Thursday, June 29, 2017
Driver's ed and the law: New regulation requires teaching of traffic stop etiquette in school
The North Carolina General Assembly has approved legislation requiring North Carolina's driver license handbooks and high school driver's education curriculum to teach new drivers how to act when stopped by state troopers or other lawmen. We believe it is a...Published: Jun 29, 2017 10:12 PM Full Editorial
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Vetoed: Expect the Republican budget to become law
Gov. Roy Cooper has followed the script and vetoed the proposed state budget put forth by the Republican-led legislature. We expected no less. Politically, Cooper could do nothing else or he would be admitting defeat. We also expect the legislature...Published: Jun 27, 2017 9:10 PM Full Editorial
Monday, June 26, 2017
Pelosi: Some Democrats beginning to grumble about her leadership
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California is taking some heat from her fellow Democrats following another congressional loss, this one in Georgia. Pelosi is 77 years old and has been in her House leadership position for well over a...Published: Jun 26, 2017 9:22 PM Full Editorial
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Veterans cemetery: State needs to find the money to keep its promise to veterans
We are trying not to jump to conclusions, but the news that there is no money in the proposed state budget for maintenance of the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery makes us wonder what is going on with the leaders...Published: Jun 25, 2017 9:10 PM Full Editorial
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Sunday alcohol: We don't like the idea of selling alcohol on Sunday mornings
Go ahead, call us old-fashioned. But we don't like the idea of opening up alcohol sales on Sunday mornings. A measure working its way through the North Carolina legislature would end the long-standing ban on selling alcohol before noon on...Published: Jun 24, 2017 9:40 PM Full Editorial
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Guarding the military: Lawmakers work to help safeguard military installation in state
Legislation co-sponsored by state Sen. Don Davis of Greene County would help stabilize the military's presence in North Carolina. We hope it becomes law. The bill calls for the state Military Affairs Commission to adopt a comprehensive strategic plan...Published: Jun 22, 2017 9:41 PM Full Editorial
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Teens in court: Legislation would end adult prosecution of 16- and 17-year-olds
The state budget bill that legislators have been working on for months contains a measure that has nothing to do with money but with the way the criminal justice system treats teenagers who are 16 and 17 years old. The...Published: Jun 21, 2017 8:40 PM Full Editorial
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Summer: Today marks beginning of our favorite season
For most of us, summer began Memorial Day weekend, or when school let out. But today marks the beginning of the true calendar summer, and that has special meaning. The summer solstice occurs today. The summer solstice is the longest...Published: Jun 20, 2017 10:14 PM Full Editorial
Monday, June 19, 2017
Diehards: Accusations do not cause Trump supporters to waver
President Donald Trump has come under fire from virtually every direction during his first few months in office. He has seen his first major legislative initiative flounder out of the gate, and now he finds himself the focus of attention...Published: Jun 19, 2017 9:44 PM Full Editorial
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Session end near? General Assembly reportedly in the short rows in Raleigh
Word has it that the leaders of both chambers of the General Assembly are saying they believe the end of the current session is just around the corner. We are glad to hear it. We are always happy when lawmakers...Published: Jun 15, 2017 9:47 PM Full Editorial
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Hope for VA: Legislation expected to make Veterans Affairs more reliable
Congress has approved legislation that will make firing employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs easier, a first step in improving the agency that is tasked with taking care of the millions of Americans who have served this country in...Published: Jun 14, 2017 8:54 PM Full Editorial
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
VA budget: Lawmakers trying to find money to increase spending for veterans
Congressional Republicans are looking for a way to increase spending for the Veterans Administration. We hope they find a way to come up with the extra money. The VA has been neglected for far too long, and our veterans deserve...Published: Jun 13, 2017 10:30 PM Full Editorial
Monday, June 12, 2017
Big John's road: Part of new bypass named for late state Sen. John Kerr
A five-mile stretch of the new U.S. 70 Bypass will be named the John H. Kerr III Highway, and we are happy to see the honor being paid to our late legislative leader and friend. Kerr was a big man,...Published: Jun 12, 2017 8:34 PM Full Editorial
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Goldsboro High: Changing principals at school has some people concerned
The end of the school year is upon us, and school officials have once again started playing musical chairs with principals and assistant principals. The moving of principals from one school to another is not unusual. It happens almost every...Published: Jun 11, 2017 7:25 PM Full Editorial
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Comey: Former FBI chief's testimony provides no smoking gun
Former FBI Director James Comey's testimony before a Senate panel on the investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election Thursday gave opponents of President Donald Trump no smoking gun to point to. But Comey's testimony was illuminating, to...Published: Jun 10, 2017 10:31 PM Full Editorial
Thursday, June 8, 2017
No special session: Governor wanted lawmakers to call session to redraw districts
Gov. Roy Cooper wanted members of the North Carolina General Assembly to convene immediately in a special session in order to redraw the election maps for state House and Senate districts. The legislature is already in regular session, but Cooper...Published: Jun 8, 2017 11:10 PM Full Editorial
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Brit grit: Londoners not likely to cave in because of terrorists
The terrorists who turned a recent night on the town in London into a bloody crime scene might have left a wake of dead and wounded behind, but they obviously have not dampened the spirit of the people who live...Published: Jun 7, 2017 10:56 PM Full Editorial
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Special elections: Will North Carolina hold legislative elections early?
The Supreme Court of the United States has spoken, and North Carolina will have to redraw its voting districts for the state House and Senate. The justices upheld a lower court ruling that said the way the districts were drawn...Published: Jun 6, 2017 9:49 PM Full Editorial
Monday, June 5, 2017
One step: Cleaning up graffiti a good start to combating gangs
Parts of Goldsboro are looking better this week thanks to the efforts of a group of local law enforcement officers and city residents who spent a day last week cleaning away or covering up graffiti in scores of places around...Published: Jun 5, 2017 9:49 PM Full Editorial
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Interim budget: County waiting on legislature before adopting final budget
Wayne County commissioners have taken the careful way out of a financial crisis of sorts and decided to adopt an interim budget for 2017-18 in hope that they can prevent having to raise taxes. Whether the tax hike is necessary...Published: Jun 4, 2017 8:41 PM Full Editorial
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Poor taste: CNN right in ousting Kathy Griffin over stunt
Comedian Kathy Griffin went too far when she appeared in a video holding what looks like President Donald Trump's severed head. We wrote just yesterday about civility and the growing lack of it because of just such incidents. Griffin has...Published: Jun 1, 2017 9:39 PM Full Editorial