Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
National Coverage
Two-Decade-Old Harvard Health Data Confounds U.S. EPA Nomination
Bloomberg
…“There is less deference across the board, but environmental protection is one place where we would expect conflict,” Michael Gerhardt, a professor of law at the University of North Carolina and author of a book on federal appointments, said in an interview. The EPA “is something that tends to be fought over.”
U.S. retailers aren’t signing a new safety agreement for Bangladesh. Here’s why.
Washington Post
There’s a heated ongoing debate about how to improve safety standards in Bangladesh after last month’s factory collapse that killed 1,127 people. And, so far, U.S. and European companies have taken very different approaches to the question. …And even if all of the major retailers can come to a single agreement, there will still be plenty of questions about enforcement, says Layna Mosley, a political scientist at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
State and Local Coverage
Rewrite of UNC-Chapel Hill sexual assault policy begins
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
A task force on UNC-Chapel Hill’s sexual harassment and assault policy will look to a recent agreement between the U.S. government and the University of Montana over that campus’s response to sexual assaults.
Related Links: http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9103561
http://www.wncn.com/story/22256919/unc-sexual-assault-task-force-meets-for-first-time-today
http://triangle.news14.com/content/694146/unc-students-and-faculty-work-to-improve-sexual-assault-policy
UNC dean comments on AP records probe
WRAL-TV (CBS/Raleigh)
Susan King, dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discusses the government seizure of telephone records of reporters and editors for The Associated Press.
UNC program teaching kids with hearing loss to speak
News 14 Carolina
May is Better Hearing Month, and right now a UNC Health Care program called CASTLE is making strides with kids who are deaf or diagnosed with hearing loss. The specialized therapy is giving hope to parents who never thought their child would be able to talk.
Issues and Trends
NC lawmakers nearing 'crossover' deadline
The Associated Press
…The House passed legislation making clear University of North Carolina and community college campuses can't deny formal recognition to student groups that subject their leaders to doctrinal or mission statements to serve. A Senate measure also approved cedes control over school construction and buildings from local school boards in several counties to county commissions — raising hackles from Democrats who contend GOP leaders are interfering once again in local affairs. Both bills were approved on party-line votes.
NC lawmakers push socially conservative bills
The Associated Press
…The full House also voted 76-38 to approve legislation that bill sponsors say would protect student groups on University of North Carolina and community college campuses whose leaders are required to ascribe to the group's stated beliefs.
Moody's downgrades UNC system bond package
The Triangle Business Journal
National bond rater Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded one 2008 bond issue in the University of North Carolina’s revenue bond pool because of credit quality declines at four system campuses. The four schools cited by Moody’s (NYSE: MCO) were Appalachian State University, Western Carolina University, University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Winston-Salem State University.
Carrboro aldermen discuss charging for downtown parking
The Chapel Hill News
The Chapel Hill Town Council’s decision to charge drivers using town-owned park-and-ride lots has the Carrboro Board of Aldermen debating parking fees in its downtown. The Town Council recently passed a $250 annual fee for park-and-ride lots to coincide with UNC’s decision to begin charging drivers to park in the university’s park-and-ride lots in August.