Triad Today

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for interstate commerce, but for the life of me I can’t understand why, when it comes to trade between North Carolina and Virginia, it always has to be a one-way highway. During Prohibition, for example, North Carolinians had to drive across the state line to buy liquor. Later in the century, we had to drive up to the Old Dominion to buy lottery tickets, cheaper gas, and wager on horse races. In recent times we also had to travel into Virginia to buy marijuana. And over the past year and a half, those of us in the Piedmont have gotten into our cars and driven to Danville to play blackjack, poker, craps, and slots, first in a temporary casino, and now in a permanent facility which opened on Dec. 17. All of this historic one-way traffic has put millions of North Carolina dollars into Virginia’s coffers while our state legislators continue to drag their feet on creating new revenue streams from non-traditional sources.

Yes, Cherokee’s gambling resort has been up and running for a while, but Caesar’s Danville complex has all the same Vegas-style amenities and is much more convenient to the Triad. That’s why it’s not surprising that the Danville parking lot is always filled with cars from North Carolina, and that brings me to the point of this column.

In 2020, the Virginia legislature identified five possible cities that could establish casinos providing that people in those localities held referenda and voted to allow gambling in their back yard. Those five cities were Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond. Residents of Bristol, Danville, and Portsmouth approved casino gambling, Norfolk is still working on their project, and Richmond voters rejected gambling within city limits, giving way to Petersburg to launch its own project. What’s most important to note is that the Virginia General Assembly only selected localities that were economically distressed, and that’s something that our elected officials in the Piedmont Triad should consider.

Though our three largest Triad cities have relatively strong economies, several counties in our immediate area are, by definition “economically distressed.” That is the conclusion of the North Carolina Department of Commerce whose most recent ranking of 100 counties identified dozens of distressed areas, including three within the Piedmont Triad region, those being Randolph, Rockingham, and Surry.

If our General Assembly followed Virginia’s lead and designated five economically distressed counties to hold referenda on casino gambling, it stands to reason that one of them would be in the Piedmont, say for instance, in Surry or Randolph. A casino in Mount Airy would make sense because of its close proximity to both the Triad and southern Virginia, so we could actually draw gamblers from the Old Dominion. On the other hand, Randolph has lots of land available and can draw patrons from the entire region. And while we’re mentioning that county, the wild card in the deck could be High Point, a small sliver of which is actually located in Randolph, therefore, a casino could theoretically be located in or adjacent to the furniture city. In that case, Triad area residents who now drive an hour to Danville to gamble, could roll the dice 15 minutes from home. It also means that the Piedmont would gain over a thousand new jobs and the state would accrue at least another $40 million dollars per year in revenues that could be used for everything from teacher pay and school security, to infrastructure projects.

Interstate commerce should be a two-way street, and building five more casinos in North Carolina could level the playing field with Virginia.

 
 

2024 will most be remembered for the political comeback of Donald Trump, facilitated by the votes of 77 million Americans who forgot that his insurrection killed several police officers and injured hundreds more. They also forgot about his 32 felony convictions. In short, 2024 was all about how we as a society forgive and forget criminal behavior in general, as was evidenced by the success of two dog murderers: South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem who Trump has picked to lead Homeland Security; and former NFL star and FOX Sports personality Michael Vick who was just hired to lead Norfolk State’s football program. The sad part is that instead of being rewarded with important new jobs, Vick should just now be getting out of prison and Noem should just now be going in. Let’s begin with Governor Noem.

52-year-old Kristi Noem was born in Watertown, South Dakota, and graduated from Northern State University with a degree in political science. She was elected to the South Dakota legislature in 2007, served in Congress for eight years, then was elected as the state’s first female governor in 2018, and re-elected in 2022. Noem came to national prominence in 2024 as a potential running mate for Trump and looked like the front-runner for that post until the media latched onto some disturbing excerpts from her newly released memoir, No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward.

In an effort to show her toughness under fire, Noem bragged about having shot her 14-month-old pet dog Cricket because the canine was “untrainable” when it came to hunting pheasant. Cricket’s crime was that she chased the birds and went “out of her mind with excitement, having the time of her life.” Having raised dozens of dogs over the years, I can tell you that puppies get excited and distracted, but I’ve never once punished or killed a dog for being disobedient. Of course, Kristi’s abuse of animals didn’t end with the murder of Cricket. The governor also admitted to executing a goat for being “nasty and mean” and smelling bad.

Public reaction to Noem’s behavior was overwhelmingly negative, thus killing her chances of serving as vice president. Yet Noem remained fiercely loyal to Trump and stumped for him at every opportunity. That loyalty was rewarded late last year when the president-elect tapped her to be his secretary of Homeland Security. With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress, her confirmation is a lock, meaning that a woman who brags about murdering innocent animals will soon be in charge of keeping us safe from folks who murder innocent people.  

Noem was never charged with animal abuse, which in some states carries a 5-year prison sentence for each offense. The fact is that people who abuse, torture, and kill pets rarely get what’s coming to them, and that brings me to Michael Vick.

Vick was born in Newport News, Virginia and lived in a crime-infested area of the port city. Michael gravitated to football as an escape from the projects, and distinguished himself on the field, earning him a full scholarship to Virginia Tech in 1999. That year he led the NCAA in passing efficiency and the following season Michael was named MVP of the Gator Bowl. Not surprisingly the NFL came calling and Vick left Virginia Tech after his sophomore year to sign a lucrative deal with the Atlanta Falcons. 

As he was in college, Michael was an electrifying player in the NFL, earning millions of fans, millions of dollars, and collecting an entourage that engaged in all sorts of illegal behavior. In 2007, it was discovered that Vick owned and operated an illegal dog-fighting facility on land that he owned in Surry County, Virginia. That summer Michael was indicted on federal charges which included financing an interstate dog fighting operation and the gruesome execution of scores of dogs. Vick later admitted to personally hanging and drowning eight of the dogs himself after torturing them with brutal beatings. The Feds were prepared to send Vick to prison for five years, but, as many animal murderers do, Michael cut a plea deal in which he only had to serve 23 months. It was a slap on the wrist for a man who should have been slapped with substantial prison time for each murder. He began his sentence in 2007 and was released in 2009.

Rather than exit Leavenworth as a social pariah, Vick returned to the NFL where fans treated him like a conquering hero and bought his jersey in record numbers. He played out his pro career with the Eagles, Jets, and Steelers, then was picked up by FOX Sports as a football analyst. Late last month he left FOX to become the head coach at Norfolk State University, despite the fact that he has no coaching experience, is a college dropout and has a prison record to boot. Nevertheless, he was welcomed with open arms by NSU Athletic Director Dr. Melody Webb, who obviously thinks that a dog murderer is a good role model for young men.

And Webb isn’t alone. Following the NSU announcement, social media blew up with overwhelming support for dog killer Mike.

“You rock!” wrote thanos1045.

“He rose from the ashes and became a man that I admire,” said swiftcurrent326.

“He was shafted,” wrote kerrytodd3753.

“He’ll have the DAWGS fighting for their life,” said virginiabrinkman9106.

“Michael Vick did NOTHING wrong,” wrote iamthemanmiddleagednerd1053. 

 Obviously, there are those who believe that criminals can be rehabilitated, and some can. But an adult who tortures and murders animals doesn’t deserve to be an employee of the largest HBCU in Virginia, just as a governor who executes her own pets doesn’t deserve to oversee our Homeland Security.  But hey, we Americans love to forgive and forget all sorts of criminal behavior, so bring on the Norfolk State jerseys and the MAGA caps.

 
 

As we celebrate this holiday season, let’s not forget that there are people beyond our immediate circle of family and friends who are suffering, and could benefit from our love and generosity. Over the past decade, I’ve been able to showcase scores of community organizations on my Triad Today television show, and in the process, I’ve learned that there are several ways we can help these agencies help others. The first is to donate goods. Second is to donate money. And, third is to donate our time. Of course, some nonprofit groups can benefit from all three types of giving. Here, in no particular order, are just a few organizations to which you might lend your support.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC: Even prior to the pandemic, the Piedmont Triad had one of the worst food insecurity problems in the nation, and that included the problem of childhood hunger. Now, with thousands more of our neighbors in need, the problem has worsened, including for children. To help alleviate the hunger problem, Second Harvest Food Bank has stepped up its efforts to distribute food to nonprofit agencies who feed hungry people in an 18-county area. The Food Bank has also partnered with a number of area companies to provide meals for kids. You can write a check directly to the food bank, or you can drop off non-perishable food items at a number of locations in our area. For more information call 336-784-5770, or visit SecondHarvestNWNC.org.

Cancer Services, Inc.’s stated mission is “to enhance quality of life for those living with cancer, and to provide the gift of life through education.” Their services include patient advocacy, financial assistance, providing equipment and supplies, offering peer support groups, and much more. Ninety percent of funds donated to Cancer Services, Inc. goes directly to providing client services. In addition to money, you can also donate used equipment and supplies. Call 336-760-9983, or visit CancerServicesOnline.org.

Greensboro Urban Ministry is on the front lines when it comes to providing emergency assistance. Greensboro Urban Ministry provides homeless families in Guilford County with a safe, temporary environment. Volunteers are needed to prepare and serve meals, manage shelters, tutor children, and perform a variety of other duties. Monetary donations are also much appreciated. Call 336-271-5959, or visit GreensboroUrbanMinistry.org.

Mountain Valley Hospice is a nonprofit agency that serves an 18-county area in North Carolina and Virginia, and provides personalized care for patients at the end of life, as well as comfort to families. Mountain Valley Hospice has offices throughout the region, and operates two hospice homes. They also specialize in care for terminally ill children and veterans, and offer grief support for kids and adults. To give money or inquire about volunteering, call 1-888 789-2922, or visit MtnValleyHospice.org.

The Petty Family Foundation: NASCAR legend Richard Petty and his family support a number of charitable organizations including Paralyzed Veterans of America and Victory Junction Camp, the latter of which provides an uplifting experience for children with severe disabilities and terminal illnesses. To make a donation or learn more, visit PettyFamilyFoundation.org.

Shift_ed provides qualified students with college scholarships and much more. Shift_ed also provides students with support services that are designed to help them be successful in life. Their equity-based program begins in kindergarten and includes everything from tutoring to career counseling. Shift_ed relies in part upon donations from companies and individuals. To learn more about scholarships, or to make a donation, visit Shift-ed.org.

Carolina Donor Services and Red Cross… There can be no greater gift this holiday season than the gift of life, and that’s why you might consider donating blood and signing a donor card. Either gesture requires only a few minutes of your time, and will almost certainly result in saving someone’s life in the future. You can reach Carolina Donor Services at 1-800 200-2672, or CarolinaDonorServices.org. You can call the Red Cross at 336-333-2111, or visit them online at RedCross.org.

Please remember that your donations of time, money, or goods to area community organizations are vitally important, not just now, but throughout the coming year. It’s also a way for us to expand the circle of people we care about, and that’s something worth celebrating in this season of giving.

 
 

No one knows who first opined about second chances, but African author Lailah Gifty Akita said it best when she wrote, “We all make mistakes, everybody should be given a second chance.” It’s hard to argue with that sentiment, at least in theory. For example, if someone who is struggling to support his family robs a bank and gets caught, then he deserves a second chance when it comes time for parole. But if that same man kills the bank clerk during the commission of his crime, then he deserves to serve his full sentence, whatever that might be. The difference between the two scenarios seems obvious, except for North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper who has been rather lenient with his commutations over the years.

Thirty-two years ago, then-15-year-old April Barber was tried as an adult and was convicted of killing her grandparents. The judge gave her two life sentences. But in 2022 the North Carolina Juvenile Sentencing Review Board determined that Barber was now ready to take her place in civilized society again. After all, she had been an exemplary prisoner, having earned her GED and a paralegal certificate. The problem is that there was nothing civilized about the crimes Ms. Barber committed.

April Barber had not been misidentified or wrongly convicted. There were no extenuating circumstances. She hadn’t been abused by police or held hostage by terrorists who forced her to commit a crime. There was no DNA mix-up, she didn’t act out of self-defense, and she freely confessed to both murders. In fact, April and her 30-year-old boyfriend carefully planned, and then deliberately set fire to her grandparents’ house, killing both of them. Why? Because April was pregnant, and according to her testimony, April’s grandparents had threatened to have the boyfriend charged with statutory rape if she didn’t abort the pregnancy.

Cooper agreed with the board’s recommendation to release April, perhaps because he felt that a 15-year-old didn’t know it was wrong to pour gasoline on a house, set fire to it, and trap two elderly people inside. Pardon my language, but that’s bullshit reasoning. Anyone old enough to get a driving permit, get pregnant, and plot a double murder, is old enough to know right from wrong and deserves to have served her full prison term. But I guess Roy didn’t hear what Jack Shepherd heard on that fateful night in 1991. Shepherd who lived next door to the Barbers, told the Greensboro News & Record that, “She [April] could hear her grandmother crying and screaming in pain, and hollering for her, just as well as I could.” The fire had blocked all exits to the house, so there was no escape for the loving couple who had been caring for April since she was a child. In March of 2022, Cooper commuted Barber’s sentence to time served. Nine months later, our governor decided to open the cell door for another mass murderer.

In 2002, 23-year-old Janet Danahey (a former Olympic torch bearer) was upset because her boyfriend, Thad Johnson, had just broken up with her. She could have slashed his tires or egged his lawn to exact revenge, but instead, she set fire to a sofa on the porch of his apartment building in the middle of the night. Some residents escaped the fire, but four did not. Twenty-one-year-old Rachel Llewellyn and her sister 24-year-old Donna died in the blaze. So did 20-year-old Beth Harris and Ryan Bek, age 25. The four victims had tried to escape via a wooden staircase, but it had already burned down. Rhonda Colwell was one of the lucky ones who escaped the fire on that tragic February night. She told the Greensboro News & Record, “You heard screaming. All of us were in such a state of shock.” 

Danahey had been given a life sentence for the six people she burned to death, but thanks to Cooper she was released from prison at age 44. That brings me to last month when “Law and Order Roy” was at it again as he commuted the sentences of four more violent criminals. One of them is Terence Smith.

In 2000, Smith, now 42 years old, was involved in a robbery in which three people were shot and injured. The following year he was convicted of three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury. He was also convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon. Even though Smith (then 17 years old) didn’t do the actual shooting, the judge sentenced him to a prison term of from 40 to 52 years. Last month Cooper released Smith who has only served half of his sentence, saying, “While in prison, Smith participated in community college classes, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, and self-improvement classes.” Cooper also made Smith promise not to commit any more felonies, own a gun, or assault anyone. Good luck on that. 

In March of 2009, Kriston Angell was charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a 74-year-old Davie County man and attempted murder of two other men, but he later struck a plea deal and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The judge sentenced Angell to a prison term of from 25 to 33 years, but last month good old Roy commuted that sentence to the 15 years already served. And why not? After all, while in prison, Angell graduated with honors from the College of Southeastern in its field ministry program and ministered to younger inmates at the Foothills Correctional Institute. I guess he advised the youth not to murder people.

None of this makes any sense to me, but Roy Cooper is proud to double down on his commutations of convicted murderers. In a public statement last month, Cooper said, “We carefully consider recommendations made by the Juvenile Sentence Review Board to commute sentences for crimes committed by minors. All of these individuals are deserving of clemency.”

Too bad the victims of Terence Smith, Kriston Angell, April Barber, and Janet Danahey aren’t alive to tell Governor Cooper what they think of his policy on second chances. It’s something they never got from their murderers.

 
 

Presidents are only human, so they make mistakes. No, I’m not talking about Bill Clinton hooking up with Monica Lewinski, or Joe Biden once saying there are 54 states in the Union. I’m talking about John Kennedy, and how he misread history, unintentionally insulted the Commonwealth of Virginia, and was compelled to make amends.

The story begins on Wednesday December 4, 1619. That’s the day 38 English settlers from the London Company navigated their ship down the James River and onto Berkeley Hundred (Harrison’s Landing), in what is now Charles City, Virginia, just 20 miles upstream from Jamestown, which had been settled 12 years prior. The landing party was led by Captain John Woodlief, who, as prescribed in the company charter, ordered a day of Thanksgiving to be observed upon their arrival, and every December 4th thereafter.

Over time, Berkeley became known for its historic firsts. The first bourbon whiskey was made there in 1621 (by a preacher no less). “Taps” was played for the first time while the Union army was encamped at Berkeley in 1862. And, of course, it was the site of America’s first Thanksgiving. More on that in a moment.

In 1907 Berkeley was purchased by John Jamieson who had served as a Union drummer boy during the army’s encampment at the plantation. Ownership later fell to his son (and my friend) Malcolm, who passed away in 1997. Mac loved Berkeley and was aggressive in marketing the historic site, including through the use of promotional videos and commercials which I helped to produce. He invited the public to tour the house and grounds, sold Berkeley boxwoods and bourbon, and held an annual Thanksgiving pageant which attracted tourists from across the country. But the celebration wasn’t always widely recognized.

One hundred years after his father beat the Yankee drums at Berkeley, Mac was upset by something another Yankee did. In the fall of 1962, President Kennedy issued his yearly Thanksgiving Proclamation in which he recognized his home state of Massachusetts as the site of America’s first Thanksgiving. And so, on November 9th of that year, Virginia state Senator John Wicker was prompted by Mac to write to the President, and point out Kennedy’s faux pas. In his telegram, Wicker referenced historical records about Berkeley’s celebration, which took place one full year before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in 1620.

Later that year, Kennedy confidant and noted historian Arthur Schlesinger sent a reply to Wicker with a tongue-in-cheek apology from the President. According to Berkeley records, Schlesinger “attributed the error to unconquerable New England bias on the part of the White House staff.”

The following year, on November 5, 1963, President Kennedy had to eat crow during his annual Thanksgiving proclamation, saying, “Over three centuries ago, our forefathers in Virginia and Massachusetts, far from home, in a lonely wilderness, set aside a day of thanksgiving.” Kennedy’s New England bias wouldn’t allow him to disavow Plymouth entirely, but Mac was happy that Berkeley finally gained official recognition for holding the first Thanksgiving, even if it was a shared honor. Sadly, it was to be Kennedy’s last proclamation. He was assassinated seventeen days later in Dallas.

The holiday season is now upon us, and that means gathering together with friends and family to share food, gifts, and goodwill. And, despite the personal and financial losses we might have endured over the past few years, we will find a way to give thanks for what we have and who we’re with. Perhaps we would also do well to emulate those weary English settlers, and just be thankful for surviving another day of our long journey. So, here’s a Berkeley bourbon toast to Captain Woodlief, a little drummer boy, old Mac, and to that Yankee president who finally set the record straight.

May God bless, and happy Thanksgiving.
 
 

If you drive the get-away car for a bank robber, you are considered to be an accomplice because you aided and abetted the robber. That means you face the same liability and culpability as your friend who physically entered the bank and robbed it, and, likely as not, you will face the same punishment. Last Tuesday, knowing of his many crimes against this nation and with full knowledge that he will enjoy immunity from any future crimes, 72 million Americans bailed out Donald Trump, and enabled a convicted felon to go free and once again occupy the highest office in this land. Certainly, those folks did not help Trump commit bank and insurance fraud, or sexually assault women, or steal classified documents, or stage an insurrection to overturn an election, but in voting for Trump they condoned his criminal acts and helped him escape sentencing for his many offences. That makes them complicit in his past crimes and culpable for any future ones.

The question is, why would anyone vote for a criminal to be the leader of the free world? Some pundits say it’s because of inflation, but the truth is, inflation is way down. Others say it’s because Kamala Harris didn’t care about regular folks, but her economic plan included helping more people buy their first home. Then there are the folks who say Harris let too many illegal immigrants into our country, but Trump is the one who killed Biden’s immigration bill that would have solved the problem. And what about all of the Evangelicals who chose an adulterous, sexual predator who has never read the Bible (he only sells them) as their vessel of Christian leadership? What about Trump supporters who say that they voted for him because he was persecuted by the Justice Department? But here’s a reality check: Jack Smith didn’t force Donald to organize fake electors or pressure election officials to find him more votes.

But the thing that most disturbs me about most Trump voters is that they claim to be pro-law and order, yet downplayed an insurrection that injured over 140 officers and resulted in the death of four more. That MAGA mob acted on Trump’s orders because he wanted to halt the certification of votes in order to replace legal electors with fake ones.

I will never forget the visceral reaction I had to watching 3,000 rioters storm our nation’s Capitol on January 6, 2021, causing death and destruction in their maniacal wake. If people say they voted for Trump because of his immigration policy, or if they forgive and forget his other criminal acts then so be it. But if you don’t care about the collateral damage of January 6, then you are worse than complicit, you are un-American.

Trump not only led the insurrection, he did nothing to stop it until hours later when he told the rioters, “Go home now, we love you.” Today he refers to the insurrectionists as “hostages,” and he promises to pardon them after he takes office. In wake of that, we should all remember the words of three brave officers who survived January 6, beginning with Capitol Police officer Caroline Edwards who received traumatic head injuries when the mob hit her with a bike rack.

“I felt the bike rack come on top of my head, then my head hit the concrete stairs behind me. I saw officers with blood all over their faces.”

Metro D.C. Officer Mike Fanone was brutally beaten, suffered traumatic brain injury and a heart attack. He describes Trump as “An authoritarian with a violence fetish.”  And he sees Trump’s victory as a personal afront. “It feels like America said, ‘fuck you, Mike Fanone!’”

Meanwhile, officer Aquilino Gonell who sustained severe injuries, which caused him to retire, remarked, “People who voted for Trump put him above the law. He betrayed us, and the vast majority of Americans think that’s OK. The majority of people in this country saw what happened on January 6, but they seem to have amnesia.”

The day after the election Melania Trump tweeted, “We will safeguard the heart of our Republic.” That sentiment comes as a surprise to 142 police officers, as well as to scores of former Trump cabinet members (including his own vice president), who say Donald Trump is not fit to be Commander in Chief. Even Trump’s new running mate, J.D. Vance once referred to his new hero as “America’s Hitler”.

The 72 million people who voted for Trump have essentially just driven the get-away car for a serial criminal, and unlike him, you are not immune from the bad things he will do over the next four years.

 
 

Candidates for Governor and State Superintendent of Public Instruction will be interviewed on a special voter education edition of Triad Today this weekend.

Appearing during the half hour will be Democrat Mo Green and Republican Michele Morrow who are running to become North Carolina’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction. Morrow is a registered nurse with over a decade of teaching experience, and Green is the former superintendent of Guilford County Schools. An exclusive interview with Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is also included in the program. Robinson, a Republican, is running for governor against Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein. I contacted Stein’s office and campaign a dozen times to invite him on the show, but I never received a response.

What follows are highlights from my interviews with the candidates.

---

Michele Morrow and Mo Green:

 
JL: Talk about your experience as an educator.

MG: I served as superintendent of Guilford County Schools for seven and a half years, and that is the third largest school district in the state. Prior to that, I was the deputy superintendent, COO, and legal counsel for Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. After leaving Guilford schools I became the executive director for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

MM: I have five children and they’ve been in public, private, and home school. Two of my kids had some learning differences. They were initially in public school, and we went through the IEP 504 process, then I ended up home-schooling my kids for about 15 years. In addition, I also taught in micro-schools in Cary for 10 years where I taught high schoolers biology, chemistry, civics, and government, as well as Spanish.

JL: How involved should parents be in shaping their child’s public school curriculum?

MG: I certainly think that parents should have a voice in what the curriculum looks like and obviously I do believe it’s important for us to look to our experts, our educators if you will, to be the primary voice. They’ve been trained to develop a curriculum that would work well for students. Obviously, there are other entities that need to be involved including the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education. Everybody plays a role. But I do think that parents have their own lived experiences and oftentimes might be able to add something to what the experts think would be appropriate to teach.

MM: I don’t think we should put it on the parents to be choosing the curriculum. I think that is the job of the DPI. But for 15 years I had to go through curriculums and choose not only what I was going to teach, but also what was going to be the best fit for my children and their learning styles. I’ll say this, it is absolutely paramount that parents be invested in their schools and in their children’s education. I really believe that children are only going to reach their full potential when parents and teachers are working as a team to help that student. 

JL: Why are you running to be State Superintendent of Public Instruction? 

MG: I’m certainly concerned about the direction of our public schools. I’m concerned about the funding for our public schools. I’m concerned about the level of disrespect being shown to our educators. I believe my experience and my belief in public schools puts me in a good position to be the one to lead our public schools to a new place.

MM: I’m running because I believe our children are our future and the quality of our education system determines the quality of the economy here in North Carolina. We have got to raise the bar of expectation in scholastics as well as conduct. We need to broaden opportunities for our students so that when they walk off that graduation stage they are prepared for success as adults. I also want to join with businesses and expand the trade and technical training that we have in high school because I believe we can make our schools the best in the nation and an example for everybody else to follow.

---

 

---

Mark Robinson:

 
JL: What are some of the problems our state faces and how do you want to fix them?

MR: The main problem I see is with the inequities we see in the economy across the state. Our state is very fragmented with its economy. You go through the middle part of the state — Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston, Raleigh — and you see economic opportunities abound. But when you go to the eastern and western parts of the state you see opportunities not taken advantage of. And one of the reasons is that we haven’t had the financial wherewithal to make those substantive investments. The last 14 years under the Republican leadership of the House and Senate we’ve seen that growth in the state and now it’s time for us to start building that economy that spans from Murphy to Manteo, and I believe we can do it.

JL: What does your Public Safety Plan entail?

MR: I’m not a fan of playing the blame game, but our border has been wide open for four years, and there are some great people that have come here from foreign countries, but there’s also been some folks who are pretty bad who’ve come across our border and they’re doing some pretty bad things. I believe this state needs to set up some type of security council, along the lines of our national security council where we bring together sheriffs, police chiefs, state troopers, and FBI for the purposes of identifying folks who are here to plot bad things like drug trafficking, human trafficking, and folks involved in gangs. We need to identify those folks and stop them before they start. You know being proactive in law enforcement is the key. We need to give law enforcement the tools they need and the backup they need to be proactive so they’re not just showing up at the scene cleaning up the crime, and they can actually go out and pursue the criminals before they can ply their wares.

JL: Why do you want to be governor?

MR: I never set out to be governor. I never set out to be lieutenant governor. What I want to be is a servant to the people. This state has been very good to me and the people in this state have been very good to me, from the time I was a child all the way up to a young man, and now it’s time for me to have an opportunity to pay it back. And I believe the way I can pay it back is to go into public service as the governor to build that economy that spans from Murphy to Manteo, and to give parents the opportunity to control their children’s educational destiny.

---

 

According to a WRAL-TV poll from early September, Attorney General Josh Stein and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson were locked in a virtual tie to become the state’s next governor. But a not-so-funny thing happened on the way to the election. Stein saturated the airwaves with anti-Robinson ads, some of which took Mark’s words out of context to make him look even more radical than he already appeared to be. In one ad, Robinson is seen delivering a fiery speech to a local church in which he says, “Some people need killing.” He was actually referring to enemies of America, including Nazis in WWII. In another ad, a daycare center once owned by Robinson and his wife was made to look like a third-world concentration camp. Gradually Robinson’s poll numbers began to slip.

If this scenario sounds eerily familiar, it is. In 2020, Attorney General Josh Stein was in danger of losing his bid for re-election to Forsyth District Attorney Jim O’Neill, so just months before the election Stein’s campaign ran false and defamatory ads against O’Neill, accusing Jim of leaving, “1,500 rape kits sitting on the shelf,” and implying that failure to test those kits in a timely manner allowed rapists to roam free to rape more victims. In doing so, Stein violated a 1931 law that makes it a “misdemeanor to knowingly circulate false, derogatory reports about a candidate with the intent of hurting that candidate’s chances in the election” (source AP). Violators must pay a fine and could spend up to 60 days in jail. A Wake County grand jury found that Stein should be indicted, but the very next day they were overturned by a three-judge panel comprised of two Democrats and one Republican. Stein had argued to the stacked panel that the 1931 law was outdated and he went on to win re-election. 

Fast forward to last month. As was mentioned, Robinson’s poll numbers were starting to slip after Stein’s TV ads hit the air, but the lieutenant governor was still within striking distance. That is until someone steered CNN to a series of lewd posts that Robinson allegedly made on a porn site dating back to 2008. The postings also included Robinson allegedly referring to himself as a “Black Nazi.” Suddenly CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski had a full-blown investigative report ready to air less than two months before the election. Kaczynski stands by his report based on a study of user names, while Robinson denies the allegations. Nevertheless, the report went viral and by the first week in October Robinson had fallen behind Stein by as much as 20 points in polls that he once led only months before.

Robinson has certainly made a lot of outrageous statements in the past, calling homosexuality and transgenderism “filth,” and stating there would be less need for abortions if “women just kept their skirts down.”  But here’s what baffles me about the sliding poll numbers. Donald Trump’s base of support has remained steady at about 48%, and that base has stood by the former president no matter what he says and does. Yet Robinson’s alleged postings on an old porn site have caused nearly half of that base to turn against the lieutenant governor.

In an effort to make sense of this mass MAGA defection, I made a flow chart to compare Trump’s transgressions versus those of Robinson.

Porn: Robinson allegedly posted lewd comments on a porn site. Trump had sex with a porn star while his wife was pregnant.

Nazis: Robinson allegedly referred to himself as a ”Black Nazi.” Trump referred to Nazis at a Charlottesville protest as “very fine people.” Trump also said last week that, “There are a lot of people in America with bad genes,” harkening back to a time when Hitler (and some leading American citizens) favored eugenics.

Violence: Robinson told a church congregation that some enemies of America need killing. After losing to Biden in 2020, Trump incited an insurrection that resulted in several deaths and hundreds of police officers being injured, and this year said if he loses again, “there will be a blood bath.”

Crimes:  Robinson and his wife allegedly mismanaged government funds to operate a daycare center. Trump was convicted of 34 felonies associated with bank and tax fraud, as well as paying hush money from campaign funds.

Voter Fraud:  Robinson believes there was voter fraud in the 2020 election. Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election through criminal means.

Abortion: Robinson believes that women wouldn’t need abortions if they just kept their skirts down. Trump claims to be the “protector” of women even though he made it possible for individual states to criminalize abortion.

Inclusion: Robinson called homosexuality and transgenderism “filth.” Trump blocked Trans rights afforded to them under Title IX.

Self Promotion: Robinson is working hard to sell voters on his integrity. Trump is selling tennis shoes, coins, Bibles, and now, watches. 

Sexual Assault: Robinson allegedly posted that he used to look through peepholes at female students getting undressed. Trump has allegedly assaulted over two-dozen women and was found guilty of defaming a woman who said he raped her. 

Donald Trump once boasted that he could shoot someone in the middle of Times Square and get away with it. Apparently, he was right because no matter what vile or illegal thing he does, Trump is able to hold onto his base of support. Robinson, on the other hand, has never raped a woman or been convicted of a felony, yet ever since the CNN story broke, Trump’s MAGA base is leaving the lieutenant governor in record numbers. Trump has been caught making lewd comments about women and has had sex with a porn star and an extramarital affair with a Playboy Playmate, so you can’t explain away Robinson’s voter erosion on moral failings. That only leaves race as a possible reason for MAGA voters to now have an acceptable excuse not to support a candidate that Trump himself endorsed. 

Josh Stein, CNN, and Mark Robinson himself have all played a part in torpedoing the lieutenant governor’s campaign for higher office, but so have MAGA voters who seem to be guilty of a bizarre double standard.

 
 

Over the past five decades, I’ve always tried not to use my television shows or columns to address a personal grievance. That would be self-serving. Besides, nobody wants to hear about my problems anyway. There is, of course, an exception to this rule. If I have a problem that also affects thousands of people, then I have an obligation to shed light on the situation. Such is the case with Brightspeed, whose very name is an oxymoron.

Two years ago Brightspeed bought Lumen, the parent company of CenturyLink, and there has been ample time for a smooth transition since then. But the transfer of residential telephone and internet service from one company to another has been anything but smooth. It has been a customer service disaster.

My wife and I have had landline and internet service in Kernersville for the past 20 years, provided by an array of companies including Embarq, CenturyLink, and now, Brightspeed. There have been glitches and outages along the way. Back in 2009, for example, we lost internet service 400 times in one 300-day period. But that was because company infrastructure was old and pairs of wires would randomly rub against each other at the pedestal that services our neighborhood. My point is that faulty equipment can be repaired, but consistently poor customer service cannot, and that’s what thousands of Brightspeed customers have been experiencing over the past two years.

Just Google any number of blog sites and websites and you’ll find one complaint after another about Brightspeed service.

Here’s a sampling:

 

---

TallProgress1732 writes, “If you have a problem, don’t try to contact them [Brightspeed] either by phone or chat. Waste of time.”

VegetableSoil1851 wrote, “I called today 3 times and got disconnected three times. On the 4th call, I was told there would be a two-week delay before a tech could come out. Brightspeed is the worst I’ve ever dealt with.”

Salt-enc posted, “I have worked in the tech industry for over 20 years and I’ve called and seen a lot of bad support. I have to say Brightspeed doesn’t care that their reps have zero accountability, and their outsourced support is terrible.”

---

 

There are also plenty of complaints registered with the BBB against Brightspeed, including these two recent ones:

 

---

“My internet service has been out for over 2 weeks. I have contacted customer support numerous times, only to be transferred and hung up on multiple times. I have since spoken with 4 different representatives and had to repeat the same information and run the same diagnostic tests every time. I still have no service.”

“I called Brightspeed on behalf of my parents who are in their 60s and have health issues. They live in an area where cell phones have no signal unless connected to WiFi. On July 31, I called to report my parents’ phone was out and no Internet service. I received an email from Brightspeed saying a tech would be sent out on August 15. Later I received an email saying the tech would come on August 26th. That date came and went, and I was told someone would come out on September 26. Still no tech support or service yet, and if my Dad should have a health emergency he can’t even call 911.”

---

 

I know how these folks feel. In May of this year, I began to hear a loud hum on all three of our landlines. A tech was scheduled but arrived a day early when I wasn’t home. He quickly listened to one extension and told my wife to replace the battery in the hand-held unit, and then he left. It took numerous calls to Brightspeed before I could convince one of their techs that there was a problem with their lines at the street level. After three more tech visits, they found frayed wires at the street and replaced them. So much for replacing a battery!

One week later we suddenly lost our caller ID function. It took over a month and a half before caller ID was restored.

Two weeks after that we lost our long-distance service on all three lines, and that took over a week to restore.

I then decided to cancel my Brightspeed broadband service and go with Spectrum. On that day I spent over an hour on the phone, first with one rep then another, each one trying to talk me out of canceling and then writing up an order to cancel my phone service instead of Internet. Once we cleared up that matter, I received a new invoice in which I am still being charged for the broadband service that I canceled.

In addition to service interruptions and poor customer service, Brightspeed continues to have a communication problem, beginning with a network of CSRs in foreign countries where English is their fourth or fifth language. They cannot be understood, and they impart inaccurate information. For example, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we lost our phone service. The storm had caused death and destruction, so there was no need for me to call in a trouble report. However, since my internet was still working (thanks to Spectrum) I visited the Brightspeed website for an update and it stated that there were “no outages” in our area. That meant we must have a problem with our phones and would need to schedule a tech to come to the house. It took two days of constant calling to finally get someone at Brightspeed to answer the phone. The foreign agent assured me that their website was correct and that there were no outages in my area. The next day before a technician could show up, our phone service was restored. Storm-related damage (not our personal phones) had caused the outage that Brightspeed claimed did not exist.

If you are a Brightspeed customer, you have my deepest sympathies. If you don’t have Brightspeed, please tell me where you live so I can move there.

 
 

When first arriving in New York City as a struggling actress, Mary McCormack accepted a strange part in a strange play:

“It was a musical in a tiny theatre near Columbia University. The show sucked and I still don’t know what it was about, but it ended with me in a chair, dead, with a red bandana in my mouth. And at the end, the other actors stood around me singing, ‘So sad she had to go, sad that they took her tongue.’”

Fortunately for millions of us fans, Mary kept her tongue and, over the years, has used it to deliver memorable performances on television and in film. She appeared as Howard Stern’s wife in Private Parts, and later headlined her own TV series, In Plain Sight, in which she played a tough-as-nails U.S. marshal. Before that, Mary was a regular on The West Wing, portraying Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper. Now she and pal Melissa Fitzgerald (who was also a series regular) have co-authored What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service. The book is chock-full of insider stories about the making of the iconic prime-time drama which was created, written, and produced by Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, An American President).

I first met Mary when she participated in a TV Crimefighters event that I moderated for the Television Academy back in 2010, and we have stayed in touch ever since. We recently spoke about her new book, her career, and why The West Wing was so special, and still has widespread appeal 25 years after it first aired.

---

Jim:  When you and Melissa wrote the book, was it timed to coincide with the 2024 election?

Mary:  I wish we were that clever. But no, it was supposed to be done a year before, but we just couldn’t get started [laughs]. Thank goodness it worked out the way it did. You know once in a while you get lucky with these things. And now there’s this moment [the election] and the two are coinciding. Aaron calls The West Wing a love letter to public service, and our book is also a love letter to public service. We wanted to write a book for the fans, but really, we also thought if we can do that and also shine a light on a bunch of really wonderful organizations at the same time, then that would feel like the book aligned with the message of the show.

Jim:  Is the book just for hardcore fans of the show?

Mary:  “Wing Nuts” love it, thank God, because we really wanted to please the Wing Nuts. They are serious about the show, so we didn’t want to get it wrong, and we feel really proud of that. It’s filled with photos and stories, and because Melissa and I were in the cast, we had great access. We were there and the cast is still all very close. But I hope other people will read it and enjoy it. I think it’s fun to read about Allison (Janney) and learn what she’s passionate about, and Richard Schiff, and Martin Sheen whose life is fascinating. So, I think there’s enough in there for hardcore fans and future Wing Nuts, as well.

Jim:  Why the title of the book, What’s Next?

Mary:  In the original pilot, it was supposed to end like a play, but our director Tommy Schlamme had visited the White House many times, and the thing that stuck with him was the energy. There was constant movement and constant work, someone was always handing something off to someone else. It had that walk-and-talk energy. So, he didn’t want the first episode to end like a play. He wanted it to feel like the audience is leaving, but the activity in the White House will continue. So, he asked Aaron if he could just pull back on the last scene and let the activity continue. And Aaron said, “Of course, but let me add a line.” And the line he added was, “What’s next?” And in those two words he nailed what Tommy had in mind, that the work just continues, and service continues. There’s always something else to tackle. So, we thought that would work for the title of the book.

Jim:  The Peabody Award committee once referred to The West Wing as, “a show about ideas and ideals.” I would think you agree with that. Right?

Mary:  I do. Before The West Wing no one had made a political show work, and I think that’s because government and policy were considered boring, but Aaron is so talented that he was able to take policy and make it high stakes. Hour dramas are usually about hospitals and life and death stories, and he managed, because he’s Aaron, to make policy feel like life and death. And it is. It took someone like Aaron to make that work and thank God he did.

Jim:  Would The West Wing work today as a primetime drama?

Mary:  That’s funny, Jim, because Aaron answered that question at a book event recently. He said “I think it would work except for one thing. There’s no reasonable Republicans anymore.” You know because on the show, it was aspirational, it did take both sides of each issue, and it showed Republicans as reasonable people. They believed in their side of the issue because they felt it would do the most good for the most people. And now it’s so polarized in Washington that they are voting just for winning, just for point-keeping. When you reject an immigration bill which was bi-partisan just because it would be a win for Biden, then what are we doing?

Jim:  Melissa describes you as a real activist. When you and I met while doing the TV Crimefighters event I asked if actors should risk their careers by taking a stand on issues or endorsing candidates, and you told me then, “People get involved where their heart is.” At the time, though you weren’t into endorsing one candidate over another. Has any of that changed?

Jim Longworth and actress Mary McCormack at the TV Crimefighters event in 2010

Mary:  I wrestled with that for a long time. I was raised to believe that actors are not special. Not to take up so much attention in a room, not to think you’re all that. Growing up, we sort of had to know our place in our house. We didn’t get over-the-top praise all the time, so as an actor, I always thought, “Well, I want to know my place, I want to be grateful, I want to not overstep.” I’m lucky to be doing this. I’d do it for free, and I still feel that way. But I’m also a mother. I’m also a citizen. Sure, actors’ opinions are no more important than anyone else’s. Ours are no more important than the opinions of an athlete or a plumber, or the lady who lives next door to me, but it is AS important, because I’m also a lady who lives next door to her. As I said, I’m a mom and a citizen. So, I’ve sort of come to terms with the fact that democracy only works when we all participate.

Jim:  Of course, the difference is that you’re very famous and you have a platform that most people don’t have.

Mary:  Yeah, and I feel lucky for that. I feel blessed for that. Anthony Edwards (E.R.) said something to Bradley Whitford when he was starting The West Wing. He said, “Brad, you’re about to have a ton of capital, and you can spend it on yourself, or you can spend it on others.” And talk about an activist, Brad has spent most of his life trying to do good. So yeah, I think about that. We’re very lucky. Anyone in the public eye is lucky to be able to affect change, to amplify a cause, or an issue, or a candidate. And I think those of us who were on The West Wing, we get even more opportunity to do that because of the nature of the show. But I feel like that’s an honor and an opportunity that I welcome.

Jim:  Why have you never run for office? And would you run in the future?

Mary:  I don’t think that interests me, but in another life, I would have loved to move to Washington and be a strategist. That would be exciting.

Jim:  Give me a final comment on why you think The West Wing was so special, not just as an actor who appeared in the show, but as an American.

Mary:  It was a perfect storm of a lot of really talented people coming together and that leads to good storytelling. But also, people keep finding it. My daughters are finding it, so there is a whole new generation of young people who are really into The West Wing. I also think it’s really comforting to remember that there are people in our government who are there for the right reasons when they could be making a whole bunch of money doing a whole bunch of other things, and they’re not because I think they believe that their ideas can do the most good for the most people. You know The West Wing was criticized by some as being too aspirational or too hopeful, but in the world that we’re living in right now, a little joy and hope is exactly what we need and want.

---

 

What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service is available in bookstores and on Amazon.com. The West Wing is now streaming on a number of channels, and the complete television series will be available on Blu-Ray on October 1.

 
 

When Jim Longworth began his broadcasting career in 1970, most people only had three TV networks to watch. There was no Paramount+, Hulu, or Netflix. There was no such thing as DirecTV, and less than 10 million households even had cable. What folks DID have was a plethora of local television programs to watch. There were programs that featured news makers and sports stars. There were shows targeted to women and children. And, there were locally produced specials and documentaries.

“I was lucky enough not just to be influenced by local programming, but to be a part of it as well,” Jim told me.

That luck included everything from running studio cameras, to reporting, doing weather, and producing prime time specials, such as a half-hour show with legendary comedian Red Skelton, which was taped before a live audience at WFMY in 1978. Jim produced and appeared in his own kids’ show in Charlotte, then hosted a live, daily talk show in Richmond before starting a production company which produced and syndicated public affairs programs that focused on everything from healthcare and education, to business and government. It was all leading to his most enduring venture in his own hometown. I sat down recently with Jim to reflect on the upcoming 1,000th episode of Triad Today.

---

Pam: When did you create Triad Today, and why?

Jim: I came back home to Winston-Salem in 2002 to help look after my parents, and one day while watching TV with my dad, I realized that with the exception of news, all other local programs had pretty much disappeared from the Piedmont broadcast landscape. That’s when I created Triad Today, and we’re now in our 21st year.

Pam: Do you remember the first broadcast?

Jim: Do I remember it? How old do you think I am? 

Pam: 70.

Jim: You didn’t have to answer that. It was a rhetorical question.

Pam: OK, so what was the first show like, and how has Triad Today changed over the years?

Jim: he first broadcast was on October 3, 2003, and it featured a debate over the proposed baseball park in Greensboro. Former Mayor Jim Melvin spoke in favor of the project, which soon became a reality. Before leaving the studio, Melvin said to me, “This is kind of a third-rate setup you have here.” 

Pam: Did you take offense at that remark?

Jim: No, because he was right. During that first year, the Triad Today studio set consisted of a plain black wall, a grey drape, and three director’s chairs. It looked like we were shooting the show in a bus station basement.

Pam: Bus stations don’t have basements.

Jim:  What are you, a CNN fact-checker? 

Pam: In spite of the sparse studio set, along the way you managed to win the prestigious Spectrum of Democracy Award, and were recognized by Congress for your commitment to voter education. How did those honors come about?

Jim: Because during every election cycle I give free air time to candidates in high-profile races, including interviews with folks like Senator Elizabeth Dole and her challenger, the late Kay Hagan. We’ve also had candidates for Governor come from all over the state to appear on Triad Today, and we’ve featured a number of Congressional candidates from Piedmont area districts.    

Pam: In every show you also interview community leaders who focus on a wide range of topics. But the most popular segment each week is the Roundtable. How did that evolve?

Jim: I called it the Roundtable because I would throw out topics and then have local journalists and civic leaders comment. During the first year, the Roundtable gang consisted of former WFMY legend Lee Kinard and news reporter Leonard Simpson. Later I expanded the Roundtable to include two regulars (journalist Ogi Overman and civic leader Keith Granberry), along with a rotating panelist from the world of business, politics, education, and the arts.  

Pam: At the end of each Roundtable segment, you comment on a funny item in the news, then embellish it with a humorous twist. How did that come about?

Jim: I stole that from the late great David Brinkley who as host of “This Week” on ABC, would end each show by commenting on a funny news story. 

Pam: Your jokes don’t always go over though, right?

Jim: No, and thanks for reminding me. That’s correct. Sometimes the Roundtable gang laughs and sometimes they groan.

Pam: Can you give me an example of a funny one?

Jim: “The Greensboro Science Center just announced the addition of a sloth to their exhibits. The sloth will sleep at the center at nights, but he’ll keep his day job at the post office.”

Pam: I don’t imagine local postal workers appreciated that joke.

Jim: No, so I apologized to them on air. I would have mailed my apology, but…

Pam: Never mind, I get it. In addition to interviewing various community leaders each week, Triad Today has also featured a number of celebrities. Who were some of your favorite special guests?

Jim: The Rev. Jesse Jackson was a great guest. In fact, we did an entire half hour with him. I recall asking him if voter apathy was the biggest problem in America, and he said, “No. Voter suppression.” Golfing legend Arnold Palmer was another memorable guest. He was a real gentleman and could make you feel like you were the only person in the room. Then there was Ed Asner who made a pass at you right in front of me. In fact, he actually licked the side of your face.

Pam: Yeah, that was interesting. So, who was your most memorable guest, or the most famous person you ever interviewed?

Jim: Well, there’s a difference between most famous and most memorable. Over the past 54 years, I’ve been fortunate to interview hundreds of really famous folks like Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, and Bryan Cranston. But when it comes to the most memorable, then hands down, that was NASCAR legend Richard Petty. 

Pam: Why?

Jim: Triad Today was only about ten shows into the first season and still trying to attract an audience, so Richard agreed to appear and promote Victory Junction, which was yet to open. The night before taping, Richard’s secretary called me and said that he and Kyle had to fly to Detroit for a sponsor meeting and because of that, Richard wouldn’t be able to do my show. I was devastated because Richard would have put Triad Today on the map, plus we had promoted his upcoming appearance. Nevertheless, I went ahead with the show, and midway through taping, I heard a commotion just outside the studio door. In walked Richard, who promptly sat down next to me and did the interview. Afterward, I learned that he had left Kyle in Detroit and took a plane back to Greensboro that morning just so he could do my show. Off camera I said to Richard, “I really appreciate your being here, but why would you leave an important sponsor meeting in Detroit to be on my little TV show?” “Because I give you my word,” said Richard. To this day and until the day I die, I’ll always get goosebumps when I remember that moment. It says all you need to know about The King.

Pam: What’s the goal of Triad Today, and has that changed over the past two decades?

Jim: Some things have changed, like my waistline and the color of my hair, but our mission has never changed, which is to facilitate discussions with movers and shakers who help to impact our community in a positive way and improve quality of life for every population. Sometimes that involves making folks aware of job training opportunities or reminding them of the importance of mammograms and wellness exams. Sometimes we promote the arts and cultural activities, and other times we help to lobby for much-needed legislation and public policy initiatives, like the work we did to push for reparations for victims of forced sterilization.  

Pam: One last thing. Why is it that you’ve never invited me to be on Triad Today?

Jim: Because I don’t believe in nepotism. I learned that from Ricky Ricardo who never wanted Lucy to perform in his nightclub. 

Pam: OK then Mr. Ricardo, let’s see what happens the next time you want something from me.

Jim: On second thought, how’d you like to be on the show next week?

---

 

Pamela Cook-Longworth is president of Pam Cook Communications and the reluctant wife of Jim Longworth. Triad Today airs Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on abc45, Sundays at 11 a.m. on MY48, and streams on wfmy+.

 
 

Six years ago, then-13-year old Tyler Hughes, of Clemmons, got on his ATV and proceeded to speed along a snowy, curvy road. The ATV flipped over on him and the roll bar severed his left arm. Tyler’s mom quickly applied a tourniquet to her son’s arm and surgeons were able to re-attach the limb. A local newspaper titled its story, “Quick Thinking Mom, Skilled Doctors Made the Difference.” Obviously, everyone was happy that young Tyler survived the crash, but a more appropriate headline would have been, “Boy Should Have Never Been on ATV in the First Place.” To that end, in July of 2018, I wrote a column calling for ATV laws to be more restrictive, but my words fell on deaf ears.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 4,000 people died in ATV accidents between 2004 and 2021, and 504 of those were in North Carolina, most of who were children and teens. Meanwhile, lucky crash victims like Tyler were among the 517,000 ATV riders who made it out of the emergency department injured, but alive. The problem is that no one seems to care about statistics. Lawmakers refuse to outlaw ATVs, parents continue to purchase these death traps for their kids, and young people continue to make poor decisions when riding them. And that brings me to our most recent ATV-related tragedy.

Late last month Layne Jones and Jayden Reynaldo hopped onto a 4-wheeler and went for a piggyback ride along a local highway in Transylvania County. The boys, both 16 years old and both members of the Eastern Randolph High School football team, suddenly lost control, ran off the road, and crashed into a tree. They were killed instantly. To compound the tragedy, there’s no indication that their deaths will yield any significant reforms when it comes to the sale and use of ATVs. If that weren’t the case, then legislators would have already paid more attention to the aforementioned statistics and widespread warnings by reputable individuals and organizations.

For example, at a 2010 meeting of the American College of Surgeons, it was reported that when comparing ATV accidents versus motorcycle accidents, the same injury from an ATV crash is 50% more likely to result in severe injury or death. The reason? Motorcycles are mainly operated by adults and ATVs are mainly operated by minors. Shockingly, under North Carolina law, children as young as 8 years old can operate an ATV if the engine is less than 70cc. Hey, while we’re at it, why don’t we just let children operate handguns, so long as it’s a small caliber? 

State lawmakers need to get off their collective asses and enact serious ATV reforms, including: no one under 16 can operate any kind of all-terrain vehicle; you must have a valid North Carolina license to operate an ATV; and, anyone between 16 and 18 must be supervised by an adult when operating an ATV.  

After Tyler Hughes crashed his 4-wheeler in 2018, I interviewed a pediatric injury prevention specialist for my Triad Today television show. He stated clearly that, “Parents should keep their children away from all ATVs.” Yet what did 13-year-old Tyler tell a Winston-Salem Journal reporter while he was recovering from surgery? He said, “I can’t wait to start riding again.” Tyler could be forgiven for his disregard of the dangers that ATVs present. Lawmakers and parents cannot.