The two least surprising pieces of news out of Election Day in Alamance County were the following: First: Incumbent District Attorney Pat Nadolski lost to challenger and one-time colleague Sean Boone in the Republican primary. And second: Subsequently Nadolski was not immediately available for comment about it. Absolutely no politician wants to talk to the … Continue reading The separation of law enforcement, justice and politics
Community
Shame on display (Updated with more details)
My longtime friend Lisa Ashmore messaged me Sunday night with a question. She noted the recent opening of the new Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Incarceration as well as the National Memorial for Peace and Justice both in Montgomery, Alabama. While exploring the website for these two joined projects -- one marking the horrifying legacy … Continue reading Shame on display (Updated with more details)
A county politician’s education karma; or, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Lashley
I know Bill Lashley. I don't know him well, but I have spoken to him several times over the years. He's always unfailingly polite and often complimentary when I have encountered him. He is engaging, doesn't mind a laugh and is friendly to passersby the times I've watched him at Fourth Fridays in downtown Burlington. … Continue reading A county politician’s education karma; or, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Lashley
Just the facts, adjusted of course for . . .
The subject was billed as "The Rise and Fall of the Fact." And while it sounds like a treatise in current events, in reality it was a brief history of the world. And who better to talk about facts than a law professor who teaches a course at Harvard University called "The History of Evidence." … Continue reading Just the facts, adjusted of course for . . .
Remembering April 1, 1993, when a shooting spree rocked Burlington
Update on Aug. 11, 2019: The New York Times today published a telling story that examines the lives of recent mass shooters in the United States. No one is surprised that all are men, but also nearly all expressed anger or hatred toward women in a variety of ways to friends, via internet chat rooms, … Continue reading Remembering April 1, 1993, when a shooting spree rocked Burlington
Town of Elon’s ‘parklets’ are more than talk now
The town of Elon started talking about "parklets" in the fall of 2017. Last week I saw the start of what the downtown additions are going to look like. Up to now, the parklet idea was merely a concept, something conceived on the West Coast to turn small areas into places where people can sit, … Continue reading Town of Elon’s ‘parklets’ are more than talk now
Monitoring breaking news: About that ticker at Elon
Nine days ago on March 13 a sharply divided Elon town Board of Aldermen decided to alter its existing law regarding electronic signs and allow Elon University to begin operating a non-stop news ticker outside the School of Communications, on Citrone Plaza overlooking the main drag -- Williamson Avenue. The ticker had been shut down … Continue reading Monitoring breaking news: About that ticker at Elon
Throwback Thursday: Five years ago we noted a special day in Burlington
Five years ago this week -- on March 19 -- we managed to pull the wool over the eyes of Don Bolden, a retired newspaper reporter and editor, editor emeritus of the Times-News, historian, community leader and community treasure. He's also the guy who originally hired me at the Times-News in 1984, but don't hold … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: Five years ago we noted a special day in Burlington
Words and ideas from elected leaders really do matter
Friday morning as I prepared to leave for work I checked my Facebook newsfeed. I usually gaze for a few minutes at it and the Twitter feed to see what might have happened overnight. Could be news, sports, commentary or mainly just plain everyday human crap disguised as thought. Lately there is way too much … Continue reading Words and ideas from elected leaders really do matter
Happy birthday James Madison, a believer in open government
Today (Friday March 16) is the birthday of James Madison, a primary architect of the U.S. Constitution and the fourth president of the United States. He is one of those "Founding Fathers" folks in politics are fond of referencing repeatedly -- usually after they symbolically spit upon what the Founding Fathers espoused. Yeah, the United … Continue reading Happy birthday James Madison, a believer in open government
Madison's Avenue 