May 2017 archives

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Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Civility: Where has politeness gone in this modern age?

To read some of the comments you find on Facebook and other social media it makes you wonder sometimes what ever happened to civility. Rants and raves are everywhere. People hate the president. People hate people who hate the president....

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Remember every day: Memorial Day should not be only day for honoring heroes

Monday was Memorial Day, and we hope that you found time to honor, in your own way, the men and women who sacrificed their lives in the defense of our nation. Too many people see the holiday as just a...

Monday, May 29, 2017

Paying dues: Trump was right in telling NATO allies to pay up

President Donald Trump had some strong words for European leaders last week: Pay up or else. His tongue-lashing of NATO officials for not paying their fair share of the cost of maintaining military order in that part of the world...

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Deadly combination: High school graduates face danger when driving drunk

It's the season of high school graduations and precious memories being made for teenagers everywhere. And with the coming-of-age moments come times for celebrating with friends and family. Unfortunately, some teenagers seem to feel the need to heighten their celebrations...

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Fake news: The rise of false news stories threatens our nation

In this day of the internet and Facebook, the rise of fake news has become a threat to our democratic way of life. A well-informed public is crucial to maintaining a functioning democracy and there are people out there who...

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Smart strategy: Wayne County commissioners use common sense in budgeting

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners finds itself in the position of having to wait on the legislature to decide on a state spending plan before it can set a county budget. Commissioners this week said they might have to...

Expensive decision: Judge rules in favor of state retirees over health insurance

A judge's ruling that the state of North Carolina owes money to retired workers who were forced six years ago to start paying premiums for health insurance coverage could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars. The 2011 law...

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

High court and districts: Supreme Court rules against N.C. congressional boundaries

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled against the boundaries of two congressional districts in North Carolina, saying they were drawn to contain too many black voters. The apparent purpose, the justices said, was to reduce black voter turnout in the...

Monday, May 22, 2017

Grants vital: Community Development Block Grant program in danger

Thousands of communities across America, including many right here in Wayne County, have benefited from a federal grant program that President Donald Trump would eliminate. The Community Development Block Grant program has helped improve the lives of millions of Americans,...

Friday, May 19, 2017

Tragedy: Arnold Jones' fall fits the true meaning of the word

The true definition of a tragedy is not a natural disaster or other fatal event. A tragedy occurs when someone is the cause of one's own downfall. A hurricane or a fire might be disasters, but they are not tragedies...

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Young hero: Private Dan Bullock finally getting recognition he deserves

Marine Pvt. Dan Bullock was a real American hero. The Goldsboro youth was the youngest American killed in combat in the Vietnam War. He was only 15, having lied about his age in order to enlist. He was killed when...

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Loose lips: President needs to keep secret materials secret

President Donald Trump apparently revealed classified information to Russian officials last week, setting off a firestorm that broke this week when it was reported in the Washington Post. The White House denied the report, saying that any information that Trump...

Monday, May 15, 2017

Opioid abuse: Tuesday event at WCC aimed at educating public about dangers

The latest drug addiction problem to strike our society is that of opium-based painkillers, or opioids. Many people who have developed an addiction to these drugs started out using prescribed painkillers that are opium-based. Authorities say the problem has become...

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Budget calls for tax cuts: Senate budget bill would cut state taxes by $1 billion

The state Senate rolled out its proposed budget for the coming year last week, and it differs sharply from the one previously put forth by Gov. Roy Cooper. The Senate version calls for more cuts in taxes that would help...

Friday, May 12, 2017

Arts funding: Federal budget includes money for arts, PBS

The new federal spending bill approved this week would spare funding for three arts-related agencies that President Donald Trump had proposed eliminating: the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities....

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Comey: Firing of FBI director raises questions about Russia probe

President Donald Trump said his abrupt firing of FBI Director James Comey was intended to bring public trust back to the agency. What it does is cast doubts on the White House and the Trump team's involvement with Russian meddling...

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Jobs program: Hundreds of teenagers turn out to look for summer jobs

Who says young people don't want to work? More than 300 teenagers applied for about 50 summer jobs offered recently through the city of Goldsboro. The new Goldsboro Summer Youth Employment program is designed to give local youths a chance...

Monday, May 8, 2017

Protecting Dare: State receives money to prevent development near training ground

Word that the federal government will give the Air Force a $3.4 million grant to help protect the Dare County bombing range comes as mighty welcome news. The tract is the primary training ground for fighter jets coming out of...

Friday, May 5, 2017

Narrow win: House passage of health care bill still needs Senate approval

Republicans are celebrating the passage in the United States House of Representatives of a bill that would overhaul much of former President Barack Obama's health care law. We hope they aren't celebrating too soon. The measure still has to be...

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Open for business: Goldsboro gets high marks for its business climate

Goldsboro residents received good news this week when an independent survey rated the city as one of the 250 best cities in the nation to start a small business. The rating by LendEDU was based on transportation and utility costs,...

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Hidden: President Trump should release his tax records to public

President Donald Trump is flat out refusing to release his tax records to the public and as taxpayers ourselves we are disappointed in him. What is he trying to hide? Every president in recent memory has made his tax records...

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Veterans: Trump order calls for better accountability in VA

President Donald Trump took steps last week to improve accountability within the Department of Veterans Affairs. We applaud his actions. Something akin to his executive order creating an accountability and whistleblower protection office at the VA should have been done...

Monday, May 1, 2017

Balance: General Assembly holds strongest hand in Raleigh

The North Carolina General Assembly has held the most powerful hand in Raleigh for as long as we can remember, so it comes as no surprise that the current Republican-dominated legislative body has been wielding so much power of late....