Triad Today

Say what you will about the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, but truth is the most connected man in Hollywood is Ed Begley, Jr. That’s because Ed knows or has worked with just about every major celebrity in the universe. Now, thanks to his new memoir, we can all feel connected to Ed.

To the Temple of Tranquility…and Step On It! takes us on a no-holds-barred journey with Ed, who, at age 74, still looks like he could pass for a member of the Beach Boys. In the book we learn of his early struggles with alcohol (drinking a quart of vodka daily), and his more recent battle with Parkinson’s. We discover that Ed didn’t know the identity of his biological mother until he was nearly 16 years old, yet, despite the trauma of that revelation, he didn’t hold a grudge against his Dad. Just the opposite. Ed Jr. revered his famous Oscar-winning father and was in awe of his talent. And of course, we get to learn about Ed’s celebrity friends (both famous and infamous), and what led him to become an environmental activist.

I first got “connected” to Ed back in 1997 when I was writing a series of articles about St. Elsewhere, the groundbreaking medical drama that launched the careers of Denzel Washington, Howie Mandel, and Mark Harmon. It also made Ed a major celebrity in his own right, garnering six straight EMMY nominations for his portrayal of Dr. Victor Ehrlich. The issues-driven show also taught Ed about the impact that television has on people’s lives. During a taping of Donohue, the St. Elsewhere cast heard from one audience member who said, “I was in the hospital for 21 days with colon cancer. Friends, God, and St. Elsewhere were responsible for healing me.”

“It made me feel good being attached to that show,” Ed told me.

Today Ed’s Parkinsons is under control, and he is still acting, most recently as the professor in Young Sheldon. He lives in a LEED-certified house with his wife Rachelle Carson who has served as his partner and foil both on TV and in real life for the past 24 years. I recently spoke with Ed about his new book, his health, and his commitment to protecting the environment.

 

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Jim: Soon after your father told you the identity of your biological mother, you began to abuse alcohol. But what else drove you to drink?

Ed: Well, I really admired guys like Richard Burton, Oliver Reed, and Peter O’Toole. They were incredible actors and I wanted to be like them. I thought it was the drinking that made them great, so I actually pursued alcohol when I was just 15-and-a-half years old. I wanted to drink like them, drink like a man, and not like my Dad who quit drinking when I was about three years old.

Jim: You caught the acting bug from your father. Tell me about that.

Ed: When he was in a play, I would go backstage, and I went on tour with him for shows like Look Homeward Angel and Advise and Consent. I’d go backstage and I could feel the energy in the audience. So, I wanted to do what my Dad did, but I had it all wrong, Jim. I’m thinking, “Dad makes it look easy, and I’m a charming guy, so just give me a role on Gunsmoke or Ben Casey.” But I didn’t train.

Jim: Did your Dad’s name ever open doors for you or land you any jobs?

Ed: At first, I wanted to change my name and not trade off of my father’s reputation, but I quickly realized how hard it was to get into the business. I could also see how much it would hurt my father’s feelings if I changed my name and didn’t carry on the Begley tradition, so I became Ed Begley, Jr. 

Jim: Who were your favorite film or TV actors when you were a kid?

Ed: I liked John Wayne and Rock Hudson…but it never occurred to me to put my father in that group because I had no idea what a great actor he was, and how incredible he was in 12 Angry Men, or how great he was in Sorry Wrong Number. I finally developed a sense of gratitude for being born the son of Ed Begley. I had won the lottery, Jim, and I didn’t even buy a ticket. Yeah, I was a “nepo” baby but I didn’t know what that was. I finally took acting classes to get some finer level of skills, and then I’d get a call from somebody saying to come in and read for a part on a TV series, and it turns out it was my father who had set it up. I just had very little gratitude for being born on second base.  

Jim: You and I are both children of the 1950s, which was hardly an era for environmental responsibility and awareness, so what led you to become an activist?

Ed: I saw the smog around Los Angeles. I saw the Santa Barbara oil spill. And I saw pictures of the Cuyahoga River catching fire in Cleveland. Well, rivers aren’t supposed to catch fire. So when they had the first Earth Day in 1970, I said “Sign me up.” I started recycling and composting, and I bought an electric car.

Jim: You talk a lot about our carbon footprint. What do you mean?

Ed: Our carbon footprint is the net result of how much CO2 it takes to do any job or activity. It takes a certain amount of CO2 to make a mountain bike or solar panels, or a wind turbine. But if you build them right, they last 30 or 40 years and they will give you a net savings of CO2 over the life of those items. The point is if you make your decisions with a little bit of education and a little bit of thought, you can beat the dealer, if you will. You’re using less CO2 than you are making. I have been carbon-negative since 1985 thanks in part to investing in a wind farm, and installing a solar roof.

Jim: When did you first suspect that you had Parkinson’s?

Ed: Back in the late 90s, I’d try to do something with my left pinky finger, and it would twitch, and I’d think, “What the hell is that?” Then I had to get special boots made because of problems with my left heel. I had pain in my left arm that lasted for months and months. All of the problems were on the left side of my body, and that was a sure sign of Parkinson’s. In 2004, I started having trouble with my balance, and my body would twitch, but I didn’t report it to the doctor. Then in 2016, I went to a speech therapist because I was starting to slur my words and couldn’t articulate them the way I used to. That’s when I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Jim:  You probably know more celebrities than anyone else in Hollywood. Your friends include Taylor Swift, Nicholson, DiCaprio, Denzel, Streep, and hundreds of other A-listers. Even so, how is it you came to cook dinner for DeNiro, Tommy Lee Jones, Daniel Day Lewis, and Hugh Jackman all on one night?

Ed: That was the brainchild of Howard Koch, Jr. a friend of mine who was president of the Academy and I was on the board. And Howard said, “I have a great idea, let’s have the governors of each branch cook dinner for a group of 2013 Oscar nominees. So, I cooked a vegan meal for those guys. They all had a great time interacting with each other and enjoyed each other’s company.

Jim: Why did you decide to write this book now?

Ed: Two years ago, my daughter Hayden came to me and said she wanted to record some stories of what it was like when I was growing up, and some of the famous people I had known. It was kinda fun talking to her about that, so I started taking some notes on my computer, and typing up all those things that were in the attic of my mind.

Jim: You wrote in the book that you were once attacked by 25 guys, stabbed repeatedly, and almost died. Is it true that those guys were oil lobbyists?

Ed: [laughs] It was not true, and it wasn’t 25. It was maybe a dozen.

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To the Temple of Tranquility…and Step On It! is available from Amazon.

 
 

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. Formerly “Say YES Guilford”, 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 &ehellip; 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.

 
 

The first movie theaters in America were called “nickelodeons” because it cost five cents to get in. Today we can watch movies at home on a variety of channels, and though it costs a lot more than a nickel to view, we can access those channels through a variety of delivery systems such as cable, satellite, and internet streaming. The first two are contract services delivered by either a landline or a dish. The latter is available online or on the go and requires no additional hardware. Just download an “app” and you’re all set.

Increasingly, younger consumers are choosing to “cut the cable” (a euphemism for getting rid of cable or satellite TV services) and instead are opting to watch their favorite movies or programs in à la carte fashion on their television or personal device without being technically or financially tethered to any one provider. Today’s cable-cutters generally cite high cost as their reason for changing providers and who can blame them?

No doubt both satellite and cable TV provide superior video quality compared to streaming, and the total number of channels available is far greater as well, but you pay through the nose for those privileges.

Sure, DirecTV offers three different packages ranging in price from $69 to $159 dollars per month, but if you have receivers in multiple rooms, then prepare for sticker shock, because each additional receiver runs an extra $7 per month. Then there’s $10 for high definition, a mandatory $13.99 for a “regional sports fee,” $20 for various state and county taxes, and, if you expect to receive technical assistance, you have to purchase a “Protection Plan” which runs $20.99 per month. It’s like dealing with the Mafia, except without the personal touch. Add up everything and you can expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $300 per month for DirecTV.

But it gets worse. For example, if you subscribe to a complete sports package which includes every standard ESPN channel, you still have to pay an additional fee to watch games of regional interest if your team happens to be playing on ESPN+. And if you’d like to watch some of the new TV shows on Cinemax or Disney, you have to ante up an additional fee even though you’re already paying for their parent channels. You’d think that as much as DirecTV charges, you’d be able to access those games and shows as part of your “package”. Think again.

OK, so say you decide to divorce yourself from cable or satellite. Sure, you can save money, but only if you limit the number of streaming services. YouTube TV costs $72 per month, Netflix is $20, Hulu is $89, Paramount+ goes for $12, Apple TV+ is $15, Peacock $12, Amazon Prime $15, FUBO TV $89, Sling TV $55, and Disney+ is $20, just to mention a few.

Now suppose your favorite TV shows are spread out among all of these streaming services. Let’s say I love Hijack and Slow Horses on Apple TV+. And suppose I just can’t do without Lawmen, Tulsa King, and The Good Fight on Paramount+. Suppose I’m addicted to Andor and Loki on Disney+, or Obliterated on Netflix. And I just can’t miss The Boys on Amazon Prime, Monarch on HBO Max, The Continental on Peacock, and Reservation Dogs, The Drop Out, and Goosebumps on Hulu. If you subscribe to all of those streaming channels in order to watch all of your favorite shows, then suddenly, your monthly bill is higher than most cable or satellite packages.

In analyzing the hidden and not-so-hidden costs of watching TV, I am reminded of a well-known complaint that is often uttered about taxes and how they mount up: “First they get you on sales tax, then property tax, then income tax. The government is just trying to nickel and dime us to death.” That’s how it is with TV providers. Little by little those incremental, add-on costs can strain your budget. Welcome to “Nickel and Dime TV.”

 
 

Not many people can boast that they lost their virginity to Ronald Reagan, won a Golden Globe for cross-dressing, and are famous for wielding a knife at a telekinetic prom queen. Come to think of it, there’s only one person I can think of who can make those claims.

Piper Laurie came up through the Universal Studios system in a class of freshmen that included Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, Julia Adams, and James Best. Her first film role was in 1950’s Louisa (starring Ronald Reagan), and she proved to be one of the most versatile actors of the 20th century, at first specializing as the love interest of pirates, cowboys and pool sharks, and later, as every kind of mother, some with a nurturing nature and others with a psychotic bent. Piper is a three-time Oscar nominee for The Hustler (1961), Carrie (1976), and Children of a Lesser God (1986). She won the Golden Globe for Carrie (1976), and an EMMY for the TV movie Promise. Her last regular gig was earlier this year as the voice of Grandma in the podcast “Around the Sun.” Piper Laurie passed away on October 14. She was 91.

I first met Piper in 2014 at, of all places, a Western Film Festival, where loyal cowboy fans remembered her as much for a handful of forgettable oaters as for Carrie. We talked about her career, her autobiography, and yes, about her affair with the 40th President of the United States.

 

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JL: You scared me to death in Carrie when you were wielding that knife at Sissy Spacek. Did you know that film was going to be so scary?

PL: I had no idea. I took the part because originally, I thought it was a comedy. Only in rehearsals did I find out from Brian DePalma that he meant it to be serious. I had worked out some comedy bits to do, and he stopped me after the second time and said, “Piper you can’t do that. You’ll get a laugh.” [laughs]

JL: Do you remember the first time you ever acted as a child?

PL: I was told that I went up on stage at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan when I was about 2 years old because they were giving away peanuts. You could take as many as you could carry, so I lifted my skirt to put the peanuts in it and the audience howled. My sister was mortified and talked about it forever because my underpants were showing [laughs] and everybody was clapping. But that was my first stage experience.

JL: I’m disappointed in you that as a serious actress, you would lift your skirt and work for peanuts.

PL: No comment.

JL: You received rave reviews for The Hustler, and I thought you would have gone on immediately to do lots more films, but you said goodbye to Hollywood and didn’t come back for 15 years until you did Carrie. Why did you get out and why wait so long to get back in?

PL: The work that was being offered wasn’t that interesting and the world was changing. The Vietnam War had started, and it seemed uninteresting for me to spend a lot of energy on something that wasn’t respected.

JL: Your new book is titled Learning to Live Out Loud. Why did you write it?

PL: A lot of stories get all mixed up and I just wanted to get it all straight. Also, I kept a lot of secrets and I thought they were really interesting secrets.

JL: You write in the book that when you were 18 years old, your first love was Ronald Reagan. You said he seduced you and that you had a relationship. So, my question is, why didn’t you end up as First Lady?

PL: Oh God. He wasn’t the man for me. It was a wonderful first love, but he wasn’t a man for me to be with the rest of my life. And he was 20 years older than I was. He was very attractive, though.

JL: You acted in a number of Westerns, and you were great in them, so since we’re here at the Western Film Fair I’m obliged to ask why you didn’t do more Westerns?

PL: Well, I was under contract to Universal and I did whatever they told me to do, but I was luckier than most because they put me to work right away and kept me working. I would do three or four films a year and when I wasn’t working, they would send me on the road to promote the ones I had done.

JL: Fans of Twin Peaks remember that magnificent disguise that you wore. You also did a lot of cameos and guest-starring roles during that time. Was it difficult to step into a guest spot in a show that was already established?

PL: It depends on the part. Sometimes parts are written very specifically for an outsider, and it works in that case. So, the fact that you have no relationship with the actors is OK. Usually, when I take a job like that, I make it my business to watch as many of the episodes as I can, in order to get up to speed.

JL: What have you been up to lately?

PL: I recently did my first stage musical, “A Little Night Music” in Santa Barbara at the opening of a brand-new theatre, and I had a great time.

JL: I’m just glad you didn’t do a new musical version of Carrie because I don’t think I could have withstood you singing with a knife in your hand. You scared me to death.

PL: Well, you look alright.

JL: I’m OK now, but I’m actually only 20 years old. I just look 60 because it scared me so bad.

PL: [Laughs]

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Presidents are only human, so they make mistakes. No, I’m not talking about Bill Clinton hooking up with Monica Lewinski, or Joe Biden forgetting which way to walk off stage. 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.

God bless, and Happy Thanksgiving.
 
 

Patrick Henry hated two things: tyranny and James Madison. That’s why in 1788, Henry persuaded the Virginia General Assembly to re-draw the 5th Congressional District to favor his friend James Monroe. The ploy didn’t work because of Madison’s popularity across party lines, but it does mark the first documented case of gerrymandering in America. Since then, the practice of fiddling with boundaries has become commonplace, especially here in North Carolina.

To be fair, both major political parties have engaged in gerrymandering, a strategy designed to protect incumbents of whichever party was in power at the time. It is also sometimes employed to strengthen that party’s hold on the state legislature or increase their numbers within the congressional delegation. Lately, though, the GOP’s map-drawing activities have been particularly heavy-handed and ballsy, considering that Democrats outnumber Republicans on the voter rolls.

In recent times such gerrymandering has been designed to dilute Democrat and minority voting and make it unlikely for Black candidates to win a seat in Congress. To that point, earlier in this decade, Republicans once held 10 of North Carolina’s 13 congressional seats. But the census and the courts changed that equation when our state picked up an additional congressional district, and a panel of special masters came up with a map that resulted in each party holding seven seats.

Earlier last month, the Republican-controlled N.C. Senate re-drew district lines that can be used for the 2024 election, and with a conservative Supreme Court in the mix, the GOP stands to unfairly gain seats in both Raleigh and Washington. But if that kind of political skullduggery leaves a bad taste in your mouth, just wait until it actually affects the taste of your drinking water, and it could. 

According to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, we need to spend between $17 billion and $26 billion dollars to ensure that our water and wastewater infrastructure systems don’t pose a hazard to our health. Speaking with the Winston-Salem Journal’s John Deem, NCDEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser said, “Our communities are dealing with an aging infrastructure. A lot of pipes that were put in the ground before any of us were born, are made out of terracotta and wood, and they’re leaking and losing water and wastewater throughout our state.” 

As Deem reports, last month Republican lawmakers approved $2 billion dollars for replacing and improving more than 200 local water and sewer projects. But Democrats like Guilford representative Pricey Harrison point out that those budget allocations were not formulated based on the highest need, but rather on which localities are controlled by Republicans. To be specific, the North Carolina Conservation Network estimates that 83% of the funding will be spent in counties and cities that are, “represented exclusively by Republicans in the General Assembly,” and only 2.5% will go to areas ”represented entirely by Democrats.” That, my friends, is gerrymandering at its worst.

Sam Chan, a spokesperson for Gov. Roy Cooper told the Journal, “It’s wrong to divide up money in the back room based on politics…the need is great for clean water infrastructure that’s critical for our health and our economy, and it cheats taxpayers not to get the best use of every dollar.”     

Patrick Henry once said, “Give me liberty or give me death!” He also opposed “taxation without representation”. But thanks to his pioneering efforts in the art of gerrymandering, we are slowly losing our liberty by having our tax dollars spent without fair and balanced representation, and that’s hard to swallow, with or without water.

 
 

Virginia Foxx is not like most Washington politicians who grew up with a silver spoon in their mouths. In fact, she may not have even had a spoon. Growing up in Avery County, Virginia’s family was so poor that in order to make ends meet, she took a job as a janitor at the high school she was attending. She persevered and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill then went on to teach English at Appalachian State University, followed by a stint as president of Maryland Community College. Her first taste of politics came while serving as Gov. Jim Martin’s Deputy Secretary of Management. That led to a successful run for the state Senate where she served from 1994 until 2004. That year, 5th District Congressman Richard Burr decided to jump from the House to the United States Senate, creating a crowded field of Republican candidates who wanted to succeed him. That’s when I got to know Virginia Foxx.

Then as now, the 5th district is so heavily Republican that whoever snags the nomination for Congress is all but assured of a victory in the general election. That’s why eight Republicans lined up to run in a July primary for Burr’s vacated seat. Known only to voters in Watauga County, Virginia finished in second place behind the bombastic Vernon Robinson who billed himself as “the Black Jesse Helms,” and was, in many ways, Trump before Trump. Robinson had served on Winston-Salem City Council and made a name for himself for outrageous statements and stunts, like the time he placed a replica of the Ten Commandments on the courthouse steps, or took credit for creating charter schools. Unfortunately for Vernon, his margin of victory over Foxx wasn’t large enough to avoid a run-off. That set up their one and only face-to-face debate which I moderated as part of a Triad Today special.

On August 4, 2004, just prior to the run-off election, Foxx and Robinson sat down with me for a half-hour discussion and debate. At one point, Robinson took a veiled swipe at Foxx for being a woman who never served in the military.

 

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VR: I’m the only person in this race with military experience…I served as a missile combat crew commander.

JL: Exactly in what war did you serve?

VR: [pauses to think] The Cold War.

JL: But you’ve often talked about your combat experience. Did you engage in combat?

VR: No, but I’m a veteran.

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I also questioned Robinson about his Education Reform Foundation.

 

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JL: Your Foundation has a budget of $107,000, but you pay yourself $104,000, leaving only $3,000 for reform.

VR: [pauses] Uh, that was over three years.

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In the years since that famous debate, I’ve been told that my fact-checking line of questioning cost Vernon the election. If that’s so, then you can blame me for putting Virginia Foxx in Congress. But it was also during that broadcast nearly 20 years ago that Virginia said something which is now coming back to haunt her. Said Ms. Foxx, “The people of this district deserve a dignified, hard-working person who wants to serve them.”

After taking her seat in Congress, Virginia was dignified. She was a model representative, not only attending every House vote but showing up at numerous events back home in the district. I referred to her as, “the hardest working woman in Congress,” a tag that still applies today. I was honored when, in 2005, Virginia took to the floor of the House and read a proclamation in recognition of my work on Triad Today. Said Foxx, “Mr. Speaker, the press has a responsibility to fulfill its role as the fourth estate, that is to serve as a guardian of democracy and defender of the public interest. I am pleased to congratulate Triad Today for its outstanding commitment to keeping the community informed.” 

But somewhere along the way, Virginia started to change. She went from being dignified to being arrogant and angry. She also became a camera hound who managed to wrangle herself beside Republican presidents and leaders during State of the Union addresses and press conferences. And, Virginia became such a partisan that she didn’t care what bilge she spewed, like when she frightened her own elderly constituents by telling them that Obamacare would create death camps for older people. Worst of all she forgot how to act with and around anyone who disagreed with her increasingly far-right-wing ideologies. She also forgot her pledge to be dignified and to defend the free press, as we saw recently when she yelled at a reporter.

That was the day homophobic insurrection supporter Mike Johnson was named Speaker of the House. Afterward, Virginia pushed her way to the front of Johnson’s impromptu press conference where a reporter from ABC News asked the Speaker about his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election. Before Johnson could respond, the gaggle of fellow election deniers behind him laughed at the question. Then, Virginia jumped in and shouted to the reporter, “SHUT UP! SHUT UP!”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from my friend who once pledged to be “dignified.” This was the same woman who, when honoring Triad Today, called the press, “guardians of democracy and defenders of the public interest.” Her outburst at the ABC reporter was alarming, not just because it was scary rude, but because it said a lot about how far Virginia Foxx has devolved from being a polite partisan into a self-appointed censor of anyone who doesn’t believe the lies that she and her right-wing colleagues spin with great regularity.

Thanks to GOP gerrymandering, Virginia Foxx, now 80 years old, is assured of a seat in Congress for as long as she wants it. I just wish she didn’t want it. She has become an embarrassment to our state and a symbol of everything that is wrong with politics in America. I wish Virginia would do the right thing and retire, but if she decides to remain in office, I just wish she would, to use her words, “SHUT UP! SHUT UP!”

 
 

I once asked the Rev. Jesse Jackson if voter apathy was the biggest threat to democracy. “No,” he said. “It’s voter suppression.” He was right then and he’s especially right now. Want proof? Then just take a gander at the newly drawn Congressional districts being proposed by our Republican-controlled State Senate.

Voter suppression comes in many forms, some subtle and some not so subtle. It can involve decreasing the number of polling places in Black neighborhoods or cutting back on the number of days allowed for early voting. It can also come in the form of restrictive voter identification laws or removing select drop boxes for mail-in ballots. Voter suppression also involves dirty tricks by political operatives, who sometimes generate robocalls that mislead people about polling locations and hours. But the most blatant type of voter suppression is gerrymandering, a process whereby one political party creates discriminatory voting districts so as to give their candidates a distinct edge over the opposition party.

That’s what Republicans in the North Carolina Senate are doing (and have been for years) by breaking up urban areas of heavily Democratic cities and counties into pieces, and attaching those pieces to areas that are already heavily Republican. The initial result of this partisan piecemeal effort was to offer a choice between two maps that might be used in next year’s election. One version was in Senate Bill 756, and the other in SB 757. Both of them were absurdly odious, but last week Senate Republicans advanced SB 757 as their best and final congressional map to be used in the 2024, 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections. Court challenges are expected to follow by organizations like Common Cause, but if the GOP map is upheld, then the North Carolina congressional delegation will shift from 7 Democrats and 7 Republicans, to a possible 11-3 split in favor of Republicans. It all seems so unfair, especially because Democrats outnumber Republicans statewide. Nevertheless, short of a judicial miracle, the SB 757 map could prevail. Here’s how it will affect Piedmont voters.  

Under the new map, the 5th Congressional district (now represented by Republican Virginia Foxx) will include northwest Guilford County and most of Greensboro. It will also encompass GOP stronghold counties of Allegany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Rockingham, Surry, Stokes, Watauga, and Wilkes. 

The 6th district (now represented by Democrat Kathy Manning) will take in southwest Guilford County and High Point, along with Kernersville and Walkertown. But it will also include Davie, Davidson and Rowan counties, and about 20% of Cabarrus. And, just for good measure, the new 6th district will also include southern Forsyth County.

The 9th district (now represented by Republican Richard Hudson) will cover Alamance, Hoke, Moore and Randolph counties, as well as parts of Chatham and Cumberland, and the remaining areas of Guilford not already allocated to the 5th and 6th districts.

The 10th district (represented by Republican Patrick McHenry) will include Winston-Salem and western Forsyth County, as well as Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, and Yadkin.

Under this map, Kathy Manning’s current district (which includes most of the Triad) will be carved up and scattered into four different Republican strongholds, thus explaining why High Point Mayor Jay Wagner, former Congressman Mark Walker, and Army vet Christian Castelli felt emboldened to announce that they would seek the 6th district seat next year.

It is truly amazing what lengths Republicans will go to in order to hold onto and increase their power base, and, in so doing, show a total disregard for representative government and the rights of Democratic voters. When you give yourself an advantage by rigging the election up front, that means you are afraid to compete on an equal playing field, and that makes you seem like a bunch of frightened, self-serving cowards. I apologize for my feelings, but some things are just hard to suppress.

 
 

While moderating a star-studded event in Hollywood back in 2009, I introduced Suzanne Somers by saying, “She is the author of a book titled Touch Me, about the effect of the Thigh Master on global warming.” Suzanne laughed loudly. In fact, the superstar actress turned superstar entrepreneur loved to laugh, and she laughed a lot. That was nine years after being diagnosed with breast cancer and three decades after she was fired from a hit TV show just because she asked for the same salary as her male co-star.

But Suzanne was not one to let any kind of adversity beat her. After leaving Three’s Company and being virtually blackballed by casting agents, she re-invented herself and used her singing skills to develop a one-woman nightclub act. After headlining in Vegas in the early 1980s, Suzanne was voted as that city’s Female Entertainer of the Year, and suddenly casting agents came calling again. She was hired for the title role in She’s the Sheriff, then in 1991 Suzanne produced and starred in an autobiographical TV movie, Keeping Secrets which dramatized everything from her childhood dyslexia and abusive behavior by an alcoholic father, to her journey to find and marry the love of her life, Alan Hamel. That was followed by her long-running comedy series, Step by Step, and an even longer-running career as a successful businesswoman who made hundreds of millions of dollars from putting her name on over 500 products, including the popular Thigh Master. Along the way, she wrote over two dozen books and became an advocate for women’s health. Suzanne’s cancer returned with a vengeance in July of this year, and it finally beat her one day shy of her 77th birthday. Suzanne Somers died on October 15. She is survived by Alan, their three children, and six grandchildren.

I first met Suzanne when she agreed to participate in an event that I was producing for the Television Academy which saluted famous TV Dads. I had asked her to come on stage and pay tribute to her Step by Step co-star Patrick Duffy, and we stayed in touch regularly after that. Sometimes our communications were brief and sometimes they evolved into her giving me advice about my kidney stones or recalling the infamous Three’s Company saga. What follows are excerpts from some of our emails over the years.

 

June 24, 2009

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JL: Thanks so much for participating in the TV Dads salute last Thursday. The crowd really loved your comments.

SS: Thanks for the nice letter. That doesn’t usually happen. Both Alan and I thought you handled yourself well and were very good on your feet. You kept it lively and funny. I was happy to be there.

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August 14, 2009

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JL: I didn’t realize what a great cook you are. Pam and I are flying back to L.A. for the EMMYs next month. Can you provide the in-flight food for Delta?

SS: Yes, and the food will be organic!

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February 5, 2012 and June 19, 2014

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JL: I just watched your recent reunion with Joyce [DeWitt, her co-star on Three’s Company] on your internet show, Suzanne Somers Breaking Through. I hadn’t realized that the two of you had once wanted to do a tribute to John Ritter at the EMMYs, but your request was denied.

SS: It was the first time that Joyce and I had spoken after being estranged for decades. I was impressed by her willingness to appear, and it was an emotional reunion.

JL: Go back and tell me about the estrangement and why the EMMY idea didn’t fly.

SS: Before John died, I had reconciled with him in a telephone call. He had called me to ask if I would do a guest shot on his show, Eight Simple Rules… For Dating My Teenage Daughter. It was supposed to be a dream sequence where Joyce and I would be in his dream. I was so touched that he would reach out and call me after so many years, and it was uncomfortable for me to tell him that I didn’t want to do it. Because of my immaturity at the time, I didn’t have the wisdom to see it for the opportunity that it was. Instead, childishly I did not want to be on screen with Joyce. At that point, she had said so many awful things about me in print, on TV and radio that I just didn’t like her. I take responsibility for my small-mindedness. Anyway, the conversation with John was tearful, emotional, and heartwarming, so instead we decided rather than do his show, that we would find a project to do together. When he died a month later, I was deeply sorry and felt it was time to bury the hatchet. So, I asked my PR agent to call Steve Binder who was producing the EMMYs that year. We suggested that during the show a large black and white photo of John would drop down, and then Joyce and I (dressed in beautiful black gowns) would come from opposite sides of the stage and have sort of a Three’s Company reunion as the eulogy. Our idea was rejected. It would have been a TV moment to remember. By the way, I had wanted to go to his funeral, but John’s family barred me from coming. Well, now you’ve got me going about all the hard feelings from the Three’s Company debacle.

JL: That’s OK.

SS: The whole thing was a tragedy all the way around. After five years of being on the show, I asked for a salary increase and 10% of the profits. The network decided to play hardball and fire me so that no other female would have the audacity to ask for parity with the men. Had Joyce and John backed me up, we would have all participated, but they turned against me publicly and I was ostracized and called “greedy” by the press. Before I left, security cordoned off the set so that I couldn’t interact with anyone. I was unable to work on TV for years due to the negative publicity. It was a needless, cruel scenario that created a bitterness that I had to work to overcome. But I now feel at peace with the entire thing.

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January 29, 2013

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JL: I just read where you said that you intend to live to be 110. I’m sure you will, and by then you’ll finally look like you’re 45.

SS: Hahahhaa..now I’ve really set myself up!

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October 16, 2013

(Suzanne had just bragged to the press about her active sex life with Alan)

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JL: I hesitated to send this email for fear that it would interrupt something you and Alan might be doing.

SS: Hahahahaha..I still know how to get attention! I love that you always remember my birthday.

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June 30, 2014

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JL: Tell Alan I’m celebrating his birthday by passing kidney stones.

SS: Sorry for the stones. Drink a lake full of water.

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August 24, 2014

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JL: Dear Goddess, I just saw your bikini photo in the Enquirer. You can’t possibly be 68.

SS: Dear darling Jim you made my day! Thanks.

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October 17, 2016

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JL: Hey I think I typed in your email address incorrectly and it got spammed out.

SS: You will never be spam to me.

JL: That may be the most romantically hi-tech thing a woman has ever said to me.

SS: Hahaha. I’m of the millennium.

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October 16, 2019

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JL: Happy birthday!

SS: Thanks, Jim. It wouldn’t be my birthday without hearing from you. You are always the first.

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August 1, 2023

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JL: Hey Good Lookin’. I just heard that you’re having to deal with the “C” word again. I’m thinking good thoughts and sending prayers your way.

SS: Thanks, Jim. The wishes I’m getting from so many people make me feel so good. I must have done something right. Looking forward to seeing you in the future.

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That was the last time we corresponded. I will miss our regular exchanges, and I will think of her often. Suzanne and I spoke of many things over the years, but perhaps what she said to me in a 2015 missive best sums up her essence: “Jim, I’m loving life.”

And what a life it was. 

Rest in peace, my friend.

 
 

Back when the Mafia pretty much ran Las Vegas, casino patrons, and concert-goers were expected to “dress up.” Translation? Men wore pressed shirts, slacks, a blazer, and usually a tie. Women wore dresses or skirts, and generally walked in high heels. My first trip to Vegas was in 1980 for a meeting of Jerry Lewis telethon producers and hosts. At that time “The Strip” looked pretty much like it had 20 years earlier, and there was still a strict dress code for admittance to casinos and shows. When I returned 30 years later, Las Vegas Boulevard had been transformed into something akin to an amusement park, and the old-time hotel dress codes had disappeared. My wife Pam and I took in a Tom Jones show at the MGM Grand, and much to my surprise, we were the only couple who bothered to “dress up.” Everyone else was in jeans, shorts, tank tops, and flip-flops.

I was recently reminded of this devolving decorum when Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was allowed to enter the Senate chamber wearing shorts, a sweatshirt, and tennis shoes. Fetterman as you recall had once been hospitalized for depression, so Chuck Schumer, not wanting to appear politically incorrect, instructed the sergeant at arms to allow Big John admittance to the chamber. But Fetterman isn’t the only violator of Congressional norms. Kyrsten Sinema and Lauren Boebert often come to work showing more cleavage than a Baywatch girl.

America clearly has a dress code problem, and it’s not just with politicians and casino patrons. Flight attendants continually squabble with customers over what is and is not appropriate flying attire, and how much skin should be showing. When I first started traveling by plane, passengers wore “church clothes.” That’s a far cry from today’s flyers who routinely wear shorts, halter tops, and flip-flops.

Speaking of “church clothes”, I’ve also recently seen people wearing shorts and tennis shoes to worship services. I guess that would be OK for attending a baseball game, but not in church. Come to think of it, not so many decades ago, men wore shirts and ties to baseball games, even in the dog days of summer.

And while I’m on the subject of a dress code for sports patrons, there’s absolutely none for coaches. Head football coaches at both the college and pro levels used to wear a blazer, tie, and slacks. Today anything goes, with coaches wearing warm-up suits, hoodies, shorts, and t-shirts. Several weeks ago, Colorado State University head coach Jay Norvell hit a breaking point. Referring to rival Colorado University coach Deon Sanders who hardly ever removes his hoodie and shades, Norvell said, “When I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat and sunglasses off. That’s what my mother taught me.”

Dress code controversies also arise in secondary schools, where students are often asked to change their shirt if it contains a political message or foul language. Meanwhile, hair length also falls under dress code regs, and that can sometimes create problems. Take for example the Black high school student who is suing the Houston school system for suspending him just because his dreadlocks were too long. The media has tried to make this a race issue, but it’s not. The school in question has a strict dress code for boys which stipulates that hair must not fall below the eyebrows and earlobes. The code applies to all boys, including White guys with long hair.

And then there’s the workplace. Ever since the pandemic, small and large businesses alike are struggling to find good workers, so employers are less likely now to enforce strict dress and grooming codes than ever before. Still, today’s job seekers should be mindful of some common sense rules for making a good first impression. Tattoos are popular these days, but if you’re applying for certain types of high-profile jobs, it’s best not to show up for an interview covered in visible tats and assorted body rings. It’s also advisable to inquire about your prospective employer’s rules for attire and hair before accepting a position with that company. That will prevent any misunderstandings later on if you decide to suddenly grow your hair long, wear tube tops, and have the phrase “take this job and shove it” tattooed on your forehead.

What it comes down to is this: most folks just don’t care about what they wear in public. Columnist Kathleen Parker recently wrote, “When I walk through airports or malls, I can’t help wondering what people are thinking when they leave the house.” Quoting her father, Parker added, “Americans are a bunch of slobs.”  

I know that some of my observations and those of pundits like Ms. Parker may seem antiquated, but I truly believe if we all make a little effort to look nice and conform to a few basic societal norms, then that might go a long way toward bridging some divides among us. Moreover, given the price of casual wear these days, it actually costs less to “dress up” than it does to look sloppy. Paraphrasing Parker’s comment on the Fetterman saga, “A tiny concession to decorum would demonstrate respect for and consideration of others.” It’s an idea that would wear well on all of us.

 
 

Back in the day of brokered political conventions, it was common for some states to place the name of a “favorite son” into nomination for president on the first ballot. This was done largely for one of two reasons. One was to give their state leverage in seeking concessions from the current front-runner, and the other was to simply recognize and honor an outstanding elected official for his service to the state. 

In 1964 America was still reeling from the assassination of John Kennedy, and there was no doubt that JFK’s vice president, Lyndon Johnson, who had been sworn in on a flight from Dallas just months earlier, would be the Democratic Party’s nominee. Even so, the North Carolina delegation nominated Governor Terry Sanford on the first ballot, mainly as a way of recognizing Terry for his anti-poverty and education programs, and for his stand on civil rights. But the ceremonial nod to Sanford had an interesting back story that was unknown to the public.

In her book, Kennedy and Johnson, JFK’s private secretary Evelyn Lincoln recounted a conversation she had with her boss just days before his assassination. Kennedy told her that he was thinking of naming Terry Sanford as his running mate in 1964, but that, “It will not be Lyndon.” Had JFK survived, then Sanford would have probably been on the ticket and perhaps would have become president in 1968. It was not to be. However, Sanford did make an official run for the White House in 1972, but his campaign fizzled after he lost the North Carolina primary to George Wallace. 

Truth is, it is rare for anyone hailing from North Carolina to become president. Only two, James Polk and Andrew Johnson, got to sit in the Oval Office, and Johnson was so inept (the first president to be impeached) that he jinxed it for other North Carolina presidential aspirants to follow. Just ask John Edwards whose campaign imploded when it was discovered that he had produced a child from an extra-marital affair. But if we are to believe a recent report from CNN, then the Tar Heel State might have a chance to break the jinx. That’s because when listing top Democrats who might be a viable candidate for president in 2024 should Joe Biden drop out, the name “ROY COOPER” was mentioned prominently. 

So how likely is it that Uncle Joe will decide not to seek a second term? A few months ago, the answer to that question was, “not likely.” But two things happened recently that could change the equation. First, the latest polls now consistently show Trump beating Biden in a 2024 re-match. Second, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius opined that Biden should not seek re-election and that Kamala Harris should probably not be the Democratic standard-bearer either. This was a monumental blow to Biden because Ignatius is one of the most respected journalists in the nation and is a White House favorite. History will tell, but Ignatius’ bombshell may prove to be the most significant news media influencer on presidential politics since Walter Cronkite reported that the war in Vietnam was lost, leading LBJ not to seek re-election in 1968. Reportedly Johnson told his aides, “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle America.” 

OK, so if Biden drops out, what are Roy Cooper’s chances of being the Democratic nominee in 2024? It’s hard to say. True, Cooper has proven that he can win elections, but only by a razor-thin margin the first time around because he threw Pat McCrory under the bus for creating the “Bathroom Bill,” when in fact McCrory did no such thing. In fact, Pat tried to derail it. Cooper also gained both praise and criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporters say Cooper helped to save lives by ordering non-essential personnel to shelter at home, and later by imposing mask mandates and enforcing socially distant public gatherings. But the Governor acted unilaterally in extending his pandemic policies when he should have sought consensus from the council of state to do so. The lengthy shutdown caused thousands of small businesses to close forever, the effect of which we’re still feeling today. On the plus side, Cooper maintains a façade of the genial Southern gentleman who’s moderate enough to appeal to a national electorate, much as Jimmy Carter did in 1976. 

Of course, Joe Biden must first step down in order for Roy Cooper to step up. If that happens, Cooper would face a slew of Democratic contenders, several of whom already enjoy the kind of name recognition that Roy lacks. Still, America seems to love Southern governors, at least for a while. We proved that by electing Carter, Clinton, and George W. Bush. I just don’t know if I could get used to calling Roy Cooper, “Mr. President.” I might have to, though, providing that Biden drops out and that Roy doesn’t have a baby out of wedlock.

 
 

Turn on the news and you’ll hear plenty of political infighting, partisan bickering, name-calling, and vitriolic discourse coming from Washington. What you hardly ever hear or read about, however, are details about important legislation that can affect our daily lives, regardless of whether you are liberal or conservative. That’s why this weekend’s episode of Triad Today is giving viewers an opportunity to hear directly from elected officials and learn about new and proposed laws that they have introduced or supported on our behalf.

This Saturday and Sunday, 6th District Congresswoman Kathy Manning and United States Senator Ted Budd discuss the merits and status of nearly two dozen pieces of legislation, and how those laws can impact our collective quality of life. Here are some highlights from the upcoming broadcast.

 

Inflation Reduction Act

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Manning: This brought down the cost of healthcare premiums, capped out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications, and lowered the cost of insulin for seniors. It has also helped to bring down the cost of insulin for everybody.

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Middle-Class Borrower Protection Act

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Budd: What the Biden administration wants to do is charge middle-class borrowers with good credit a fee to offset those who have not been as responsible by protecting their credit score, and that’s bad policy. This bill protects those middle-class borrowers.

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Mental Health Wellness in Schools Act

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Manning: We have a mental health crisis in our students, so my bill would integrate mental health education and services into the wellness programs that are already taking place in our schools.

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Veterans Protection from Fraud Act

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Budd: Unfortunately, there are some bad actors who want to take advantage of veterans in their time of need, so this will enhance the punishment against those people. That means longer jail time and bigger fines if they target our veterans. We want to protect those who have protected us.

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The PACT Act

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Manning: This Act makes sure that veterans can get the healthcare they need for those people who have been exposed to toxins, and it streamlines the process for applying for those benefits.

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Small Business Loans

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Budd: We want small businesses to be able to use the SBA 7A loan money to re-invest in their company, to put in technology, and put in good systems that can help them compete with bigger companies and grow the local economy.

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The Affordable Connectivity Program

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Manning: We have more than 400,000 people in North Carolina who did not have access to the internet during COVID. This program has already helped 60,000 people in the 6th district with a $30-per-month credit to help afford internet service.

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This special Voter Education edition of Triad Today airs Saturday at 7:30 a.m. on abc45 and Sunday at 11 a.m. on MY48. It will also stream on WFMY+. The program was made possible in part by Truliant Federal Credit Union. For more information on current legislation, visit Manning.House.gov and Budd.Senate.gov.