uncnews.unc.edu

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

National Coverage

Despite Odds, Cities Race to Bet on Biotech
The New York Times
Where a textile mill once drove the economy of this blue-collar town northeast of Charlotte, an imposing neoclassical complex is rising, filled with fine art, Italian marble and multimillion-dollar laboratory equipment. ...At $500 million and counting, the Biopolis, officially called the North Carolina Research Campus, is a product of a national race to attract the biotechnology industry, a current grail of economic development. ...To attract seven of the state’s universities, including Duke and the University of North Carolina, Mr. Murdock, a real estate developer and owner of the Dole Food Company, persuaded the state to invest almost $30 million a year in rent and operating expenses.

American Medical Association Trying To Torpedo Health Care Reform Again
The Huffington Post
Just days before President Barack Obama is set to address the American Medical Association to pitch its members on his vision for health care reform, the 250,000-member physician group announced it would oppose a major component of that effort. ..."The AMA used it to mean any kind of proposal that involved an increased role for the government in the health care system," Jonathan Oberlander, a professor of health policy at the University of North Carolina, told NPR in a 2007 interview. "They also used it to mean things in the private system that they didn't like. So, at one point, HMOs were a form of socialized medicine."

Regional Coverage

President pressing health care overhaul
The Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wis.)
President Barack Obama visits Green Bay on Thursday, as his administration begins a final push toward the most sweeping changes in the nation's health care system since Medicare was introduced in 1965. ..."The big story here is how far and how fast health care reform has come in 2009," said Jonathan Oberlander, a professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, who has written extensively about the obstacles to such reform.

State and Local Coverage

Bolshoi adds a little luster to Chapel Hill
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Signs that the Russians have arrived are evident backstage at Memorial Hall. ..."Chapel Hill is a completely new destination for the company," said Elena Perfilova, the Bolshoi's director of touring. "We like to perform in new places, for audiences who may not have seen the Bolshoi before. They are always very interested and enthusiastic, and it's nice to have that warm welcome." The Bolshoi is presenting two performances each of "Don Quixote" and "Swan Lake" at Memorial Hall on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus.
Related Link:
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1168570.cfm
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2605/66/

Institute tackling drug safety
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
A drug-safety institute opening today in Research Triangle Park expects to hire about 100 scientists and other employees over the next two years. The Institute for Drug Safety Sciences is a collaboration of the Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences and UNC-Chapel Hill. It has about 20 workers but will expand rapidly, said Dr. Paul Watkins, the institute's director. Hamner, which will house the institute at its 56-acre RTP campus, announced plans for the partnership with UNC-CH in September. The aim was to create a nonprofit research hub to improve the safety of experimental drugs and speed up development of promising medicines.
Related Link:
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/business/21-1168695.cfm

Lung damage challenges UNC burn unit doctors
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
The burns are obvious and extensive on the four most seriously injured ConAgra plant workers who were rushed to the N.C. Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals. But a bigger worry looms in their lungs. "We don't know the extent of inhalation injury these folks were exposed to," said Dr. Bruce Cairns, director of the center. "Inhalation injury is the greatest challenge."
Related Links:
http://www.wchl1360.com/details.html?id=10672
http://orange.mync.com/site/Orange/news/story/36420/4-conagra
-workers-in-cricitcal-condition-at-unc-burn-center/
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6857367
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5322815/
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1168660.cfm

UNC's Thorp: Trekkie? (Blog)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Since you're dying to know what a day in the life of UNC Chapel Hill's chancellor is, I give you this link to Holden Thorp's blog. His latest entry is a day-in-the-life featuring very brief conversations with his kids, a glimpse at what a busy university administrator has for lunch - nuts and a banana - and, after work, a movie with the family.

UNC reports swine flu case
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
UNC Chapel Hill on Wednesday night reported that a student is believed to have contracted swine flu. In a statement on the school's Alert Carolina Web page, it said Campus Health Services officials had confirmed a Carolina student who lives off campus in Orange County had been diagnosed with a probable case of H1N1 influenza, or swine flu. The student was said to be recovering in self isolation at home.
Related Links:
http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/06/10/article/swine_flu_
suspected_in_unc_chapel_hill_student
http://www.wchl1360.com/details.html?id=10673

Panel discussing town's future
The Chapel Hill Herald
College town. Basketball capital. "American Idol" fans. Chapel Hill and its 55,000 or so residents have earned those and other friendly monikers in recent years. Along with nearby Carrboro and Hillsborough, this picturesque part of Orange County has drawn a steady stream of new residents -- everybody from retirees to young professionals. ...Panelists are Roger Perry, president of East West Partners; Mike Mills, Division 7 Engineer, N.C. Department of Transportation; Chris Ellington, chief financial officer of UNC Hospitals; Brad Broadwell director, Orange County Economic Development Commission; and Bob Greczyn, CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Town hosting July Fourth event
The Chapel Hill Herald
The town of Chapel Hill, in cooperation with UNC and 1360 WCHL, have announced plans for a July Fourth celebration at Kenan Stadium on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus.

Issues and Trends

Mary Easley speaks, but says little
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Mary Easley has finally spoken out, though only to say goodbye to N.C. State University. As the controversy about how she got her job there built in the past few weeks -- culminating Monday in the resignation of Chancellor James L. Oblinger and her own firing -- Easley had stayed mum.
Related Links:
http://www.newsobserver.com/executive_privilege/story/1565139.html
http://news14.com/Default.aspx?ArID=610547

NCSU's sad lesson in hubris (Editorial)
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The devastation sweeping our state's highly regarded, deeply influential land-grant university is as stunning as it is saddening. N.C. State University, make no mistake, has been grievously wounded by the scandal spawned by its hiring, and then promotion, of Mary Easley, wife of former governor Mike Easley. ...Here's the toll, so far: A highly regarded chancellor, James Oblinger, is out. The campus's provost, its chief academic officer, is out. The chair of the board of trustees is out.
Related Link:
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/opinion/columnists/way/

A two-year shift that saves money (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Shrinking tax revenues are forcing legislators and administrators to make many hard decisions about the UNC budget this year, but the shortfall also provides an excellent opportunity to make improvements. One potential silver lining is the state House's proposed halt to UNC enrollment growth for the 2010-11 school year. While this is intended to be a one-time fix, it should be extended. Limiting enrollment at UNC for a few years at current levels (2009-10) would save taxpayers many millions of dollars and improve both the university and community college systems at the same time.