Peace at Christmas
It was Christmas Eve 1914. World War I was in its early stages and trench warfare was the rule of the day. Soldiers on opposing sides could hear the bullets whistling overhead coming from trenches... Read More
My Spin by Tom Campbell
Who should be the NC SPIN Tar Heel of the Year?
Every year, at year's end, our NC SPIN panelists and I select one person or group to be named the NC SPIN Tar Heel of the Year. As you might expect, these selections often come from the political... Read More
We need a little Christmas
Have you driven around North Carolina recently? More people have decorated with outdoor lights, blowups and festive displays than we’ve seen in years. I believe I know why. It’s been a really hard... Read More
The ideal 2019 New Year's resolution
While many are fretting over the just-right Christmas present, tackling last-minute holiday details or preparing for years-end, many of North Carolina’s high school seniors have the added stress of... Read More
Yes, Mark Harris, there is a Santa Clause
Back in 1897, an eight-year-old girl, prompted by naysaying friends, wrote The New York Sun wanting the truth about the existence of Santa Claus. Today that letter might be answered by apparent... Read More
This Thanksgiving was different
Instead of going over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house we traveled east this Thanksgiving. It was comforting to see that most of the furniture, downed trees and debris that had... Read More
Will there be "closed" signs leading into rural counties?
After more than a year dangling the carrot to Raleigh and other communities Amazon finally announced their choices for their HQ2 project. Once again Raleigh didn’t win the proposed 50,000 jobs and... Read More
What we need this Thanksgiving
As a young boy I remember hearing the stories about that first Thanksgiving, when the Pilgrims and Indians feasted together. The romanticized fable pictures everyone around long tables sharing food... Read More
Margaret Spellings deserved better
Bill Friday was right. Friday, the founding president of the 16 campus University of North Carolina System, fought with then-Governor Bob Scott in 1971 over the creation of the new system. Friday... Read More
When will the persecution of the Chancellor end?
I was born and spent much of my life in Eastern Carolina. The large magnet to the region is now and has been ECU, although when I attended it was still East Carolina College. When my mom graduated it... Read More
