For the love of money

It would be sad if it were just a slip — a moment of weakness in an otherwise distinguished career. But it wasn’t, and while certainly there are sad parts to the decline and fall of former House Speaker Jim Black, most of the story is and should be an infuriating example of the level to which “business as usual” has sunk in state government.

Jones Street, be it the legislature or the administration down the block, is awash in influence peddling — some of it perfectly legal and aboveboard, but driven just the same by readily available cash and eager hands to rake it in.    More »

By Kirk Ross

Did progressives in North Carolina get screwed by Democratic successes in the past election?

That’s the uncomfortable question being asked around the state by people who thought that an increased margin would give Dems enough confidence to advance key issues, mainly in the area of health care.

But in a turn that reveals the mysterious physics of politics, the increase of a majority in the legislature — mainly in the Senate — has sent state policy into retrograde in a couple of key areas.   More »

By Chris Fitzsimon 

House and Senate leaders continue to make steady progress in resolving the differences between the two chambers’ spending plans as lawmakers continue their push to pass a final budget by Friday.

That deadline seems difficult to meet unless they come to an agreement on taxes and a plan for the state to take over the county share of Medicaid, two topics that hover over all the predictions about reaching a final budget, though legislative leaders aren’t saying much about either one.

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Editor’s note: We neglected to run this letter from our friend Roland Giduz in time for Hillsborough’s Hog Day festival, but its message is still clear. Here it is — with apologies for the delay.

It should be Hogg day
Everybody is happy about the occasion of the 25th annual Hog Day on June 15 in Hillsborough. It’s a fine celebration that has become the premiere festival in this Land of Orange.

But the sponsors are yet dreadfully missing the boat. It should rightfully and proudly also be celebrated as Hogg Day. By this homonym it would also recognize one of Hillsborough’s and North Carolina’s historically most important citizens - James Hogg.

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By Barry Jacobs

The deed is done. The fun is over. The Orange County budget has been adopted for the fiscal year that started on July 1.

OK, I’m exaggerating — the budget process is not fun. Balancing competing interests and demands within perpetual financial constraints is challenging and bracing, but not most folks’ idea of a good time.

Funding choices reveal our county’s concerns, priorities, beliefs, needs and aspirations. And, unlike the state Legislature’s budget process, the county commissioners make their judgments in the full light of day, our every deliberation a public session, with ample opportunities for residents to speak their minds and to make their cases.

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By Anthony Fleg 

As Sicko, Michael Moore’s new “comedy about 45 million people with no health care in the richest country on Earth” prepares to open in a few days, I am more and more convinced that our current health care system is truly sick, overrun with profit motives that are like aggressive cancers, waiting to eat us alive.

As a medical student here at UNC, I appreciate the focus on health care reform by the presidential candidates as a good sign that there is willpower for change. However, the content and framing of this conversation, focusing on the “problem” of the uninsured, fails to address the root problem: A health care system driven by unchecked profit motives will not produce equity in health.  More »

By Erica Eisdorfer

My colleague at the Bull’s Head read The Pesthouse by the novelist Jim Crace and really loved it. We often appreciate the same sorts of books, so armed with her advice I took it home, where my husband, as is his wont, snatched it away and wouldn’t let me have it back. He loved it. When he’d finished it and I was able to get my hands on it, he went to The Bookshop and bought a used copy of Being Dead, also by Jim Crace.

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Dr. Randall Williams Evans, 51, died unexpectedly on July 6 at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC, surrounded by family and many friends who will miss him dearly.

Randy was born to Robert B. and Elizabeth N. Evans on September 1, 1955 in Minneapolis, MN. Growing up in Atlanta, Randy attended Christ the King School and Westminster Academy. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1977, received a masters degree from Trinity College in San Antonio, and received a PhD from United States International University in San Diego. He obtained a post-doctoral fellowship from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Lowry Matthews Betts, 76, died peacefully at his home, Araby Farm, near Pittsboro on Monday, July 9, 2007.

A native of Columbia, SC, he was born September 20, 1930, the third of four sons of Erskine Moore Betts and Ellen Dendy Betts, who predeceased him.

He attended the Columbia public schools and graduated from the University of South Carolina with an A.B. degree in Art and Philosophy in 1953. On July 5, 1952, he was married to the former Doris Waugh of Statesville, NC and they moved to Chapel Hill where he entered the School of Law. A member of the Law Review, he received his J.D. degree there in 1956. That fall he began the practice of law in Sanford, NC with J.C. Pittman and W.W. Station, in the firm which became Pittman, Station and Betts.
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Gary Hunter Williams, 46, of Chapel Hill, born July 28, 1960, fought tremendously throughout his battle with colon cancer for 23 months. Gary lost his battle and was called home on July 7, 2007 at Durham Regional Hospital.

Gary was a 1978 graduate of Chapel Hill School and went on to graduate from Vance Granville Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy. He joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in December 1994. In addition, Gary and his family owned and operated Bodyworks Fitness and Aerobics and Dollar Hut in Hillsborough for a number of years.

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Mixed Media show for Leslie Goodrich of Madison County, NC.  Leslie’s pieces are made from wood, paint, metal, found objects and recycled goods.

Art & Museums
BIRDS, BATS & BOTANICALS - scratchboards by Renee Seaman Treml. Through Jul 30. Nested, 338-8023, www.nestedhome.com

COOPERATIVE GALLERY CREATED & OWNED BY LOCAL ARTISTS - featuring original painting, photography, clay, sculpture, fabric, wood, glass, jewelry & other traditional & contemporary fine art & crafts. Ongoing. Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, 732-5001, www.HillsboroughGallery.com

HANDCRAFTED ITEMS - including paintings, carvings, molas, textiles & fabrics, ceramics, beads & jewelry from West Africa, the Middle East, Central America & the US collected over years of traveling. Ongoing. Dirt Road Gallery, 933-6999, www.dirtroadgallery.net

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Seniors/Wellness Program
ORANGE COUNTY SENIORSTRIDERS - A University Mall-walking program designed for all levels of walkers. 8:00am exercise warm-up, breakfast at Bear Rock, and health talk by local health experts on a variety of topics. Orange County residents age 55 and older. Free. 3rd Wed of every month. 968-2073.

Groups
DURHAM-ORANGE QUILTERS’ GUILD – Mon, Jul 16, 7:30pm. Grace Church, 200 Sage Rd., Chapel Hill. Program features local origami artist Helen Wolfson. 544-3285 http://www.durhamorangequilters.com/

MEDITATION - Practices of Tibetan Buddhism: Shinay, Tonglen & Deity Practice. Everyone is welcome. Piedmont KTC Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center. www.piedmontktc.org. 933-2138.

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The ten-minute theater short Back Roads, written by Stephanie Walker and directed by Jill Greeson, tells a story of a car trip gone wrong.

The ArtsCenter will present the sixth annual 10 by 10 theater festival, July 12-22. The festival features ten theatrical shorts each ten minutes long. Ten actors from Triangle companies will perform. Admission is $10. The shows begin at 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sundays.

The shorts were chosen from over 400 submitted scripts. Several of the selected playwrights have been featured in past 10 by 10 shows.  Eight guest directors directed the plays.

On Saturday, July 14, the ArtsCenter will host a Playwright’s Gala, where audiences may meet the playwrights after the show. And on the 21st, audiences will be able to meet with the casts and crews.

Richard Buckner will perform at the Cat’s Cradle on Sunday, July 15th at 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 12
The Cave: Early: Dollface. Late: The Proclivities, The Bee Team.
Local 506: Pela, Hammer No More the Fingers. 10pm. $8
Weaver Street Market: Milagro Saints. 6pm

Friday, July 13
Cat’s Cradle: Gorilla Productions Battle of the Bands. 8:30 pm. $10
The Cave: Early: The Stalking Horses. Late: The Big Lazy, The Moaners.
Local 506: St. Vincent, Scout Niblett. 9:30pm. $10
Open Eye Café: Jonathan Hepner. 8pm

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The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education meets Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Center on Merritt Mill Road. The board will consider the budget for the 2007-08 school year. Here’s the agenda:

7:00 p.m. Call to Order
7:01 p.m. Approval of Agenda
7:02 p.m. Opportunity for SIT Comments
7:07 p.m. Opportunity for Teacher Organization Comments
7:12 p.m. Opportunity for High School Student Representative Comments
7:17 p.m. Opportunity for Citizen Comments
7:40 p.m. Budget for the 2007-08 School Year
9:00 p.m. Sharing with Board/Superintendent