Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
International Coverage
New abortion laws raise debate
United Press International
New abortion laws in many states strike at the foundation of abortion rules set out by the U.S. Supreme Court during the last 40 years, observers say. …"The suggestion that a fetus at 20 weeks can feel pain is inconsistent with the biological evidence," said Dr. David A. Grimes, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. "To suggest that pain can be perceived without a cerebral cortex is also inconsistent with the definition of pain," he said.
Health IT grads to improve healthcare
United Press International
…The other programs include Duke University, in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; George Washington University; Indiana University; The Johns Hopkins University; Oregon Health and Science University; Texas State University, in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin and Houston; University of Colorado at Denver College of Nursing; and University of Minnesota, in partnership with the College of St. Scholastica.
National Coverage
To smoke or not to smoke: That is the question
CBS News
…Analyzing the skeleton could reveal whether Shakespeare had certain conditions such as osteoporosis, Kristina Killgrove, a professor of anthropology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, told LiveScience. But determining cause of death is more difficult, unless the disease or disorder is one that affects the bones, she said. And while the public may clamor for more information on historical icons, the scientific knowledge gleaned from such projects doesn't always add much to what is already known about an era, Killgrove said.
Related Link:
http://www.livescience.com/14797-shakespeare-bones-smoked-pot.html
State and Local Coverage
Kids must keep up in school
The Associated Press
As educators prepare students to compete in a world where technology changes with blinding speed, they should focus more on young teens who too often fall behind in reading, math and science, an education group said Monday. …Martin and Dennis Orthner, a professor of social work and education at UNC Chapel Hill, wrote about the program in a recent opinion piece for the Raleigh News & Observer. Under the program, middle-school students have increased their test scores, and the achievement gap between minority and poor students and their white counterparts has narrowed.
Report: Casino Benefits Local Economy
WUNC-FM (Chapel Hill)
The Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in Western North Carolina contributes almost $400 million to the local economy. That’s according to a new report from UNC Chapel Hill. …The report calls the economic impact “large and dramatic.” The nearly $400 million was spent mostly by out-of-state visitors to the casino in Jackson County in 2010. The regional impact focused on Jackson and Swain Counties. The casino is owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee. Most of the band’s income comes from casino revenues. The report was written by researchers at UNC’s Kenan Flagler Business School.
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4607/107/
Study: Casino pumps $380M into Cherokee economy
WRAL-TV (CBS/Raleigh)
Harrah's Cherokee Casino contributes more than $380 million directly to the local economy, according to a report by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The study concludes that the casino has brought significant economic and social benefit to one of North Carolina's traditionally depressed regions.
UNC, NCSU: Parents be wary of summer jobs
The Triangle Business Journal
Many parents want their teens to learn about hard work by taking on jobs while in high school, but too many of those parents don’t know of potential workplace risks, according to research by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Injury Prevention Research Center and North Carolina State University.
Related Link:
http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2011/jun/27/new-study-says-parents-could-do-
more-help-prevent–ar-1158407/
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4608/107/
In Durham, attendees learn to be poor
The Triangle Business Journal
…The event is invitation only to area business, political and nonprofit leaders and is sponsored by the United Way of the Greater Triangle, Leadership Triangle and Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. The roundtable will be hosted by James Johnson, Kenan distinguished professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Ralph Gildehaus, senior fellow of Chapel Hill-based nonprofit MDC.
UNC research gives insight into immune system
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The human immune system is a double-edged sword. While it is finely adapted to fighting potentially deadly viruses, such as the H1N1 influenza, the mechanisms it uses to fight pathogens can have negative effects such as inflammatory disorders or autoimmune diseases. A new finding by UNC scientists provides a window into how the immune system initially reacts to a virus invader, as well as how a subgroup of proteins plays a role in returning the immune system to a normal surveillance function. Their pre-clinical findings were published in the June 24 online edition of Immunity.
Chapel Hill camp helps young stroke victims
WRAL-TV (CBS/Raleigh)
Partial paralysis due to a stroke isn't just a problem for adults. Children can suffer strokes due to problems at birth or after a brain trauma. One Chapel Hill summer camp is trying to help those kids overcome their weakness. UNC Hospitals occupational therapist Holly Holland started the "Helping Kids with Hemi
plegia Camp" at Scroggs Elementary School in Chapel Hill six years ago to provide experimental therapy for children.
The unjustified 'gift' of dirtier air (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
At times, everyone feels dissatisfied with government taxation, spending and regulation. But when the economy goes south, unemployment soars and the housing market tanks, levels of dissatisfaction increase, which partly accounts for the Republican victories in the state House and Senate last November. (Donald T. Lauria is a professor emeritus in the Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering at the UNC School of Public Health.)
NCAA Investigation
Athletes and social media may be dicey combination
The Charleston Daily Mail (South Carolina)
In the parlance of NCAA compliance matters, there are few accusations quite as serious as the one that says you don't monitor what's happening in your program. You're in trouble for one thing, but on top of that, you're in trouble for doing nothing to prevent the other thing. Or things. The University of North Carolina football team has a list of problems as part of a lengthy investigation. Seriously, there are nine items listed in the NCAA's Notice of Allegations delivered to Chapel Hill last week.
From Sandites to Sanctions
The Tulsa World (Oklahoma)
…At a school with a virtually spotless reputation in running a clean athletic program, the reaction to the NCAA investigation has been harsh. In fairness, no where in the allegations is Davis accused of breaking any rules or lying to investigators or his bosses. Still, some believe Davis’ poor judgement in hiring Blake as an assistant is proof that he needs to go. We disagree.