By Kirk Ross Going, going, gone Some years ago, after reading a compendium of the state’s properties and noting various idle buildings, lands and other holdings, I was among those in favor of the idea of a commission of sorts to move some of these goods–burdens, often–in an orderly and mutually beneficial manner to both…
Category: Opinion
Ode to an Old Friend
 From the 1963 Chapel Hill High School yearbook, the Hillife, Gouger’s sense of humor comes through in labels he applied to this photo of fellow “Banshees Three” singer, Davey McConnell, left, and himself, at right. (Photo by Jock Lauterer, CHHS Ô63). By Jock Lauterer When my childhood chum Johnny Gouger laughed, it was no…
Behind all the Smoke
By Chris Fitzsimon The fierce behind-the-scenes battle continues over legislation to protect people from deadly second-hand smoke at workplaces, restaurants and bars. Despite his best efforts, House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman has been unable to convince a majority of House members to support his comprehensive plan to protect the public health. The opposition has coalesced…
Other people’s problem
You may have heard that one day the Orange County landfill on Eubanks Road will close and the plan is to have in its place a site for collecting and preparing for redistribution the county’s solid waste—scratch that—our solid waste. From there the waste will be sent out of sight, but where it goes and…
Exile on Jones Street
By Kirk Ross Angry Suburban Ethos As I write these words I can see the line just beyond the back fence where gently — for now — laps that rising tide known as the municipal limits of the town of Chapel Hill. My neighbors and I know that one day we’ll be engulfed by that…
Next Steps for North Carolina’s Children
By Barbara Bradley Action for Children The greatest long-term impact on the state can by made this year if our lawmakers work to ensure that North Carolina cares for all of its children. North Carolina policymakers have a strong tradition of enacting policies that are good for families, but growth in the number of children,…
The Money Rolls In
By Chris Fitzsimon The 2008 political season is somehow already upon us, whether we are ready for it or not. Virtually every day brings news from the presidential race and candidates are now announcing for governor and other statewide offices. There is already talk in political circles about the 2008 legislative races, even though the…
Snake-bit? Nah. It happens to even the greatest.
By Frank Heath Sports Columnist When the horn sounded late Sunday evening, ending the UNC Women’s basketball team’s quest for the ultimate college basketball glory one stop shy of the NCAA finals, it would have been difficult for any observer to not reflect back almost exactly a week, to a similar disappointing ending for the…
The Mill: Guns, booze and ballots
If you’re one of those eternal optimists, feel free to view voter turnout numbers the conventional way. But try turning the number around. For example, a 17 percent turnout actually means 83 percent of the registered voters stayed home. Depressing? Well, that’s peanuts compared to a new look at civic participation courtesy of our friends…
Flux up yonder
Moratoriums are, as Planning Board chair James Carnahan put it, “a crude tool.†Crude, but effective. And, sometimes, entirely necessary to give a local government time to adjust to meet a demand not anticipated. They are also all the rage this spring in Orange County. Carrboro signed on to the idea on Tuesday and, should…
Time for Blue Cross to act like a non-profit
By Adam Searing N.C. Justice Center’s Health Access Coalition Nearly $190 million. That’s the just-released annual “profit†of “nonprofit†NC Blue Cross Blue Shield, NC’s largest health insurer. $3.1 million. That’s the latest annual compensation for Blue Cross CEO Bob Greczyn. In fact, when you add in this year’s nearly $600,000 raise, Mr. Greczyn has…
Dear Carrboro,
You can take the boy out of the paper, but … The confessions of a once-and-future paperboy By Jock Lauterer As veteran Chapel Hill journalist Roland Giduz reminded me last week, I began my newspaper career by hawking his short-lived but zesty Chapel Hill News Leader around town at the tender age of 8. (The…
Grrr…
By Frank Heath Sports Columnist It’s that week again, one of the most difficult times of the year for a Carolina fan. You know the week: the one after the UNC men’s basketball team plays and loses its final game of the season. Much more often than not, that’s what’s happened; not every year can…
Governor Easley’s last chance to lead
By Chris Fitzsimon Governor Mike Easley has had better months, and the way he responds to a recent flurry of bad news may define his last two years in office. Easley presented his budget to state lawmakers in late February, touting his proposal to remove more than half a million of the state’s poorest taxpayers…
Ty and Tyler Steal the Show
By Frank Heath Sports Columnist If it’s mid-March and people around Carrboro aren’t thinking about basketball, something is wrong. But folks around this sleepy mill town are thinking about hoops, which can mean but one thing — the UNC men’s basketball team is still in the NCAA Tournament, so all is right. This truth comes…