John Hood’s
Daily Journal

5.16.12
Bad Grade from Small Business

Want to know why North Carolina continues to have one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates?

CJ Ticker

• Rep. Verla Insko, D-Orange, will host a press conference at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 17, in the Legislative Bldg. Press Conference Room on the NC women's health report card.
• Conservative videographer James O'Keefe's latest: Voter fraud in NC?
• PPP poll of 666 voters shows GOP's McCrory with a 6-point lead over Dalton, The N&O reports. Read more here.
• Demand for DNC housing increases, the Charlotte Observer reports. Read more here.
• Durham judge puts Chapel Hill's cell phone ban on permanent hold. More here.
• Obama canceled primary day visit to N.C., Dome reports.
• JLF budget expert reports N.C. spending reached a record high in 2012.
• JLF expert says "catch shares" could help fight problem of declining N.C. fish stocks.

Other Opinions

5.16.12
UNC-CH scandal

Scott Mooneyham says that when enough rogues run around the same place at the same time, you no longer call them rogues. You call them conspirators. The conspiracy at UNC-CH was keeping athletes eligible to play sports.

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5.16.12
What gives?

The Raleigh News & Observer asks whether UNC-CH officials feel responsible for seeing that the people of North Carolina get something approaching their money’s worth.

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5.16.12
Long-term care crisis

The Asheville Citizen- Times writes that insurance premiums for long-term care are skyrocketing, and there is no relief in sight.

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5.15.12
Parker’s ego

The Charlotte Observer writes that N.C. Democrats have a lot of work to do before Nov. 6, and their own chairman is no help.

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5.15.12
All about money

North Carolina Democrats seem to be more than willing to help Republicans to victory this election year by putting dollars above the party’s dignity says the Wilmington Star-News.

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5.07.12
Romney’s Challenge: Getting Conservatives On Board
Conservatives aren't thrilled with Mitt Romney, but they really dislike President Obama.

Media Mangle

3.21.12
Death of a narrative

The world's media found the neo-Nazi meme in stories about the school shooting in France just too enticing.

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1.16.12
Anatomy of a Newspaper Hit Piece

In a Sunday piece, The Charlotte Observer employs all the steps used by the mainstream media to mislead readers.

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1.03.12
A Pauline Kael Syndrome at The News & Observer?

When it comes to quoting blog sites in The News & Observer, the liberal Huffington Post seems to be a favorite.

Carolina Beat

5.03.12
Plastic Bags and Other Evils

Lead Story

Short Session of General Assembly Expected to Be Eventful

May 16, 2012, By Barry Smith

RALEIGH — The top priority for the 2012 short session, which begins today, will be fine-tuning the state’s approximately $20 billion General Fund budget. Among other actions, lawmakers may compensate victims of the state's long-abandoned eugenics program, fund a Medicaid shortfall, and work on education reform.

Headlines

5.16.12 - NC lawmakers return for budget, other topics

RALEIGH — North Carolina lawmakers return Wednesday for a budget-adjustment session that also will likely cover topics such as gambling, hydraulic fracturing and a proposed public education overhaul. The General Assembly’s main job for the roughly six-week “short session” is to change parts of the second year of the two-year budget approved last year.

Related NC General Assembly Articles:

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5.16.12 - N.C. Chamber seeks to rein in future unemployment benefits

RALEIGH — The N.C. Chamber wants the state to rein in future unemployment benefits and issue bonds to pay off the $2.4 billion in debt the state owes the federal government – money that it borrowed to pay benefits to jobless workers. Both measures would require action by the legislature, which reconvenes Wednesday.

Related State Government Articles:

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5.16.12 - As his trial nears its end, Edwards may testify

GREENSBORO — The end of the John Edwards trial came into view Tuesday as his defense team told the judge that only three potential defense witnesses remain — the defendant, his daughter, Cate, and his former mistress, Rielle Hunter. Defense Attorney Abbe Lowell announced the list while informing Judge Catherine Eagles at the end of Tuesday’s proceedings that the defense may rest on Wednesday or Thursday.

Related NC Ethics & Corruption Articles:

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5.16.12 - Appeals court hears N.C. man’s terror-support appeal

RICHMOND — Attorneys for a North Carolina man convicted of aiding terrorists while the nation still was reeling from the 9/11 attacks told a federal appeals court Tuesday that his 30-year prison sentence is disproportionate to much lighter punishments handed down in scores of similar cases that followed.

Related Military & Security Articles:

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5.16.12 - Ex-Sen. Larry Shaw to seek recount in N.C. Senate 21 race

FAYETTEVILLE — Former state Sen. Larry Shaw of Fayetteville said he will seek a recount in the N.C. Senate District 21 primary after he was knocked out of the race by four votes last week. Cumberland County Commissioner Billy King finished in first place with 4,353 votes. But because King didn’t get 40 percent of votes, second-place finisher Robert “Ben” Clark III of Hoke County requested a runoff, which will be July 17.

Related Elections Articles:

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5.16.12 - Wake transit tax referendum unlikely

RALEIGH — Wake County voters are not likely to be asked in November to consider a sales tax increase to pay for new bus and rail transit investment, political and business leaders said Tuesday – after a new poll found public support tepid and waning. Only 50.2 percent of Wake voters responding to the survey said they favored the proposed half-cent sales tax increase for transit improvements.

Related Transportation Articles:

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5.16.12 - Mecklenburg manager proposes tax cut

CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones on Tuesday recommended the county lower its tax rate by 2.44 cents in the coming year, while giving more money to schools, libraries and health services. The proposed budget gives Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools a $9.1 million increase – one-third the amount CMS requested for raises and other needs. The plan will likely cause a backlash from CMS supporters.

Related Local Government Articles:

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5.16.12 - Development team pitches Wilmington stadium plan

WILMINGTON — A private development team looking to build a stadium that would bring a minor league baseball team to Wilmington unveiled a public and private financing partnership propoasl to the city council on Tuesday. Under the Flywheel/Trask Development proposal, the private development team would take out a 30-year loan to pay for stadium construction and the city would agree to make payments on the debt.

Related Economic Development Articles:

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5.16.12 - Greensboro takes first step for arts bond

GREENSBORO — The Greensboro City Council voted Tuesday night to take the first of three procedural steps to put a $30million bond referendum on the November ballot to help build a downtown performing arts center.0 The council’s 6-3 vote came after members heard the results of a consultant’s study, which said that a new downtown venue would enhance the city’s entertainment choices and pump more than $7 million a year into the local economy.

Related Local Government Articles:

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5.16.12 - Harnett landfill fund short of millions of dollars

LILLINGTON — Harnett County faces a potential multi-million dollar funding shortfall for its landfills, commissioners learned Tuesday. A report released at the Harnett County Board of Commissioners’ monthly work session showed that a fund to offset costs of eventually closing the landfills was created in the 1990s, but the fund never received any money.

Related Landfill & Recycling Articles: