John Hood: On becoming a Political Advertiser

It’s not personal, it’s just business — or so Facebook assures me.

On this matter, I’m inclined to believe the company (now called Meta by its CEO and nearly a dozen other human beings). That doesn’t make my latest encounter with the social-media giant any less frustrating, however. I just spent many days jumping through its authorization hoops so I could run political ads on a Facebook page I manage. And even after finishing the process, I still had my ad rejected and had to appeal the decision multiple times.

N.C. Pesticide Board announces recent case settlements

The N.C. Pesticide Board recently approved the following 35 settlement agreements for the following counties, plus Richmond, Va.: Bladen, Burke, Caldwell, Chatham, Columbus, Craven, Harnett, Henderson, Iredell, Lenoir, Mecklenburg, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pitt, Robeson, Rutherford, Sampson, Surry, Union, Vance, Wake, Wayne and Yadkin.

Jason McKnight: On Christmas Carols & Hope

Everyone has a favorite Christmas Carol. My grandmother, who has seen 101 Christmases, loves Silent Night. It fits her personality: warm, inviting, hospitable. What’s yours? And while we’re at it, why are Christmas Carols so well-loved? What is it about this collection of Hymns and Songs that mean so much to so many?