Opinion
AG is AWOL in Corruption Cases
While wasting time on a battle against the Tennessee Valley Authority, Roy Cooper has done little to protect North Carolinians from politicians who break the law.
News
Privaris Founder Outlines Watson Conflicts
RALEIGH — A state-funded economic developer gained ownership in a business that he was recruiting and then secured state grants for the same company, according to the business' founder and documents obtained by Carolina Journal.
News
Document Shows Conflict in Parton Project
RALEIGH — Former state-funded economic developer Rick Watson was the business manager for Randy Parton’s company at the same time he was recruiting Parton on behalf of North Carolina, according to documents obtained by Carolina Journal.
News
Parton Also Had Eyes on Missouri
RALEIGH — Randy Parton says that for three years he dedicated his life to making the Roanoke Rapids theater a success, but after he signed the deal with the city Parton also tried to launch a clothing line and build a similar theater in Missouri.
News
Parton Funds Bought $600 Custom Pants
RALEIGH — The Partons stretched the adage “wearing out your welcome” to new limits when ordering wardrobes with public money, according to Randy Parton Theatre documents obtained from North Carolina’s Northeast Commission.
News
Leaders Teamed Up on Parton Deal
RALEIGH — State Senate leader Marc Basnight, House Speaker Jim Black, and DOT Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett helped state economic developer Rick Watson launch the Randy Parton Theatre in Roanoke Rapids, according to documents obtained by Carolina Journal.
News
Parton Project Attracts Political Firepower
ROANOKE RAPIDS — The Sanford Holshouser law firm, founded by two former governors, is emerging as a key player in developments surrounding the Randy Parton Theatre in Roanoke Rapids. Adding to the political firepower attracted by the troubled project, the two leading Democratic candidates for governor have made the theater’s problems a campaign issue.
News
Official Owned Part of Theater Co.
ROANOKE RAPIDS — A state-funded economic developer who recruited Randy Parton to headline a theater in northeast North Carolina owned a one-third interest in the company that managed the theater, documents show.
Opinion
A Theater of the Absurd
What the voters were told about Amendment One in 2004 was garbage. The only use of TIF bonds to date shows clearly that there are neither sufficient safeguards nor guarantees that they will be used for viable enterprises.
News
Parton to Get $1.5 Million Per Year
RALEIGH — Roanoke Rapids will pay a $1.5 million per year “artist fee” to entertainer Randy Parton, brother of Dolly Parton, for managing a new theater bearing his name, according to a contract obtained by Carolina Journal. In addition, the city is required to provide Randy Parton an “acceptable” fully furnished home and an “acceptable” vehicle.
News
Parton Theater Contract Under Wraps
RALEIGH — Roanoke Rapids will pay entertainer Randy Parton, brother of Dolly Parton, at least $750,000 per year for managing a new theater bearing his name, according to informed sources, who requested anonymity.
News
NE Partnership Conflicts Continue
RALEIGH — Longtime consultants for the state-funded Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission, and the associated agency North Carolina's Northeast Partnership, continue to work for both entities despite an apparent conflict of interest similar to one that helped cost former president and CEO Rick Watson his job. Related Northeast Partnership Articles: Panel: Disable, don't dissolve, Partnership CJ: Groups circumvented records law Partnership puts brakes on CEO search CJ: Organizations defy records request CJ: Audit critical of NE Partnership
