Lift veil of secrecy shrouding public employee records
March 16, 2021Your taxes pay their salaries, but when police officers, teachers and other public-sector workers ar...
Town, community college leave us scratching our heads
October 27, 2020Normally, when people in positions of authority dodge a reporter’s questions, it’s because they have done something wrong. Not necessarily criminal, but something that likely to cast them or …
Commissioners right to scrap decals
October 20, 2020Residents of rural Johnston have many objections to the county’s trash-decal program. One, certainly, is the cost, which has climbed markedly over the years. Another is the hassle of having to …
The people of Selma have a right to know the public’s business
October 13, 2020We like Selma mayor Cheryl Oliver. She’s sharp, articulate, polished in public appearances and, we think, genuinely committed to the betterment of both Selma and Johnston County. But if Ms. Oliver …
Selma got it backward
September 22, 2020Selma Councilman Byron McAllister says a majority on the Town Council wanted Steven Hicks out as town manager because he had the wrong vision for Selma. Perhaps that’s true. But if so, Selma …
Clayton voters are angry, but will they stay that way?
September 22, 2020Everything Timothy Weiss said to the Clayton Town Council was true. The council was wrong to pay Adam Lindsay, a rookie town manager, like a seasoned veteran. Doing so set Mr. Lindsay up for …
Schools miss chance to be transparent
August 25, 2020April Lee, head of the Johnston County Association of Educators, says the public schools are hiding COVID-19 cases as K-5 students prepare for in-person classes. If so, Johnstonians have to wonder …
Towns should provide level playing field for business
August 4, 2020Not long ago, Clayton banned food trucks, arguing that they threatened brick-and-mortar restaurants, which not only pay taxes but often give back to the community, sponsoring festivals and youth …
Parks benefit all Johnstonians
July 14, 2020As a matter of policy and politics, asking newcomers to pay for the services they demand is sound. Most of the time. Which is to say that while Johnston’s system-development fees are higher …
In Selma, town manager’s quip was tone-deaf
July 15, 2020The average monthly water bill in Selma is going up more than 42 percent. To Town Manager Steven Hicks, the increase is no big deal. It’s the cost of one hamburger and soft drink a week, the town …
Mask mandate drafts cashiers, clerks as Cooper’s cops
June 30, 2020North Carolina’s newest law enforcers won’t be sworn to protect and serve. They’ll be unarmed, and instead of badges, their uniforms will feature name tags from supermarkets, fast-food …
Here’s another plea to keep the county’s housing affordable
June 9, 2020In Our Opinion Johnston County Commissioners are largely dismissive of fears that their slower-growth policies will fuel sprawl and inflate housing prices here. For them, the rapid pace of …
Open government guarantee belongs in NC Constitution
June 2, 2020In Our Opinion Along with public health, the COVID-19 pandemic is testing government transparency in North Carolina. State officials have withheld vital information about coronavirus outbreaks …
Johnston taxpayers deserve better from these two boards
May 12, 2020By now, most Johnstonians know their school board exhausted its cash savings, apparently on salaries and other recurring expenses, and taxpayers have rightly chided the board for doing so. Last …
Ask Congress to support local news during pandemic
April 28, 2020During this coronavirus pandemic, access to accurate and trustworthy information in your community is as critical to life under quarantine and as sought after as hand sanitizer and face …
How will public greet next superintendent?
April 21, 2020Earlier this month, the Johnstonian News posted an update on the search for Johnston County’s next superintendent of schools. In case you missed it, the school board had narrowed its search from 31 …
Trump joke or not, school censorship’s no laughing matter
April 14, 2020President Donald Trump is in the thick of yet another high school free speech controversy. A North Surry High School student made a joke about Trump during an improv club meeting on Wednesday, …
Public needs more info about COVID-19 cases
April 6, 2020Citing federal privacy laws, Johnston County leaders have revealed little about the many coronavirus cases here, and it’s true that only patients can agree to the disclosure of their health …
Numbers show a commitment to schools
March 2, 2020During a recent forum, some Johnston school board candidates called on County Commissioners to up their education spending. One candidate even suggested that commissioners had been shortchanging the …
Vacant buildings need more than bandages
February 17, 2020We share the Smithfield Town Council’s distaste for vacant, dilapidated buildings. They’re eyesores that cast doubts on a town’s vitality. Still, we’re not sure the Town Council’s …
Local news
Deputy shoots suspect during arrest in Benson
A Johnston County sheriff’s deputy shot a suspect Wednesday morning in Benson, the Sheriff’s Office ...
Clayton manager resigns
CLAYTON — After a closed session that lasted more than two hours, a unanimous Town Council on Monday...
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