Editor’s note: Interim Superintendent Crystal Hill gave these remarks during the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education meeting on Jan. 10.

RALEIGH – I have two favorite quotes from Ronald Reagan about the world of work. The first one illustrates his mastery of an indispensable political tool: self-deprecating humor. “It’s true hard work never killed anybody,” he quipped, “but I figure, why take the chance?”

You likely don't need me to tell you that children all over the country are suffering the academic consequences of the pandemic, and North Carolina is not an exception. A 2022 survey revealed that 52% of American families were looking for a new school. To put it in personal terms, in a class…

RALEIGH – When COVID-19 first struck North Carolina nearly three years ago, Gov. Roy Cooper responded with a series of executive orders that closed or limited the operations of schools, businesses, public amenities and even churches. 

I leave the house very early – at 4:45 a.m. My goal is to get to the gym and workout before coming to the office. I don’t have time for a bowl of cereal or two sunny side eggs. I need something quick and tasty. Something I can make in 15 seconds and enjoy in the same amount of time.

Almost 90% of Americans will make at least one New Year's resolution.

RALEIGH – I’ve been on the redistricting beat a long time. Back in the early 1990s, I wrote numerous articles criticizing the collaboration among Republican and NAACP activists to maximize the number of black-majority districts. After the egregious Democratic gerrymander of 2001, I cheered o…

The New Year is a time of resolutions. It's a time when people commit to making a change in their life. Losing weight, changing jobs, saving money, making money, a new relationship, getting in shape, going back to school or giving up smoking are just some of the goals people set for themselv…

We’ve all heard the song “Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas,” right?  Of course, we have. Every radio station between here and Los Angeles has been playing Christmas songs since Halloween. Personally, I am a holiday fanatic.  I love all the holidays! I enjoy decorating and baking for Ch…

RALEIGH – Most of the nine justices on the United States Supreme Court espouse some version of the originalist school of constitutional interpretation. Starting early next year, most of the seven justices on the North Carolina Supreme Court will be originalists, too.

RALEIGH — I’m a fiscally conservative North Carolinian — and I think state taxes should be significantly higher.

Thanksgiving is much more than a big meal with family and friends.  It's a time to reflect on, and be thankful for, all of the good things you have.  It's important to be grateful, not just on Thanksgiving, but each and every day.  Rather than lamenting what you feel is lacking in your life,…

 For at least a decade, one of my neighbors has spent half an hour a few days a week collecting leaves from gutters leading to storm drains.  

Energy prices have been increasing from refined oil to electricity.  Inflation, political decisions and wars have been blamed for this, but there are things each of us can do to reduce the impact.

Cyber-attacks are escalating in a sea of more than five billion internet users across the world. It’s a cyber-shark’s buffet, and this holiday season, you’re at risk if you think “it won’t happen to me.” 

Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 is Veterans Small Business Week and a great time to honor veteran small business owners and the many contributions they make to the economy and our local communities.

As our nation prepares to honor our military veterans on Veterans Day, it’s also important to acknowledge the contribution of veterans to our workforce. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were 8,918,000 veterans in the labor force in 2020. Approximately one in every 19 employee…

As parents head to the polls, often inside schools, I want you to remember this physical location is something charter schools struggle to secure. That’s because most charter school leaders can’t find funding for the buildings. And I’m talking about public schools here.

If you know me, you know that I am a gearhead. I love everything cars. As a kid, I could tell you the make and model of every car on the street where I grew up. When I was eight years old, I received an electric race car set for my birthday. It grew over the years such that I had the biggest…

As a natural gas technician, serving my community gets me up and out the door in the morning.  It’s an honor and privilege to help our customers and help keep our neighborhoods safe. 

There are many reasons to support this year’s bond for Union County Public Schools.  Are you a county resident who’s concerned about taxes, property values, fair play, and economic development?  If so, there is good news in the UCPS bond offering.  You can read about the bond here:  https://…

The opioid epidemic has left a trail of death and destruction in its wake all across North Carolina, and too many families have experienced tragic loss. Since I was sworn into my first term as your Attorney General in 2017, I have made confronting this epidemic my top priority. We have made …

In the early 1920s, my grandfather arrived at Ellis Island from Italy. He settled in a town eight miles away. He and my grandmother raised six children. While four of them stayed close to home, two of my uncles moved 60 miles away. One of them spent his honeymoon in Florida and told the fami…

Community partnerships allow organizations to share responsibilities, ideas, and resources in meaningful ways, increasing opportunities to support their common community as they meet specific needs and foster respect.

RALEIGH – If Hurricane Ian causes damage to North Carolina homes and businesses, the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors advises citizens to exercise extreme caution to avoid becoming further victimized by scam artists posing as legitimate contractors. 

Having worked in education for more than 30 years, I often hear parents proclaim their child attends a great school, while others lament that their school falls short. My first thought is, “How do you know? I often ask the parent if their school has a stated mission statement and core values…

Last week, I had the honor of representing North Carolina on Capitol Hill. 

I was 39 weeks pregnant, living in a suburb of Boston, on Sept. 11, 2001.

Editor’s Note: Charlotte City Council swore in its newly elected members Sept. 6. Council Member Tariq Bokhari gave these remarks after thanking his supporters. 

We’re all experiencing it. Longer phone hold times with customer service support, less prompt service at restaurants, reduced flight options when booking a trip for Labor Day weekend and longer wait times in doctors’ offices. Some would consider COVID-19 to be a primary reason that businesse…

The summer months are a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy all the beauty North Carolina has to offer. But summer is also the start of hurricane season, which begins in June and continues through November. We’re predicted to have another busy hurricane season. You should prepare now …

Around this time seven years ago, The Weeklies published stories announcing they had been bought by a Texas company.

The need for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina is clear and pressing. 

Summer can be a great time to make home repairs and improvements. But this summer, contractors may need to raise their prices to keep up with higher costs from supply chain issues and worker shortages. Reliable and trustworthy contractors will raise prices only as much as they need to. You n…

A few years ago, I was at a church service when the pastor asked the congregation to commit to a special project to serve other people. 

Scammers are always looking for what’s new and popular to strike the unsuspecting. Cryptocurrency is no exception. Scammers prey on people’s unfamiliarity with and excitement about this new product to trick victims into making a poor financial decision in a variety of different ways. Here’s …

With the end of school comes the start of summer sports leagues and events. As a parent, you might as well buy yourself a chauffeur's cap since you’ll be driving everywhere while your kid sits in the back watching a movie or playing a video game!

I was overdue for vacation. It had been a busy fall and the last week in March was the first vacation I would have had since last summer.

One of my favorite times of year is when Charlotte Media Group recognizes winners of the Best of the Weeklies readers choice awards. 

When Superintendent Earnest Winston presented his recommendation to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education a few weeks ago, the thought crossed my mind that the district was pursuing a 13-year hall pass.

Mint Hill is missing a homework assignment from 2020.