Sunday Round-Up
posted at 2007-06-10 11:48 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
Operation Sickle Cell's audit woes
Picking up where I left off Friday night - the Fayetteville Observer's John Fuquay and Paul Woolverton had this wrap-up of the court fight between State Auditor Les Merritt and Operation Sickle Cell, the non-profit headed by Cumberland Dem Mary McAllister. At Dome, Ryan Teague Beckwith posted McAllister's full response here.
Blood in the halls at the N-R
An announcement came out late Thursday that the Greensboro News & Record has laid off 41 employees. Uber-blogger and N-R columnist Ed Cone has been tracking the bloodbath, which includes 18 reporters, including veteran reporter (and former Capitol Press Corps member) Eric Dyer, and longtime columnist Maria Johnson.
I'm happy fellow blogger Mark Binker survived the cuts, but my heart goes out all those who didn't. This is NOT an easy time to find another job in the newspaper business.
The paper's official take on the layoffs is here. Editor John Robinson blogged about it at length today, saying 41 isn't that big a layoff, compared to textile and furniture layoffs. (I'm sure he meant well, but I doubt that's much comfort to his ex-employees.) Robinson also promises the paper will re-invent itself. Again.
Got plans this evening?
2008 presidential candidate John Edwards wants you to help him celebrate his 54th birthday in Chapel Hill tonight. From the e-invitation:
...Shake hands with John, celebrate with Coach Dean Smith and others, listen to live music from Big Fat Gap, and enjoy a traditional pig roast.
I don't know what he wants for his birthday, but I can guess. Want the particulars? The invite's here.
Good stuff in today's papers:
Fay-O's John Fuquay digs up the "Car Tax" bill currently laying low in Senate Finance.
Winston-Salem's Paul O'Connor looks at rising fortunes and unprecedented goodwill in the House GOP caucus.
Stateline.org's Pauline Vu compares sex education trends across the country. Not surprisingly, NC doesn't come out looking particularly progressive.
And the N&O's Thomasi McDonald spends some time with anti-torture activists looking for CIA planes in Johnston County.
Comments? Drop me a line.


