Archives for March 2014

Patrick Cannon’s Resignation, Similar Corruption Cases

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rising’s political contributor and Washington Post columnist Mary C. Curtis is taking a look at the latest political scandal to hit the Queen City – the resignation of now former Mayor Patrick Cannon.

Cannon’s accused of accepting bribes, wire fraud and extortion. Curtis weighs in on what’s next for the city.

She says that Charlotte isn’t used to being in the national spotlight and holds our leaders to a higher standard.

Duke Energy’s Coal Ash Plan in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Duke Energy’s plan to bring a coal ash landfill to Charlotte-Douglas Airport still has lots of people nervous. The proposal calls for 4 million tons of coal ash to be moved there. Washington Post Columnist Mary C. Curtis joined Rising to look at the future impact.

A bipartisan time-out? Women honor women in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Perhaps it was the spirit of Liz Hair presiding over the mix of good will and determination Wednesday evening at the annual A Woman’s Place program that has honored the achievements of Charlotte women since 1955. Hair, a pioneer for women in politics and community activism, died at her home earlier that day at the age of 94, and her life – as well as her mantra “let’s make policy, not coffee” — was mentioned as inspiration by many in the bipartisan group of women.

Honored as 2013 Charlotte Woman of the Year was Patsy Kinsey, a Democratic city council member elected by her colleagues to complete the term of Anthony Foxx when he became U.S secretary of transportation. Delivering the keynote was Sharon Allred Decker – a 1998 Woman of the Year – the state’s secretary of commerce for Republican Gov. Pat McCrory. Hair was honored in 1975.

Problem solving, not party difference, was the evening’s theme — not that you can take politics completely out of the conversation. This is North Carolina, where incumbent U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat, is working on a variety of economic, military and other issues, while shoring up a coalition that will need to include women of all parties if she is to win re-election.

Sizing Up Charlotte Sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C.- In Charlotte sports, is it the player or the team? The city had a mini-meltdown when Steve Smith was released. Now Cam Newton is going under the knife, thanks to a bum ankle.  Washington Post Columnist Mary C. Curtis has been sizing up the local reaction to the big changes on the Panthers lineup. She joined Rising to break it down.

Will rightward moves by GOP prove tricky or do the trick in North Carolina?

The 2014 midterm election is already shaping up as a litmus test for the political state of the state. With voters angry at different faction for different reasons, politicians from both parties calibrate their messages with care.

National GOP leaders pick sides in North Carolina races as tough talk escalates


 

After CPAC in Washington, Republican Party leaders are not yet uniting on an opponent for Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan.

American Catholics — in public and in transition

Ever notice how restaurants feature all manner of fish specials during Lent, even at fast-food spots known for burgers and chicken? It’s not just for health reasons. The Lenten season focuses curiosity and scrutiny on a faith that fascinates, even if you know it only from headlines — from sex-abuse scandals to a pope with rock-star status. The influence of one faith that claims 75 million followers in America seems most evident in a solemn season that began this week with Ash Wednesday, when those who span the spectrum of Roman Catholic devotion return to tradition to spend the day wearing a visible manifestation of religious belief.

But that nod to tradition belies a group of believers in transition. A Pew research study released Thursday shows that like many other institutions, questions about the church’s direction run deep. (The survey of 1,821 adults included 351 Catholics.) Would it be any other way in an American society that is changing?

Soul Searching During Lent


CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Lent is underway and it’s a solemn time in the church calendar. Columnist Mary C. Curtis is connecting the observance of Lent to the crisis in Ukraine.

Some world leaders can take the time during Lent to do deep thinking of their own.

Internationally, Curtis says President Putin needs to give up the delusions he’s stated in justifying the use of troops in Ukraine. During a press conference, he denied that troops were even there.

Back in the states, politicians on both ends of the political spectrum can also use the 40 days and 40 nights to soul search. Recently, there’s been more selfishness and a love of in-fighting and they seem to disagree just because they don’t want to agree with the other side.