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Raleigh’s Trash Policeman

By Gary Pearce March 22, 2006

Raleigh City Councilman Thomas Crowder – like Barney Fife – wants to nip it in the bud. He’s targeting a problem that “is drastically affecting the quality of life” in the Capital City. Gangs? Drugs? Overcrowded schools? Traffic congestion? No. Trash cans that – in Crowder’s opinion – are being left on curbsides too long.…

Wake School Bonds DOA

By Gary Pearce March 16, 2006

The Wake County school bond issue is dead. Done. Over. Stick a fork in it. That’s the only conclusion I can reach after reading the Chamber of Commerce poll released this week. To me, the killer is the third question in the poll. It’s a standard polling question: Do you think the Wake County schools…

School Bonds – DOA? – Why?

By Carter Wrenn March 16, 2006

If the School Bonds are DOA – Mayor Charles Meeker probably did more to kill them than anyone else. Inadvertently. County Commissioner Tony Gurley and Mayor Meeker have been leading the cheers for passing between $1.3 and $1.9 billion in School Bonds (and, of course, raising taxes to pay for them). The Chamber of Commerce…

Those Darned Bush-Bashers

By Gary Pearce March 15, 2006

President Bush and his coterie are notoriously dismissive of people who question them. So here is a news quiz taken from separate stories in Wednesday’s New York Times: (a) What political figure said that– contrary to the President’s claims – Bush’s Medicaid drug plan has experienced startup problems? (b) What political figure said that –…

What Now for Capital News?

By Gary Pearce March 15, 2006

The McClatchey chain, which bought The News & Observer from the Daniels family some years back, now has bought the entire Knight-Ridder chain. Knight-Ridder’s biggest paper in North Carolina is The Charlotte Observer. As they always do, the corporate execs promise that this will mean nothing less than a golden age for readers. Bull. The…

The PR Wars

By Gary Pearce March 13, 2006

I served an eight-year tour of duty as Governor Jim Hunt’s press secretary (1977-1984), and it was the hardest job I ever had. So I’m reluctant to pass judgment on other press offices. But the North Carolina mainstream media is making much of this being “Sunshine Week.” And I thought the attached article deserved some…

Update on Morgan

By Carter Wrenn March 13, 2006

Earlier this year, the State Republican Party voted to oppose Republican State Representative Richard Morgan in his primary – because of Morgan’s support of Democratic House Speaker Jim Black. Now, filings closed, Morgan has one opponent in the primary, and State GOP Director, Bill Peaslee, says, “From our perspective, there’s one Republican in that race…

Another Scandal?

By Carter Wrenn March 12, 2006

State Treasurer Richard Moore led the pack of Democratic candidates running for Governor by raising an impressive $1.28 million for his campaign last year. But retired Deputy State Treasurer, Charles Heatherly, has raised some interesting questions about how Moore raised that $1.28 million. According to Mr. Heatherly, “Much of the money came from people who…

John Edwards and Poverty

By Carter Wrenn March 9, 2006

Presidential candidate John Edwards says, “Americans are looking for strength, idealistic strength” in our leaders. And, he adds, Americans want politicians with “core beliefs” – who are not subject to the whim of polls. Apparently, John Edwards’ idea of proving to Americans that he has that kind of “strength” is to lead a crusade against…

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We’re Moving to Substack

By Gary Pearce May 28, 2026

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