"We can't come this week," read the text message I received from the maid who cleans our house every other week. "ICE is at the door."
( Published Saturday, November 29th, 2025 @ 9:36 am )]]> In colonial Williamsburg, on main street near the palace, are the public stocks called the pillory.
( Published Tuesday, October 28th, 2025 @ 1:30 pm )]]> North Carolina's Republican legislative leadership never met a tax they didn't want to cut. Since taking control of state government in 2011, they have cut corporate tax rates from 6.9 percent to the current 2.0 percent.
( Published Sunday, October 26th, 2025 @ 6:07 pm )]]> No doubt you are hearing pundits speculating about the 2026 U.S. Senate race, but that election is 13 months from now.
( Published Thursday, September 18th, 2025 @ 3:16 pm )]]> In fewer than 60 days the filing period opens for candidates to run in the March 3rd primary elections.
( Published Sunday, September 7th, 2025 @ 9:35 am )]]> Two political junkies struck up a conversation. Jane, a staunch Republican well known in state politics, told me she had enjoyed watching NC SPIN on television for many years. "I liked the way you had people expressing different opinions without getting ugly or disagreeable," she said.
( Published Friday, August 29th, 2025 @ 8:34 am )]]> North Carolina is the 10th worst state for healthcare access. Many residents live in "healthcare deserts."
( Published Wednesday, July 30th, 2025 @ 11:25 pm )]]> January 9, 2007 was a historic day. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the creation of a device called the iPhone.
( Published Thursday, July 17th, 2025 @ 1:29 pm )]]> Donald Trump's customary bluster, intimidation and threats backfired on him this time. It might well result in a Democrat winning the 2026 U.S. Senate election in our state.
( Published Saturday, July 5th, 2025 @ 6:57 pm )]]> Once upon a time, not many years ago, North Carolina had a dream. A dream shared by parents and politicians, by citizens and educators.
( Published Sunday, June 29th, 2025 @ 4:20 pm )]]> What would happen if, just before the tip-off to a basketball game, the referees announced that they were awarding one of the teams a 15-point lead at the beginning of the game?
( Published Sunday, March 24th, 2024 @ 6:14 pm )]]> I've put off writing about the 2024 elections as long as I can, but with the "Super Tuesday" Primary election in 14 states a month away, we need to check in.
( Published Thursday, March 21st, 2024 @ 12:15 pm )]]> My recent column about North Carolina's "First in Freedom" claim established the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. But now, as legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey frequently said, you're going to hear "the rest of the story."
( Published Friday, March 1st, 2024 @ 11:26 pm )]]> "First in Freedom," our state license plates proclaim. Is this claim true?
( Published Tuesday, February 27th, 2024 @ 5:28 pm )]]> Jim Martin was the most underappreciated governor in our state's modern history.
( Published Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 @ 6:14 pm )]]> No sooner had the sun gone down Christmas day than everyone started greeting you with "Happy New Year." But will 2024 be happy?
( Published Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 @ 9:49 am )]]> Here's my parting message for the year: "23 skidoo." Readers "of a certain age," know this early 20th century slang expression.
( Published Wednesday, February 21st, 2024 @ 5:19 pm )]]> As we prepare to turn the page on another year, we are reminded we are a year older.
( Published Thursday, February 15th, 2024 @ 9:31 am )]]> There's no better example of community spirit than a small-town Christmas Parade.
( Published Thursday, February 1st, 2024 @ 5:10 am )]]> One can only imagine what will happen in a second presidency of Donald Trump. One of the more frightening possibilities is the abuse of power in handing out pardons like gum drops to cronies, who pledge fealty to Caesar in return.
( Published Thursday, January 25th, 2024 @ 4:29 pm )]]> We were invited to attend the meeting of Pamlico Partners for Democracy, a group concerned about current threats to Democracy.
( Published Saturday, January 13th, 2024 @ 3:03 pm )]]> We picked up our Boykin Spaniel in Florence, South Carolina. The name already given her was "Karma." The irony of the name was that the day we picked her up was the same day of Donald Trump's first indictment.
( Published Monday, January 1st, 2024 @ 11:11 am )]]> In my darkest imagination, I see Donald Trump on Inauguration Day 2025. He is smug as he places his hand on the Bible and pledges his oath to uphold the Constitution.
( Published Thursday, December 28th, 2023 @ 3:46 pm )]]> More and more frequently I am asked: What can we do when our legislature doesn't pass laws not supported by the majority, favoring instead the minority?
( Published Thursday, December 21st, 2023 @ 11:07 am )]]> A friend gave us an insulated mug with a clever cartoon saying, "Happy Hallothanksmus."
( Published Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 @ 4:48 pm )]]>