By Jim Malone, VOA, Reprinted By The Raleigh Telegram WASHINGTON DC – The recent history of second term U.S. presidents indicates trouble will come at some point. You just don’t expect it to come three at a time with roots both foreign and domestic. But for the moment that is…
By The Raleigh Telegram WASHINGTON DC – In a recently released report, an Obama administration official is recommending that the blood alcohol limit for criminal charges to be filed in Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases should be lowered by almost half. National Traffic Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman recommends…
By The Raleigh Telegram WINSTON-SALEM – The City of Winston-Salem is looking to sell some local landmarks that city officials say are costing the city money. The city is hoping to sell the Lawrence Joel Coliseum, which is a public venue for concerts, graduations, and Wake Forest University basketball games,…
Special To The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – In this letter to the editor, a reader says that keeping the renewable energy requirements in North Carolina will not only benefit the economy but will help spur technology growth, create jobs, and will attract companies to the state. The opinions expressed in…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – The Raleigh City Council voted today to fire long-serving Raleigh City Manager J. Russell Allen. Evidently, the dismissal was less than conciliatory, as the City of Raleigh public affairs department said that Allen was not talking directly to the media about his dismissal.…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – Did you know that North Carolina county tax departments can send you a tax bill for your car, truck, or other vehicle long after you sell it or no longer own it? Some residents in the state are finding out the hard way that…
GUEST EDITORIAL By Senator Thom Goolsby, Special To The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – As the debate rages over photo voter ID, it is fascinating to listen to the arguments against the proposed law. The opposition continues to repeat the same old lines used back in 2005 when Georgia passed a…
By The Raleigh Telegram NOTE: This article has been updated at the bottom with a statement from Governor McCrory’s office saying that he has restored funding in his budget. RALEIGH – In what seems to be a contradiction to his campaign promises to help create jobs for people in North…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – A new poll released today regarding the Dorothea Dix facility in downtown Raleigh says that by a two to one margin, Wake County voters favor keeping a deal in place that would create a “central” park on the 306 acre property. The Dorothea Dix…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – A Raleigh Telegram reader sent in a letter expressing their opinion on New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s recent efforts at running television commercials in North Carolina. The spots tell gun owners they should be in favor of universal gun registration. The reader also expresses…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – Cate Edwards, the daughter of former Senator John Edwards, is appearing on television on Friday morning on the “Today” show and on Friday night on NBC when she is interviewed by reporter Savannah Guthrie on “Rock Center,” a news program. This is the first…
By D.G. Martin, The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – Are you tired of the partisan divisiveness that is poisoning the political environment of our state and nation? Do you wish that the politicians from the two parties would work together more often on issues of common concern? Me too. Maybe we…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – According to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Google, whose motto is “do no evil,” will pay the State of North Carolina $151,024 as part of a multi-state settlement over privacy issues raised when the company collected data when it took photographs of streets…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – Standard & Poors, the company that rates mortgages and other financial products such as bonds that are associated with them, is once again in the news. The company has been a target of criticism by the federal United States government after the company downgraded…
By VOA, Reprinted By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – A leaked confidential memo from the U.S. Justice Department says it is legal for the government to kill U.S. citizens abroad if it believes they are senior al-Qaida leaders actively engaged in planning operations to kill Americans. The 16-page memo provides…
By D.G. Martin, The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – What should a public figure do when caught in a mistake or telling a lie? Any experienced political advisor will urge, “Stop lying, tell the truth, and get the whole story out in one fell swoop.” Further lying or delay in telling…
By Lois Alley, The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – Some members of the Republican-controlled NC General Assembly are proposing a new tax on services in the state that would add as much as eight percent to fees charged by barbers, lawyers, auto mechanics, window washers, landscapers, healthcare providers, and most other…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – Following a public hearing on Tuesday, the Raleigh City Council voted to adopt a resolution of intent to lease the Stone’s Warehouse property to the Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina. According to the city, the foundation will enter into an option to assign…
By The Raleigh Telegram GREENSBORO – Duke Energy is facing intense criticism in at least one North Carolina city that is known for its tree-lined streets and green neighborhoods. The City of Greensboro in Guilford County is mulling over new regulations after dozens of complaints that tree cutting crews were…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – Many North Carolina gun owners and gun enthusiasts are worried that new gun proposals that go far beyond an assault rifle ban would make many of the otherwise law abiding 80 million Americans who are gun owners into criminals if they do not register…
By Guest Editorial, Special To The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – The Raleigh Telegram publishes letters to the editor as long as they meet our criteria for publication. The Telegram recently received a letter from the Occupy Raleigh group which has criticized the City of Raleigh’s panhandling ordinances as being too…
By D.G. Martin, The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – They “disfranchised us, and now we intend to disfranchise them.” It sounds like what North Carolina Republicans might have said behind closed doors while they were gerrymandering legislative and congressional districts to assure their party’s continuing dominance. However, the words came from…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – U.S. Congressman George Holding (Republican, 13th District) has announced that he is co-sponsoring a bill in the House of Representatives that would amend the United States Constitution. According to Holding’s office, the bill would require that the federal government operate on a balanced budget.…
By Gary Robertson, Special To The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – Pat McCrory was officially installed as North Carolina’s governor today, getting sworn in during a brief, low-key ceremony that belied momentous changes marked by new Republican dominance within state government. Chief Justice Sarah Parker administered the oath of office to…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – The Raleigh City Council is going to be holding a public hearing next month to accept public input to allow a vacant warehouse owned by the city to be turned into living and working spaces for artists by a private developer. The large brick…
By D.G. Martin, The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – How are the North Carolina Democratic Party and the National Republican Party alike? That is easy. Both lost elections this fall and do not know what to do about it. It is particularly humiliating for North Carolina Democrats. They have to face…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – A secret agreement that was uncovered by the News & Observer newspaper at the end of last year has revealed that former North Carolina first lady Mary Easley will have her annual state funded retirement pay boosted from $37,171 to $80,597 a year for…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – With all the talk of a “fiscal cliff,” many people have been eager to contact their Congressman to provide comments on the issue. However, due to lines for United States Congressional districts being redrawn this year, many folks in the Triangle may not be…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – United States Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) has recently stated that she is opposed to the immediate implementation of the new tax on biomedical devices that will start on January 1st, 2013 under Obamacare health care plan. The senator is urging a delay in the…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – The Raleigh City Council voted to approve new rules for city businesses and non-profits, expanding some options and restricting other aspects of the city ordinances. The Raleigh City Council voted unanimously to make the changes. According to the City Public Affairs offices, a summary…
By VOA, Reprinted By The Raleigh Telegram WASHINGTON – North Korea appears to be moving ahead with preparations to launch a long-range rocket, despite international condemnation. South Korean media quoted government officials saying Tuesday that North Korea is preparing the second and third stages of its launch vehicle at the…
By James Brooke, VOA, Reprinted By The Raleigh Telegram MOSCOW — Americans may have seen the downside of climate change when Hurricane Sandy bashed into New Jersey and New York City in October. Some scientists say melting Arctic ice helped to create the largest Atlantic hurricane on record. Russians and…
By Jim Malone, VOA, Reprinted By The Raleigh Telegram WASHINGTON — The U.S. Republican Party has begun a period of introspection following President Barack Obama’s re-election victory on November 6. Debates about the future of the Republican Party began right after Mitt Romney conceded defeat on Election Night. “This election…
By D.G. Martin, The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – All over North Carolina, people are still grieving the loss of UNC President Emeritus William Friday. At the same time they are enjoying sharing memories of how Friday touched them. I want to be a part of the storytelling by sharing a…
By Scott Stearns, VOA, Reprinted By The Raleigh Telegram WASHINGTON DC – The United States is concerned about Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi taking on broader powers, saying it does not want to see too much authority resting in too few hands. The president’s decree has sparked protests by opposition activists,…
By Dan Robinson, VOA, Reprinted By The Raleigh Telegram PHNOM PENH — On the final day of his Southeast Asia trip, President Barack Obama met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia It was…
By Michael Lipin, VOA, Reprinted By The Raleigh Telegram MIDDLE EAST – Israel’s Iron Dome missile shield appears to be passing its first major test, stopping hundreds of Gaza rockets from hitting Israeli communities in recent days. But that test also has revealed several weaknesses in the year-old U.S.-backed system.…
By Dr. Robert Moore, The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – We are a divided and fractious electorate, but most of us share a common relief that the 2012 election is over. Nonetheless, the November 6th results are surprisingly illuminating and suggest we have much to understand about our country and ourselves.…
By D.G. Martin, The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – Why did Romney win? Well, of course, he didn’t. But it was close. And if he had won, how would the experts be explaining it? Maybe like this: 1. First Debate. Romney’s surprising and convincing win over a lackluster Obama turned the…
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH – On the ABC network’s Sunday morning political talk show “This Week,” former Republican House speaker Newt Gingrich said in a roundtable discussion that Mitt Romney’s statements after losing the Presidential election were “nuts.” In a phone call to donors, Romney said after losing the…
