June 2016 archives

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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Sanctuary: Churches must be vigilant these days about potential violence

After our homes, most of us feel at our safest at church. Houses of worship are, by nature, places where we feel we can be secure, where we can let down our guard. But over the years, the number of...

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Brexit: British decision and Trump's rise traced to same feelings

The British decision to withdraw from the European Union comes as no surprise. The British population, in large part, is similar to that of the United States, and both countries have many people who are tired of what they perceive...

Monday, June 27, 2016

Get real: It's time for both parties to give up fanciful notions

It's time for some members of both the Republican and Democratic parties to give up their fanciful notions about the upcoming race for president and get on board with what is going to be the real campaign. On the...

Sunday, June 26, 2016

'Boots on the ground': Trump finding it hard to recruit experienced campaign staffers

Donald Trump has finally acknowledged the need for his campaign staff to be expanded. Trump won primary after primary with a bare bones staff, relying on TV coverage of his maverick campaign and the appeal he has for voters...

Friday, June 24, 2016

Publicity stunt: House sit-in on gun control was a dog and pony show

Gun control advocates in the United States House of Representatives staged a huge sit-in to bring attention to what they say is the need for stricter regulations on weapons. The protest came after the Senate voted down proposed rules...

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Already battling: Debates between governor and attorney general should be good

Pull up a seat and grab some popcorn, rasslin' is about to come on. Before they even take the stage, Gov. Pat McCrory and state Attorney General Roy Cooper have begun tossing barbs at each other over the number of...

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

You're fired! Trump's firing of campaign manager seen as either strategy or desperation

Donald Trump did this week what he is best at. He fired someone. Only this time the person he fired was his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski. Are we witnessing the beginning of an implosion of the Trump campaign, or...

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Running mates: Choice of vice presidential candidates could be crucial

With the national conventions looming, both Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, the presumptive nominees, are looking at who might be the best running mates to join them on their respective tickets. Clinton  has Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren,...

Monday, June 20, 2016

Summertime: Today marks the beginning of that special time of year

Well, it's officially summer. Of course, it's seemed like summer for more than a month now, but today marks the beginning of the calendar summer, and that has special meaning. The summer solstice comes today at 6:34 p.m. and...

Friday, June 17, 2016

Pray for rain: County and rest of eastern part of state could use more wet weather

Wayne County and most of eastern North Carolina is heavily dependent on agriculture for its economic prosperity. And with field crops entering a crucial stage in their development, the need for rain has become crucial to many farmers' success....

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Extraordinary gentlemen: The late Sens. Warren, Kerr and Barnes left legacy of leadership

Wayne County residents can take great pride in the accolades that were afforded three of its late leaders in the Legislature. The late Sen. Henson Barnes, the late Sen. John Kerr and the late Sen. Lindsay Warren were each...

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Hillary and Bernie: Democrat rivals meet today to discuss where to go from here

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are scheduled to meet privately today to discuss the campaign for president and how they can keep Donald Trump out of the White House. After months of bashing one another, the two candidates are...

Monday, June 13, 2016

Contrasts: Trump, Clinton differ sharply in their response to shooting

Sunday's mass killing in Orlando had its impact on the presidential race, forcing both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to respond to the tragedy. It was a stark contrast. Whereas Trump used the shooting to emphasize his stance on...

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Fund WATCH: Wayne commissioners should fully fund health care organization

Wayne County commissioners are the watchdogs of the county's tax revenues. They set the tax rate and are charged with using the taxpayers' dollars in the wisest manner. So it comes as no surprise that they are hyper-sensitive to...

Friday, June 10, 2016

It's The Donald: Talk about dumping Trump is unwise political strategy

With all the criticism about Donald Trump's disparaging remarks about a Hispanic judge hearing a lawsuit involving the billionaire there has come a whisper that the Republican Party might look for a way to dump Trump and choose someone...

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Progress: City Council shows vision in approving development deal

The Goldsboro City Council is to be commended for its foresight in approving a contract with a nonprofit development company, Second Act of Virginia Beach, for development of a new building downtown that is expected to house not only...

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Herstory: Clinton makes history as first female presidential nominee

Hillary Clinton made history Tuesday by becoming the first woman to secure the nomination by a major party for president of the United States. Clinton acknowledged fellow Democrat Bernie Sanders' tenacious run for the nomination, but sought to woo...

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

California primary today: Golden State offers opportunity for Clinton to put Sanders away

The delegate-rich California primary is today, and it offers Hillary Clinton a golden opportunity to put Bernie Sanders away for good. Not that Sanders will go quietly. He has long vowed to keep up the fight through the Democratic...

Monday, June 6, 2016

Meadow Lane: County commissioners should recognize need for new school

Some Wayne County commissioners did not take long to come to a conclusion after touring Meadow Lane Elementary School a few weeks ago. There needs to be a new school built. On Tuesday, the full board of commissioners will...

Friday, June 3, 2016

Going for the jugular: Former secretary of state casts doubts on Trump's military acumen

Hillary Clinton came out swinging on Thursday, casting Republican opponent Donald Trump as unfit to lead the nation's military. It might have been a watershed moment for the former secretary of state, who has struggled during the presidential primaries to...

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Disconnected: Most Americans feel major parties are not responsive to their beliefs

A recent poll taken by The Associated Press reveals most Americans feel disconnected from the two major political parties and a hopelessness about what to do about it. We're not surprised. The fractious primary season has led to an...