Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Trojan horse: Health care plan is a gift horse you should look in the mouth
Ever played one of those shell games where the magician puts a penny under a walnut shell, shuffles the shells and then asks you to identify where the penny ended up? Remember the story of the Trojan horse, which...Published: Jun 30, 2009 12:30 PM Full Editorial
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Hope presses on: In trying times, Relay exceeds expectations
Who would have believed it was possible? ... In this economy. ... With so many people so concerned about their jobs and their futures. But even facing so many obstacles and so many reasons to curl up in a...Published: Jun 27, 2009 11:32 PM Full Editorial
Friday, June 26, 2009
Memories: They had different stories, but Farrah, M.J. left their mark
There is no easy answer when you ask for a description of the life Michael Jackson led -- or one word that could possibly sum up Farrah Fawcett. But today, as we mourn their passing, we can think back...Published: Jun 26, 2009 11:23 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, June 25, 2009
No clemency: Former speaker's friends should know better
The fact that there are 150 people in the state of North Carolina who actually do not understand the reason that Jim Black needs to stay in jail is a bit shocking. This is not a matter of feeling...Published: Jun 25, 2009 11:00 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Iran atrocity: No democracy really blossoms without someone's support
As expected, the Iranian government is making sure that those who have spoken out against what can only be termed a sham election are being imprisoned or killed. And, today, there were confessions, coerced, it is certain, broadcast around...Published: Jun 24, 2009 12:13 PM Full Editorial
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Youths' example: Local group decides to put its effort into its community
OK, enough bad news for one day. Let's talk about a group of young people who are putting their shoulders to the grindstone in an effort to make their community a better place to live. The Seymour Johnson Air...Published: Jun 23, 2009 10:39 AM Full Editorial
Monday, June 22, 2009
The real game: Who can really know whom to trust in Raleigh
This could be a game show -- if it weren't so scary. The budget battle will continue this week in Raleigh -- even if the rest of us would rather not hear another word about it. And as the...Published: Jun 22, 2009 11:09 AM Full Editorial
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Back to square one: Perdue needs to work with legislators to develop responsible plan
Another week has gone by and now the citizens of North Carolina know for sure -- no one in Raleigh has any idea what financial shape the state is in or what to do about it. The first evidence...Published: Jun 20, 2009 11:15 PM Full Editorial
Friday, June 19, 2009
The engine: Small businesses keep economic wheels turning
There has not been a lot of building going on in Wayne County over the past few months. And that is not really a surprise. Many people are waiting to see what happens with the economy before investing their...Published: Jun 19, 2009 10:56 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Learning liberty: Many in Iran crave freedoms we often take for granted
This paper does not usually speak much about international incidents. Frankly, there are too many issues to comment on right here at home. But the not-so-surprising reaction to what can only be called a sham of an Iranian election...Published: Jun 17, 2009 11:22 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Before you file: Examine what elective office involves -- and your motivations
Perhaps this is a good time, with election filings coming up within the next 30 days, to remind those who are considering serving their community in various positions of authority just what the job does and does not entail....Published: Jun 16, 2009 11:34 AM Full Editorial
Monday, June 15, 2009
Thank a parent: There are just not that many around anymore who do the job
As always, the focus is on the graduates who took their diplomas this past week -- as it should be. But behind those caps, gowns and smiles are years of support from people who do not often get the...Published: Jun 15, 2009 10:58 AM Full Editorial
Saturday, June 13, 2009
A little advice: Class of 2009 gets ready for next bit of their lives
The tassels are turned and the diplomas are in hand -- at last.After more than a decade of schooling, the members of Wayne County's Class of 2009 are ready to close the book on their stint in public education.Some of...Published: Jun 13, 2009 11:31 PM Full Editorial
Friday, June 12, 2009
Double standard? Sarah Palin has a point.
Hold on to your seats -- the apocalypse just might be around the corner. Women's rights groups are actually thinking about siding with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in her condemnation of late night talk show host David Letterman's comments...Published: Jun 12, 2009 11:07 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Still in limbo: County governments, schools just waiting for other shoe ...
With only a few weeks until the July 1 deadline, the North Carolina Legislature is still trying to come up with some kind of budget that will allow for the smallest number of cuts -- and the lowest tax...Published: Jun 11, 2009 11:24 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
One last look: School year offers reason to be proud and optimistic
Today is the last day of school for thousands of Wayne County children. And later this week, thousands more seniors will say goodbye to their high school years and head on to college. It is a time for celebration...Published: Jun 10, 2009 1:12 PM Full Editorial
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A black eye: Easley firing necessary step to clean up NCSU mess
A stench that had escaped the statehouse and was swiftly filling up the hallowed halls of North Carolina State University has started to dissipate, finally. Nothing against former Gov. Mike Easley's wife, Mary. She is probably a nice person...Published: Jun 9, 2009 10:12 AM Full Editorial
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The good news: County budget holds -- and rest of news is not so horrible here either
So the amounts, plans and numbers revealed this past week as the Wayne County and Goldsboro city governments unveiled their budgets were not reason to break out the champagne -- or whatever else you would choose to use to...Published: Jun 6, 2009 11:53 PM Full Editorial
Friday, June 5, 2009
Gas prices, again? Summer travel season can't be excuse for price skyrocket
It gets so tiresome writing about the mysterious forces that seem to send gas prices up and up at the oddest times. Now, with the summer travel season upon us, we are seeing local stations sending prices up by...Published: Jun 5, 2009 11:01 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Don't panic: OK, so the flu has hit here. Just use common sense.
When someone tells you that a disease that has killed people is now in your community, there is a tendency to worry -- just a little bit -- even if you have read all of the supporting information that...Published: Jun 4, 2009 10:55 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Unapologetic: President Obama should be very careful what he tells Muslim world
It isn't that President Barack Obama is traveling to Saudi Arabia or that he is making a speech to the Muslim nations. It isn't even that he is extending a hand of friendship to other nations. What makes so...Published: Jun 3, 2009 10:36 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Waste watch: State's moving budget target not lost on its citizens
OK, we get it. The state's broke -- and getting broker by the minute. At least, that seems to be the message the North Carolina House of Representatives is sending as it continues to debate where to come up...Published: Jun 2, 2009 12:12 PM Full Editorial
Monday, June 1, 2009
A sad day, really: GM's troubles a predictable, yet disturbing, development
Most people probably saw today's bankruptcy filing by General Motors coming many, many months ago. So, the announcement itself is probably no great shock. But when you think about its implications -- and you realize that American taxpayers now...Published: Jun 1, 2009 10:17 AM Full Editorial