Who and what do you believe
Last week two men claimed they had been robbed of about $5 million worth of gold bars they were transporting along I-95 in Wilson County. According to their story, when they pulled over on I-95 to fix... Read More
NC Spin Articles
Hate online
The Internet, social media and cable TV may make us more informed, but they also make us more inflamed. And more apt to go down in flames. Frat boys sing a racist song, it goes viral and they are... Read More
Friday follies: The growing credibility problem for legislative leaders
Permits for fracking can be issued in North Carolina beginning next week. Supporters of the practice have always assured people worried about the potential environmental consequences of the... Read More
You decide: Is the economy good or bad?
I’ve been a professional economist for almost 40 years. Certainly it doesn’t take someone in my profession to know people disagree about the economy. Indeed, a recent poll showed people split... Read More
NC tax cuts hiked taxes for many
Editorial by News and Observer, March 12, 2015. For people who talk so much about taxes, North Carolina’s Republican lawmakers don’t seem to know much about them. They started in 2012 by exempting... Read More
Civitas Poll: NC Voters support laws protecting elections
The most recent Civitas Poll shows North Carolina voters strongly support laws protecting the integrity and stature of the election process. “North Carolinians recognize the importance of fair and... Read More
Claude Sitton
Claude Sitton was, indeed, forceful and fearless. But not without flaws, flaws that show what is great and what can be dangerous about journalism. Sitton’s forcefulness shaped a controversy that... Read More
The bullying politics of revenge continues in Raleigh
Anybody still holding out hope that the bitter partisan politics of revenge, bullying and raw power grabbing on display in Raleigh during the last four years was on the wane can’t have much hope... Read More
Republicans 'listen' with deaf ears
Talk about timing. On the same day that state Senate Republicans rammed through a bill to basically reverse the last county commissioners election in Wake County, the North Carolina Republican Party... Read More
NC has big stake in health subsidies
North Carolina’s political leaders may not like the Affordable Care Act, but a large and growing number of residents rely on it for health insurance. Only Florida, California and Texas have more... Read More
