By Vicki Smith

A year ago, a new advocacy group for North Carolinians with disabilities was launched. Over the past 12 months, the staff of the new organization – Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) – has learned a lot. Not only did we learn mundane things, like how to use the new database and fill out timesheets, we had to develop and then learn critical policies and protocols related to working with clients. In short, we had to become experts in the complexities of the systems designed to serve North Carolinians with disabilities.
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By Bill Wilson

Congress is embroiled in a debate over Medicare while older adults get ready to reach deeper and deeper into their pockets to pay for their health coverage. Medicare beneficiaries are willing to pay their fair share. They expect their premiums to go up, but they should not have to shoulder an extra hike that results from a flawed payment system for doctors.

Medicare pays for doctors’ services according to a national fee schedule. Under current law,
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By Chris Fitzsimon

The full Senate budget proposal was on display Tuesday in the Senate Appropriations Committee and there were few surprises in it, as many of the key decisions were released in sparsely attended subcommittee meetings late Monday afternoon.

There wasn’t much of a debate Tuesday either. Most of the two-hour budget committee meeting was filled with explanations of the bill that most senators got their first look at sometime Monday night.
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Comparing Boone to Carrboro … by the numbers

By Brian Voyce

Carrboro rulers love to compare themselves to Paris, France. But the town with the mightily overblown “Paris of the Piedmont” moniker is more appropriately compared to the town of Boone. Both are in North Carolina. Both are subject to the same municipal rules and laws from the state Legislature. Both are towns with a public university as the economic engine. Both are in the state-designated category of towns between 10,000 and 50,000 in population and roughly the same size (Boone, 14,473 and Carrboro, 18,611). Both do not incorporate an electrical utility in town financials. Both have had a population increase over the past five years of about 7 to 8 percent. Both are “blue” towns politically, compared to the rest of the state.
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Special Events

Potluck in a Pasture — local food, local farm, local arts and music. Share organic food and recipes with neighbors. June 29, 6-8pm. Contact 219-9840.

Create ‘08 — June 20-22. 190 Sycamore Trail, Prospect Hill (N of Hillsborough). Live music, camping, open mic, community art, dance, workshops, kid stuff and more. $20 in advance for 3 days, $30 at gate. Day tickets $10. createnc.org
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The Carolina Kids Classic charity golf tournament celebrates its 20-year anniversary today (Thursday) and features coaches Butch Davis, Roy Williams and Dean Smith. The tournament has raised over $2.5 million since it began. The money is donated to the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, the North Carolina Children’s Hospital and the Childhood Trust, agencies advocating for children and families in the state.

Kidzu is closed until July 10 to prepare for its new exhibit, “KidZoom: The Power of Creativity,” opening July 11. KidZoom will encourage children to be creative in all aspects of living and features creative work by local artists and artisans. While the museum is closed, they will offer “Kidzu Around Town” programs at various Triangle venues. For information, see www.kidzuchildrenmuseum.org.