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Davidson Area News

Perdue's education record shows 3 years of improvement

It was only eight days ago that North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue visited Charlotte, declaring she would fight for more money in the classroom. 

"This is a fight worth having," she said Jan. 19. "Let me be very direct with you. I will never back down from anything that has to do with our children."

But now she's citing that same passion as a reason for not seeking re-election, saying the fight may be too political with her Republican opponents.

The decision has local advocates paying attention

"Our belief is regardless of who the governor is, that they must make education a top priority," Bill Anderson said.

Anderson is the executive director at Meck-Ed, a non-partisan education group in Charlotte.

He said it is in everyone's best interest for students to succeed.

State graduation rates since Perdue took office in 2008 show a steady increase from 71.8 percent in the first year to 77.7 percent last year.

But Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools get more than half of their money from the state. Since 2009, the district's budget has been reduced by nearly $200 million, costing CMS more than 2,000 jobs.

The economy took its toll, but Perdue blamed some cuts on Republicans, as did Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton.

"It's hard to make progress when you're faced in the wrong direction," he said

Dalton has already announced his plans to run for governor now that Perdue is leaving the post.

Anderson said his group and parents will be watching the race closely.

“We can't worry about what's happened in the past," Anderson said. "We have to worry about today, and tomorrow and the election that's upcoming."

_{Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:22:42 -0500}

McCrory ready for any Dem opponent in governor's race

As the surprise of Gov. Bev Perdue’s announcement settles in, more names are being mentioned as possible Democratic candidates.

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton already said he is stepping into the race.

Analysts said a state representative from the Chapel Hill area, Bill Faison, may have the funding to put together a campaign. And the former UNC system president and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles is being pushed to enter the race, other insiders said.

Gov. Bev Perdue’s decision to leave office after one term makes Republican Pat McCrory the front-runner in a number of ways.

McCrory said Friday he always considered the possibility Perdue would not run again, but like everyone else, he did not necessarily see it coming.

Despite Perdue’s struggling poll numbers, McCrory said he thought she would have still been his toughest match.

“Frankly, the governor was going to be a very strong opponent despite her record because of the power of incumbency, the money that she had and her position with the Democratic Governors Association,” he said.

McCrory, who was already the front-runner in some polls, has a major jump on fundraising. He said two Republican governors were already in North Carolina campaigning for him recently, and that his phone has been ringing almost continuously since Perdue’s announcement, with voters of all parties offering their help.

No matter who the former Charlotte mayor faces in November he said, his message will remain the same.

“We’re going to fix a broken government and a broken economy here in North Carolina, and it desperately needs to be fixed,” McCrory said.

_{Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:20:30 -0500}

Rowan woman beaten to death while grandchildren slept

A Rowan County grandmother was beaten to death inside her home, and her six grandchildren found her when they woke up to go to school Friday.

Family members said the children left the home and ran to a neighbor’s house because the phone was not working. They began pounding on the front door, trying to get help for their grandmother, who was raising them.  

"I rolled over and just heard them knocking and hollering," said Sara Etheredge.

 Etheredge said she could hear the pounding and screams coming from her front door shortly before 7 a.m. Friday. 

Outside on her front stoop stood six children, between the ages of 5 and 14, who woke up minutes earlier to find their grandmother, Joan Lark, beaten to death.

"They had to see that this morning. It's horrible. It's sad and it is horrible. I feel for them," Etheredge said.

By lunchtime, a crowd of more than 30 family members and friends had gathered in the yard across from the home, hoping to learn more about what happened. 

State investigators made several trips into the home to collect evidence in the case. Lark's own mother was in the crowd and fought back tears as she talked about her daughter. 

She said she will never forget what the children told her this morning.  

"They said, ‘We tried to shake her, but we couldn't get her to wake up,’" Kathleen Chambers Hill said.

Family members said Lark recently broke up with her boyfriend.

Police released few details about the case, but did say they had been to the home earlier this month on a domestic-related call.

Her cousin is still in shock by the killing and what the children saw this morning.

"We're all are sitting here numb at this point," Shelia Still said.

Family members said DSS is involved with the case. Some of the children are staying with other family tonight.  

_{Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:18:35 -0500}

News Source: MedleyStory More Local News Stories