Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
Back in 1985 I got a call from George Crile a producer at 60 Minutes who said he and Mike Wallace wanted to come to Raleigh to interview Tom Ellis and me. I thought, An interview with 60 Minutes – what’s the difference in that and sticking your head in a lion’s mouth? I…
Overnight Rick Perry has soared from unknown to Republican frontrunner; — it’s reminiscent of four years ago when another unknown appeared out of nowhere, soared into the lead in the Democrat Primary, then rolled straight into the White House. Now, Rick Perry – Governor of Texas, Air Force pilot, rugged cowboy – is the…
A new issue of North Carolina DataNet, published by the Program on Southern Life at the UNC J-School, is available now. Click here for a link to the report. The focus is what report calls the “metropolitanization’’ of North Carolina’s population, and the impact that has on the state’s economy, culture and politics. …
There’s always been a healthy dose of class warfare in the debate over maintaining roads to barrier islands like Hatteras. It exploded in letters to the N&O today. Said one writer: “Why is it that we all have to cater to the rich and their Shangri-Las at the coast? Isn’t it time that we…
A biography of former Lt. Governor Bob Jordan, written by long-time North Carolina reporter and editor Ned Cline, is on the bookshelves. Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh will host a book signing and presentation by Jordan and Cline at 7:30 p.m. this Wednesday. The book, “The Man From Montgomery,” traces Jordan’s life and…
This will make my friends at DOT mad, but face it: When it comes to informing the driving and tax-paying public, your 511 line – and your website – flunked the Irene test. Anybody who tried Sunday to get updated information on specific roads from DOT knows that. Apparently, the 511 line is…
Politico did the obligatory piece on Governor Perdue and Irene (quoting Brad Crone and me) and reminding us that politics is never far from a storm. “The storm packs a potentially pivotal political moment,” for Perdue, it said. And had this: “She shines in a battle, and this is going to be a battle.…
What’s worse: going through a hurricane, or going through days, even weeks, of agony, anxiety and anticipation listening to hyperventilating, iron-pumping weather announcers and reading shrieking headlines (as in “Shrieking Irene aims its fury at NC coast”)? As the storm’s barometric pressure goes down, our blood pressure goes up. Actually, what’s worse is dealing…
A TAPster shares this AP story: “RALEIGH — Gov. Beverly Perdue’s staff is taking the blame for failing to alert the North Carolina public sooner that the governor had declared a state of emergency for nearly 40 eastern counties for the approaching Hurricane Irene. “Perdue’s press office announced late Thursday morning her declaration, which sets…
How do you get your news? Our statewide poll asked North Carolina voters what their primary…
Thom Tillis and Phil Berger fed the MAGA alligator. Then it ate them. Thomas Mills wrote…
Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, Republicans took control of Congress with a simple message: “Had…