Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Economic spin: Minimum wage jobs are not what this country needs
The news is out and, if you can separate fact from the spin, the economy is improving, but not in the way many had hoped. The newest numbers out suggest that the jobless numbers are dropping. But the problem is,...Published: Apr 29, 2014 11:14 AM Full Editorial
Monday, April 28, 2014
Bravo: N.C. Pickle Festival Committee deserves cheer for hard work
They make it look easy -- the hard workers who help put together the N.C. Pickle Festival each year. But the number of pieces that have to fit together to make the weekend run smoothly is mind-boggling. And although, of...Published: Apr 28, 2014 10:43 AM Full Editorial
Saturday, April 26, 2014
The real goal: Bickering could go on for weeks, but there is a bigger issue
This is not the first and it won't be the last argument about how to build new schools in Wayne County. And, if the truth were told, it is likely that these arguments are pretty common in other counties,...Published: Apr 26, 2014 11:32 PM Full Editorial
Friday, April 25, 2014
A good show: Youth livestock handlers are some of county's future leaders
It is not just that they represent a rather important, and very large, part of the Wayne County economy. Although that matters, too. And it is not just that they work hard for months preparing their livestock exhibits to...Published: Apr 25, 2014 11:01 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Just diversion: True solution to problems in schools not about tenure
Attacking teacher tenure sounds good, tough. It makes you look like you are doing something in the battle to improve schools. It gives you a scapegoat, someone to blame. But here's the truth. If North Carolina removed every ineffective or...Published: Apr 24, 2014 11:54 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
The children: Tragic tales of abuse, neglect hard to hear anywhere
There is a case before the courts in Hawaii this week concerning a father, a former soldier, who allegedly struck his child so hard that she died. There is some dispute over whether the child, who faced some developmental...Published: Apr 23, 2014 10:55 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
With progress: Infrastructure as important as fancy new digs
The moves that are being made concerning Wayne Memorial Drive and its traffic issues might not make everybody happy. And just to be fair, almost no decision a government makes about streets and traffic ever does make everybody happy....Published: Apr 22, 2014 10:49 AM Full Editorial
Monday, April 21, 2014
Primary vote: There's not much on ballot, but it still needs your attention
There is not that much time left to gather information before making a decision on the issues expected to face voters on the May 6 primary ballot. There are some challengers to decide on -- and perhaps a preview...Published: Apr 21, 2014 10:51 AM Full Editorial
Friday, April 18, 2014
Ukraine: It might not be full-scale yet, but situation bears watching
With so many of our own problems in this country, and so much information competing for our attention daily, it is not surprising that the situation in Ukraine might have fallen off many people's radar. But that doesn't mean that...Published: Apr 18, 2014 11:11 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Reality 101: There are fundamental truths about the tax code
There are some realities that every lawmaker and taxpayer must face as April 15 rolls around each year. The first is that nothing happens in government without money. The determination really is how much we want the government to spend...Published: Apr 16, 2014 11:16 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Call to serve: Let's see who wants to take District 3 post
There is much to say about Monday's discussion at the Wayne County Board of Education meeting and the argument over who should replace Thelma Smith. But for right now, let's just take one small part. Here is the advertisement --...Published: Apr 15, 2014 11:49 AM Full Editorial
Monday, April 14, 2014
Another danger: Officers target speed; texting should be next
You have seen the scary commercials and probably have heard the warnings: Texting while driving is dangerous. But some of us have also seen the direct result, too -- swerving drivers who cannot maintain lanes or assured clear distance because...Published: Apr 14, 2014 11:02 AM Full Editorial
Sunday, April 13, 2014
True grit: Counselors' award winners are nothing less than inspiring
It would be nearly impossible to read the stories of the four young people honored this past week by the WCPS School Counselors Association and not get a catch in your throat. It should have been even harder to...Published: Apr 13, 2014 12:10 AM Full Editorial
Friday, April 11, 2014
Scapegoat, check: Chief's departure sets up a whole new blame game
She is gone -- finally. There are many who wonder why it took Kathleen Sebelius so long to depart after the botched launch of Obamacare. It is really not all that hard to figure out. If she had left,...Published: Apr 11, 2014 10:53 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, April 10, 2014
School horror: What should be done to stop incidents like this?
There have been way too many times this year when Americans have stood in front of a television and shaken their heads in disbelief. It is the worst when it is at a school, but it is just as...Published: Apr 10, 2014 11:09 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
For granted: Country's newest citizens have most appreciation
When Americans talk about immigrants -- especially these days, the word "illegal" is usually associated with the conversation. After all, there seem to be more than a few issues associated with the term and the numbers, which are increasing...Published: Apr 9, 2014 10:35 AM Full Editorial
Monday, April 7, 2014
Library heroes: Don't forget who made Steele Memorial Library possible
There will be much hoopla over the opening of the new Steele Memorial Library in Mount Olive over the next few weeks. There will be plenty of politicians and others eager to get their pictures taken and to take...Published: Apr 7, 2014 2:18 PM Full Editorial
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Donation redirect: Criticisms of big money influence worth examining, but on both sides
One of the most irritating things about political commercials -- aside from the fact that they appear everywhere ad nauseam -- is that they are often simply one-sided spin. So, in case you have heard the commercial critiquing the...Published: Apr 3, 2014 10:44 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
The reasons: Week's events in court sad tale with a message
There are some people who think drug use among teens is not nearly as prevalent or as much of a reason for concern as media and law enforcement report. And they would probably be surprised to know just how...Published: Apr 2, 2014 11:02 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Deadline: The numbers are in. Now is the time for statistics.
The Obama administration spent much of its time Monday talking about hitting goals as officials struggled to keep the online signup system afloat. The reason for the troubles, they said, was because so many people waited until the last...Published: Apr 1, 2014 11:16 AM Full Editorial