North Carolina is a popular destination for those seeking to make a new life in a new state. According to a tracking report by United Van Lines, we ranked sixth in the nation for inbound migration during 2020.
All in Columns
John Hood: Resist the temptation to coerce
The problem with freedom is that other people may do things that trouble, annoy, or even anger you. In a free society, you have no authority to stop them.
Reece Gardner: Topics everyone wants to discuss
First, let's talk about COVID-19 and the effort by most to put it safely behind us, while there is an effort by some to keep it alive. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has challenged advice from Dr. Fauci and some others in the medical community urging people to continue social distancing and wearing a mask even after they are fully vaccinated.
Josh Stein: Don’t fall for fake vaccine cards
More than 3 million North Carolinians are now fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. This is a remarkable step forward in our fight against the pandemic, and soon we can begin safely returning to our lives. But scammers have used the pandemic as an excuse to take advantage of people for the past year, and they’re still at it. The next fight against COVID-19 vaccine scams is stopping the spread and use of false vaccine cards.
Antionette Kerr: You don't know what you've got until it's gone
A few years ago, when I returned to newsrooms as a freelance writer, it was like a ghost town. Daily newspapers are far from perfect, but we rely on the coverage of everything from football games, government gatherings, school board meetings, church notes, and community interest ranging from weddings to obituaries. Local reporters work to bring us information about elections, candidates, courts and education that is essential to our democracy. I’ve learned firsthand that deadlines pay no respect to holidays, hospital visits, weekends or family vacations.
Mike Parker: BBQ Fest on the Neuse set for May 7-8
What a difference a year can make. The 2020 BBQ Fest on the Neuse was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the festival will be back this year. Vendors will begin arriving at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 7. Cook teams will begin setting up at noon at the corner of Caswell and Herritage streets. The festival opens to the public at 5 p.m.
Nationalizing politics was a mistake
If Californians want to make their government the monopoly payer of all medical bills, why should North Carolinians be able to tell them they can’t?
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Asparagus is awesome!
Asparagus is popping up, and I do mean popping up, this interesting vegetable grows straight up, and can pop up to almost a foot.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Time for opening Farmers Markets and fresh strawberries
The magic day in much of Eastern North Carolina is the day our strawberry producers let us know that strawberries are ready!
John Hood: Too many workers are sidelined
The latest federal job report is out — and it shows North Carolina’s employment recovery stalling out a bit during the first quarter of 2021.
Reece Gardner: We influence and are influenced by others
All of us are influenced by the actions of others, and that influence can be positive or negative. It was sad this week to see the tragic end of the life of a 13-year-old boy slain on the streets of Chicago at three o'clock in the morning while in the company of a 21-year-old criminal.
John Hood: Bigger Government isn’t the answer
Is it the job of government to make you happy? While it may seem like a straightforward question, there are some important subtleties packed into those few words.
Mike Parker: Local historian publishes compilation of Wyse Fork documents
When Dennis Harper was 11 years old, he became fascinated with the Wyse Fork Battlefield. In the decades since, Harper has collected more than 12,000 artifacts from that battle.
Travis Towne: It is time to reinstate advanced (6th year and doctoral) degree teacher pay
As many teachers are intimately familiar with, in 2013, the North Carolina General Assembly froze teacher pay due to budgetary constraints and shortfalls. During this process, Session Law 2013-360 Senate Bill 402 Section 8.22 stated that
From school boards to city councils, we depend on local news for information. But do we truly appreciate it? As my first official job, the late Joe Sink hired me, a green 16-year-old, to answer phones in the circulation department of The Lexington Dispatch. I was drawn to the buzz in the newsroom.
Reece Gardner: Lots of talent on the Reece Gardner show!
For my Column this coming week, I want to recognize the guests on my television show this week to highlight the fact that we have multitudes of very talented people who regularly give of their time and talent to make things better for all of us.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Time for opening farmers markets and fresh strawberries
The magic day in much of Eastern North Carolina is the day our strawberry producers let us know that strawberries are ready! It means to us in Lenoir County that it’s time to fully open the Lenoir County Farmers Market!
John Hood: Corporate tax should be priority
North Carolina state government is headed into the 2021-22 fiscal year with nearly $5 billion in unanticipated revenue and unencumbered savings. Even after making critical deposits into the state’s rainy-day fund, reserve for repairing and renovating state buildings, and other accounts, there’ll be enough money left on the table to start a fight.
Mike Parker: On April 17 support the Neuse II and make Mom happy
The year 2020 was rough on attendance aboard the CSS Neuse II, a full-scale replica of the original Confederate Ram once housed on the Neuse River at Kinston. In 2017, 2018, and 2019 the replica gunboat drew more than 5,000 visitors each year. In 2020, roughly one-third of that number visited the gunboat.
John Hood: Political fantasies can be costly
Politicians who assert the magic of multiplier effects to justify their pet programs may be dissembling. But it is my experience that most of the time, they don’t know enough about the matter to be lying. They are just repeating what they’ve heard, or spotting spurious connections on the basis of limited experience.