Thoughts, prayers: Seymour Johnson AFB personnel and community are thinking of Fort Hood

It is a brotherhood of sorts -- communities that are the adopted hometowns of military personnel. So, here, unlike many other places around America, the news that 13 people were shot to death and many more were wounded because...

Published: Nov 6, 2009 10:57 AM Full Story

Volunteerism: Parrish family and others show the rest of community the way

There wasn't a single person who received an award at the volunteer awards ceremony who thought he or she deserved one. Those who were honored said they were the privileged ones -- donating their time to causes they believe...

Published: Nov 5, 2009 10:51 AM Full Story

Poll watching: Don't believe that president didn't care, but don't overestimate impact

OK, we'd like a show of hands now. How many of you really believe that President Barack Obama did not care enough to pay attention to the Election Day happenings in New Jersey and Virginia -- not to mention...

Published: Nov 4, 2009 10:36 AM Full Story

The real test ... Do Americans really care enough to vote? We will see now.

It was easy to get out to vote in November 2008. There was hype galore and all kinds of people talking about history. It wasn't about politics, legislation or even about polls. It was about a movement of sorts...

Published: Nov 2, 2009 10:41 AM Full Story

The patients: State's mental health care mistakes have real, human consequences

They are the faces you don't see every day -- the families who try to work their lives around caring for a mentally handicapped child. Some of them have been doing so for years -- loving children who are...

Published: Nov 1, 2009 12:09 AM Full Story

OK, Mike, you got it: Easley wants proscutor's opinion? Well, give it to him.

How sad that more time has to be wasted on the saga of former Gov. Mike Easley and his continuing campaign drama. At a time when tax dollars are tight, now we have to use budget money for the investigation...

Published: Oct 30, 2009 10:28 AM Full Story

Substance: Watch what they say and do

You have to be very careful not to be taken in by photo opportunities. When someone asks the media to come take a picture, knowing it will get worldwide play, there is usually is a reason. In the case of...

Published: Oct 29, 2009 11:04 AM Full Story

Follow the money: Abundance of Easley cash suggests reason to track its influence

Democratic Party officials told the North Carolina Board of Elections Tuesday that they did not locate and use a loophole in state law that would allow them to funnel more money to the Mike Easley gubernatorial campaign. Tuesday's testimony is...

Published: Oct 28, 2009 10:59 AM Full Story

Children lost: Recent news more evidence that parenting should have requirements

Commenting on the circumstances of the actual case isn't proper -- not yet, anyway -- but the recent story about a 6-month-old baby who died allegedly at the hands of at least one of her parents is nothing short...

Published: Oct 27, 2009 9:20 AM Full Story

The good and bad: Downtown's first step is to deal with realities now, not just the future

Nobody wants to see downtown Goldsboro fail -- no one with any sense anyway. Goldsboro is still the heart of this county -- and still the first place people and businesses look when they are deciding whether or not...

Published: Oct 26, 2009 10:40 AM Full Story