February 12, 2004

Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina
people and programs cited recently in the media:

National Coverage

Supersized appetites (Editorial)
The Boston Globe
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study last week that confirms what almost everyone -- except some people in the food industry -- accepts as fact: Many Americans are overweight because they are eating more....The increase in carbohydrates is just much higher. Barry M. Popkin, professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, cautioned this week that the studies may not give an accurate portrayal of fat consumption.

Drive for public financing under way
The Baltimore Sun
Critics of the role money plays in politics launched a drive yesterday for legislation that would pay most of the campaign expenses of participating General Assembly candidates in the 2010 election...."We wanted a system that would improve government ethics," said [Carl] Stenberg, a former University of Baltimore dean who now teaches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

State & Local Coverage

UNC brings required reading to light
Shelby Star
When Jenny Peddycord enrolled at UNC Chapel Hill in the summer of 2002, she was a bit skeptical about the university’s summer reading assignment for incoming freshmen and junior transfers....The committee started meeting last October and had about 500 books recommended for the program, said Janice Bardsley, associate professor of Asian studies and chairwoman of the committee.

HIV up steeply in black college men
The Charlotte Observer
HIV infection among black male college students in North Carolina has risen so fast in three years that state health officials say the epidemic threatens the "leaders of tomorrow."..."We're talking about the future leaders for the black community being devastated by this," said Dr. Peter Leone, a UNC Chapel Hill researcher and director of the N.C. sexually transmitted disease program.

Issues and Trends

Easley reports jobs plan
The News & Observer
A committee appointed by Gov. Mike Easley presented an action plan Wednesday that relies on the biotechnology industry to help revitalize North Carolina's economy at an estimated cost of more than $390 million over the next five years....North Carolina is among the top five biotech hubs in the world, he said, "but I believe we've only scratched the surface. We can go a lot deeper and further."

Study calls for more biotech recruitment
Triangle Business Journal
The North Carolina Biotechology Center, in a report to Gov. Mike Easley, says the state needs a significant ramping up of its industrial recruitment efforts and incentives packages to attract new biotech companies with better paying jobs.

Teacher shortage gets long look
The News & Observer
No single step will solve North Carolina's chronic teacher shortage, a UNC-led panel said in a report released Wednesday....UNC system President Molly Broad said the state needs to find more incentives to attract teachers.

Note: If you have any questions about Carolina in the News, please call Russell Campbell at News Services, (919) 962-2091, russell_campbell@unc.edu, or Mike McFarland in University Communications, mike_mcfarland@unc.edu

Note: Web links on this page are time-sensitive, so stories might not be available after the day they first appeared.