London horror: Crime should not pass without a moment to reflect

A soldier lost his life on the streets of London Wednesday -- a family man, a young man, a man who had served his country valiantly overseas. He lost his life to a thug who committed a crime so...

Published: May 24, 2013 10:45 AM Full Story

Not answer: Racial Justice Act not the way to make justice system fairer

The Racial Justice Act is front and center again as legislators try to decide what steps should be taken next. The measure was created on the premise that prejudice was the guiding principle in sentencing for some of the...

Published: May 23, 2013 11:28 AM Full Story

Tax watch: The right answer? We will see. Truth is: Something's got to change.

Taxes, budgets and deficits. Those three words are going to be the topic of much conversation in North Carolina and beyond in the coming year. There will be differing views on how the concepts should be handled -- where...

Published: May 22, 2013 10:56 AM Full Story

Hearts broken: Sad news out of Oklahoma reminds us of priorities

An unknown number of children in an elementary school, possibly dozens more residents lost in the neighborhoods surrounding Moore, Okla. It is heart-breaking. It is sobering. It is enough to make you think. It can happen in a minute,...

Published: May 21, 2013 10:48 AM Full Story

Sad day: Representative's trial -- and others like it -- depressing commentary

It is too early to say whether former State Rep. Stephen LaRoque is guilty of actual wrongdoing. A court will determine that. But as his trial begins, there should be a prompt to wonder about the state of the political...

Published: May 20, 2013 11:08 AM Full Story

Lesson learned: Here's the bottom line: America needs a free, fair press

A free press. We take it for granted. We don't think about what the world would be like if no one was watching and if politicians were given a free pass. And then we have a couple of weeks...

Published: May 18, 2013 10:42 PM Full Story

Lottery lunacy: Powerball fever offers interesting glimpse into 'what if'

You can't blame them. In fact, more than a few people reading this right now are probably dreaming about this possibility, too. "What would I do if I won $550 million?" And even though we have a better chance of...

Published: May 17, 2013 10:35 AM Full Story

Protest this: Complacency is cruelty when it comes to helping poor

The very definition of stupidity is continuing to do the same thing over and over again -- even when it is obvious that it is not working. So even though there have been a good number of arrests as...

Published: May 16, 2013 10:52 AM Full Story

A good plan: Park innovations could be plus as city eyes future

Money is not easy to come by these days -- for anything, let alone yet another government project. But the plans that are forming for a new W.A. Foster Center and renovations to Mina Weil Park just could be...

Published: May 15, 2013 10:40 AM Full Story

Shock, distract -- Obama Administration shows pattern: Hide and deceive

The Obama Administration has a full house of trouble this week -- and all of it stems back to a fundamental problem. Honesty -- or more specifically -- the decision that officials somehow have the right to distort, to...

Published: May 14, 2013 11:57 AM Full Story