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Rocky Mount Telegram
John Hood: NC taxpayers deserve better than pork spending
In 2021, the North Carolina General Assembly enacted a budget that funded core state responsibilities, instigated critical repairs and renovations of government facilities, built up savings reserves, and slashed tax rates on personal and corporate income. Overall, it was a prudent and balanced plan. In a column published in mid-November 2021, I called it an example of “constructive conservatism” in action, although I did note I was “not sold on all the capital projects funded by the new budget.” ...
Authorities investigate murder-suicide case tied to shooting in Sharpsburg
Two people are dead after what authorities described as a weekend murder-suicide, and others, including a 6-year-old, are being hospitalized, in connection with a shooting incident Sunday in the town of Sharpsburg that required multiple law enforcement agencies to respond, authorities said. After a shooting early in the morning in the Wilson County part of Sharpsburg, a Rocky Mount man, Daquan Jones, 32, reportedly fled and later shot himself off Jamie Road in a residential area off North Halifax Road in northeastern Nash County, the...
Devlin Horton: DOT can do more to keep pedestrians safe
The attorneys with the personal injury firm Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys applaud the NCDOT’s recent announcement intended to improve pedestrian safety by adding a leading pedestrian interval to pedestrian signals. This head start into the crosswalk, with a minimum of three and maximum of seven seconds, will help pedestrians more safely move through crosswalks when drivers turning left see a green arrow permitting them to turn across a crosswalk. ...
Steven Roberts: Democrats target Republicans who despise trump
“I think that Donald Trump is the most grave threat we will face to our democracy in our lifetime, and potentially in American history.” That warning comes not from Joe Biden or Kamala Harris — or any Democrat, for that matter. It comes from Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as a top aide to Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and closely observed the president from her post near the Oval Office. She is only one of many former Trump aides and advisers who now despise...
Froma Harrop: Usha can't neuter cat lady musings
Republicans handed Usha Vance the unenviable task of cleaning up her husband’s history of hostile comments regarding women. Alas, she tried. Specifically, Usha attempted to dismiss JD Vance’s trashing of “childless cat ladies” as a “quip.” A “quip” is a witty or clever remark, often characterized by its brevity. Had Donald Trump’s running mate left it at that, one could make that argument, however stretched. But, no, JD went on...
Byron York: Election fundamentals did not change with Harris
It has now been more than two weeks since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee. It’s always hard to get a quick handle on public reaction to a huge event like that, but after a couple of weeks, the news has had time to sink in with voters, and it’s time to start looking at some new polling. The bottom line is that so far, the Biden gambit, the sudden switch forced on the...
Tom Campbell: Trump like McCarthy in demands for allegiance
I would love to see a nationwide poll of voters asking: To what do you owe your greater allegiance — your political party or your country? Twenty years ago, the answer would have been a no-brainer. But I’m not so sure today. Regardless of what people might tell a pollster, their attitudes and actions demonstrate that political party takes precedence over their allegiance to the country. But it’s not just...
Mystery Plant: Plant attracts pollinators with pungent scent
Yes, it is hot. Time for everyone to take a deep, air-conditioned breath, and figure out ways to deal with the weather. One way is to remember that before long there will be signs of autumn and eventually everything will be cooling off, with displays of autumnal blooming everywhere. Our Mystery Plant is one of the autumn-bloomers, and it packs an olfactory punch. Plants around us aren’t always the sweetly...
Committee fights to stop 'government control' over 70M gig workers
Retainment of the independent contractor model in the American workforce is being sought by a congressional committee and could lead to subpoena of a Biden administration leader, a congresswoman from North Carolina says. Writing to interim U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Julie Su, U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx said Su’s failure to provide responses and data to the Committee on Education & the Workforce is an obstruction to its lawful oversight. Foxx’s letter on Thursday says her panel is “continuing to seek information about the administration’s...
Two new department heads join Nash County staff
Two new department heads are joining Nash County's staff and were introduced to the Nash County Board of Commissioners at Monday's meeting. Mary Hogan will be the new finance director, and Marian Cascone has been selected as the next Nash County tax administrator. Nash County Director of Communications Jonathan Edwards introduced both new staffers to commissioners. ...
Forum to address child care and labor shortages
Addressing labor shortages and the difficulty working parents have finding reliable child care are two key issues that will be addressed at a community business forum titled “Child Care and the Bottom Line” presented by the Down East Partnership for Children. Debra Lanham, the nonprofit organization’s interim director of Research & Development, said the issues that will discussed at the Aug. 14 forum at the partnership’s auditorium located at 215 Lexington Street in Rocky Mount will be of particular interest to business owners and human...
Resident: Tornado touched down just outside his house
A man and his family had to take cover in the bathroom of their house because what he said was a tornado touched down just outside the residence in the far east side of the city Thursday afternoon. Social media posts online showed video of downed trees and debris Thursday afternoon along Meadowbrook Road, but for local resident Miguel Alvarado, the storm hit much closer to home. Alvarado, who lives...
New officers at the helm at local Salvation Army
The N.E.W. Salvation Army, which is based in Rocky Mount and serves Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties, has new officers leading the local agency. Captains Devin and Lara Sassano moved to the area in June to begin their term of service in the local area. The Sassanos bring a fresh perspective as well as a wealth of experience to their roles in this community. Each has served as officers for The Salvation Army five years, earning the rank of captain just prior to moving to...
Amelia Harper: Literacy program yields consistent results in local classrooms
The Joshua’s Challenge Literacy program launched by The Salvation Army in this community roughly two years ago is demonstrating consistent results in helping many students at participating schools in Nash and Edgecombe counties reach their third grade reading benchmarks. It is also improving the profile of these schools as well. The program primarily targets third-grade readers as that is a focus of the N.C. Department of Public Instruction as well as many other organizations in the country. This is because proficiency in reading at the...
Lots going on in NASCAR Land
I’m back again and as Chicago famously sings, “Feeling stronger every day.” A lot of stuff’s been going on, so let’s get to it: Remember when I said high-expectation drivers Hailie Deegan, Thad Moffitt and Jimmie Johnson were struggling? And I wondered how long they would keep struggling. Well, in one case we know. After an abysmal 17-race Xfinity Series stint with AM Racing, Deegan was fired last month and...
THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE UMPIRES: Lilley among few young officials in the profession
Umpires do not have a whistle, but they know how to be heard when they need to be. They are not on the field serving as a coach, but they are often seen coaching up kids learning the game. On the diamond, they are simply indispensable to the game — whether it’s baseball or softball. Today, there is an acute shortage of umpires and referees to call games of all kinds, but one young man in Martin County has heeded the call to fill the...
Dream Flights visits Eastern NC to give veterans free airplane rides
Ross Munro says compared to other aircraft he flew in during his military career, the World War II-era Boeing PT-17 Stearman biplane is much “sportier.” “It was kind of like a sports car, you know, open cockpit,” he said. Munro, who is a retired U.S. Navy veteran, was among six veterans invited to take a free plane ride in the Stearman last Saturday at Elizabeth City Regional Airport. The free...
Keith E. Prevost: History offers clues on general election impacts on markets
The 2024 presidential election is quickly approaching, and investors may be wondering if and how the outcome will impact the stock market and underlying investments. While every campaign cycle comes with its unique set of circumstances, we can turn to history as an indicator of how markets typically act in an election year. Here are a few trends investors should keep in mind. Historic trends in election years. In general, market volatility trends higher early in an election year as candidates are being finalized and...
Letter: The importance of introspection
We could all benefit from taking a pause in our busy lives to take a step back to examine our choices and behaviors. Every few months each of us could try, as objectively as is possible, to analyze our behaviors. This could include such factors as: (1) Recognizing the importance of being respectful, loving and kind toward our spouses, our children and our parents. (2) Reflecting on if we are working so much that we are neglectful of the needs that our children so desperately...
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