Following a stint as a war correspondent in Vietnam, Rich’s career path took him to TV stations in Lynchburg, Va.; Portsmouth, Va.; Raleigh, Chicago and High Point.

First of all, it’s not Mr. Longworth’s fault that there is only one local public affairs TV show in the area. Second, the contest is to determine “Triad’s Best,” so it only follows that if “Triad Today” is the only possible winner in a newly formed category, then it is also the Triad’s Best in that category.

In January 2009, a Rochester, Mass. K-9 officer was charged with animal cruelty after his dog Nitro was found dead of starvation while the officer was away on vacation. Nitro was a Belgian Malinois whose normal weight was 65 pounds. When authorities discovered Nitro’s corpse, the dog weighed 25 pounds.

It seems that PE teacher and girls’ softball coach Mike Muse had texted one of his female students because he was concerned about her grades. Not long afterward, the girl told Muse and SRO James Deeney that 15-year-old Dillon Tschrnko was spreading rumors and telling other students that Muse’s texts were “weird.

I know it’s bad form to say, “I told you so,” but for years now I’ve written about Gov. Bev Perdue’s abuses of power, called for her resignation and predicted that she would not run for re-election. Now, amidst waning popularity and with Pat McCrory breathing down her neck, Bev finally did the right thing and announced she would not seek another term.

Last week, Governor Perdue’s task force FINALLY came to the conclusion that victims of state sponsored, forced sterilization deserve cash compensation. After two years of meetings and public hearings, the task force is now recommending that the General Assembly award every living victim a lump sum payment of $50,000.

To paraphrase Charles Dickens, Friday, Jan. 13 was the best of times, and it was also the worst of times for East Forsyth High School. On that day, the Winston-Salem Journal was poised to run a big spread on the school’s 50th anniversary celebration which had taken place the night before.

In a 1950’s TV commercial, the announcer says, “I’ve been telling you about how Allstate keeps rates low without cutting corners on service.” He then introduces us to the Taylors, an elderly New York couple who have been Allstate customers since 1939.

America’s political leaders are generally quick to criticize other countries for various abuses and irregularities. Former President Jimmy Carter, for example, has traveled extensively to help monitor elections abroad.

Back in August, a really good guy did a really bad thing. Todd Poole, chief of staff to US Rep. Virginia Foxx, got behind the wheel of his car and drove drunk. The trial for this high-profile case was delayed twice, then, last month, Judge Gregory Horne found Poole guilty of driving while impaired and resisting arrest. It all sounded pretty straightforward until sentencing was handed down.

Deer Guverner Purrdoo, Daddy is still out of wurk, and wee kan't afford to fly to grandma's howse for Krismus.Kan yu giv us a ride on yur free airplane?I Promise I wont tell anyone. yur frend,jimmy

Texas Gov.Rick Perry may not know what the legal voting age is. He may have forgotten the name of our nation’s first and only Latina Supreme Court justice. And he may have had a brain-freeze when trying to remember the three federal agencies he wants to eliminate.

Not a day goes by that we don’t hear about an American gone missing overseas, or having been imprisoned, beaten, or even killed in a foreign land. According to CBS News, more than 2,000 Americans go missing abroad every year. Take for instance, 22-year-old Austin Brice, an exchange student from San Diego State University who was living in Spain.

It has been said that irony is the most clever joke ever played on mankind, but down through the ages, hardly anyone seems to be laughing at the punch lines. For example, every year we honor Christopher Columbus as a great visionary for his so-called discovery of America.

The singing part they could dub, but they needed someone who could dance, and someone who could believably play that last scene where Rolf gives up the Von Trapps. My agent went to a party and ran into the casting director. He showed her a photo of me, and she told him to have me come over to 20th Century Fox the next day.

And, I’ve criticized the use of taxpayer incentives which do nothing but move jobs from one locality to another. I had just about given up hope of any change in the status quo until earlier this month when a white knight flew into the Triad and restored my faith in capitalism.

On January 5, 1961, Alan Young was having dinner with friends, when they all stopped to watch the premiere of his new comedy, “Mr. Ed”. After ward, actor William Conrad (later, TV’s “Cannon”) said to Alan, “Congratulations, you’ve got a hit on your hands.

Those of us old enough to remember the Vietnam War are all too familiar with a somewhat duplicitous letter sent by the draft board. “Greetings,” it began (as if we were old friends). “You are hereby ordered for induction into the Armed Forces of the United States.

2011 seems to have been a banner year for Winston- Salem. Bloomberg named Winston the 10th most affordable and fun city in the nation. CNNMoney.com said it’s the 10th best place to retire, a sentiment echoed by TopRetirements.com. Business Week named Winston- Salem the 46th overall best city in America, and Livability.com just named Winston the second-best city in the country.

Overweight people, for example, are made to endure fat jokes every day of their lves. It begins in elementary school and never abates. But while words and jokes can be hurtful, they are mere “sticks and stones” compared to the real injustice that large people face.