If you’re a North Carolina political junkie, it must seem like Christmas came in July. Which Tar Heel politicos’ stockings are filled with lumps of coal may depend on what happens Thursday in Greensboro. That day a panel of three federal judges finally will hear attorneys for the General Assembly, Gov. Roy Cooper, and a host...
North Carolinians had much to celebrate over the Independence Day weekend. Unlike residents of, say, New Jersey. Even though the Garden State had no budget in place, Jerseyites saw Gov. Chris Christie luxuriate on a public beach that was closed to, well, the public. Unless you were the governor — who has a state-owned residence near...
It’s been a decade since Rep. Bill Brawley, R-Mecklenburg, uncovered a sex trafficking ring at a hotel in west Charlotte. What he learned is forever branded in his memory. A new broker with a commercial real estate firm, Brawley was assigned to manage Charlotte Suites. He was shocked to learn the hotel was one of...
It happened so quickly. Joy Anderson was first deceived. Then, she was lured into a prostitution ring. Anderson, one of four adopted children, had a good home life. But she felt like an outsider, a perception she attributes to her dark skin and unique personality. She met her traffickers at age 19, and, as odd as it now sounds, Anderson found a place to belong. “[I was at...
RALEIGH — Sex trafficking rings often find cover in parlors specializing in massage therapy, which are unregulated in North Carolina, National Human Trafficking Hotline data shows. North Carolina is one of the 10 states with the highest incidence of sex trafficking, meaning the trade reaches beyond the confines of massage and bodywork shops. But the state has to pick and choose its battles, and...
RALEIGH — A stint in juvenile detention is tough for kids who run afoul of the law, but it’s nothing compared to time spent in adult prison. Seventeen-year-old M.B., whose name is withheld because he’s a minor, would know. In North Carolina, kids older than 16 are prosecuted as adults. Some are even sent to...
Concerns about a lack of unaffiliated voters on the new State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement ignores the fact that there is no Unaffiliated Party in North Carolina, and unaffiliateds aren't represented on election boards now.
A government body can’t block the media from reporting on one of its public meetings because its leader doesn’t like the coverage he thinks it will get. Nor can it list an item on its public agenda, remove the item until the audience leaves the room, and then discuss it once the public has vacated...
Gov. Roy Cooper soon must deal with the first piece of legislation passed by the 2017 General Assembly. The way he handles House Bill 39 could signal how combative the governor will be the rest of the session. H.B. 39 would reduce the number of seats on the UNC Board of Governors from 32 to...
