Commentary/Opinion
Take A Walk On The Sunny Side
By JOHN HOOD RALEIGH — In this seemingly endless year of disease, destruction, dissension, and despair, what’s an optimist to do? This is no hypothetical question for me. I’m a…
Candidates Clash On Reopening Schools
By JOHN HOOD RALEIGH — When Democrat Jen Mangrum and Republican Catherine Truitt first filed to run for state superintendent of public instruction, neither could have expected that the central…
You Decide: Recession, Recovery or Something Else?
By Dr. Mike Walden When I speak to groups – virtually for the last six months – I perceive two concerns. One is fear about the virus, especially how long it…
Letter To The Editor: Can The County Manager Or Commissioners Pick Up My Trash?
What’s the big deal about trash decals? A few days ago, I realized that my trash decal had expired and to ensure that I was compliant with County ordinances, I…
Letter To The Editor: EMS Takeover Leaves Many Unanswered Questions
By: D. Banks Wallace Johnston County EMS Advisory Committee Member After reading the article entitled, “County Commissioners Forcing Four Oaks EMS, 50-210 EMS Out of Business”, I felt it my…
Metro Areas Suffer Big Job Losses
By JOHN HOOD RALEIGH — North Carolina’s economy, battered by COVID-19 itself as well as government’s costly attempts to contain its spread, is still struggling to recover. There were about…
Op-Ed: Rewriting Election Laws Is Outrageous And Irresponsible
By: NC Senator Brent Jackson Rewriting election laws right in the middle of an election is outrageous and irresponsible, but that is exactly what the State Board of Elections wants…
Lieutenant Governor Rivals Differ Sharply
By JOHN HOOD RALEIGH — The post of lieutenant governor is a constitutional office in North Carolina, and the only one empowered to exercise both legislative and executive powers. Those…
District Closings Boost Homeschooling
By JOHN HOOD RALEIGH — North Carolina is already the homeschooling capital of the United States. Now the attraction of this education option is soaring higher than ever — thanks…
State Economic Recovery Is Sputtering
By JOHN HOOD RALEIGH — According to the latest jobs report, North Carolina’s headline unemployment rate fell to 6.5% in August, down from 8.5% in July. Good news worth celebrating,…
You Decide: Will The Fed’s New Policy Cause Higher Inflation?
By Dr. Mike Walden I always tell students and folks at my presentations to watch the Federal Reserve. While the President and Congress get most of the attention in Washington,…
Cooper Faces Test On Voter ID
By JOHN HOOD RALEIGH — I have repeatedly criticized Roy Cooper’s troubling efforts to amass power in the governor’s office at the expense of other elected state leaders, local governments,…
