May 2013 archives

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Friday, May 31, 2013

Success is fun: Club's plan not a bad way to push education

Children have celebrated their last day of school for generations. Usually it is simply the mere fact that they are no longer at a desk. School books are tossed aside as summer activities kick into gear. But this year,...

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Not believable: Attorney general's claims suggest incompetence, corruption

Here is a public service announcement for anyone out there who works as a supervisor or to whom any sort of paperwork is sent for approval. Read it before you sign it. Obviously this admonition is timely, since it...

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Juvenile error: Proposal to change age limit nice idea, but bad policy

Some North Carolina leaders are suggesting a new policy that would elevate the age by which a suspect can be tried as a juvenile to 18 rather than the current limit of 16. These limits would still be regulated based...

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

It matters: City could take lead in creating a Memorial Day event

We all probably had legitimate excuses for not attending the Memorial Day ceremony at Wayne Community College Monday. Perhaps plans. Perhaps work. Perhaps a pre-planned trip. And when we say "we," we mean, "we." There were less than 100...

Monday, May 27, 2013

Flags waving: This is the day we remember

Freedom has a price. That is the message that we should remember today as we honor those who have lost their lives while serving their country. They came from all walks of life and all sorts of communities these heroes....

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Hold on tightly: Values for which so many paid dearly must never be surrendered

It has become fashionable lately to label anyone who questions the boundaries for the reach of government as just plain "nuts." And when those who begin the discussion speak of those who express their concern that perhaps there might be...

Friday, May 24, 2013

London horror: Crime should not pass without a moment to reflect

A soldier lost his life on the streets of London Wednesday -- a family man, a young man, a man who had served his country valiantly overseas. He lost his life to a thug who committed a crime so...

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Not answer: Racial Justice Act not the way to make justice system fairer

The Racial Justice Act is front and center again as legislators try to decide what steps should be taken next. The measure was created on the premise that prejudice was the guiding principle in sentencing for some of the...

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Tax watch: The right answer? We will see. Truth is: Something's got to change.

Taxes, budgets and deficits. Those three words are going to be the topic of much conversation in North Carolina and beyond in the coming year. There will be differing views on how the concepts should be handled -- where...

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Hearts broken: Sad news out of Oklahoma reminds us of priorities

An unknown number of children in an elementary school, possibly dozens more residents lost in the neighborhoods surrounding Moore, Okla. It is heart-breaking. It is sobering. It is enough to make you think. It can happen in a minute,...

Monday, May 20, 2013

Sad day: Representative's trial -- and others like it -- depressing commentary

It is too early to say whether former State Rep. Stephen LaRoque is guilty of actual wrongdoing. A court will determine that. But as his trial begins, there should be a prompt to wonder about the state of the political...

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Lesson learned: Here's the bottom line: America needs a free, fair press

A free press. We take it for granted. We don't think about what the world would be like if no one was watching and if politicians were given a free pass. And then we have a couple of weeks...

Friday, May 17, 2013

Lottery lunacy: Powerball fever offers interesting glimpse into 'what if'

You can't blame them. In fact, more than a few people reading this right now are probably dreaming about this possibility, too. "What would I do if I won $550 million?" And even though we have a better chance of...

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Protest this: Complacency is cruelty when it comes to helping poor

The very definition of stupidity is continuing to do the same thing over and over again -- even when it is obvious that it is not working. So even though there have been a good number of arrests as...

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

A good plan: Park innovations could be plus as city eyes future

Money is not easy to come by these days -- for anything, let alone yet another government project. But the plans that are forming for a new W.A. Foster Center and renovations to Mina Weil Park just could be...

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Shock, distract -- Obama Administration shows pattern: Hide and deceive

The Obama Administration has a full house of trouble this week -- and all of it stems back to a fundamental problem. Honesty -- or more specifically -- the decision that officials somehow have the right to distort, to...

Monday, May 13, 2013

IRS targets: Inquiry into misdeeds should get equal attention

There is much more to be written about the recent revelation that the Internal Revenue Service decided that it was OK to impede the tax-exempt status applications of conservative organizations and those that support Israel. And one of the...

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Heroines all: Leading by example -- the role models abound this weekend

There is much to be proud of this weekend in Wayne County. On this Mother's Day, those who wonder about the future of this country should look around -- there are plenty of leaders and role models right here --...

Friday, May 10, 2013

One last plea: Your dollars could help find a cure for cancer

When you believe in something, you want other people to support it and to appreciate it, too. That's the reason The News-Argus has been so supportive of the Relay for Life effort every year. Many of us here have...

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Aycock support: Local officials join forces to save historic spot

There is a movement going on in Wayne County -- and those who are in charge, and others in leadership positions are leading the way. The goal? To save a landmark from closure right here in Wayne County. The...

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

To remember: We acknowledge those we've lost in valiant struggles against cancer

They come from all walks of life. Their foe knows no socioeconomic, race, gender or age boundaries. They battle cancer with courage, determination and hope, realizing that only God knows how their story will end. They are the reason thousands...

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Reality check: It's all about flash, not about what it will really take

There is a new trend in America and it is causing concern in just about every aspect of our world. Call it equivocation or, in layman's terms, moving the goalposts or throwing up a smokescreen. It is an understandable...

Friday, May 3, 2013

Ribbon watch: It's time to think again about the cancer fight

One week from today, thousands of Wayne County residents will gather at the county fairgrounds to join hands in the fight against cancer. And as preparations continue for the annual Relay for Life event, many people will stop to...

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Almost right: Save money, please, but think before you vote

It seems impossible that the Wayne County commission could possibly come up with yet another scratch-your-head decision. And what is really sad about this one is that it was so close to being a good one. The commission's Facilities...

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

An eye peeled: Now is the time to be vigilant about your government

It is shocking really how many people do not know what is going on in their governments. And we are not just talking about the local and state decisions that affect them immediately almost every day, but the bigger...