North Carolina
updated
4:23 a.m.
Have you heard about Organize North Carolina ? It's a website designed to help progressives coordinate. In much the same way Blue NC brings us together for important discussions, this site brings us together to create one master calendar we can all share. More about this site, and this week's Marriage News Watch below the fold. http://www.organizenorthcarolina.org/code/calendar.html re...
BlueNC - Mon 11:03 p.m. - 4 clicks 
Right now, it is not the case that every student has access to a high quality college education. Financial distress is the number one reason students drop out of college, and a majority of students that start college never finish. Both for those student who drop out and for those who complete their programs, student [...] ...
Devil Dems - Mon 10:21 p.m.
The best email received today on the case involving the Republican voter suppression plan redistricting scheme. ______________________________________________________ The political law practice group of Bailey & Dixon , LLP made the following observations regarding the consolidated redistricting lawsuits (Dickson v. Rucho and NAACP v State) in Wake County Superior Court today: The 3...
BlueNC - Mon 3:46 p.m.
Back in November I wrote about Ms. Colbert of Wilmington and how GOP cuts to NC’s Medicaid program meant she could no longer get new eyeglasses. Well, others are feeling the pinch and the Lions Club of Wilmington is trying … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Mon 1:43 p.m. - 8 clicks
The following is from the good people at the NC Defend Education Coalition. Click here to support their excellent cause : “On February 10, the UNC Board of Governors will vote on tuition and fee increases for all UNC system schools. … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Mon 12:43 p.m. - 6 clicks
The Republican plan comes together If the funds are not appropriated, State Board of Elections executive director Gary Bartlett has said counties would likely be forced to operate 100 fewer early voting sites than were available in 2008. ...
BlueNC - Mon 11:43 a.m.
Election officials from more than 85 counties have sent a letter to legislative leaders urging them to release $4 million designated for improving the administration of the 2012 elections. The funds come from the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Mon 11:09 a.m.
That's the question in the minds of many observers of environmental policy-making this week, as a wave of the greenest legislators in North Carolina decline to stand for re-election in the face of radically re-engineered district lines. The latest worrisome retirement announcement came last week from former House Speaker Joe Hackney, long considered the leading environmental champion in the N.C...
BlueNC - Mon 10:23 a.m. - 17 clicks
It's a pretty sad day in the Old North State when captains of industry and business are silent on Republican efforts to discriminate against their workers. And sadder still that they have to look to the CEO of Goldman Sachs as a role model. Help build the list of North Carolina CEOs who put political expedience ahead of the rights of their workers. Follow me below the fold. read ...
BlueNC - Mon 8:06 a.m. - 15 clicks
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, REI CEO Sally Jewell and Fast Company’s Robert Safian are just a few of the high-profile speakers in Raleigh today and Tuesday for the 27th annual Emerging Issues Forum. This year’s theme: “Investing in … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Mon 6:43 a.m. - 9 clicks
Many of you have probably seen this little video from a while back from the almost always funny and provocative Bill Maher , but it seems worth promoting again this morning in the aftermath of last night’s orgy of economic success/excess. Maher’s insightful … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Mon 5:41 a.m.
Students, faculty and staff at Charlotte’s Johnson C. Smith University have teamed up to present a unique, online community portal to help them share their history and story in the lead up to the Queen City’s historic hosting of the 2012 Democratic National Convention. From the school’s as-of-yet-completed website, run-dnc-2012.org: The REEL Urban Network’s RUN [...]...
IntersateQ.com - Mon 4:41 a.m. - 7 clicks
A few years ago, did you imagine you would find yourself wondering whether the Orange County Board of Commissioners supported basic progressive causes like enhanced public transit and smart land use planning? read more ...
OrangePolitics - Sun 8:41 p.m.
If you call them "Professionals", you don't have to pay them overtime : It's unclear how many programmers, analysts and web designers would be affected by the proposed legislation, but the goal is to make overtime pay for these kinds of workers an exception, not the norm. "Jobs are my No. 1 priority," she said. "I want to do everything I can to make sure employers have the tools they need to ...
BlueNC - Sun 10:07 a.m. - 13 clicks
A Charlotte conservative is telling anti-gay Republican Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James it is time for him to go and for voters to support his Republican primary challenger, Ed Driggs. Lewis Guignard writes at Pundit House, a conservative Charlotte news and commentary site, that James’ reckless focus on socially conservative issues has damaged James’ supposed [...]...
IntersateQ.com - Sun 9:43 a.m. - 8 clicks
It's sad enough on the surface. Public schools shriveling to dust while for-profit charters skim taxpayer dollars at a growing clip. Sadder still, it's a self inflicted wound and a failure of political and public education leadership. As a business strategist, I've seen the scenario many times. An entrenched monopoly defends its traditional business model, circling the wagons to stave o...
BlueNC - Sun 8:01 a.m.
I have written in the past about how tough it is for third parties to get on the ballot here in North Carolina here and here . Now there is a group, Americans Elect that is trying to get on the ballot in all fifty states so they can run a "moderate" bi-partisan ticket. Under the Dome is reporting that they have a long way to go here in NC: The Wake County Board of Elections reported ...
BlueNC - Sat 6:46 p.m. - 12 clicks
It was bad enough that Republican leaders like Skip Stam put their (considerable) weight behind getting their little buddy elected to the Apex town council. It didn't matter that the guy had been arrested for drunk driving, he had friends in high places. So it comes as no surprise that Scott Lassiter is looking for a way to avoid taking responsibility for his actions. But hey, at least he's...
BlueNC - Sat 8:26 a.m. - 13 clicks
Planned Parenthood’s heartening victory this week in overcoming the boneheaded decision of the Susan G. Komen Foundation (which, as an aside, sure seems to have left extremists like Renee Ellmers hung out to dry) should provide an important lesson for progressives … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Fri 9:41 a.m.
UPDATE: The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation has announced plans to restore funding to Planned Parenthood. The move follows intense public criticism for the foundation’s decision earlier this week to no longer provide Planned Parenthood with grants to … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Fri 7:40 a.m. - 3 clicks
The “I am a Tarheel Worker” campaign has released a new infographic that puts Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits into perspective. The average weekly UI benefit is $290. This might seem like a substantial amount, but stacking the costs of the … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Fri 7:00 a.m. - 12 clicks
Earlier this week in Hendersonville, state Sen. Tom Apodaca told a crowd of supporters that they “need a general ” like Pat McCrory to lead “the army” of Republican legislators in place at the General Assembly. While the line may … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Fri 7:00 a.m. - 12 clicks
The monthly jobs numbers just came out and blew away the expectations. The economy added 243,000 jobs in January and the unemployment rate has dropped [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - Fri 5:47 a.m.
The Mittster has a reputation as sort of a closet moderate, but as John Schmitt argues persuasively at The New Republic . he’s really espousing quite radical stuff these days in his talk about the poor : “In taking up … Read More... ...
The Progressive Pulse - Fri 5:21 a.m.
A break from the politics and religion. A venture into sexual sociology (or, Matt got bored and started over-analyzing things). Note to parents, kiddies and folks who work for employers-masquerading-as-censors-and-big-brother: A somewhat mature conversation and questions, as well, though it’s almost purely academic. Each of the following are headlines or bio lines from Grindr profiles [...]...
IntersateQ.com - Thu 2:23 p.m.
Via an email: I have decided that I will not be a candidate for re-election to the North Carolina House of Representatives this year. At [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - Thu 7:44 a.m. - 13 clicks
Here are a few interesting videos. First is Mitt The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c Indecision 2012 – I Know What You Did Last Quarter www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook Let’s Don’t forget Newt The Daily Show [...]...
The Call - Tue 8:42 a.m.
In less than two months the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources will hold public hearings allowing the public to comment on their study of hydraulic fracking. In previous studies, fracking has been linked to serious water contamination across the country. The General Assembly is eager to drill in North Carolina yet too many questions have been left unanswered. North Carolina is not r...
North Carolina Sierra Club - Jan 30 - 10 clicks
We will be educating the public about fracking this Thursday, February 2nd, from 5:30 to 7:30 at Angelina's Kitchen, farmers market. Come out and learn about fracking and how you can get involved in spreading the awareness while enjoying the winter farmers market. Angelina's is located in Pittsboro on the corner of Rectory and West. ...
North Carolina Sierra Club - Jan 30 - 10 clicks
Mitchell Gold Michael Brown Frank Turek Update (Jan. 31, 2012, 2:08 p.m.): As promised yesterday and this morn, my reflections on the Brown/Turek/Gold debate below. Regular readers of InterstateQ.com, followers of my work at my prior gig at QNotes and those involved in LGBT advocacy and community work in Charlotte know all too well who [...]...
IntersateQ.com - Jan 30 - 7 clicks
Crazy week in NC politics. Crazy. The scrambling continues after Bev Perdue’s announcement. Lt. Guv Walter Dalton is in because, as someone said, that’s what [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - Jan 28 - 4 clicks
Statement from Rep. Bill Faison: Representative Bill Faison announces gubernatorial bid – January 28, 2012 The future of our children and our State depends on [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - Jan 28 - 3 clicks
Just received this email: James, Because your support has been so important to me, I wanted you to hear from me that I will not seek another term in Congress. Serving in Congress has been a remarkable opportunity. Thank you. I knew Republicans in the legislature would dismantle the district that I have represented for the last decade, and they did. The thirteenth district was split s...
OrangePolitics - Jan 26 - 5 clicks
The ActBlue folks quickly got a page up to encourage Brad Miller to run for Governor. It’s already up to 17K. Like I was saying [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - Jan 26
Maybe it was getting booed at a Carolina game or having to make the unemployment rate dropping below 10 percent seem like a harbinger of [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - Jan 26
You may recall the two served together in the NC Senate. Another email: GREENSBORO, N.C. – U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC) today commented on [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - Jan 26 - 2 clicks
Just got this from Joe Hackney: Gov. Perdue will leave office with a reputation as a good governor who managed this state through a difficult [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - Jan 26
Just got this: Dear Friend – Like the rest of the nation, North Carolina has been facing difficult economic times — demanding many difficult decisions. [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - Jan 26
In case you’re wondering about Walter Dalton’s views you can review his 2008 responses to Project Vote Smart‘s political courage survey. On the topic of [...]...
Exile on Jones Street - Jan 26
Last night marked the first meeting of the Orange County Board of Commissioners this year and hopefully the first post in a push by OrangePolitics to take a deeper look at the board and its biweekly meetings. Since the board had not met in over a month, the agenda was quite crowded, but a few items are worth delving into. read more ...
OrangePolitics - Jan 25
The leadership team of Chapel Hill 2020 discussed the timeline issue yesterday afternoon. Apparently the conversation was quite passionate and the group is divided with strong opposition to extending from co-chairs George and Rosemary. I'm a bit surprised since they have always said they had an open mind and were committed to getting it done right. I have yet to hear a clear articulation of why ...
OrangePolitics - Jan 25 - 4 clicks
This weekend, a group of people who have been involved since the very beginning of the Chapel Hill 2020 process (including the editors of OP) drafted a letter to town leaders asking them to take more time. You can see it at http://bit.ly/ch2020-letter . Currently the entire timeline from kick-off to plan approval is less than 8 months. Last week when UNC planning Professor David Godschalk gave ...
OrangePolitics - Jan 20 - 4 clicks
This Wednesday, the Chapel Hill Town Council will be holding a public hearing on the proposed Shortbread development- a seven-story mixed-use building across from Breadman’s on Rosemary Street. The residential component of the building will be rental units that will cater to students- a much-needed addition to downtown that will help alleviate pressure on the adjacent Northside neighborhood. r...
OrangePolitics - Jan 17 - 16 clicks
This just arrived from Town Manager Roger Stancil: In consultation with the Town Attorney, I have developed the following statement that we will provide the media. If you have any questions, please let me know. read more ...
OrangePolitics - Jan 13 - 3 clicks
