This just in from the Governor’s office: This afternoon, just before 2 p.m., Gov. Perdue vetoed House Bill 2, “Protect Health Care Freedom.”In signing the veto, the governor made the following statement:“I’m vetoing HB 2 for three reasons: first of all, House Bill 2 actually is contradictory to the federal constitution. A state can’t pass […]
Bob Geary
Posted inNews
Turning up the NC HEAT on Art Pope’s stores
NC HEAT members picket the Maxway store Saturday “Pope is Poison,” was the theme of the NC HEAT leaflets. “Our aim is to hit Pope where he can feel it — in his wallet.” So today a small group of students — NC HEAT members — picketed the Maxway store on Poole Road in Southeast […]
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Tata: “Am I gonna value diversity? Of course.”
Tony Tata at Martin Street Baptist Church Wake Schools Superintendent Tony Tata is out talking up his commitment to diverse schools. And last night at Martin Street Baptist Church in Raleigh — where for almost two hours he was asked every possible variation of the question whether his new school assignment plan will foster diversity […]
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Census: Raleigh pop. is 403,892, up 46% since 2000
At 403,892, Raleigh is the state’s second largest city, behind Charlotte (731,424), but it’s also the fastest growing: Raleigh’s population is up 46 percent since 2000, while Charlotte gained 35 percent … according to official U.S. Census data released today. So it isn’t just your imagination that Raleigh’s roads — essentially unchanged in a decade […]
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Republicans invoke constitution—until it doesn’t suit them
Is the new charter school legislation working its way through the General Assembly unconstitutional? Senate Bill 8 would allow for an unlimited number of charter schools, ditching the 100-school cap in place since 1996. But charter schools, though supported with state funds, aren’t required to provide transportation to students, nor must they offer food or […]
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Light rail to go OVER the Boylan Avenue Bridge?
This image of an elevated light-rail line is from India — i.e., general idea only I know y’all were planning to get to the next round of TTA transit planning sessions starting March 22, but just to whet your appetite: I’ve heard it twice now from well-informed Raleigh officials that the TTA’s latest scheme for […]
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Calendar: Tata to take the NC HEAT on Thursday
photo by D.L. AndersonTony Tata shakes on it with Monserrat Alvarez and Seth Keel of NC HEAT Call it Round 2: When Wake Schools Superintendent Tony Tata debuted in Raleigh at the Wake County Taxpayers Association meeting in January, protesting NC HEAT members were there to greet him, as seen above. Since Tata was spending […]
Posted inCulture
Tar Heels step on the Wolfpack 75-63 at the RBC Center
This game isn’t a must-win for State. It’s beyond that, in the sense that the Pack needs to show they can play with Carolina, beat them on a good night on their home floor or else die trying if the Heels play lights out ball. As the great sportswriter said, it’s not whether you win […]
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Make state taxes fair (or fair-er, anyway): What Perdue could’ve done
Last time I checked, there was a philosophical difference in this country about taxes. On one side, “fair tax” (a.k.a., tea party) folks think everybody should pay taxes at about the same rate. On the other side, progressive-minded people like myself think people’s tax rates should reflect their ability to pay. That is, the rich […]
