This week on NC SPIN we will discuss Capping the Gas Tax, Lookin’ like Mississippi and whether to end the death penalty. Join us for the May 20th NC SPIN broadcast. Joining guest moderator Henry Hinton this week are panelists Peg O’Connell, Public Affairs Consultant, Bob Orr, Bob Orr, former NC Supreme Court Justice, Chris [...]
CBS newsman Bob Schieffer has few equals in interpreting and articulating current events. Schieffer understands he is not the story, he’s the storyteller. This legendary storyteller did not disappoint as he came to help celebrate NC SPIN’s 700 broadcast. Bob Schieffer is concerned on both foreign and domestic fronts. Situations in North Korea, Iran and [...]
Thomas Jefferson said “The cornerstone of democracy rests on the foundation of an educated electorate.” NC SPIN couldn’t agree more, so we have added an Elections 2012 Resource Center to our website. Please stay tuned as we add even more content and commentary to help our electorate make informed decisions in the polling places throughout [...]
At the conclusion of the NC SPIN Healthcare Forum, Tom Campbell shared exciting news of a statewide campaign focused on improving the health of our state. The “A Healthier NC” campaign will have three key components: 1. Measurement – Stressing the importance for each NC resident to know their Health Baseline, including Blood Pressure, LDL [...]
If you asked what people really care about, what brings happiness and gives them life, most would talk about the value of relationships with family and friends, among other lofty ideals. James Roberts, professor of marketing and consumer behavior at Baylor University, argues our actions and behaviors tell a different story. We are not who [...]
Among the many unfathomable vagaries of this time is the yo-yo world of mortgage lending. In 2007, you could borrow $300,000 or more to purchase a home if you could fog a mirror. They called it “no doc” or no documentation lending. Lenders (as well as buyers) got burned making bad decisions. To compensate for [...]
In a March 13 Charlotte Business Journal article, UNC Charlotte economist John Connaughton shared some positive revisions to his economic growth projections for 2012 – now projecting 2 percent growth. This is slightly above his previous projections in December of a 1.1 percent gain. Connaughton shared that 12 of our state’s 15 economic sectors will [...]
The academic scandal at UNC is bad and we hope system president Tom Ross and chancellor Holden Thorp will rid our flagship university of classes little more than a sham. But this is only a first step to restoring integrity. The complex financial tightrope administrators must walk complicates what might appear to be black and [...]
“Discipline your children, or someone who doesn’t love them will,” a friend with older children once advised us. I thought of that admonition when Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger revealed the Senate’s “Excellent Public Schools Act.” Berger and the Senate leadership essentially told educators “reform public education to produce better results or else the [...]
Most of us can name one or more teachers who made a significant, maybe life changing contribution to who we have become. For me, it was my seventh grade teacher, Joyce Zeh. Turns out most others in that class felt the same, so we decided to reconnect with her and each other. When I told [...]
During last week’s Healthcare Forum, NC Farm Bureau’s Peter Daniel shared some startling rural healthcare statistics. Peter has graciously summarized these for NC SPIN to share. As Peter discussed during the healthcare innovation panel discussion, NC Farm Bureau has made a substantial investment in upfitting a 50 foot Mobile Health Unit for health screenings in [...]
At the conclusion of the NC SPIN Healthcare Forum, Tom Campbell shared exciting news of a statewide campaign focused on improving the health of our state. The “A Healthier NC” campaign will have three key components: 1. Measurement – Stressing the importance for each NC resident to know their Health Baseline, including Blood Pressure, LDL [...]
Watch “What The Health?: Can We Survive our Healthcare System” live on WRAL.com. Download summary results from statewide Healthcare survey.
This isn’t Bev Perdue’s first rodeo. She knew full well that her budget proposals were dead on arrival at the General Assembly, but she was thinking ahead to the fall elections and, even though she isn’t running, she is trying to position Democrats to run against the legislature in the fall. Their popularity ratings are [...]
Once in awhile we read a column we feel worthy of sharing with you. The following was printed in the Chicago Tribune by Rex Huppke. Enjoy The Death of Facts By Rex W. Huppke, Chicago Tribune reporter April 19, 2012 A quick review of the long and illustrious career of Facts reveals some of the [...]
House Speaker Thom Tillis might have said more than he thought when recently remarking that even if voters approve the Marriage Amendment in the upcoming election he suspects it will be overturned within twenty years. Is Tillis seeking cover in the event it doesn’t pass? Is this a commentary on the changing nature of public [...]
We now know the gubernatorial candidates from the two parties who will face off in November and strongly suspect how the respective campaigns will be waged. Republican Pat McCrory has to move toward the middle for unaffiliated and moderate voters he needs in order to win. He will rail against the Democratic governors of the [...]
Tune in this week’s NC SPIN for more in-depth analysis on the elections, but here is some early analysis on Tuesday’s primary election. The turnout was a bit higher than most expected. The average in recent primaries has been 25 percent. 34 percent voted in this election and about 25 percent of the 2.1 million [...]
Here’s your SPIN on Tuesday’s Primary Election – Audience Survey Responses Question 1. Regarding early voting: I already voted. 29.2% I plan to vote early. 27.0% I plan to vote May 8th. 43.8% I do not plan to vote. 0.0% Question 2. On the Marriage Amendment, I will vote: In favor 55.1% Opposed 39.3% Not [...]
Council of State and high-ranking state officials receive special license plates with very low numbers. So do legislators, DOT board members and other appointed officials. Whereas the tags might prevent the occasional parking ticket, moving violation or even yield a prime parking spot they can also present a problem, as State Auditor Beth Wood recently [...]
Lost in all the emotion and buildup to Tuesday’s election is the reality that the General Assembly convenes for the short session Wednesday, May 16th. Lawmakers got some good news when they learned there would be a surplus of almost 250 million dollars by the June 30th year’s end, much of that resulting from the [...]
Airport layovers are two words travelers dread, but sometimes they result in a pleasant surprise. We decided to have a snack while waiting for our flight home from Dallas. The woman at the small table beside us was obviously alone and seemed interested in our discussion. After inquiring where she was traveling we engaged in [...]
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