Recent editorials from North Carolina newspapers:

Sept. 4

The News & Observer of Raleigh on the passing of Hurricane Earl:

Long-time observers of East Coast hurricanes know well that it takes just a few degrees variance in direction to turn a storm passing some distance from shore into a landfall with devastating consequences. This time, North Carolina's coast avoided that devastation when Hurricane Earl moved north in the Atlantic and spared the Outer Banks from serious damage.

Of course, N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island was under water and sand in some parts, and winds and water lashed homes and did minor damage. Earl's unwelcome visit was brief. By the morning of Sept. 3, bridges were reopening and merchants and rental property owners were hoping folks would stay with plans to enjoy the symbolic last weekend of summer leisure and Labor Day. A hurricane or even the threat of one is no minor matter for businesses on the coast that rely almost exclusively on vacationers for their livelihoods.

Additional good news was that the state's emergency preparedness forces performed well in anticipation of trouble. Evacuations were wisely ordered, bridges closed and the entire situation was closely monitored. There appeared to be little disruption, and by morning, most coastal residents (though some doubtless suffered losses) seemed to be enjoying a little relief. ...

Those who make careers of gathering data and keeping track of long-term trends in the risks and consequences of severe weather knew that the degree of building development right on the shoreline has heightened the chances of tremendous damage when a big storm scores a direct hit. The state has wrestled with the issue of limiting coastal development for years; the match is far from settled.

That's an issue Gov. Beverly Perdue needs to address as well, along with getting together in the literal wake of this storm with emergency officials and environmental officials to see how the state might yet do better in its preparations.

The governor declared the state had "dodged a bullet." But it is a long way until November, and no cease-fire is in sight.

Online:

http://www.newsobserver.com

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Sept. 3

Winston-Salem Journal on banning "fake" marijuana:

As the government learned in the 1960s, the fight against drug abuse evolves constantly. LSD, developed for different purposes and once used by the CIA, became the psychedelic drug of choice, and Congress had to make its possession a felony in 1968.

"Spice" and "K2" are brand names for what is essentially synthetic cannabis and they are being sold as incense in head shops around North Carolina and the nation. But the laboratory-developed, leafy green herb is really just a legal substitute for marijuana.

The General Assembly should follow the lead of Tennessee, five other states and many European countries that have banned what young users call "fake weed."

The mood-altering drug raises blood pressure and heart rates. Those familiar with the drug say that its effects on mood cannot be anticipated. It is more dangerous than natural marijuana in terms of agitating users and leading them to vomit. Livescience.com reported in March that some users have hallucinated while on the drug. ...

It was only last year that the Legislature banned salvia, another herbal product that had been legal for years. Salvia had hallucinogenic effects similar to those of LSD and psilocybin.

It would likely take a chemist to explain why fake weed is not already illegal in the U.S., given its molecular similarities to marijuana. But law-enforcement officials have determined that sales of Spice and K2 are legal.

It's time to change the law. State Sen. William Purcell, D-Scotland, a medical doctor and sponsor of the salvia bill, says he'll investigate the drug and, if re-elected, report to the Senate. The evidence looks convincing that this is a drug whose possession and use by the public should be illegal.

Online:

http://www2.journalnow.com

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Sept. 2

Asheville Citizen-Times on expanding broadband in western North Carolina:

The railroad opened Asheville and Western North Carolina to trade, tourism and industry back in the 19th century. Interstate highways made the same inroads in the middle of the 20th century. Broadband is the latest infrastructure that will open our schools and businesses to the global economy of knowledge workers in the 21st century.

There are only 100 miles, as the proverbial crow flies, between Asheville and Oak Ridge, Tenn., home to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the nation's supercomputers, but data doesn't just fly invisibly through the air. In fact, there has been no straight-shot as far as telecommunications links go between Knoxville, Tenn, and Western North Carolina. A computer user in Sylva crunching numbers or accessing huge databases at Oak Ridge was backhauled through Charlotte, then routed north toward Virginia or south to Atlanta, to make his or her way electronically to Tennessee. That journey took only a few seconds, but that extra mileage meant extra dollars to the user.

BalsamWest FiberNet has scouted out a route that would cross the mountains directly into Tennessee and hooking into Knoxville. Working with BalsamWest, the Raleigh-based nonprofit MCNC will use part of $75 million in federal stimulus funds to build a 19-mile connection from Robbinsville to Santeetlah Dam, according to David Hubbs, BalsamWest CEO. In a few years, this fiberoptic network will be completed over into Knoxville, allowing businesses and Internet providers to offer super-fast connections at a lower cost. ...

The federal stimulus was billed not only as recovery but investment with $7.2 billion earmarked nationwide for broadband build-out that will serve the nation well and especially rural areas when the economy returns to full strength. North Carolina has received $255 million of those funds. ...

Investments through federal stimulus in the broadband pipelines that brings the world and critical data via the Internet to our scientists, government agencies, businesses and our students will likely bring more jobs and prosperity when our economy finally gains traction and starts a real recovery.

Online:

http://www.citizen-times.com