North Carolina
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3:49 a.m.
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When the truth begins to hurt too much , send in the lawyers: In the memo to stations, Foley & Lardner, a Washington law firm representing the McCrory campaign, said the ad is filled with “egregious and false statements” about the former Charlotte mayor. “Unless you stop airing the ad immediately,” the firm wrote, “we will seek all legal remedies to force the ad off the air.” The ad is...
BlueNC - Sat 9:30 a.m. - 11 clicks 
Despite the recent improvement in the state’s unemployment rate, North Carolina’s economy is still experiencing only sluggish job creation, needing to generate 532,500 jobs just to return to pre-recession employment levels while keeping up with population growth. As a result, … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Fri 2:46 p.m. - 10 clicks
Big government Republicans put the squeeze on cities over annexation: Both bills are aimed directly at five cities, one of which is Wilmington, that challenged last year's bill that made it virtually impossible for cities to take in territory that has developed around the outskirts. They also impose long waiting periods – one of the bills would make it 12 years – before a city can attempt an...
BlueNC - Fri 9:26 a.m. - 15 clicks
Image via lithospherial.com Informative video and article on the CNN website today about Vermont's recently becoming the first state to ban hydraulic fracturing. Reasons for the ban include: groundwater contamination, uncertain science behind the practice and mild earthquakes. Vermont's governor, Peter Shumlin, also says he "hopes other states will follow Vermont's lead...
North Carolina Sierra Club - Fri 9:08 a.m. - 17 clicks
Like a schooner trapped in the doldrums, North Carolina's employment situation remains becalmed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning that for the third month in a row, there was essentially no change in the number of jobs on a seasonally-adjusted basis in North Carolina. Payroll employment in the state actually fell by 1,300, with a small gain in professional and business ...
Applied Rationality - Fri 8:05 a.m. - 14 clicks
The Support Center released a report yesterday titled “Small Business Lending in North Carolina: The Increasing Role of Community Lenders,” which examines small business lending patterns of banks, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs), and credit … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Fri 6:48 a.m. - 14 clicks
Today the Budget & Tax Center released a brief, “North Carolina’s Earned Income Tax Credit: A Support to Working Families with Widespread Benefits” , that presents county level data on the number of working families receiving the state Earned Income … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Thu 12:07 p.m. - 10 clicks
You really have to wonder whether House Speaker John Boehner is purposefully trying to tank the U.S. economy and possibly the world economy with his reckless statements. Two days ago, Speaker Boehner poured a big steaming bowl of economic uncertainty into the U.S. markets by announcing a return to debt-ceiling brinksmanship --that Republicans would be using the specter of a U.S. bond default to ...
Applied Rationality - Thu 9:05 a.m. - 15 clicks
Probably not. Pennsylvania didn't have access to a clear record of water contamination before the state sold it soul to frackers. They didn't understand the potential for destruction, a potential that is being played out today with people moving away from toxic towns in search of clean water. That record in Pennsylvania stands before us as a testament to human stupidity and greed. Which is ...
BlueNC - Wed 8:14 p.m. - 14 clicks
I think that it is important to note that even though this amendment passed, those of us fighting for LGBT equality aren't going away. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I have 5000 words on the eastern North Carolina experience that you might want to see, if you'll kindly follow me below the fold. read more ...
BlueNC - Wed 2:22 p.m. - 11 clicks
Image via Clean Water for North Carolina We will be hosting a lobby night next Monday, May 21st to tell our legislators not to move forward on fracking in North Carolina. Folks will meet at 6:30pm in the lobby to the right of the entrance to the legislative building for a quick briefing on issues, and then go around in groups to speak to the le...
North Carolina Sierra Club - Tue 9:09 a.m. - 19 clicks
North Carolina's 8th Congressional District is now a disgraceful two-for-two: two birthers out of two Republicans still in the race. The Charlotte Observer reports As his competition endured criticism for questioning President Barack Obama’s birthplace, congressional candidate Scott Keadle of North Carolina took the high road last week and said he hadn’t spent “two seconds of my life thinking”...
Applied Rationality - Tue 6:44 a.m. - 17 clicks
If you've traveled down US 220 in North Carolina toward Myrtle Beach (or Rockingham or Darlington), you've seen it--a giant strawberry on the side of the road. Now that strawberry has been uprooted to make way for highway improvements. The News and Observer reports With wooden beams, Sheetrock and foam, Lee Berry built the world’s largest strawberry – a 20-foot monument to his homemade ice c...
Applied Rationality - Mon 4:43 a.m. - 17 clicks
The undead walk among us--at least the Democratic undead. Resurrecting David Parker? What was the NCDP's Executive Committee thinking? David Parker, the besieged state Democratic Party chairman, said Saturday that he would remain in his post after the party’s ruling committee voted not to accept his resignation. Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/12/3237039/democra...
Applied Rationality - May 13 - 6 clicks
In a just-completed study of the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that health insurers will be rebating $27.6 million on nearly 300,000 North Carolina policies in August. Nationally, the foundation estimates that $1.3 billion will be rebated on nearly 16 million policies. The MLR provisions of the ACA require insurers t...
Applied Rationality - May 12 - 5 clicks
Well, we had our Primary here in North Carolina this past Tuesday. Here's a quick breakdown of the three most important races from my personal perspective. 1. I lost my bid to be the Democratic nominee for NC 10- meh 2. Lt. Governor Walter Dalton secured the Democratic nomination for Governor- yay 3. Amendment One passed- MOTHERFUCKER! I am quite proud of my run for US House. While only raising...
Angry Redneck Liberal - May 10 - 4 clicks
The intersection of Alabama Avenue and Jones Ferry Road is the first impression of Carrboro for visitors entering town from Highway 54. It is important to the Central Business District and the Farmer's Market that this section of Jones Ferry Rd makes a good first impression. This is the Gateway to Carrboro. read more ...
OrangePolitics - May 10 - 6 clicks
In a tight Democratic primary involving 3 candidates for 2 seats in Orange County's district 1, civil rights attorney and former Carrboro alderman Mark Dorosin came out ahead with 10,474 votes. He will be joined on the Board of Commissioners by current Chapel Hill Town Council member Penny Rich (9709 votes). Because there was no Republican primary in district 1 this year, Dorosin and Rich wil...
OrangePolitics - May 9 - 5 clicks
In the statewide vote, Amendment One passed easily with 61% of the vote. However, Orange County overwhelmingly rejected the amendment by a vote of 79% to 21%. (Our neighbors in Durham County likewise voted 70% to 30% against the amendment.) Some precincts in Carrboro and Chapel Hill voted against the amendment almost unanimously. The map below shows the Orange County precinct-level results of the...
OrangePolitics - May 9 - 6 clicks
The following was prompted, in part, by Republican Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James’ Sunday tweet in which he shared a recent message from the pastor of Charlotte’s Calvary Church. In it, the pastor said, “God’s Plan is to Vote Yes [on Amendment One].” James’ tweet and the pastor’s message was the final impetus that led [...] ...
IntersateQ.com - May 7 - 3 clicks
The most important thing to remember going into Tuesday is that Amendment 1 is not about marriage. It is about division — an attempt to [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - May 6 - 2 clicks
There may not be enough tin foil in the world to cover the heads of all of the crazy Republican candidates running in North Carolina. The News and Observer explains Long after the controversy over President Obama’s birthplace seemed settled, some Republican congressional candidates in North Carolina have brought new attention to the issue as they seek advantages in hard-fought primary races...
Applied Rationality - May 5
Under the Dome reports that Sen. Don Vaughan has thrown his hat into the ring to "lead" the scandal-plagued North Carolina Democrats as state party chairman. Sen. Vaughan has been effective in Raleigh, respected in his district, and would bring many great qualities to the position. However, he would also be a grievously flawed choice to lead the state party. One of the chief duties of the pa...
Applied Rationality - May 4
I’ve had great respect for Billy Graham in my life thus far. That ends today. According to the Vote For Marriage NC coalition and The Charlotte Observer, Rev. Billy Graham has endorsed the anti-LGBT, anti-children, anti-family and anti-business constitutional amendment on the North Carolina May 8 ballot. “At 93, I never thought we would have [...] ...
IntersateQ.com - May 3 - 2 clicks
The first right declared in North Carolina’s Constitution states We hold it to be self-evident that all persons are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, the enjoyment of the fruits of their own labor, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet legislators in Raleigh, who swore oaths to uphold this same Constitution, h...
Applied Rationality - May 3
Jesus hates gays, yes we know For this pastor tells us so. Some of the low-lights from Sean Harris' 55-minute bigoted and hate-filled diatribe on behalf of Amendment One: about 12:45: "Gender dissatisfaction is an affront to God...Transgender operations are an affront to God." about 19:30: "God's plan in almost all cases is for you to get married...Only in particular cases where the s...
Applied Rationality - May 2
At a stop at a homeless shelter in Hickory on the NAACP’s Truth & Hope tour of Poverty in NC, furniture maker Mitchell Gold, whose [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - May 2
Under the Dome reports that a second aide to North Carolina House Speaker Thom (Caligula) Tillis has resigned for carrying on with a lobbyist. House Speaker Thom Tillis says he asked chief of staff Charles Thomas earlier this year if he was having an affair with a lobbyist, but Thomas lied to him about it. Tillis says that a review of correspondence and other records showed no favoritism ...
Applied Rationality - May 1
North Carolinians can thank the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) for some dandy legal reform legislation and can especially thank Representative Rhyme and Senators Apodaca and Brunstetter for carrying the organization's water. ALEC is a tax-exempt organization that provides a forum for big businesses to coordinate on legislative agendas. As its FAQ page states, "The potential...
Applied Rationality - May 1
Even as Republican-led effort to enshrine bigotry into the North Carolina Constitution through the amendment to ban same-sex marriages and civil unions continues, their leadership is actively doing even more to "promote marriage" and "clean up government." The Charlotte Observer reports The chief of staff to state House Speaker Thom Tillis has been in an intimate relationship with a lobbyi...
Applied Rationality - Apr 27
The Obama re-election team has released a video contrasting the President's decision to launch the successful raid on the Bin Laden compound with former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney's pitiful hedging. Now that video has drawn the outrage of Sen. John McCain. The Hill reports Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) rebuked President Obama on Friday for using the anniversary of Obama bin Laden's death to s...
Applied Rationality - Apr 27
