Commentary
On his way out, Governor Cooper expands support for people leaving prison
This article was originally published by Bolts, a nonprofit publication that covers criminal justice and voting rights in local governments. After serving 14 months in prison for petty crimes, the state of North Carolina released me into homelessness on Dec. 30, 2000 with only the prison clothes on my back, a paper identification card, and $3.36 in […]
Misleading petitions to certify third-party candidates should concern us all
With the 2024 presidential election fast approaching, door-to-door volunteers and TV political ads are becoming more and more prominent. Every candidate is in high gear, with Republicans and Democrats going head-to-head. But what is seemingly going under the radar in states across the country, including right here in North Carolina, are third-party candidates and their […]
Pennsylvania shooting should be a wake-up call for the next three-plus months
As with all such horrific acts of political violence throughout American history, this past weekend’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump has prompted an array of immediate and widely varying responses. And this reality has, of course, been only enhanced by the tumultuous politics of the present moment. Now, add in the frequently toxic […]
Weekend humor from Celia Rivenbark: My 50th high school reunion was worth the wait
I had looked forward to my 50th high school reunion for months. Who would attend? What would I wear? What would they wear? Would what I wear look better than what they wore? Did I just say that out loud? High school back in the ‘70s was groovy. We didn’t have cell phones, but we […]
The courts have decided on school calendar flexibility; why are legislative leaders fighting it?
A decades-long battle over school calendars is now playing out in the courts. On one side are public schools. According to WRAL, “About 27 of the state’s 115 school systems are expected to start their upcoming school year before” the August 26 start date laid out under the state’s General Statutes. Education versus vacation These schools […]