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Sunday Roundup
posted at 2007-12-16 11:39 | Last modified 2007-12-16 11:44
The weekend’s big story actually happened Friday: Representative Thomas Wright turned himself in to a Wake Co magistrate after his indictment on charges he misappropriated about 350K from corporate donors, loan officers, and political contributors. From the N&O’s Thomasi McDonald’s story:
At one point, Wright looked at a cluster of clicking cameras and reporters and said, "You'd have thought I'd murdered somebody. Gee."
Nice to see Wright’s snarkiness remains intact. That bodes well for the upcoming legislative ethics hearings. The AP’s Gary Robertson has a more comprehensive account here.
Blog-a-rama
- Greensboro’s Mark Binker blogs about Governor Easley’s take on fixing the mental health care system.
- Winston Salem’s James Romoser is now blogging, too - and from Iowa, no less. Check out "Trail Mix" here. (Hat tip: Binker)
- Over at Capital Letters, Asheville’s Jordan Schrader recaps this week’s study committee hearing on reforming the state’s funding formula for public schools.
Vote of "No Confidence"
The NYT’s Bob Driehaus says Ohio may have to replace its voting machines after a study commissioned by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner found all five systems used in the state are vulnerable to mechanical or technological manipulation. Brunner’s calling for federal funding to pay for new equipment, though she says she doesn't know what the final tab will amount to.
Wonder if NC’s using any of those systems…
Meck Sheriff
Char-O’s Jim Morrill had an excellent article today on divisions among Mecklenberg Democrats over the controversial selection of a new sheriff. African American community members say Nick Mackey’s being held to a higher standard than white candidates. Check it out.
Burr and “The Bear”?
Charlotte’s Mark Johnson reports Senator Richard Burr was one of the forces behind this week’s passage of the Chimpanzee Protection Bill, winning praise from preeminent primate researcher Jane Goodall. That’s here.
Humbug
Winston-Salem’s Paul O’Connor waxes grinchy about the time-honored tradition of the Christmas card…and as usual, the crankier he gets, the funnier he is. Check it out.
It’s beginning to look a lot like…
...Campaign season. The Tavern got four – four! – emails Friday, announcing various congressional victories by Senator Elizabeth Dole. (One or two a week is the norm.)
Dole isn’t the only one reaching out, either. As Congressional members head home for the holiday break, reporters’ inboxes overfloweth with their daily schedules – breakfasts, ribbon-cuttings, town hall meetings, you name it. That’s always the case when they come back to NC on breaks, but it’s always more pronounced during campaign season, when they’re all looking for a little extra attention from the press.
Sad news
ABC producer and NPR alumnus John Alexander passed away this week at 26. He was on location in China, working on a series for “Koppel on Discovery,” when he suddenly collapsed and died. No cause of death has been identified yet.
Alexander was a multi-talented young journalist who touched a lot of people and packed a lot of work into his short life. His hometown Cincinnati Enquirer has more here. You can see a photo tribute at the Discovery Channel website.
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