September 26, 2002

Carolina in the News

Current National Coverage

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

The Perils of Pro Football Follow Some Into Retirement
The New York Times
Mike Webster, who was the kind of football player who treated pain as if it were an insignificant pest, was 
considered indestructible by many of his teammates. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974 
to 1988 and played the frenetic and extremely violent position of center... Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, research 
director of the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes at the University of North Carolina, is examining a 
variety of social and medical issues involving retired N.F.L. players... 
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/26/sports/football/26WEBS.html
(Note: The New York Times requires free registration to access articles.)

Parents Find That Kids Need Life Balance as Well
The Wall Street Journal
For years, adults have struggled to maintain some balance in their lives amid the competing pull of work, 
family and recreation. Now, a growing number of people are concerned that kids' lives, too, are getting out 
of whack... The largest teen study, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health by the University 
of Minnesota and the University of North Carolina, found closeness with family was linked to less smoking, 
drinking, drug use and early sex. The study involved 90,000 adolescents...
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1032977990583395113,00.html?mod=your%5Fmoney%5Fmain%5Fsecondary%5Fhs
(Note: The Wall Street Journal requires a subscription to access articles.)

Researchers find success in hepatitis C treatment
The Baltimore Sun
An experimental new combination of drugs for hepatitis C cures more patients with fewer side effects than 
the standard treatment for the potentially deadly, liver-destroying infection, researchers say... "This is one 
of the first times where we have more than half the people we treat have a good response," said lead
researcher Dr. Michael W. Fried, director of liver disease treatment for University of North Carolina at 
Chapel Hill...
http://www.sunspot.net/news/health/bal-te.hepatitis26sep26.story
(Note: This National Associated Press story was also featured in The Miami Herald, The Philadelphia 
Inquirer, The News and Observer, The Winston-Salem Journal and The Herald-Sun. UNC medical 
center public affairs and News Services staff also are involved with this story.)

State and Local Coverage

UNC plan may hinge on area’s zoning 
The Herald-Sun
The battle over a UNC plan to move its grounds department and a print shop to a plot near the Elkin Hills 
neighborhood may hinge on an interpretation of the zoning in the area...
http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-270629.html

Not so merry (Editorial)
News and Observer 
It's dubbed a "Christmas tree bill" by some around the General Assembly, and with good reason. There appear
packages of all shapes and sizes in it for just about everybody. An expanded economic incentives bill now
includes: $15 million a year in grants to businesses that create jobs, $45 million for a biotechnology training 
center at N.C. State University, $130 million for a cancer treatment center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, 
$20 million for grants to projects -- including convention centers, museums and stadiums -- falling under the 
heading of travel and tourism...
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/story/1765524p-1775164c.html

Senate OKs more aid for business 
News and Observer
A dramatic expansion of the state's economic incentives program surpassed a key hurdle Wednesday when 
it won the endorsement of the Senate Finance Committee... The most controversial provisions of the bill 
|surround two proposed public projects: a 272,000-square-foot cancer center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel 
Hill and a new biotech facility at N.C. State University that will train 3,000 to 5,000 workers annually...
http://newsobserver.com/business/rtp_nc/story/1765632p-1775284c.html

Carolinas Technology: Gathering of Angels lands in town
The Charlotte Observer
... The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, North Carolina's largest support and networking group
for start-ups, is hosting its Springboard event in Chapel Hill on Friday, to help female entrepreneurs win venture 
capital funding
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/business/technology/4150511.htm
(Note: Springboard is sponsored by the Springboard Enterprises, the Council for Entrepreneurial 
Development and the Kenan-Flagler Business School.)

Bill tries to limit Moore County board's actions
Fayetteville Observer
The General Assembly rushed legislation Wednesday to squelch political "shenanigans" by the lame-duck 
chairman of the Moore County commissioners, the bill's author said... Observers at the North Carolina 
Association of County Commissioners and the Institute of Government said they have never seen legislation 
that stunted the influence of a lame-duck official. David Lawrence, a lawyer at the institute in Chapel Hill, 
said the bill doesn't appear to violate state statutes. Some governing bodies, including boards of adjustment, 
require four-fifths votes.
http://www.fayettevillenc.com/story.php?Template=region&Story=5173166

Taxpayer-funded violence injures, kills kids (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The Charlotte Observer
Well, the annual fall slaughter has begun. Once again otherwise caring and sane parents are sending their 
children out to hurt other children. Worse, this teaching children to hurt other children is taxpayer-funded and 
a central part of virtually all high schools in the United States... Frederick Mueller is professor and chair of 
physical education, exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, chairman of 
the American Football Coaches' Committee of Football Injuries, and director of the National Center for 
Catastrophic Sports Injuries. In a recent Associated Press article, Mueller noted the number of "direct" injury
-related football deaths has generally held level in recent years. Forty players died of "direct" causes from 
1995 to 2001...
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/4152837.htm

Household accidents kill 20,000 a year
The Charlotte Observer
A report being released today found that home accidents caused 20,000 deaths and nearly 13 million injuries 
in the United States each year. The unintentional injuries cost roughly $380 billion each year in lost wages, 
medical costs and other expenses... The council commissioned UNC Chapel Hill's Injury Prevention 
Research Center to study home safety...
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/4152921.htm
(Note: A UNC News Services release also reports on this new research.)

UNC to get Chinese ceramics 
The Herald-Sun
From 960 to 1368, the arts flourished in China. Patronage by the ruling classes, the educated elite and the 
population-at-large led to development of distinctive aesthetics in ceramics. The subtle and rich beauty of tea 
bowls, jars, bottles and other ceramics from the period will be on display Oct. 13-Jan. 5 at the Ackland Art 
Museum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-270440.html
(Note: This coverage was the result of a UNC news release
http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/sep02/ceramics092002.htm)

Issues and Trends Affecting Carolina

Harvard to Pay Millions to Nearby Town for Property-Tax Losses on University-Owned Land
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Striking a town-gown deal that is unusual in its scope, Harvard University has agreed to pay Watertown, Mass., 
about $480-million over 52 years to compensate the community for property taxes it will not receive for 30 acres 
that the nonprofit institution purchased in the town. Harvard will provide additional money under the plan, which
was finalized on Tuesday, to support community programs and to help improve Watertown's public schools...
http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/09/2002092601n.htm
(Note: The Wall Street Journal requires a subscription to access articles.)

Note: If you have any questions about Carolina in the News, 
please call Cathleen Keyser or Mike McFarland at News Services, 
(919) 962-2091 or news@unc.edu or mike_mcfarland@unc.edu