Column: The United States Needs a Secular Political Revival

“From its earliest colonial roots, the United States has been a Christian nation. Even the establishment clause, which prevents the declaration of a federal religion and is codified in the Bill of Rights, was included with the understanding that there were so many regional denominations of Christianity in the colonies that to impose one of them as dominant would inhibit the freedoms of our fledgling nation. America was created by Christians, for Christians. Understanding that is the first step to understanding how we ended up with a comprehensive abortion ban in Texas that allows citizens to sue people they suspect have undergone or helped someone else attain an abortion procedure (SB8). It is also a realization that is needed to overturn SB8 and legislation like it in the future.”

OpinionAurora CharlowOctober 17, 2021Abortion Rights, Religion, TexasComment

Senatorial Candidate Cheri Beasley Talks Climate Change, Healthcare Access and Voting Rights During UNC-Chapel Hill Town Hall

“The town hall, which was held in the Pit at UNC-Chapel Hill and directed at student journalists, is one of several events throughout Beasley’s campaign to connect to North Carolina college students.”

Interviews, LocalAurora CharlowSeptember 20, 2021Senate, North Carolina, Campaigns, 2022Comment

Multiple Bills in the N.C. State Legislature Would Raise Funding and Lower Eligibility Limits for State-Funded Private School Scholarship Programs

“Private school vouchers are a form of state-funded financial aid for K-12 students. In North Carolina, families of low-income students and students with disabilities can apply for private school vouchers. If granted, the vouchers use public funding to offset much of the tuition and fees charged by private schools.”

LocalAurora CharlowMay 11, 2021Public School, EducationComment

Why the $15 minimum wage amendment failed to pass in the Democrat-controlled Senate

“Sanders and other progressive Democrats pushed on, attempting to pass an amendment which would re-include the $15 minimum wage. The harshest roadblock to their efforts came when Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who oversees the legitimacy of Senate activities, ruled that the $15 minimum wage could not be included under the existing budget reconciliation limitations.”

NationalAurora CharlowMarch 22, 2021Minimum Wage, Senate, BidenComment

N.C. Republicans efforts to prevent police budget cuts elicit resentment from local governments

“Asheville was the only city in N.C. to enact budgetary changes in response to the Black Lives Matter protests, but the new bill would apply to all N.C. local governments. If the bill passes, any city or county that cuts more than 1% from their police budget will be penalized with reduced state funding.”

LocalAurora CharlowMarch 7, 2021NCPOL, Black Lives Matter, Race Relations, North CarolinaComment

The Arguments For and Against the Raise the Wage Act

“Part of the hesitation from Senate Democrats stems from a new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released on Feb. 8, which predicts that although the proposed minimum wage increase would lift 900,000 out of poverty, it would also put 1.7 million people out of work and increase the federal deficit by $54 billion.”

NationalAurora CharlowFebruary 21, 2021Bernie Sanders, Minimum WageComment

Shaky Vaccine Rollout Prompts National Guard Deployment in N.C.

“For N.C., the help of the National Guard teams could be critical in speeding up the process to get North Carolinians their COVID-19 shots. North Carolina, like many states, is experiencing difficulties meeting vaccination goals, and currently ranks as the state with the sixth lowest vaccination rate in the country.”

LocalAurora CharlowJanuary 21, 2021North Carolina, COVID-19Comment

Reopening 2.0: Examining How UNC's Reopening Plans Have Changed for Spring 2021

“Moving the semester’s starting date is just one of many changes designed to prevent a repeat of the fall’s disastrous reopening. Within a week of welcoming students back to campus in August, UNC’s administration reversed the decision to reopen, sending thousands of students back home for a full semester of virtual learning.”

LocalAurora CharlowDecember 15, 2020UNC, Spring, boardofgovernorsComment

Right Wing, White-Supremacist Violence Highlighted in Report on Domestic Terrorism

“An update to the CSIS report released at the end of last month confirmed that nearly two-thirds (41%-67%) of right-wing domestic terrorism attacks in 2020 came from white supremacists, often associated with neo-nazi groups like the Order, the American Nazi Party and Vanguard America.”

NationalAurora CharlowNovember 11, 2020Domestic Terror, Confederacy, Neo-NaziComment

Belarusian Opposition Leader Calls for Nationwide Strike Amidst Ongoing Protests

“The strike is set to begin this upcoming Sunday, but it is currently unclear if Tsikhanouskaya’s supporters are capable of the organization required to shut down the country at the scale Tsikhanouskaya is hoping for”

GlobalAurora CharlowOctober 20, 2020Comment

Will Barriers to Student Voting at UNC-Chapel Hill Impact Election Results?

“The COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique challenge to student voters, most of whom left UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus when instruction went fully remote in August. Students who moved home after having previously used their dorm addresses for voter registration have to change their registered voting location.”

LocalAurora CharlowOctober 8, 2020UNC, NCPOLComment

Alleged Forced Sterilizations in ICE Camp Follow a 4-Year Pattern of Abuse

“Last week’s full allegation from Dawn Wooten accuses a facility contracted gynecologist of being a “uterus collector,” stating, “Everybody he sees has a hysterectomy—just about everybody.”

NationalAurora CharlowSeptember 22, 2020ICE, Whistleblower, BorderComment