The Chatham News + Record

North Carolina, Special Forces, and Ukraine

Why can’t the Special Forces units — such as those at Fort Bragg — do something to help the Ukrainians’ use of unconventional warfare strategy and tactics against the invading Russian armed … more

BY D.G. MARTIN, Columnist | 3/30/22

‘All the chances you get, take them’

“All the chances you get, take them,’’ one of my former middle school teachers told me when I saw him recently. He used to tell stories and give advice because he was wiser than all of us … more

BY JOCELYN JIMENEZ | 3/23/22

Can we cope with higher gas prices?

Gas prices have been on the rise. As I am writing this column, the average national price is over $4 per gallon. People worry about gas prices for two reasons. First, we are a mobile society. … more

BY MICHAEL WALDEN, Columnist | 3/23/22

Time once again for a great gift

Monday dawned just a bit cool and breezy — after all, it is March — just right for a lightweight jacket as I moved out into the world. But by the time dinner (if you’re from here) or lunch (if … more

BY BOB WACHS, Columnist | 3/23/22

Dr. Gilmer and Mr. Hyde

Imagine being a patient of a doctor, one whom you loved and trusted, one who also murdered and mutilated his own father. Such an experience forms the basis for a new book, “The Other Dr. Gilmer: … more

BY D.G. MARTIN, Columnist | 3/23/22

This is NOT a sermon about racism

It’s hard for a white guy to write about racism without sounding preachy. If you subscribe to the News + Record, you’ve already read of the atrocious acts earlier this month at J.S. Waters … more

BY ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN, Columnist | 3/23/22

College majors vary widely in cost

It costs a lot more to train a future engineer than to train a future journalist. Some smart aleck might suggest the cost differential is entirely understandable, since a poorly trained engineer will … more

BY JOHN HOOD, Columnist | 3/23/22

The long way home

Quo Vadis? My Latin is rusty, but I know the phrase literally translates as, “Where are you marching?” It was originally directed to a passing soldier in the Roman Empire. The question is really … more

BY ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN, Columnist | 3/16/22

When gaining your sight becomes a ‘big deal’

“Mom, it wasn’t a big deal.” Among all the impassioned words, among all the emotional pleas I heard during Monday’s community rally and Chatham Board of Education meeting, those — … more

BY BILL HORNER III, Publisher | 3/16/22 | 1 comment

Property rights are worth defending

There’s always a cost to protecting property rights. No rational person has ever suggested otherwise. In free societies that place a high value on the individual right to own and control private … more

BY JOHN HOOD, Columnist | 3/16/22

Bad news about favorite eateries and some good news, too

There’s good news and bad news about our favorite places to eat in North Carolina. The bad news is that many of our favorite roadside eateries closed recently. Some could not meet the challenge … more

BY D.G. MARTIN, Columnist | 3/16/22

Wondering if I’ll ever find the answer

Of all the things that make up life, the one that is the most puzzling to me — and at the same time intriguing — is that age-old question of “human nature.” Simply put, that question comes … more

BY BOB WACHS, Columnist | 3/16/22

The courts spoke. Now we must.

It should have come as no surprise that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the maps approved by North Carolina’s high court. They generally uphold redistricting decisions from state courts. After two … more

BY TOM CAMPBELL, Columnist | 3/16/22

Where have all the sunflowers gone?

There were to be weddings. There were to be bouquets of dazzling sunflowers. More golden flowers were to be woven into the hair of brides. Now, tanks have trampled the fields and planted enemy … more

BY ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN, Columnist | 3/9/22

Do we have the energy?

Since 2015 North Carolina has netted more than 110,000 new residents per year, one of the fastest growing of all the states. These newcomers are making increased demands on our roads, our schools, … more

BY TOM CAMPBELL, Columnist | 3/9/22

Some clarity about the situation in Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has stunned the world despite clear warnings in advance. The Russian Army, inept and faltering in the early days, is improving. Bogged down in the north and east, … more

BY BOB PEARSON, Guest Columnist | 3/9/22

Coming together: How we all can win?

“Why can’t we have nice things?” asks Heather McGhee at the beginning of “The Sum of Us,” the book at the center of the recent panel discussion, hosted by the Community Remembrance … more

BY MARY HARRIS AND VICKIE ATKINSON, Guest Columnists | 3/9/22

Ol’ Man Winter reserving right to make return visit

Long ago and far away the late American philosopher and humorist Will Rogers was known to say, “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” That was, of course, his … more

BY BOB WACHS, Columnist | 3/9/22

Ukraine invasion claims voter attention

Over the past couple of weeks, North Carolina politicos have focused intently on the outcome of the state’s latest redistricting saga. After the GOP-majority General Assembly saw its original set … more

BY JOHN HOOD, Columnist | 3/9/22

Why is N.C. stuck at the bottom of ‘right-to-know’ states?

For decades North Carolina has ranked near the bottom of all states in the country when it comes to the public’s right to know what went wrong when a government employee is transferred, demoted or … more

By Sandy Hurley & Bill Moss, N.C. Press Association | 3/9/22