Columnists

When UNC System BOG Chair Randy Ramsey was quoted recently relevant to efforts by two members of the East Carolina University Board of Trustees to influence a potential student representative’s vote, he expressed significant frustration, even saying he would like to relieve the entire group.

Eastern North Carolina is unfortunately all too familiar with the human and financial cost of natural disasters. In recent years, Hurricanes Matthew, Florence and Dorian have caused historic flooding damage that has left many of our neighbors without homes and many of our communities with in…

For many months now, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and the Republican-led General Assembly have been at an impasse. The legislature enacted a state budget plan for the 2019-20 fiscal year that included pay raises for teachers and state employees, more state funds for school construction, and mo…

Last week’s news that McClatchy newspapers were declaring bankruptcy wasn’t a complete surprise. There have been rumors, but that organization isn’t alone, as industry ad revenues have plummeted and paid circulations have dropped precipitously.

Last week’s news that McClatchy newspapers were declaring bankruptcy wasn’t a complete surprise. There have been rumors, but that organization isn’t alone, as industry ad revenues have plummeted and paid circulations have dropped precipitously.

Attorney General William Barr is looking into the murky origins of the politically charged Justice Department investigations that have roiled American public life for the last three years.

Back in 2016, presidential candidate Donald Trump promised that Mexico would pay for his proposed border wall. Turns out Mexico wasn’t interested, so Trump eventually resorted to declaring fake emergencies and illegally misappropriating money from the military budget.

The John Bolton I experienced at Duke’s Dave and Kay Phillips lecture series Monday wasn’t what I expected. My impressions of the former National Security Adviser were that he was highly opinionated, sometimes blunt and caustic, a highly intelligent policy wonk who was equally articulate. I …

In 2018, Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order on climate change that, among other things, established a goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions in North Carolina by 40 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2025.

The Democrats who impeached President Trump knew they did not have a prayer of removing him from office. But they also knew impeachment might have another effect — to weaken the president and reduce his chances of winning re-election in November.

The Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary are history, and soon it won’t be about expectations anymore, it will be about winning votes — and delegates. That will include a popular platform, great debating skills, presidential gravitas and a degree of charisma, which a catchy slogan can onl…