North Carolina
Weekend reads: A crisis of confidence, heated politics, making a mockery of campaign finance laws | NC Newsline
Across the UNC System, campuses face a crisis of confidence
By Joe Killian
At N.C. State and UNCG, recent faculty votes reflect cultural, philosophical and political tensions
When members of N.C. State University’s College of Education faculty voted to express “no confidence” in the university’s chancellor and provost last weekend, it was a first in the university’s history. But the largely symbolic vote reflects greater tensions on campuses across the UNC System, as faculty say they feel locked out of high level decision-making by administrators and political appointees. [Read more...]
Bonus read: Former UNC System presidents: less politics, more diversity needed in governance
Students remember Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s ‘cruel comments’ on Parkland shooting anniversary
By Greg Childress
On the sixth anniversary of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., North Carolina students have released a video about what they say are “cruel comments” Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson lodged against its survivors.
Robinson, R-Guilford, is a gubernatorial candidate.
Seventeen students and faculty died during one of the nation’s deadliest mass shootings at the high school, which has since been demolished.[ Read more …]
Crowded GOP Lt. Governor’s race includes NC newcomer who’s never voted in the state
By Lisa Sorg
A prophetic evangelist who said God told her she was Jewish. A long-time Democrat turned Republican. A sheriff. Another Christian minister endorsed by Ted Nugent. Several current and former state lawmakers. A head of the opaque “Election Education Foundation.” And a paramedic from Florida who believes COVID is a hoax, has never voted in North Carolina, and has lodged unfounded accusations about the integrity of the election process.
Eleven Republicans are running in the March 5 primary for lieutenant governor; the winner will face one of three Democrats — state Sen. Rachel Hunt, Ben Clark or Mark H. Robinson — in the General Election this fall. [Read more...]
On rancor and rhetoric: North Carolinians search for civility in an uncivil political season
By Clayton Henkel
When Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02) is in her home district, she loves taking her dog Wiley to the local parks.
“A lot of people see me walking my dog all around Raleigh,” said Ross, who enjoys the chance to make a personal connection with her constituents. “It really breaks down that grassroots feel, knowing your member of Congress.”
But Ross is increasingly aware those interactions can be combative and unpleasant in today’s heated political climate.[ Read more …]
Backsliding, toothless enforcement are making a mockery of North Carolina’s campaign finance laws (commentary)
By Rob Schofield
There was a time in North Carolina, not that many years ago, when the state’s political establishment – elected leaders, judges, regulators, lobbyists, reporters, reform advocates – were hugely and rightfully obsessed with the laws governing campaign finance and political influence peddling.
In the early 2000s, spurred on by the energetic muckraking of a nationally acclaimed government watchdog named Bob Hall and, in particular, his courageous investigations of Democratic state House Speaker Jim Black, campaign finance laws and lobbying laws (and the corruption they were designed to police) frequently dominated lawmaking in the Legislative Building and the state’s political news headlines. [ Read more …]
DHHS putting $5.5 million into behavioral health program for formerly incarcerated people
By Kelan Lyons
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will award $5.5 million to a program that provides psychiatric and physical health care services to people coming home from jail or prison, the agency announced this week.
The money will go to the FIT Wellness Program, a part of the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program in the UNC School of Medicine. The initiative helps imprisoned people with serious mental health conditions as they try to navigate life outside the confines of a cell, helping them with their health needs and, once they’re free, connecting them with community supports like housing and transportation. [Read more…]
Bonus read: Prison reentry council sets ambitious goal for helping people released from prison
Federal judges seem split on ordering new Senate districts Black voters are challenging
By Lynn Bonner
Two federal judges on a three-judge panel were wary of immediately ordering new state Senate districts that Black voters in northeastern North Carolina said illegally weakened Black voting strength.
The voters are appealing a federal district court judge’s decision denying their request to order two Senate districts be redrawn in the state’s Black Belt counties in time for this year’s election. A Fourth Circuit Court three-judge panel heard oral arguments in the appeal Thursday morning. [Read more.…]
Chemours asks federal appeals court to negate EPA health goal for GenX
By Lisa Sorg
Chemours, the company responsible for polluting the drinking water of 800,000 people in the Lower Cape Fear River Basin with GenX, is asking a court to negate the EPA’s health advisory for the toxic chemical.
The Third Circuit Court of Appeal s, based in Philadelphia, heard arguments last week. There is not a timetable for a decision.
A ruling for Chemours could save the company hundreds of millions of dollars because it would not have to provide alternate water supplies to households whose private wells contain GenX between10 parts per trillion and 140 ppt. [ Read more...]
NC Board of Elections endorses adjustments to voter ID rules for use after the primary
By Lynn Bonner
The state Board of Elections on Thursday endorsed permanent voter ID rules for use in future elections.
The new proposed rules must be approved by another state commission before they go into effect. Rules for voter ID in use since last year remain in place for the current primary elections. [Read more…]
Bonus read: From IDs, to selfies to guns: what NC voters need to know about early in-person voting
Five recommendations North Carolina lawmakers may consider to tackle HOA disputes
By Clayton Henkel
Members of the House Select Committee on Homeowners’ Associations are moving closer to advancing a draft bill designed to level the playing field between homeowners and their HOAs.
Following two public hearings in January, five recommendations were presented Tuesday to the committee by legislative staff.
The first recommendation involves an association’s obligation to provide records for examination by its members. [Read more…]
North Carolina
Ex-senator’s wife, 75, found escaped inmate cowering in the backseat of her car: ‘I was shaking like a leaf’
The 75-year-old wife of a former Republican North Carolina senator had a frightening start to her week when she discovered an escaped inmate hiding in the backseat of her car, according to local reports.
Marie Steinburg, married to ex-State Senator Bob Steinberg, left her Edenton home for work around 7:30 a.m. Monday when she unlocked her Honda Civic and found 23-year-old accused thief Charles Babb cowering in the backseat, with a blanket wrapped around his orange prison jumpsuit.
“I headed out the door, and I clicked the unlock, and it must have scared the guy, because the next thing I know, I saw something moving in my backseat,” the startled senior said, WTKR reported.
“I kept backing up little by little by little because I thought, I don’t know what this man is going to do.”
Babb — who police said escaped from the Chowan County Detention Center Sunday night — then jumped out the car.
While residents were urged to lock their doors and windows, stay inside, and avoid interacting with the armed and dangerous fugitive, Steinburg said she remained calm and began talking to him.
“I figured if I was nice to him, he’d be nice to me,” she said, WAVY reported.
“I just figured that was the thing to do because I didn’t know if he was really dangerous,” Steinburg explained, adding that “he kept saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m so cold.’ And, you know, I was startled and I know he was too. And I said, “Well, hey, let me go in and get you a coat.’”
Steinburg said Babb then turned and raced down the driveway — reportedly leaving behind his prison sandals and a face mask — as she ran inside, called out to her husband, and dialed 911.
“I got in as fast as I could,” she recalled, according to WTKR.
“I was shaking like a leaf, and I could barely get the key in the lock, but I did.”
The Edenton Police Department apprehended the convict nearby shortly thereafter.
Police did not give details on how Babb escaped jail, other than to say he used a make-shift edged weapon. He was being held on felony breaking and entering and larceny charges before his breakout, according to the Daily Advance.
Her husband, who advocated for prison reform during his 10 years in office, praised his wife for how she handled the terrifying situation, believing a higher power was looking out for them.
The couple added that they will never forget to lock their car doors again.
“Oh let me tell you, if I don’t, [my husband] is gonna,” a relieved Steinberg said.
“It’s one of those things that we learned.”
The Chowan County Sheriff’s Office has since launched an investigation into Babb’s jailbreak.
Injuries are an unfortunate element in sports, and that has been relevant for the North Carolina Tar Heels this season. Now, most of the time, those injuries occur in games or practices. That was not the case for Seth Trimble, who suffered a broken arm in a workout accident.
The senior guard has not played since the second game of the season against the Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 7.
Although the injury forced the Tar Heels’ coaching staff and players into an uncomfortable situation, the team has responded, winning six of seven games in Trimble’s absence. You never want to see a player suffer a significant injury, but in this particular case, it has opened the door to possibilities that North Carolina may not have been aware of if this never transpired.
Here is why Trimble’s injury has not been doom and gloom for the Tar Heels in this early portion of the season.
Unlocking a Potential Star Off the Bench
Before the last two games, North Carolina’s backcourt situation appeared to be a significant shortcoming for the Tar Heels. Because of that, Davis was forced to expand his bench with the hopes of unlocking the offense while supplying consistent production.
That has elevated freshman guard Derek Dixon’s role in the rotation, which has proven to be pivotal in North Carolina’s wins in the last two games against Kentucky and Georgetown. During that span, the 6-foot-5 guard has averaged 11.5 points while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.
With the rotation becoming solidified in recent weeks, head coach Hubert Davis explained how the backcourt has taken shape following the Tar Heels’ win over Georgetown on Sunday.
- “I really like [Kyan] and Derek [Dixon] on the floor at the same time,” Davis continued. “I’ve always said that I love multiple ball handlers. You can’t take us out of our offense. And with those two, with the way that Georgetown was switching defenses, we always had somebody that can handle the basketball and get us into a set and get us organized.”
- “So, it’s trying to figure out rotations,” Davis continued. “And then when Seth comes back, it’s finding it again. Different combinations is one of the things that I was excited about coming into the season. That is the versatility that we have, that we can throw out a number of different rotations out there that can be really effective on the floor.”
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North Carolina
Seasonal flu virus numbers increase across NC; NCDHHS shares tips to stay healthy this season
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Flu-related illnesses and deaths have been rising across the state, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Three flu-related deaths were reported within the past week, bringing the number of deaths to nine this season.
North Carolina reported 542 flu-related deaths for the 2024-25 respiratory virus season; this is the highest number of statewide flu deaths ever recorded in NC.
So far, no flu-related deaths in children have been reported in North Carolina.
SEE ALSO | Flu concerns grow in US as UK sees more cases among kids
Influenza A (H3N2) virus strain known as subclade K has spread worldwide, and it is the most often reported flu virus so far this season in the U.S.
State Epidemiologist Zack Moore says the flu is spreading quickly in our state and says flu vaccines are the most important tool to protect yourself from illness or death.
As holiday travel and gatherings ramp up, NCDHHS shares the following tips to keep yourself and loved ones safe and healthy:
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and water. Alcohol-based sanitizers can help prevent the spread of some respiratory viruses.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are often touched.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw it away into the trash.
Stay home when sick: Avoid going out if you can and take steps to prevent spreading the flu to others in your home, such as using a separate bathroom, not sharing cups, towels and utensils, and wearing a mask when around other people.
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