Raleigh
The New N&O
The paper’s print-edition changes were up for discussion at breakfast. Jim likes it: “That’s how I used to read the paper: front page first, then local and state news and Under the Dome. Now they’re all right there at the front.” Gil’s not so happy. “My wife and I used to divvy up the…
Read MoreThe Senate Race – 1
Months ago, back when she started her campaign, Kay Hagan faced a knotty problem: She was going to get the Democratic base vote; her opponent was going to get the Republican base vote; but the Swing Voters didn’t like President Obama and, so, were on track to vote Hagan out of office. Now, theoretically,…
Read MoreThe Jamie Kirk Hahn Foundation
I miss Jamie. I miss her smile, her laugh and the parties she threw. This campaign season, I’ve missed her political smarts and fundraising skills. A lot of candidates could have used her. So this weekend I’ll join a lot of people – many who knew her and miss her and many who didn’t…
Read MoreThe First 1 Million
You had to be here in the 1950s to appreciate how much Raleigh and Wake County have changed on the way to one million people. And, to this old-timer, it’s a much better place today. We were poor, provincial, rural and racist to the core. Today we’re affluent, global in outlook, urban and suburban,…
Read MoreA Raleigh Boy’s Story
Rob Christensen’s column about Tom Bradshaw accurately captures one of the most remarkable people I’ve met through 44 years in newspapers and politics. My first encounter with Bradshaw was much like Christensen’s. Tom was the “boy mayor” of Raleigh, and I was a cub reporter at The N&O. City government was my beat, just…
Read MoreThe N&O at 120
My first thought when I read that The News & Observer is 120 years old was, “Holy cow, that’s old.” My second thought was, “Hold the coffee, I’ve been reading the paper for HALF ITS LIFE!” My dad moved to Raleigh to work in the N&O composing room when I was a year old.…
Read MoreArt’s Grocery
A year ago I didn’t know anything about food deserts and food insecurity. I’ve learned, thanks to my dedicated young friends at the Jamie Kirk Hahn Foundation and at the Interfaith Food Shuttle – and WRAL’s eye-opening special HungerFreeNC. A big problem right here in Raleigh is that low-income families don’t have access to…
Read MoreTwo North Carolinas
Shades of John Edwards and “Two Americas!” The state Senate seemed to channel the former Senator in the debate over how to help the state’s stagnating rural areas keep up with booming urban areas. One Senator said we need to “level the playing field.” There is a political angle to this, of course.…
Read MoreLessons From Charleston
It is a well-known fact that the not-so-great state of South Carolina has only two things going for it: the coast and the city of Charleston. The coast is there by the grace of God and the gifts of nature. But it turns out that much of what makes Charleston a great place –…
Read MoreWake Up
You couldn’t design a more perfect Democratic candidate for Wake County in 2014 than Sarah Crawford. Proven success in a professional career and in community service – check. Attended public schools and college here – check. Young mother with children in public schools – check. Energy, smarts, savvy and a fiendishly hard worker – check,…
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