There are about 300,000 fewer jobs in North Carolina today than there were in February, before the start of the COVID-19 recession. That’s a 7.5% drop in total employment — the biggest decline in the southern United States.
All in Columns
There are about 300,000 fewer jobs in North Carolina today than there were in February, before the start of the COVID-19 recession. That’s a 7.5% drop in total employment — the biggest decline in the southern United States.
If the turnout of voters in this first week of Early Voting continues to grow, we are in the process of witnessing the largest election turnout ever, both in North Carolina and throughout the country. Another interesting development is the rapid growth of independent voters.
Folks, our nation as we have known it since our founding some 244 years ago is at a cross roads that we have never seen before. As I mentioned to our church congregation this past Sunday, this is the most important election in the history of our country. Let me tell you why – at least in this one man’s opinion.
Local restaurants are working with SAFE to generate funds for fighting domestic violence. During the week of Oct. 18 through Oct. 24, these restaurants will be displaying table tents that include information about SAFE and a QR code to allow patrons to make donations to our local domestic violence prevention program.
November 3rd will be a defining and pivotal day for America. Reality tells us there is a “binary choice this election between America and radicalism”. The America as we have known it, is a Constitutional, orderly and civilized America where everyone has a chance to live the “American dream”. The alternate America we are facing is a chaotic, violent America, one where mob rule and tyrannical government control reigns. We live in a Republic, not a Democracy. Democracy is mob rule, but the media would have you believe differently. Not once in the Constitution of United States of America is the word “Democracy” mentioned. That is reality.
North Carolina, like most of the country, has become increasingly polarized in our political thinking and behavior. But what does that really mean? Well, we know it doesn’t mean that all North Carolinians are so rigidly partisan they support only candidates of one major party or the other. Split-ticket voters do make up a smaller share of the electorate than they did generations ago. They’re rarer. That doesn’t make them extinct.
All contests on the ballot this year are very important, but the races for the N.C. Supreme Court are ultra-important. As John Guze, director of legal studies at the John Locke Foundation pointed out, voters need to keep in mind that the NC Supreme Court has become a super-legislature as a result of judicial doctrines adopted in the second half of the 20th century.
It’s no surprise that Halloween, like many other Holidays, will be celebrated quite differently this year. Halloween traditions like choosing costumes, decorating pumpkins, and getting special treats, may look a little different, but it can still be great fun!
Before I get to my main topic today on happiness, I want to highlight some deadlines pertaining to our big and very important election this year. Be sure that you are registered to vote. Regular Voter Registration forms must be postmarked or delivered to your county board of elections office by 5 p.m. this Friday, October 9. However, voters may also same-day register at any one-stop early voting site from October 15 to October 31.
You may laugh at the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but much about that is rooted in truth. Apples provide multiple nutrients and compounds that help promote good health and weight management.
Within just a couple of days my mom, Irene Parker, will turn 92. She lives alone, has a driver’s license she renewed just weeks ago, and handles her own affairs. I can only imagine how much the world has changed for her through the years since 1928.
With all the lawlessness, looting, rioting, and violence going on in our country today it is sometimes difficult to maintain a positive attitude, but we have many reasons to be positive, and that's what I want to concentrate on today. There is beauty even in sadness.
This year, the leading candidates for lieutenant governor are giving North Carolina voters a sharp contrast. The Democratic nominee, Yvonne Lewis Holley, says she will use the formal and informal powers of the office to check Republican majorities in the General Assembly (should those majorities extend into 2021) and to move North Carolina in a leftward direction. The Republican nominee, Mark Robinson, says that as lieutenant governor he will help GOP lawmakers continue the conservative reforms of the past decade.
Turnips, in season in our area from October to March, is a vegetable most often grouped with root vegetables, but in reality, belongs to the cruciferous family whose cousins are Brussels sprouts, kale and broccoli.
Sandra and I are just two of the – ah – victims of fallout from the “virtual learning” Mondays decreed by Pitt County Schools. For the past few weeks, we have taken granddaughters Abby and Hannah home with us after church so they could spend the night and do their virtual assignments on Monday. Since Rachel and Joe both are teachers and must report to school on Mondays, they did not want to leave their girls home alone.
Recently, I was in a friend’s office concerning a matter unrelated to politics, but we ended up discussing the upcoming presidential election. His first comment was in a forceful tone: "We've left God out! We've got to get back with being a Godly society!" With that as a starter, let me identify our two basic problems as I see it:
Mail-in balloting has always been viewed with skepticism because it is conducted outside the supervision and overview of elected officials and it destroys the secret ballot concept and allows states to send out ballots to every registered voter in the state, with very little or no supervision. This is distinctly different from what we know as absentee balloting.
If you are like me and cannot bear to throw out any leftovers, especially vegetables, here are some ways to turn those old veggies into incredible dishes!! Be creative, just because you don’t usually use spinach or kale in your spaghetti sauce, you surely can, and add extra nutrition at the same time!!! You will be surprised to find some of these new combinations make great meals!!
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
My nephew is serving in the United States Air Force. Currently, he is on a remote deployment. He accepted a challenge to do 22 pushups each day for 22 days in memory the 22 veterans who, on average, take their lives each day. He recorded his efforts and put videos on Facebook to help increase awareness of the problem.