Raleigh Telegram

Editor’s Note: The Telegram recently ran an article titled “New NC Public Records Law Has Some Good And Bad Provisions In It” regarding the new NC media laws. The author of the article was Roch Smith, Jr. of a blog called Roch101 in Greensboro and if it was not clear by our attributions that he was the author, then the Telegram apologizes for any confusion. Thank you.

Raleigh Wide Open 5 Draws Thousands Despite Rain

RALEIGH - Despite a little bit of rain over the weekend, the fifth annual Raleigh Wide Open event in downtown Raleigh drew thousands of people who came to for the parade, music, food, exhibits, rides, and more in one of the largest festival events in the city every year.

::VIEW THE MOST PHOTOS BY ANY NEWS OUTLET FROM THE RALEIGH EVENT.

Travel: Carolina Wine Festivals Promise Tasteful Opportunities

PINEHURST, NC - Raise a glass to North and South, a wine glass, that is. And you can do so in style at two outstanding wine festivals, one in Pinehurst, North Carolina; the other in Greenville, South Carolina. Both are in September.

NC Named As Finalist In Race To The Top Educational Grants Program

RALEIGH - U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced last week that North Carolina is one 19 states that have been named as finalists to possibly receive a portion of rounds more than $3 billion that are still available in federal funding through the Race to the Top program.

Michael Buble Shows Off His Large Talents At Raleigh’s RBC Center

RALEIGH - Buble’s visit to the RBC Center in Raleigh showed off his amazing voice and did not disappoint as he played to a packed house. Buble not only sang his own hits but music by a wide variety of bands from Poison to even Lynyrd Skynrd.

Photos: Downtown Raleigh At Midnight In Black And White

RALEIGH - Downtown Raleigh is a picturesque place during the daylight hours with plenty of unique places to visit. However, at night the downtown scene offers even more of a unique canvas that depicts contrasts between light and shadow.

Study Shows Pay Gap Between NC Public And Private Workers Doubles

RALEIGH - A conservative North Carolina non-profit group has released a study that says the gap between the salaries of private workers and public sector employees has doubled in the last ten years.

NC Man Shot Photos Of First Atomic Bomb Blast At Hiroshima

ASHEBORO - In an interview with the News & Observer, a North Carolina man is finally getting recognition for being one of the few people who were flying over Hiroshima, Japan during the first atomic bomb blast used in war.

Judge Gives Online Newspaper Opinion Posters Protection Under Constitution

RALEIGH - A judge’s ruling in a pre-trial motion involving a Gaston County murder case affirms that First Amendment protection extends to those who make anonymous comments about stories on news websites.

New NC Public Records Law Has Some Good And Bad Provisions In It

RALEIGH - A new North Carolina public records law has passed the state legislature and Greensboro blogger and public records activist Roch Smith, Jr. takes a look at the new law and its good and bad components.

Celebrity Magnet Says Yogi Berra Has A Special Gift For President Obama

NEW JERSEY - Celebrity and entertainment correspondent Tom Murro says that baseball legend Yogi Berra has a unique gift for President Barack Obama.

Letter: DNA Bill Proponents Were Silent During Duke Lacrosse Case

RALEIGH - The author of a book on the Duke Lacrosse case comments on the new DNA bill passed by North Carolina that will take DNA swabs of people charged with felonies before they are convicted of crimes.

Letter: Small Farms Need To Be Regulated Under Food Safety Bill

RALEIGH - The Director of the Food Policy Initiatives at the Consumers Union organization says in a letter to the editor that the Food Safety Modernization Act should apply to small farmers to protect consumers.

Opinion: Time To Put Bad State Employees And Politicians In Jail

RALEIGH - Telegram opinion columnist Alvin Gibson says that if you are a state politician or employee caught violating state policy or even the law, then the state has a history of ignoring the problem.

Opinion: Under Bowles, UNC System Sets Tuition Beyond Reach Of Students

RALEIGH - Opinion columnist D.G. Martin says that the new massive tuition hike proposed by UNC system president Erskine Bowles and the board violates the spirit, if not the letter, of the NC Constitution.

Politics Video: This Week On NCSpin TV

RALEIGH - This week on NCSpin, our panel of political experts discuss political news and more from across North Carolina.

External Links: News From The Web

Milk Police Raid Grocery Store With Guns Drawn

CALIFORNIA - A SWAT-style raid on a grocery nets some real lawbreakers -- people selling unpasteurized milk. From LA Times.

Arctic Ship Lost For More Than 150 Years Recovered

CANADA - A ship that was exploring the Northwest Passage that sank over 150 years ago has been recovered and is remarkably intact. External link to Yahoo News.

FBI Wants To Get Email Info Without Warrants

WASHINGTON DC – The FBI is now requesting to be able to read certain information in emails without having to get approval from a judge. External link to The Washington Post.

Facebook Info Put Online For Hackers To Download

THE US – A massive file containing Facebook information from 171 million user accounts was recently posted online to download. External link to Yahoo News.

National TV Journalists Kidnapped In Mexico

MEXICO CITY - Two national network TV reporters were rescued by government officials after they were kidnapped but a third newspaper reporter is still missing. Link to Yahoo News.

At Least 51 People Found Murdered In Mexico

MEXICO CITY - The bodies of at least 51 people who have been murdered were found outside of Mexico City, say police. Link to LA Times.

NC Man Performs Surgery On Himself After Copperhead Bite

WILKESBORO - A man sucked the venom out of his own hand and refused to go to the hospital after being bitten by a copperhead snake. External link to WXII.

Darth Vader Robs Bank

NY - A man dressed as Darth Vader robbed a bank, while some of the people inside thought it was a joke. External link to AP story on WXII.

The US Middle Class Is Rapidly Shrinking, Leaving Only Very Rich, Very Poor

WASHINGTON DC - According to a new study, thanks to NAFTA, taxes, regulation, and other trends that have helped push jobs overseas, the middle class is rapidly disappearing in the United States.

Senator Kerry Saves $500K A Year By Parking Yacht In Rhode Island

BAHAMAS - The so-called Barefoot Bandit has eluded police again and this time has escaped to crash-land in the Bahamas, say police. Link to Yahoo.

NC Entrepreneur Builds New Brewery Using Online Fundraising

CHAPEL HILL - A new brewer is raising his money from complete strangers over the Internet. External link to the News & Observer.

Trooper Who Lost Job For Having Sex In Car Rehired By The State

RALEIGH - A former state trooper who was fired for some shenanigans with another trooper’s wife in a car on the way home from a party. External link to the News & Observer.

Search For New Leader May Go Outside Highway Patrol

RALEIGH - A law will have to be changed if someone is brought in from outside the NC Highway Patrol to serve as its new leader. External link to News & Observer.

NC DMV Does Little To Employees Who Accepted Bribes From Verizon

RALEIGH– The state did little to any of the dozens of employees who were accused of accepting bribes from Verizon workers. Link to WRAL.

Two NC Former Deputies Plead Guilty To Stealing Drug Money

GREENVILLE – In connection with the former sheriff, two deputies in North Carolina have pled guilty to stealing money that was supposed to be used for undercover drug buys. Link to WRAL.

Supreme Court Decision Changes Miranda Rights

WASHINGTON DC – A recent US Supreme Court decision changes the Miranda rights of criminal suspects when being questioned by police. External link to Yahoo News.

Congress Passes Bill Changing Disparity In Crack, Cocaine Laws

WASHINGTON DC – Congress recently made changes to address the wide disparities between crack and powdered cocaine laws on the books. External link to The Washington Post.

Amish Groups Push Westward As Population Rises Dramatically

PENNSYLVANIA – As their population increases greatly, the Amish communities are expanding westward in search of new land and wide open spaces. External link to Yahoo News.

US Singer To Run For President In Haiti

PORT AU PRINCE – Singer Wyclef Jean, who is both a citizen of the US and Haiti, has taken steps to possibly run for president of Haiti. External link to Yahoo News.

Before The CIA, There Was “The Pond”

WASHINGTON DC – A secret spy agency run by a group of motley specialists was one of the precursors to the CIA and was run until the 1950’s. External link to Yahoo News.

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