The Chatham News + Record

A different Christian view on abortion

In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Justice Samuel Alito’s argument began and ended with the claim that abortion is never mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. But I contend it is … more

BY ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN, Columnist | 6/29/22

My review is in, and it ain’t that great

Among the long list of things the internet has encouraged is to turn too many of us into overly enthusiastic blowhards, as well as elevate not too few of us into high-minded, self-appointed … more

BY BILL HORNER III, Publisher | 6/29/22

Looking for a connection between age and wisdom

Long ago and far away when dinosaurs roamed the world and I was a wee young lad — well, at least a young lad — I was often not very fond, detested at times even, hearing much in the way of … more

BY BOB WACHS, Columnist | 6/29/22

Balancing act

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the word balance. We refer to a well-balanced life as one with equilibrium between work, family and recreation. A well-balanced diet includes a proper mix of the … more

BY TOM CAMPBELL, Columnist | 6/29/22

Lets get in some ‘good trouble’

I realize that when I posted to the Bynum listserv asking why there was not more diversity in the “Viewpoints” section of the Chatham News + Record that I may have ruffled some feathers. I wrote … more

BY SUSIE CRATE, Guest Columnist | 6/29/22

My wife’s retiring. Here’s a tribute to her — and all teachers.

While I write this to honor my wife, Dawn Streets, upon her retirement from Chatham County Schools, I also hope to raise further awareness of and appreciation for the admirable work of all … more

BY DENNIS STREETS, Guest Columnist | 6/29/22

Telling an aging relative she can’t drive anymore

North Carolina is blessed with more than its share of great writers. And I am looking over some of my favorites from my 20-plus years hosting PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch. One of the very … more

BY D.G. MARTIN, Columnist | 6/29/22

Stop punching political panic buttons

Remember when rapid automation was going to render large swaths of the workforce unemployed? Politicians and other professional worrywarts warned that robots would displace production workers, that … more

BY JOHN HOOD, Columnist | 6/29/22

Power is shifting toward parents

When I first began covering state politics and public policy in the late 1980s, North Carolina families dissatisfied with the quality of education provided by their local school district had limited … more

BY JOHN HOOD, Columnist | 6/22/22

Some lessons from puzzle time

My family and I self-isolated last week due to our infection of COVID-19. We had mild symptoms and incredible friends who brought dinner, books, board games and a 500-piece puzzle. I’m not sure … more

BY ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN, Columnist | 6/22/22

What does the language of recessions mean?

We frequently use terms and phrases in our language as shortcuts. For example, in my youth the word “cool” was a shortcut for approval. To complicate matters, the shortcut terms often change over … more

BY MIKE WALDEN, Guest Columnist | 6/22/22

Whose rights are right?

HB755, also known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights, isn’t the most egregious legislation to ever pass our General Assembly. That crown will forever belong to HB2, the so-called bathroom bill. That … more

BY TOM CAMPBELL, Columnist | 6/22/22

This time of year turns us into homing pigeons

It was the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who wrote long ago that “in the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” And while that’s true, although he didn’t … more

BY BOB WACHS, Columnist | 6/22/22

Losing our best legislator

The North Carolina General Assembly is losing its best member. At least that is what the member’s dad thinks. My son, Grier Martin, is resigning his North Carolina legislative position … more

BY D.G. MARTIN, Columnist | 6/22/22

Voices from the past can take many forms

Technology and I aren’t the best of friends. It’s not that I really despise it. I just don’t understand most of it and am not very good at using what I do sort of understand. There is some … more

BY BOB WACHS, Columnist | 6/15/22

We should do more for entrepreneurs

When it comes to fostering new businesses, North Carolina is doing better than average — but not as well as we could be. That’s a fair reading of the latest Indicators of Entrepreneurship … more

BY JOHN HOOD, Columnist | 6/15/22

Check your programming defaults. (And while you’re at it, your faults.)

Software upgrades are a nuisance. They’re foisted on us through our tech devices at the most inopportune moments and force upon us changes that are, at least on occasion, unwanted — and sometimes … more

BY BILL HORNER III, Publisher | 6/15/22

College reunions take us back in time

Preparing for this month’s 60th reunion of my Davidson College class, I thought about a talk I gave in 1997 to my father’s class’s 65th reunion. When those men first arrived at college in … more

BY D.G. MARTIN, Columnist | 6/15/22

How can we prepare for the coming job shifts?

The focus in the labor market over the past year has been on the labor shortage. Not all workers who left their jobs during the COVID-19 recession have returned as the economy has improved. This … more

BY MIKE WALDEN, Guest Columnist | 6/15/22

Reverend Andrew Taylor-Troutman prays for peace. Troutman leads Chapel in the Pines, which opened its doors to all church communities to participate in an ecumenical vigil for lament and action after another horrific mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, last month.

A sermon of tears

On June 9, at Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church, nine different readers stepped to the lectern and took turns reciting each of the 65 mass shootings in this country since November 2018. After … more

BY ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN, Columnist | 6/15/22