Opinion Roundup: Voting; bar hopping; GOP convention antics; regulations; and more

Friday, May 29, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: expanding voting; opening bars; records demands to Gov. Cooper; racetrack follies; GOP convention antics; the 11th District runoff; and more.

NC ballot access rule changes for pandemic OK'd by House (AP reports) -- Temporary and permanent changes to mail-in absentee ballot rules in North Carolina and funds to improve safety at in-person voting sites this year during the COVID-19 pandemic received overwhelming approval Thursday by the state House.

Near-unanimous NC House passes funding, rules to prepare for spike in voting by mail  (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- A bill making it easier for people to vote by mail in the 2020 elections passed with near-unanimous support Thursday in the N.C. House of Representatives. State officials have told lawmakers that normally, around 4% or 5% of North Carolinians vote by mail. But because of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and public health concerns, they expect that it could grow to as high as 40% this year.

Ballot-Collection Battles, Split by Partisanship, Move Through Courts (Wall Street Journal reports) --With more citizens looking to avoid in-person voting during the pandemic, legal clashes are emerging over whether third parties should be allowed to help absentee voters by collecting and submitting ballots.

Lawmakers vote to reopen NC bars despite governor's order (WRAL-TV reports) -- State lawmakers voted Thursday to allow bars to reopen in outdoor spaces, overriding Gov. Roy Cooper's executive order that has closed them since March.

NC legislature votes to let bars reopen, while Gov. Cooper says it’s not yet time (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- North Carolina’s legislature Thursday approved a bill that would allow some food and drink establishments to operate at 100% capacity. Bars have not been authorized to reopen under Gov. Roy Cooper’s guidelines for Phase Two of easing restrictions, but if the governor signs the bill into law, they would be allowed to serve customers solely outdoors. House Bill 536 passed 42-5 in the Senate and 65-53 in the House. It will now go to Cooper, who has said it’s not time to reopen bars yet.

N.C. legislature OKs bill overturning Cooper order on bars (AP reports) -- North Carolina legislators voted on Thursday to essentially overturn Gov. Roy Cooper's order keeping bars closed due to COVID-19, deciding that serving customers outside for an economic punch was worth any additional risk of congregating.

Cooper says Alamance officials must enforce his COVID-19 order at ‘dangerous’ speedway (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- If Ace Speedway opens its gates to allow spectators to attend races again this weekend, Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday it’s up to Alamance County officials to ensure they are adhering to his executive orders against large mass gatherings.

Ace Speedway reworks events as owner stays mum on criticism (Burlington Times-News reports) -- Ace Speedway is proceeding with plans to race this weekend, though the doubleheader that had been on its schedule for Friday night and Saturday night now has been merged into one singular night of events. The track said Thursday it only will race Saturday night, in calling off Friday night’s lineup due to the rain this week and the possibility for more wet weather. Ace owner Robert Turner, in the face of a rebuke from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, said not holding races this weekend hasn’t been under consideration. Turner, who owns and operates the speedway with son Jason Turner, declined further comment, choosing not to publicly voice Ace’s reaction to the governor’s remarks.

Bar owners question whether outdoor seating push will help (WRAL-TV reports) -- After much discussion, the Senate voted Thursday to reopen North Carolina's bars with certain restrictions in place.

NC lawmakers may let high school seniors pick how to get graded in COVID-19 pandemic (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- State lawmakers could change how North Carolina high school seniors get grades this semester during the coronavirus pandemic. The State Board of Education is requiring high schools to give seniors either passing or withdrawal grades for the spring semester instead of traditional grades, due to how COVID-19 has closed schools since mid-March. But under legislation filed this week, local school districts could let seniors instead request regular numeric grades for the semester.

A confrontation between NC senators, a police report, and a secretive ethics process (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- Last week, the Legislative Ethics Committee of the General Assembly dismissed parts of the Sen. Erica Smith, D-Northampton, complaint. But there’s more to be said about the committee itself: A group of lawmakers that assesses other lawmakers, making decisions in private, with no statewide process for transparently and openly addressing complaints from the seat of state government. Three of the senators Smith accused sit on the 12-member ethics committee. All three recused themselves from considering her complaint.

NC lawmaker accuses multiple senators of abusive behavior (WRAL-TV reports) -- "It's like being bullied on the playground," Sen. Erica Smith says, "and everybody else is turning a blind eye."

Nursing homes fought emergency plan requirements. Now, they’re coronavirus hot spots (N.C. McClatchy/ProPublica reports) --  The nursing home industry’s fight against regulations designed to stop diseases like COVID-19 from devastating elderly residents of the nation’s nursing homes, according to a review of documents and data. The lack of pandemic plans helps explain why nursing homes have been caught unprepared for the new coronavirus, patient advocates and industry observers said. Across the country, more than one in four nursing homes have registered an outbreak, according to media reports. More than 16,000 nursing home residents and workers have died, accounting for 17% of COVID-19 deaths nationwide, according to an AARP tally on May 18. That figure is likely an understatement of the true scope of the harm.

Concern grows as state deals with highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations since outbreak began (WRAL-TV reports) WRAL's Kirsten Gutierrez spoke with medical officials after a recent spike in North Carolina in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations since this pandemic began.

NC coronavirus hospitalizations reach all-time high for second straight day (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- The state’s coronavirus update showed troubling numbers on Thursday, as Gov. Roy Cooper faced another challenge to his authority to keep businesses closed during the pandemic. The number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 increased by 33 to 827 and hospitalizations established a new single-day high of 708, according to data released by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.

Latinos, the coronavirus and a single ZIP code (N.C. Health News reports) -- The 27344 ZIP code, which includes Siler City and Mountaire Farms, has become a hotspot for the coronavirus in North Carolina. Latinos who live in the ZIP code are suffering greatly, but nonprofit organizations can only do so much.

Health department clinic closes after provider tests positive for COVID-19 (Greenville Daily Reflector reports) -- The Pitt County Health Department clinic is closed after a part-time employee learned on Thursday they tested positive for COVID-19, Public Health Director Dr. John Silvernail said.

UNC researcher working on coronavirus vaccine, as well as antibody, anti-viral treatments (WRAL-TV reports) -- While some researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are part of the global push to develop a coronavirus vaccine, others say efforts to develop antibodies to the virus show even more promise for quick relief.

UNC’s Ralph Baric has long been a leader in virus research. Now, the world is listening ​​​​​​​(N.C. McClatchy reports) -- Our Tar Heel of the Month is a scientist, a swimmer and an easily approachable genius. He’s playing a key role in the search for a coronavirus vaccine.

NC limits information on meatpacking plants’ COVID-19 outbreaks as case numbers grow (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- Meatpacking plants are breeding grounds for COVID-19 among workers. Plant employees typically stand shoulder-to-shoulder on their feet for hours at a time, shoving and cutting carcasses. The work causes them to breathe heavily, and if they have COVID-19, they are spreading virus into the air, said Dr. Lisa Gralinski, an assistant professor at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Gralinski, who has studied coronaviruses since 2008, said these processing facilities house a combination of risk factors.

GOP Lawyer Fights California Governor on Stay-At-Home Orders (New York Times reports) -- Long before Harmeet Dhillon became the leader of the legal fight against California's stay-at-home order, she was a new elementary school student in North Carolina uncomfortable because she didn't know the Christian prayer her classmates recited every morning.

UNC Hospital interpreter dies from coronavirus, GoFundMe set up ​​​​​​​(WRAL-TV reports) -- UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill is mourning the loss of one of its employees.

No one should risk their health to be an extra in Trump’s show (Washington Post editorial) -- N.C. officials are acting responsibly in refusing to give in to President Trump’s demand for an immediate guarantee for a full-capacity Republican National Convention in Charlotte in late August. There is much uncertainty about covid-19, and no one knows what the rate of infection will be in three months. But there are clear risks from large gatherings in enclosed spaces, especially those that bring together people from all over the country. Mr. Trump seems to have no concerns for conventioneers’ health, or the health of Charlotte’s residents. He wants them as a backdrop to serve his political interests.

Fight Over G.O.P. Convention Escalates in North Carolina (New York Times reports) -- In a letter to the state’s Democratic governor, top Republicans suggested safety measures to avoid spreading the coronavirus. President Trump has pushed state leaders to hold the kind of event he wants.

Republicans Propose Coronavirus Safety Protocols for Party Convention in North Carolina (Wall Street Journal reports) -- Republican National Convention attendees would be given health surveys before traveling to North Carolina, and some would be subjected to thermal scans before boarding sanitized buses, the RNC chairwoman said.

Governor: RNC hasn't submitted safety plan (AP reports) -- Gov. Roy Cooper said his administration hasn't received the written safety plan for the upcoming Republican National Convention requested by his health secretary in response to President Donald Trump's demands for a full-scale event.

RNC's Health Plan: Health Surveys And Thermal Scans - But No Talk Of Masks​​​​​​​ (WFAE-FM reports) -- Top GOP leaders said Thursday their health protocols for the Republican National Convention in Charlotte will rely on pre-travel health surveys, daily health care questions that can be answered by an app and thermal scans of all attendees.

Thermal scans part of GOP convention safety plan, but not masks (WRAL-TV reports) -- The Republican National Committee has provided a list of safety protocols for the planned GOP convention in Charlotte to state health officials for approval, not the detailed plans with different contingencies that the state had requested.

Republican candidates in NC 11 runoff speak to Henderson County business leaders (Hendersonville Times-News reports) -- Republican candidates for the Congressional District 11 seat spoke with Henderson County business leaders Thursday about health care reform, workforce needs and stimulating the economy.

FERREL GUILLORY: Daunting decisions on schools in a battleground state ​​​​​​​(EdNC column) -- A consensus of politicians and pundits places North Carolina firmly among the key battleground states of the 2020 elections.

Candidates sound off on state superintendent’s role during COVID-19 (EdNC reports) -- We are going to ask the two candidates for state superintendent one question a week and publish their responses. Q: What should the state superintendent of public instruction’s role be in times of crisis, like that we are experiencing with COVID-19?

NC National Guard juggles COVID, Middle East, GOP convention — and now hurricanes (N.C. McClatchy reports) --  National Guard units across the country are busier than ever amid the pandemic — perhaps none more so than North Carolina’s forces. Over the last 60 days, more than 900 members of the North Carolina National Guard have assisted with the state’s response to the coronavirus. Others are preparing to assist the city of Charlotte during the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled for late August. And 2,500 of the state’s forces are deployed in the Middle East. On top of all that, hurricane season in the region starts Monday.

Due to COVID-19, NC gives businesses that received grants an extra year to meet goals (N&O/N.C. McClatchy reports) -- With the coronavirus pandemic causing uncertainty, Depression-era levels of unemployment and slashed revenue for government and businesses alike, the state feared many companies might fall short of their hiring requirements and default on their agreements. Now the state will allow companies to take their 2020 obligations and “carry them forward” one year to 2021. Essentially if a company had agreed to hire 100 employees per year between 2020 and 2025, that company can now push those hiring targets to the period of 2021 to 2026. The hiring and capital investment requirements will not be eliminated as part of the relief, but companies will now have more time to meet them.

Free coronavirus testing program for NC prison workers extended (WRAL-TV reports) -- Once slated for two weeks, program will now run two and a half months.

Media coalition sues Cooper, cabinet agencies for COVID-19 records (WRAL-TV reports) -- A coalition of more than two dozen media outlets filed a lawsuit on Thursday seeking the release of a list of records related to COVID-19 that the state had, so far, refused to provide.

Some see Raleigh mayor's new job as potential conflict of interest (WRAL-TV reports) -- Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin has a new job that some see as problematic.

Union County school board votes for in-person graduation amid virus (AP reports) -- The Union County school board has voted to hold an in-person graduation ceremony for all its high schools that would be a violation of the state’s coronavirus safety orders.

Effort by Duke Fuqua School of Business aimed at saving nonprofits during pandemic (WRAL-TV reports) -- The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled many non-profit organizations that help meet the extraordinary needs of our community.

‘We’re in the kid business.’ N.C. private schools return to high school football practice (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- Providence Day and Charlotte Christian look like they will be the first high school football teams in Mecklenburg County to return to the field and among the first in North Carolina. At Providence Day, the Chargers will begin what new coach Chad Grier calls “a modified version of a summer program” on June 8. The coronavirus pandemic has altered the normal high school sports schedules. The N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association and the N.C. High School Athletic Association canceled spring sports due to COVID-19 concerns. The NCHSAA had to cancel its boys and girls basketball championships. There haven’t been any high school sports played in North Carolina since March.

Financial stability of colleges to be a concern for prospective students (WRAL-TV reports) -- As students weigh their college decisions, they'll need to consider whether or not a school is likely to survive the coronavirus pandemic before deciding to invest their time and money.

Congress Gave Extra Aid to HBCUs. Will It Be Enough? (WUNC-FM reports) -- Maria Lumpkin was drawn to St. Augustine's University years ago. She remembers driving into campus for the first time and seeing the historic stone chapel, quarried and built in 1895 by students who were just one generation free from slavery.

Young Adults On Banks Have Ridden Storms (Coastal Review reports) -- Young people on North Carolina’s Outer Banks who have grown up facing the challenges of climate change on an almost yearly basis say decision makers should take the problem more seriously.

EPA failed to monitor GenX chemical for eight years (Fayetteville Observer reports) -- In 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached an agreement to allow DuPont to manufacture its GenX chemical at its plant in Bladen County near Fayetteville as long as it captured and destroyed or recycled 99% of the GenX the plant would otherwise emit into the air and water. But from 2009 to the end of June 2017, the EPA made no inspections to make sure the plant, now operated by Chemours Co., was in compliance with the agreement, says a report issued Thursday by the EPA’s Office of Inspector General. Until June 2017, the EPA relied on information provided to it by Chemours to verify that the plant was in compliance with the agreement, the report says.

Renowned prosecutor Alan Leonard dies, handled many of the region’s biggest cases (Hendersonville Times-News reports) -- For decades, Alan Leonard served as the go-to prosecutor for many of Western North Carolina’s highest-profile cases.

Back to Winston-Salem School for a Wedding (New York Times reports) --Chiedza Mushayamunda and Matthew Hooker went through “a range of emotions,” as Mr. Hooker put it, when they realized their long-planned May 30 wedding would have to be severely downsized because of the coronavirus. The wedding was to have taken place at the Millennium Center in Winston-Salem, N.C, with more than 200 guests, including family and friends from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Australia, Canada and Britain. The couple, concerned mainly with the health and safety of their guests, were still married May 30. But the ceremony, and the reception, took place mostly with immediate family on the grounds of Summit School — a scenic outdoor space in Winston-Salem, and the school the bride attended from junior kindergarten through ninth grade.