Opinion

Editorial: Knight's numbers

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

Bill Knight was a numbers man during his successful career as a certified public accountant.

Some numbers will continue to be important as he embarks on his new career in local government, especially 8, 4 and 1.

Editorial: A tarnished LEAF?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

The Golden LEAF Foundation isn't officially a state agency, but it ought to be treated like one when it comes to accountability.

A report issued by State Auditor Beth Wood recommends that the General Assembly tighten the reins.

Editorials: Sad, tragic, outrageous

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

The more we know about the senseless hit-and-run death of a Summerfield bicyclist, the uglier it gets.

We know now that the motorist involved in the incident, 48-year-old Grayson Dawson of Eden, turned herself in Monday and was charged with felony hit-and-run and death by motor vehicle.

Editorial: Hagan takes necessary action

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

Sen. Kay Hagan was right to withdraw her recommendation of Superior Court Judge Calvin E. Murphy for an appointment to the federal bench.

It was necessary to "avoid any appearance of favoritism from my office," she said in a statement.

Hagan "was not aware that Judge Murphy was hearing a case in which my husband had an interest," she added.

Editorials: Make politicians pay

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

Former Gov. Mike Easley displayed a very casual attitude about important matters in his testimony before the State Board of Elections last week.

"Well, to my knowledge I don't think I've ever seen a campaign report," Easley said in response to a question from Chairman Larry Leake.

Editorial: Southeastern school land deal deserves closer look by board

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

No wonder parents living in the southeastern part of the county feel like they're being shortchanged by Guilford County Schools.

Many supported last year's school construction bonds with the understanding that a new elementary school would be built in their district.

Editorial: City’s stunning change

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:00:20 -0500

As Bill Knight visited Greensboro polling places Tuesday, “a lot of people said they were voting for me,” he noted as those votes were being tallied during a tense evening at the Old Guilford County Courthouse.

Editorial: Its solid reputation preceded Natural Science Center at polls

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:00:05 -0500

Bring it on, Natural Science Center Director Glenn Dobrogosz would say to skeptics while campaigning for $20 million in bonds to fund major expansions. He was still saying that Tuesday night.

Even though voters had said yes with a solid 61 percent of the ballots cast, according to unofficial results, Dobrogosz still was out to convert the doubters.

Editorial: Make your vote count

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500

Greensboro City Council campaigns conclude today with voting from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Every seat is contested, and some close finishes are possible -- which means every vote is important. Greensboro residents should not miss this opportunity to choose the people who will lead local government for the next two years.

Short Stack: Food for thought, quick and over easy

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:00:00 -0500

Forward, march!

Oak Ridge Military Academy has found a highly qualified new leader and didn't have to look far. Cuyler McKnight, 61, a retired Army major and GTCC executive vice president, has been chosen to get the 157-year-old school back in step.

Editorial: Small firms, big impact

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:00:00 -0500

You've heard the story before.

Somebody smart and enterprising starts a mega corporation in his garage with a screwdriver, spare parts and a Big Idea.

Visions of a young Steve Jobs come to mind, skinny and long-haired -- and recently dropped out of college -- building the first Apple computers in a Palo Alto, Calif., garage with his partner, Steve Wozniak.

Editorial: Despite latest figures, recession's grip lingers

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

If the Great Recession is over, you could have fooled the thousands of Triad residents still looking for jobs or worried about losing the one they have.

The justification for the official optimism, albeit guarded, was a Commerce Department report that, after a record four straight losing quarters, the U.S. economy grew at an annual 3.5 percent rate in the third quarter.

Editorial: Poor communication

import — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

It might be a good idea for the Greensboro Coliseum to build an outdoor amphitheater for concerts and other events. It would have been a better idea to make sure the City Council knew about it before getting started.

Editorial: Highway's choke point

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

One of the nation's greatest highways, Interstate 40, runs all the way through North Carolina from Wilmington to the Tennessee state line.

Except, now it doesn't. A massive rock slide in Haywood County leaves the road about three miles short of reaching Tennessee. The highway may be blocked in both directions for months.

Editorial: Targeting corruption

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

This week's State Board of Elections hearings are remarkable for two reasons.

First, they're shedding light on shady practices by former Gov. Mike Easley and others, particularly concerning campaign finances.

Second, they're demonstrating -- again -- the board's important role in investigating political corruption.

Editorial: Evaluating magnet programs hasn't proved to be easy task

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Success in measuring Guilford County Schools' extensive magnet school program may well come down to relevance and cost.

Once again, school officials, with input from parents, students and faculty, will try to determine if the spotty academic results at the county's 42 magnet schools justify the millions of dollars spent on them.

Editorial: Bev bars the door

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Gov. Bev Perdue barred the prison door last week, blocking the release of 20 violent offenders until "new legal issues" are resolved.

She had to go back 26 years to find those "new" issues. Whether they'll hold up in court is a big question.

Editorial: A careless and shameless act

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The SUV that struck a Summerfield bicyclist late Saturday afternoon hit him with such force that it instantly killed 55-year-old David Sherman.

Adding shamelessness to tragedy, the silver Dodge Durango then made a U-turn at the scene of the crash on North Church Street and drove off in the other direction.

Short Stack: Food for thought, quick and over easy

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Getting off the sick list

So, Oak Ridge Elementary School wasn't really sick. Just a little queasy, perhaps.

Or maybe a hypochondriac?

Editorial: A fine field at-large

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Voters in Greensboro's City Council primary Oct. 6 made a clear distinction when choosing candidates for three at-large seats. The top six, all of whom advanced to the general election ballot, finished well ahead of the next five. No one made the cut, or missed it, by just a few votes.

Editorial: Yes to Science Center

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Twenty million dollars.

Some might wonder if now is the best time to plow that kind of money into the Natural Science Center.

But proponents of this home-grown gem in northwest Greensboro make solid cases for the whys, the hows and the when.

Editorial: Landau in District 4 offers new dimension

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Mike Barber isn't running for re-election to City Council, leaving an open seat in District 4. Joel Landau is the better candidate to fill it.

Editorial: Wade's experience gives her District 5 edge

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Two years ago, Trudy Wade challenged and defeated an entrenched incumbent for the District 5 City Council seat. This time, her opponent is a political newcomer.

Editorial: Battling the burglars

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Of all the strategies to reduce home burglaries, one of the most effective may be for police to focus on likely suspects. Some burglars have committed the same crimes over and over again -- but without severe penalties.

Editorial: Matheny in District 3

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Eyes red and voice raspy, District 3 City Councilman Zack Matheny assured us this definitely was not H1N1 during an interview last week with the News & Record.

Nor was his condition a result of the wear and tear of a tumultuous first term on the council, though it would have been understandable if it was.