Opinion Roundup: Schools opening? losing insurance; Confederate license plates; campus return issues; and more

Tuesday, July 14, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: Cooper's school opening announcement; NY bans NC travelers; thousands in N.C. left without insurance; Forest's anemic fundraising; Confederate flags on license plates; will Tillis attend GOP convention: how will students return to college campuses; and more.

CORONAVIRUS 2020
Parents, businesses await Cooper's COVID-19 plans (AP reports) -- North Carolina teachers, parents and students as well as gym and bar operators are anxious to know what Gov. Roy Cooper will say about the path ahead with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cooper to reveal schools plan Tuesday as some families choose online learning (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- The North Carolina governor will announce his plans for K-12 public schools at a Tuesday news conference.

Cooper to announce guidelines for re-opening schools today (WRAL-TV reports) -- Gov. Roy Cooper is set to announce at 3 p.m. today his guidance for re-opening the state's public K-12 schools. Cooper has previously indicated that three separate plans are under consideration.  Plan A, -- students would go back to school as scheduled with limited social distancing to help ensure safety.  Plan B -- a hybrid system in which students would have a mix of in-person and virtual learning. Plan C -- all instruction take place online.

What pediatricians are saying about students returning to school (WRAL-TV reports) -- On the heels of Gov. Roy Cooper planning to issue statewide guidelines for schools reopening in fall, local pediatrician Dr. Stephanie Duggins-Davis shared thoughts on the benefits of children returning to the classroom.

Reopening schools should be local call (Greensboro News & Record editorial -- The fact is, who doesn’t want schools to reopen? But it has to be done safely, when the time is right. Not because the president wants to make it so to boost his re-election chances. School reopening decisions also should be left to states and local communities. The timetables should be based on facts and medical science, not on politics and arbitrary edicts from Washington. If it truly wants a successful reopening, the Trump administration could be a part of the solution. It could help provide proper resources, instead of issuing threats and intimidation based on half-baked reasoning and cherry-picked information.

NC still lacks plan for regular mass testing in nursing homes (WRAL-TV reports) -- In North Carolina, nursing home residents make up almost half of all coronavirus deaths in the state, the latest data show. And there have been reported outbreaks at some 40% of the state's more than 400 nursing homes. Yet four months into the pandemic, North Carolina still lacks a plan for regular testing in those facilities, where COVID-19 has hit hardest.

New York will fine NC travelers who don’t give contact information for quarantine (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- Travelers from North Carolina will be required to provide their contact information if they visit New York. The state is mandating that all visitors from “designated high-COVID states,” which includes North Carolina, give officials their contact information upon arrival in New York for the purpose of enforcing the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine for these travelers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted Monday.

Triangle hospitals say they are prepared for rise in coronavirus cases (WRAL-TV reports) -- Doctors and hospital administrators in the Triangle are watching the rise in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2020
Millions Have Lost Health Insurance in Pandemic-Driven Recession -- N.C. one of worst hit (New York Times reports) -- A new study estimates that more than five million American workers lost their insurance this spring, a number higher than those in any full year of insurance losses. The Families USA study is a state-by-state examination of the effects of the pandemic on laid-off adults younger than 65, the age at which Americans become eligible for Medicare. It found that nearly half — 46 percent — of the coverage losses from the pandemic came in five states: North Carolina, California, Texas, Florida and New York.

CAMPAIGN 2020
Forest raises just $2.4M, still trails n N.C. gov's money race (AP reports) -- Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest recorded his largest fundraising haul in his gubernatorial bid, but it was a mere fraction of the money Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has brought into his re-election campaign coffers.

Witness Requirement Creates Barriers for Mail-In Voters, Critics Say (Public News Service reports) -- Civil rights groups says a new election-reform law doesn't go far enough to ensure the absentee ballot voting process is accessible to everyone. In June, Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill into law that boosts funding to counties to help streamline the absentee-voting process for residents this fall, including a requirement that a website be created for online absentee ballot requests by September 1. Traditionally, North Carolina has required absentee ballot voters to have two witnesses sign their ballot envelope. The new bill says just one witness will suffice for the 2020 election. However the ACLU has filed a lawsuit against this requirement, arguing that in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the one-witness mandate places an unnecessary burden on voters. Residents can still vote in-person on Nov. 3 if they choose.

Coronavirus fears spark ‘striking surge’ of mail-in ballot requests (Charlotte Observer reports) -- A new report shows “a striking surge” in the number of absentee ballot requests in North Carolina, reflecting patterns seen across the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic. State election officials say as many as four of 10 voters, or more than 1.5 million, could cast mail-in ballots this fall. That’s 10 times the usual number. Michael Bitzer, a political scientist at Catawba College, analyzed more than 65,000 absentee ballot requests made through Friday. Weeks before ballots are even printed, that’s a four-fold increase from the number requested at the same time in 2016. “We all were expecting a run-up in mail-in ballots,” Bitzer said Monday. “I don’t think anybody would have expected that rate at this point.”

MOSTLY FALSE: Biden exaggerates Trump's 'injection' comments (Politifact-WRAL-TV) -- Joe Biden said President Donald Trump told Americans that drinking bleach could help combat the coronavirus, but that's not correct. Trump did not explicitly recommend ingesting a disinfectant like bleach

GARY PEARCE: Yes, 2020 could get worse (Wilson Times column -- This year is just half over, and it could get twice as bad. The COVID-19 pandemic could keep getting worse. The economic collapse and high unemployment could last for months and years.

Headed to GOP Convention? Tillis won't say while many others say, 'Not I' (New York Times reports) -- Republican senators facing tough re-election battles declined to say whether they planned to go. Aides to five of the six most vulnerable Republicans on the ballot this fall — Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Martha McSally of Arizona, Steve Daines of Montana, Joni Ernst of Iowa and Cory Gardner of Colorado — did not respond to repeated inquiries about their plans.

Insurance Commissioner, USDA-RD Director to tour Trenton Fire Department (Kinston Free Press reports) -- The state Insurance Commissioner and the State Director for USDA Rural Development will tour the Trenton Volunteer Fire Department that is under construction. Trenton’s fire department will receive a USDA-RD Community Facilities Grant of $690,000 during the visit from NCIC Mike Causey and USDA-RD Director Robert Hosford Wednesday, Construction began last October, more than one year after Florence, on the new $2.3 million station, funded by grants from the USDA and the Golden Leaf Foundation.

MONUMENT(al) CHANGE
Could the Confederate flags on N.C. license plates be coming to an end? (Charlotte Agenda reports) -- When you’re renewing your driver’s registration with the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, you have the option to select specialty license plates. Designs represent a range of causes including a confederate flag for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Anyone can buy the plates, which include a personalization fee of $30. The SCV says the confederate flag is a symbol of regional and historical pride. But for others, particularly Black Americans, it represents white supremacy and deep-rooted racism, a painful reminder of slavery. Over the last few months, the DMV has received concerns about the state-issued plate through social media, “Only the N.C. General Assembly can create and make changes to specialty plates. DMV only issues the plates on request by the customer,” said John Brockwell , DMV spokesman.

Fayetteville mayor says protesters must move from Market House (WRAL-TV reports) -- After nearly a week camped out at the Fayetteville Market House to demand more police accountability and more community resources, it's time for protesters to move their sit-in to another location, Mayor Mitch Colvin said Monday.

ANN DOSS HELMS: Gaston Panel Narrowly Votes To Remove Monument After Debate On White Supremacy (WFAE-FM reports -- A panel of Gaston County residents voted 7-5 Monday to remove a Confederate monument that has stood in front of the county courthouse for 88 years. The vote came after heated debate over whether the statue represents white supremacy.

Pasquotank board OKs Confederate monument's removal from courthouse (Elizabeth City Daily Advance reports) -- Pasquotank County commissioners will move the Confederate monument from the courthouse square, citing the "public safety" exception in state law allowing its removal.

Confederate Symbolism in the Military Stretches Far Beyond Flags, Base Names (Wall Street Journal reports) -- Pentagon officials signaled last week that Defense Secretary Mark Esper may ban the display of Confederate flags on military bases to show that the armed services are serious about confronting a long history of racial discrimination.

WILLIS B. MCLEOD: Fayetteville’s unique Market House can be a teaching tool (Fayetteville Observer column -- I choose and I challenge others to see the Market House as a shrine to the genius of the Black men who built it.

POLICY & POLITICS
Government Carries Out First Federal Execution in 17 Years (New York Times reports) -- Hours after the Supreme Court rejected a last-minute legal-challenge on a 5-4 vote, the Justice Department put a 47-year-old man to death for his role in the 1996 murder of a family of three, the first federal execution in more than 17 years. The death row prisoner, Daniel Lewis Lee, 47, a former white supremacist who has denounced his ties to that movement, was executed by lethal injection at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind., the Bureau of Prisons said. He is the first of three federal death row inmates scheduled for execution this week. Mr. Lee’s death concluded an informal moratorium on federal capital punishment.

Local court clerk suspended, faces removal after allegations of misconduct, erratic behavior (WRAL-TV reports) -- Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court Patricia Burnette Chastain was suspended and faces permanent removal after allegations of a series of actions that overstepped her bounds. This suspension comes on the heels of the Franklin County Democratic Party asking state party leaders to remove Chastain from the local executive committee and backing a judicial review to determine whether or not she should be removed.

On clemency, NC governor’s inaction speaks louder than words (N.C. McClatchy column) -- In a few months, Gov. Roy Cooper could set an unfortunate record. Unless he takes action soon, he will become the first North Carolina governor in more than 40 years to complete a term without granting clemency to a single person, which includes sentence commutations and pardons of forgiveness or innocence. To make matters worse, the governor’s office recently stopped releasing updated information on who and how many are seeking clemency. This is a step backwards from transparency. It is also bad policy from a governor who claims he wants to eliminate racism in the criminal justice system.

Former Raleigh councilman won't face criminal charges in alleged sex assault (WRAL-TV reports) -- Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said Monday she isn't pursuing criminal charges against former Raleigh City Council member Saige Martin, who resigned last month amid allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct.

Untapped harvest: Eastern N.C. farmers eye hemp as next great cash crop (Greenville Daily Reflector reports) -- Hemp, one of the most versatile plants on Earth, seems to be the answer to all the world’s woes, from replacing plastic, fiberglass and wood, to being a cure-all for a multitude of ailments — including insomnia, inflammation and seizures.

EDUCATION
Drop Off In Lottery Sales Will Hurt States' School Budgets (NPR reports) -- Lotteries across the country -- particularly in North Carolina -- are hurting with revenues down hundreds of millions of dollars. That could have big implications for states that rely on that money for a portion of education funding.

As UNC campuses prepare to bring students back, some faculty fear that it will backfire (N.C. McClatchy reports -- Next month, hundreds of thousands of students from across the nation will flood to North Carolina colleges and universities, move into their dorm rooms and prepare to take classes on campus in the midst of a worsening coronavirus pandemic. Many schools are preparing to offer a majority of courses in-person in classrooms that have been modified for social distancing rules, with students and faculty wearing face masks. But some faculty say there’s pressure to teach in-person, and they don’t see how the new measures will keep the virus from spreading.

Duke students who live on campus will have to test for COVID-19 (WRAL-TV reports) -- Duke University recently outlined the protocols it's putting in place to help keep students safe this fall.

HEALTH
Report: NC needs to upgrade care system for seriously ill (WRAL-TV reports) -- North Carolina is falling behind in health care for people with serious illnesses, especially in rural areas, according to a report

LIORA ENGEL-SMITH: Novant, UNC win bid for New Hanover Regional (N.C. Health News reports) -- In a vote Monday night, the New Hanover Board of Commissioners voted to begin negotiations with Novant for the sale of the Wilmington hospital.

Veterans and COVID-19: Navigating the VA during a pandemic WRAL-TV reports) -- Veterans complained of long waits for appointments, questions about the VA's record keeping to make their appointment data look better to the VA failing to pay bills when the veterans went to doctors outside of the system. Now add Covid-19 to a system many veterans don't already trust.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Outer Banks island ravaged by storms and virus restrictions (AP reports) -- Ocracoke Island, a secluded tourist destination on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, is recovering from the most damaging hurricane in its recorded history while in the midst of one of the world’s worst pandemics. Virus-related restrictions on visits were lifted in May. But just over half of the hurricane-ravaged businesses have reopened, welcoming tourists like a smile with missing teeth. The island is now also casting a wary eye toward August, which is when the hurricane season is expected to heat up again.

Warning to humans after young Corolla wild horse chokes on apple, dies (AP reports) -- A wild horse died Friday when it choked on an apple a human left on the beach, according to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

Audubon Challenges CBRA Sand Mining Rule (Coastal Review reports) -- The National Audubon Society has sued Interior Secretary Bernhardt over a decision to allow federal funds to pay for mining sand from Coastal Barrier Resources Act zones.

... AND MORE
‘F11 and Be There’ Review: N.C.'s Burk Uzzle, a Photographer Worth Knowing (New York Times) -- Documentaries about photographers seem to grow on trees these days. Burk Uzzle, the subject of this unusually distinctive one, doesn’t have the name recognition of Bill Cunningham or Jay Maisel, two lensmen highlighted in recent features, but he should. The title, “F11 and Be There,” is Uzzle’s mantra, particularly in his photojournalistic pursuits. Much of the movie shows Uzzle in the here and now, working in his North Carolina studio. He’s completing a commission: portraits of prominent African-Americans in his area. One is of a lively woman who poses in several elaborate hats. There are gospel singers, and there’s a gang member seemingly torn between street life and new fatherhood. Uzzle, who’s white, makes them all intimate collaborators. F11 is a camera setting regarded as an all-purpose one for capturing moments on the fly. The directive “be there,” derived from Henri Cartier-Bresson, encourages photographers to place themselves in the action.

N.C. native Alfred Veerhoff, from storied art family who walked his own path, dies of covid-19 (Washington Post reports) -- Alfred Brooks Veerhoff was born into a storied D.C. art family that opened its first gallery in the 1870s, but he decided early in life to follow his own path. Instead of art, Veerhoff, who died at age 82 on April 16 from complications of covid-19, studied English literature in college and chose journalism as a career. Dubbed a “gentle giant” by friends because he was 6-foot-4, Veerhoff was born in Raleigh, N.C., to the late Otto and Mary Veerhoff. Otto Veerhoff had been a horticulturist at North Carolina State University before returning to the nation’s capital in 1947 to help his father run Veerhoff Galleries, which was established in 1871 by Otto’s grandfather.