Sheehan:When news about Alaska Gov. and Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin's pregnant teenage daughter hit the airwaves, Sen. Barack Obama wisely stayed on the high road, urging the press to back off.

Sheehan:Amid the swirl of Democratic and Republican political rhetoric these days, if there is one thing both sides agree on, it is this: That our troops deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.

Sheehan:You can move kids around the county like pieces on a chessboard. But for goodness' sake, don't ever mess with Broughton High School's glorious green front lawn.

Sheehan:Poor Danny Chavis.

Sheehan:Say the name Michael Phelps, and ask what comes to mind.

Sheehan:Elizabeth Clark is one of those women who does everything well. A ball of energy, she worked as a journalist, then in public relations, landing with one of the most prestigious law firms in the state.

Sheehan:The same week Lisa Lewis told the story of how her 5-year-old son was allegedly manhandled by a teacher at Riverwood Elementary School in Clayton, the Johnston County school board discussed revisiting its policy allowing corporal punishment.

Sheehan:In many ways, Lucas Nixon of Rockingham had nerves of steel.

Ruth Sheehan:I went to the Raleigh City Council meeting Tuesday expecting a shootout. Instead, it was more like an execution.

Sheehan:You want something to add to Raleigh's "Best of ..." list? How about: City most likely to spend a million bucks on a downtown restaurant for rich folks while suburbanites stand in line at Olive Garden or Red Lobster.

Sheehan:One of the last great fictions of the illegal immigration crackdown in North Carolina is this: Oh, we're not going to start just rounding people up.

Sheehan:I had barely identified myself on the phone when Linda Fisher began to sob.