What a week
posted at 2007-02-23 17:53 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
It's deep-breath time on Jones St. today. There was the State of the State Monday, Jim Black's state plea deal Tuesday, President Bush's visit and the Governor's budget yesterday, plus Forbes' scathing article on likely 2008 gubernatorial contender Richard Moore. It's enough to make your head spin.
For the birds
The big news today is the Navy's announcement that yes, it still wants to build its proposed Outlying Landing Field in Washington County - right next door to a migratory bird refuge. A lot of folks (especially the locals) think that sounds like a lose-lose proposition for both jet engines and birds. But the Navy disagrees. The N&O's Wade Rawlins has the full story.
In the most recent chapter of this ongoing saga, Navy officials conducted a court-ordered environmental impact study of the site. Most OLF opponents are deeply skeptical of its objectivity, particularly since the Navy's already sunk substantial planning money into the Washington County location. Governor Mike Easley registered his objections about today's announcement in this letter. Senate pro tem Marc Basnight weighed in, too.
Flappy the fish?
Governor Mike F. (Flappy?) Easley is now an author, according to the AP's Gary Robertson. Easley's children's book is called "Look Out College, Here I Come!", and it's narrated by, yes, a fish named Flappy. (Let me guess - because fish like to stay in schools? Insert rimshot here.) Anyway, Easley used his book as a prop at yesterday's budget rollout news conference, but apparently didn't take credit for it (or market it) on camera. Read the rest of the story here.
New poll confirms war is unpopular
Shocking, but true. Elon's latest poll today confirms the results of the last election. The numbers show that support for the Iraq War, President Bush, and Republicans is even lower than it was a year ago. See the poll data here.
And one for fun
After a week like this, it's comforting to know it could be worse. State lawmakers in Maryland are looking at banning "fake body parts" as auto decorations. You can't make this stuff up.
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