Monday's Short Stack
More money but less travel?
The hubbub over Mary Easley’s expensive European travels hadn’t begun to subside last week when news arrived of her 88 percent pay raise at N.C. State. North Carolina’s first lady, an “executive in residence and senior lecturer” in the provost’s office, was given more responsibilities and bumped up from $90,000 to $170,000 a year on July 1.
Her “commitment to public service” was mentioned by State’s chief academic officer as one asset she brings to the position. That sounds like another way of saying “governor’s wife.”
On the bright side: The bigger job in Raleigh might keep Mrs. Easley from traveling so much.
Governor also gets some love
Although the Easleys were taking their lumps in the North Carolina media last week, the governor did get a lift from the National Education Association. The teachers’ organization gave him its “America’s Greatest Education Governor Award” at its annual meeting in Washington for his “achievements in transforming public education in North Carolina.” It cited Easley’s promotion of programs like More at Four and Learn and Earn.
The “transformation” isn’t so obvious here, but Easley has worked hard to secure more funding — primarily through the creation of a state lottery — for preschool programs, college opportunities and school construction. And, as the NEA surely has noticed, he’s pushed for higher teacher salaries.
The governor had a rough week, so it was nice for him that he could close it with a few cheers. And favorable publicity about public education in North Carolina, whether entirely deserved or not, is never a bad thing.
Satan, sex and assault?
In a bizarre case in Durham, a husband and wife have been arrested following allegations of satanic rituals, kidnapping and sexual assault.
The plot thickens. The wife, Joy Suzanne Johnson, 30, just happens to be a former third vice chairwoman of the Durham County Democratic Party and vice chairwoman of the Young Democrats there.
Among the couple’s alleged actions: imprisoning a man in a dog cage for hours and depriving him of food and water.
Despite some predictable sneers on the blogosphere, however, the Durham community at large seems to be withholding judgment.
This looks bad, but Durham learned the hard way not to leap to conclusions.
Leave the driving to us
Crank up the PART buses and they will come. Well, maybe in time.
The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation’s new commuter routes linking Randolph and Davidson counties with Greensboro and Winston-Salem got off to a slow start last week.
PART officials, however, are confident that once word spreads and park-and-ride lots are finished, the routes will be as popular as the Surry Express run between Mount Airy and Winston-Salem. Scheduled stops at shopping centers, hospitals, schools and downtown should attract a wide audience. There may not be a savings in time, but PART’s reasonable fares beat filling the family SUV at $4 a gallon.
No-parking zones
Telling people what to do on private property is a touchy issue. Remember that infamous purple house in Westerwood?
Now, in Winston-Salem, they’re fighting over whether residents should be allowed to park cars in their yards. Community standards versus individual rights, Round 3,485. The Winston-Salem City Council will discuss an ordinance tonight.
Some neighborhoods can be downright persnickety about rules. Still, lawns do seem to be better suit
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