauga Democrat reports) -- A local increase in the tick-borne illness known as Lyme disease has local health officials alarmed about its spread. According to data from Animal Hospital of Boone, the total number of positive Lyme disease tests went from 38 in 2017 to 96 in 2018 and was at 169 as of October 2019. The region is now an emerging area specifically for Lyme disease.

Lottery winner wants to help people – and buy hunting gear – with $1 million N.C. prize (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- A N.C. lottery player knew exactly how he wanted to spend the money when he saw he won a top prize. Joseph Duncan stopped at a convenience store in Black Mountain and bought an Extreme Cash scratch-off lottery ticket for $25, according to a release from the Education Lottery. After his friends and family are “taken care of,” he told lottery officials, he’s going to buy himself some new hunting gear and maybe take a hunting trip. He claimed his prize Friday and had the choice of 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a $600,000 lump sum, according to the lottery. He chose the lump sum and took home $424,507 after taxes.

Blind horse that was 'king' of the Outer Banks has died (AP reports) -- A blind wild horse that had roamed N.C.'s Outer Banks has died.

Raleigh, Cary make top 10 ‘recession-resistant’ cities; Durham ranks No.18 (TechWire/WRAL-TV reports) -- All three cities rank in the better half of the study for the three categories we considered: employment, housing and social assistance, SmartAsset spokesperson Kara Gibson told WRAL TechWire.

Elon graduate takes stage in Les Mis at DPAC​​​​​​​ (WRAL-TV reports) -- For Elon graduate Matt Shingledecker, starring in the touring production of Les Misérables is like being in an opera and a war movie at the same time.