Tag Archives: Burlington Times-News

Sunday sampler

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Some great journalism on the front pages of the state’s newspapers this morning.

The News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer begins what promises to be a compelling — and shocking — five-part series on how much money hospitals are making. Here are just two of the bullet points:

* They’ve made their money largely from employer-sponsored health insurance, often inflating prices on drugs and procedures – sometimes to three, four or 10 times over costs. North Carolina hospital costs are more than 10 percent higher than the national average for Aetna, said Jarvis Leigh, a network vice president.

* They’ve hiked their fees each year, leaving many patients with crippling debt. Some hospitals have sued thousands of patients, while others have turned to collection agencies to pursue debtors.

Fayetteville Observer — The paper always pays close attention to the No. 1 industry in town — the military. Right now, it is paying close attention to complaints that the Army isn’t taking care of its own. Good stuff.

Burlington Times-News and the Hickory Daily Record - Stories focusing on the pros and cons of the marriage amendment — plus a FAQs – dominate the front pages. It’s the hottest issue on the primary ballot and deserving of such coverage.

 

When coaches and refs cuss: what he said

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Did referee Brian Dorsey curse at N.C. State Coach Mark Gottfried in yesterday’s ACC semi-final match between Carolina and State? Apparently so.

During the game, Adam Smith of the Burlington Times-News tweeted: Gottfried: “That’s a charge!” Ref Brian Dorsey: “Shut your #$%^&& ass up!” He went on to tweet that the word preceding ass started with an f.

State fans erupted. Already incensed at the officiating, the exchange heightened things.

For decades, all but two of the Atlantic Coast Conference institutions have almost uniformly acknowledged that the conference has a major problem with officiating incompetence and double standards. Maybe some of the ‘good’ news about yet ANOTHER public implosion of John Swofford and John Clougherty’s officiating cabal will be some change is on the way.

That’s from statefansnation. I won’t quote from any of the comment boards.

Ed Hardin of the News & Record tells a slightly different story in his column for the newspaper (in the e-edition):

“That’s (expletive)!” Mark Gottfried, the N.C. State coach screamed at referee Brian Dorsey in the chaotic closing seconds of the game. “That’s a (expletive) charge!”

Dorsey cussed right back at Gottfried.

Then later:

Gottfired was told to “back up” more than once, and his red-faced glare was ignored throughout the game. He could have been teed up any number of times.

In the end, Gottfried was pounding his fist into his hands and screaming vulgarities at the top of his lungs at Dorsey.

I couldn’t find any other reference to the exchange in other papers. Perhaps sportwriters are simply used to the cursing on the sidelines. What fan hasn’t been able to read the lips of coaches and players cussing at officials, at each other and to themselves? Say what you will about the wholesome educational atmosphere engendered at our state institutions.

I looked at the Burlington Times-News this morning to see how Adam Smith described the incident for his non-Twitter readers, but see no reference to the Gottfried-Dorsey conversation. (I looked online; I could have missed it.) I’ve messaged editor Madison Taylor about it. I will post his response when I get it.

Update: Actually, Madison wrote about it on his blog. (I should have known. He’s the best blogging editor in the state.)

Because I was monitoring the game on Twitter and watching on TV, I saw Adam’s post when he sent it. I knew right away it could be radioactive. I follow a lot of sports writers and fans. I already knew the N.C. State crowd was seething — and with decent reason. Not long after the game, State Fans Nation, a blog that covers Wolfpack athletics for fans picked up on Adam’s observation. By then, it had a life of its own.

“I’m a little uncomfortable about it to tell you the truth,” Adam told me. “It’s not like this never happens.”

Adam went on to explain that language among coaches is frequently of the &##^#& variety, especially when dealing with officials — Gottfried included. He didn’t see any reason not to report this exchange.

It goes on. Read the whole thing.

 

Sunday sampler

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It’s a good day for interesting, unexpected stories on the front pages of the state’s papers.

Asheville Citizen-Times: When a law enforcement officer shoots someone in the line of duty, it’s important to examine what happened and why. The paper reported that officers are rarely charged with a crime, which may be fine, but it’s hard for the public to tell.  The SBI  typically investigates those shootings. The findings are submitted to local district attorneys and are almost always withheld from the public.

Burlington Times-News: Three years ago, a 39-year-old woman never made it to her expected destination, her mother’s house. She disappeared and investigators are still looking for her. As television seems to select missing women stories to focus on, it’s a wonder they didn’t choose this one.

The Charlotte Observer: Finally, a look at the appeal of Danica Patrick beyond the cliche. To some racing fans, Patrick’s arrival is irritating, based on a perception she doesn’t belong in the sport because she didn’t grow up in it and, perhaps, because she’s female. To others, she’s the perfect package of style, speed and sexiness in a sport that has never been known for its diversity.

The Fayetteville Observer: How well does a program for wounded soldiers care for our vets? Not all that great. The report also uncovered concerns that the battalion’s physically wounded and mentally impaired soldiers were being overmedicated, partly because of a lack of communication and controls. The report quotes one command team member as saying, “half of the warriors are ‘stoned’ on psychotropic drugs.”
The News & Observer: For everyone who believes that lawmakers see themselves as deserving of better treatment than their constituents — I’m one — this will cause you to grit your teeth. A cadre of veteran state lawmakers will retire at the end of the year – and special perks in state law allow them to land with a financial parachute….A North Carolina law that allows the state’s part-time lawmakers to add an expense stipend to their base salary when calculating retirement benefits boosts their pensions by more than 30 percent, according to a News & Observer analysis. The percentage of salary lawmakers receive as an annual payout also is more than double the rate afforded most state workers.

Sunday sampler

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When I look at newspaper front pages, I’m seeking a surprise — something that tells me something I don’t know and that I want to know. So stories about the S.C. primary results, which I knew at dinnertime last night and which ran non-stop on news channels all night, aren’t going to catch my attention. (Stories about it dominate many of the state’s front pages.)

But these did:

From the News & Observer: A state prison doctor gets $201,000 a year treating patients, and then double dips with another state job, getting $50,000 more. And the reader is pretty much left with the idea that he can’t possibly do both jobs. He declines to comment and his boss at the state doesn’t address the issue. Your government at work. Sweet.

From the Statesville Record & Landmark: A piece about an Iredell County commissioner who would have been on the wrecked cruise ship off Italy except for a county commissioners meeting. He’d have been on the size that’s now underwater, too.

From the News & Record: A hero story about a guy who went to the aid of some people in a traffic accident and ended up getting hurt himself. The writing of the tale is as compelling as the act itself.

From the Burlington Times-News:  The paper updates the status of 637 registered voters who may or may not be citizens. Along the way, it gives some insight into how the investigation took place and whether voter fraud is truly a serious issue worth pursuing.

Madison Taylor, blogging editor

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I live in Winston-Salem. I have the Winston-Salem Journal delivered every morning.  But I don’t feel like I know anyone there.  The paper doesn’t have a “voice”,  at least not one that I can hear.  The closest thing to its voice is the editor’s column in the op-ed section.

In fairness to the Journal I think that the “voice” issue is the same for the vast majority of newspapers.  But unfortunately for the Journal they happen to be juxtaposed with the Greensboro News & Record. The N&R is making national (maybe even international) headlines, at least in the publishing sector and the nascent blogosphere, because it is embracing the newest in publishing paradigms: the blog….

Anyway, it would probably pain the editor at the Journal (I have no idea what his/her name is) to know that I feel like I’m on a first name basis with the editor of the Greensboro News & Record (Hi John!).  If I happen across a hot story or issue, who do you think I’m going to ping with it?

Jon Lowder wrote that on his blog in January 2005. We had never met, but he felt he knew me because he read my blog, and I his.

For me, now, that role is filled by Madison Taylor, editor of the Times-News in Burlington. I don’t get that paper, and have never met Taylor. But I read his blog and am a friend of his on Facebook. He writes about the paper, about visiting politicos, about Times-News alums, and about issues in Alamance County and N.C. I feel like I know him and feel affiliated with the paper. He does a tremendous job demystifying the paper and connecting with people. Plus, he’s engaging and funny — perfect for social media.

North Carolina has a number of blogging editors, but too many of them post infrequently or only promote the paper. If you have favorite editors in the state who blog or are on Facebook or Twitter, let me know. I’d like to follow them.

Putting public interest second

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Yesterday, I was puzzled that more newspapers didn’t see the late-night early morning session of the General Assembly as front-page news. (I know it happened past most deadlines, but the AP had a story available.)

More newspapers got on board this morning, thanks to strong statements by the governor and NCAE yesterday. Stories about the furtive session made the front pages of Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston, Fayetteville, Burlington, Asheville, Salisbury and Greenville, among others. Editorials in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro and Wilmington condemned the action.

Good politics and good government are not contradictory. You just need legislators who put the public interest first.