Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
National Coverage
Feeling the weight of war
The Washington Post
War and tragedy are putting President Obama through the most wrenching period of his young administration. Visibly thinner, admittedly skipping meals, he is learning every day the challenges of a wartime presidency. Health-care reform, climate-change legislation, the broken economy — all are cerebral exercises compared with the grim responsibility of being the commander in chief. …"He's stepping up to the problem, and he's exercising a degree of skepticism and analytical depth that his predecessor didn't appear to engage in," said Richard Kohn, a professor of military history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Service providers take issue with census of L.A. homeless
The Los Angeles Times
An L.A. city-county report showing a 38% drop in the homeless population has been met with consternation by the region's homeless service providers, who say the findings are inaccurate and could hurt their fundraising efforts at a time when the need is great. …More than 3,000 volunteers participated in the January census, conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and overseen by demographers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Woman sues officials over immigration arrest in Maryland
CNN.com
A Salvadoran immigrant, backed by two immigrants' rights organizations, is suing the sheriff's office in Frederick County, Maryland, and federal immigration officials, claiming that she was unconstitutionally interrogated and detained last year because of her Hispanic ethnicity. …Greg Weeks, associate professor of political science at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill who has followed the debate over the use of 285(g), said there's a disconnect between local and federal authorities that makes the arrangement fail.
State and Local Coverage
Recalling their sacrifice
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
A retired Air Force general told veterans and ROTC cadets attending a Veterans Day ceremony at UNC Chapel Hill Wednesday that today's servicemen and women are held in much higher regard than those who fought in Vietnam several decades ago. …After Goetze's speech, Mike Taylor, a Vietnam veteran and 1969 UNC graduate, agreed that citizens did not welcome servicemen returning from Vietnam. But Taylor said he was grateful that the university and its ROTC cadets took time out Wednesday to honor veterans.
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/3071/1/
Veterans saluted at UNC-CH
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Army ROTC Cadet Christian Rudd, above with rifle, leads a color guard of ROTC cadets into the Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building for a Veterans Day ceremony at UNC-Chapel Hill. Army ROTC Cadet Calvin Lewis holds the American flag. Roughly 100 cadets from the Air Force, Naval/Marine and Army ROTC took part in the ceremony, which honored U.S. veterans from all U.S. wars.
Related Link:
http://wchl1360.com/detailswide.html?id=12348
Army special operations, UNC to sign training pact
The Associated Press
The Army's most elite soldiers are teaming with one of North Carolina's top universities to improve training on national security issues. The partnership will allow UNC Chapel Hill professors and soldiers at the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg to share information, research and expertise in national security issues.
Thousands get H1N1 vaccine in Durham
WRAL-TV (CBS/Raleigh)
…The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has scheduled eight clinics this week to distribute the nasal form of the vaccine. The university Department of Environment, Health and Safety recommends that vaccine for people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel and healthy people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old. Those who are pregnant, or who have underlying medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and other chronic illness are advised to wait for an injection and avoid the nasal vaccine.
Death penalty sought against mother in toddler's death
WRAL-TV (CBS/Raleigh)
Harnett County prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against the mother of an 11-month-old girl whose remains were were found in the attic of a Spring Lake home two years ago. …Prosecutors said they believe the child starved to death, based on the findings of an anthropologist at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, who examined the toddler's bones.
Stop using asbestos? Not so fast (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Asbestos is the subject of what we may call reverse greenwash. Greenwash occurs when organizations claim that they are more environmentally friendly than they are. Reverse greenwash occurs when organizations try to scare people into thinking that environmental problems are more serious than they really are. (John J. W. Rogers is retired as the William R. Kenan Jr. professor of geology at UNC-Chapel Hill.)
UNC-CH considers tuition hike
WRAL-TV (CBS/Raleigh)
A task force is studying the possibility of tuition increases at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. At a meeting Wednesday, the group agreed to suggest two options to Chancellor Holden Thorp. …Any change must be approved by the chancellor, the Board of Trustees, the UNC Board of Governors and the state General Assembly.
Protesters fired up about UNC coal use
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Nearly 40 students rallied in front of UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Holden Thorp’s office Wednesday, calling coal-fired energy “dangerous and dirty” and urging the university to adopt clean energy solutions. Thorp has said the university plans to eventually wean itself from coal, but that its coal-burning technology has been recognized for its emission-reduction qualities.
In Chapel Hill, a flyover coming (Blog)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Every so often, the military does a jet flyover in Chapel Hill and someone gets freaked out. Hey, can't really blame you if you don't know it's happening. Those jets are loud! Anyhow, a flyover featuring four Marine F/A-18 Hornet jets is scheduled just prior to the kickoff of the UNC/Miami game Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Related Link:
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/orangechat/remain-calm-friday-all-is-well
Issues and Trends
UNC system may trim research leaves
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
UNC system leaders will consider a policy change this week that will significantly curtail the research leaves that the system president and campus chancellors have traditionally received. The change follows several months of discussion prompted by an examination by The News & Observer of the current leave policy, under which the university system granted leaves and paid $8 million over the past five years to 117administrators.
Related Link:
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/campusnotes/unc-system-will-
consider-leave-policy-change-this-week
A welcoming reality check
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
…These teens – some have autism, others cerebral palsy or Down syndrome – love girl time, and every other activity at the Reality Center, a new Christian-based after-school ministry committed to developing friendships with teens, especially those who are overlooked and underserved. …In its short life, the center has attracted a full-time staff of six and a cadre of volunteer "tutors" and "buddies" from Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. Central University. It also boasts a core of satisfied parents.