July 2014 archives

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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Stuff the Bus: Your donations will help prepare a child for the start of school

It is something most of us don't think about. After all, we might assume, doesn't every child have what he or she needs to start school off right? But the truth is that getting school clothes and supplies is an...

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Borderline: Show refugee children compassion -- but fix broken immigration policy

It is not easy for Americans to turn people away -- especially not children. It is in our history -- and likely in our DNA. Many of us come from immigrant stock and have heard stories of relatives who came...

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

United mice: County, city, schools could forge a new direction for future

If you give a mouse a cookie, he will ask for a glass of milk, the children's book warns. And, for decades, taxpayers have felt that way about handing politicians more of their hard-earned money. They come by the fear...

Monday, July 28, 2014

Marine's plight: Whatever happened to no soldier or citizen should be left behind

It seems hard to believe that it has been 100-plus days since a former U.S. Marine was detained in Mexico for bringing legally registered guns across that country's borders. And it seems even harder to believe that the government in...

Friday, July 25, 2014

Tragedy: Wilson family's story could be one heard right here in city

The child was 7 years old, just barely old enough to have completed the first grade and to perhaps be looking forward to the second. And in a moment, because of some thug's bullet meant for someone else, a...

Thursday, July 24, 2014

The truth lost: The problem with a government with no watchdog

There are new stories every day coming from the southern border of the United States. Some say the numbers have been altered to make the Obama administration look less incompetent and to keep the public in the dark about...

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Soccer plan: Idea for a complex a good one, as long as budget stays well in hand

There are not too many Wayne County residents in general, and Goldsboro residents in particular, who are standing around with dollars falling out of their pockets because they have so much money. In fact, more and more citizens are...

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

True valor: Let's hope nation never forgets what it means to be a hero

Another Medal of Honor ceremony -- not that they are all that common. Few people actually receive this rare honor. Another harrowing tale of a young man facing terrible odds who does not back down, does not give up,...

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Celebration day: Mount Olive community should be proud of what it has accomplished

Sometimes the best way to get something done is to do it yourself. That's exactly what happened when the community decided to band together in Mount Olive and the surrounding areas to get the county to build a new library...

Friday, July 18, 2014

Blame Europe -- U.S. officials are right about one thing: Europe needs to wake up

There have been more than a few officials -- including cagey Democratic presidential hopeful and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- saying that the next step in the continuing crisis in the Ukraine should come from Europe. The good...

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Simplify -- Here's a new standard for education: The basics

There is a difference between academics and opinions from "experts" and practical, common sense advice that gets you somewhere. The first is a collection of hot air, hard-to-understand pronouncements and gobbledygook even the writers don't understand and can't define...

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Hard work: Local law enforcement takes risk on every drug arrest

There is no absolute guarantee that every arrest made by the Goldsboro police, the Wayne County Sheriff's Department or any other law enforcement agency is going to permanently take drugs off the street. In fact, there is some question,...

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Another hero: Derek Jeter will leave game with honor he deserves

Two days and two pieces of good news from the world of sports. Many baseball fans and others are pausing today to honor soon-to-be-retired New York Yankee Derek Jeter. The idea is to offer the baseball star a tip of...

Monday, July 14, 2014

A role model: LeBron James' classy message a model for others in pro sports

It is still about the money. In professional sports, it always is. But LeBron James' commentary on why he decided to return to Cleveland says something about who he is, not just as a basketball player, but as a...

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Reason to care: The growing concern over the nation's next steps

 Don't fall for the spin. When you hear the president talk about a do-nothing Congress and the need for him to "pick up his pen," don't just take his word for it that he is allowed to do it or...

Friday, July 11, 2014

Rockets, worry: Israel's reaction to U.S. offer sign of nation's position in world

There is reason to be scared about what is beginning to look like all-out war on the Gaza Strip. Israel is pummeling suspected militant sites, while Palestinians are launching rockets at civilian targets. And thousands of innocents are in...

Thursday, July 10, 2014

$3.7 billion: It's important to remember how border crisis began

It seems more than a little shocking that the Homeland Security chief is asking Congress for nearly $4 billion to fix a problem that never should have happened in the first place. The thousands of women, children and unaccompanied minors...

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Taking it back: Church's new vision a message about taking back communities

Before the end of July, the pastors and congregation at the Kadosh Church will be singing and saying their prayers in a brand new, "reborn" sanctuary. And what will be most remarkable about their journey to their new space...

Monday, July 7, 2014

Truth telling? Campaign blitz is nothing but chance to dodge real issue

She's everywhere. Hard to believe, but the once-elusive Sen. Kay Hagan is very visible all over North Carolina. Now, don't get too excited. She is not actually in eastern North Carolina, but she is on television commercials all over the...

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Words to know: National anthem is part of the history we must teach

As part of the annual Capitol Fourth celebration in Washington Friday night, composer John Williams (of "Star Wars" fame) unveiled a new arrangement for our national anthem. If you haven't heard how majestically he set off the words and...

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Salute: Don't forget what you are celebrating this 4th of July

There will be flags flying and fireworks bursting, but as you enjoy your Fourth of July festivities, don't forget the real reason you have the day off Friday. Freedom. During this holiday weekend, we should not just be celebrating...

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

The next chief: Whoever gets job of fixing Veterans Affairs should be the best

A day does not go by without another sad story about one of the failings of the embattled Veterans Affairs Department. One of the most recent stories to emerge is one of the saddest. The family of a veteran...