PROBATION SYSTEM IN CRISIS
Documents and interviews show that state probation chief Robert Lee Guy had known, at least since 2004, about shoddy work in Wake County that could threaten public safety.
Audio slide show: The N&O investigates the system.
Woman of colors stands up
Sheehan: To Taylor Sparks the gray-blue back deck, the bright blue decorative pots lining her walkway and the blue artificial mulch surrounding a tree in her front yard make her otherwise-traditional home really "pop."
Learning can only help
Sheehan: Lourdes Billagran knows a lot about stimulating eager minds.
Mental health system comes full circle
Ruth Sheehan: After spending his adult life in state psychiatric hospitals, Phil Wiggins was released under the great promise of mental health reform. Now, because of reform's failings, he may soon be sent back.
Death penalty vexes DA
Sheehan: Orange-Chatham District Attorney Jim Woodall is caught in the death penalty's wicked cross-currents.
Agony drags on in killing
Sheehan: The slaying victim is a beautiful student body president. The two accused have criminal histories, one of them charged in another recent killing.
Mothers' tribute a cut above
Sheehan:Every woman knows there is no confessional more sacred than the hairdresser's chair.
Paddling partisans weigh in
Sheehan:I've been writing this column for nearly nine years, so you'd think I'd know what to expect when writing about a hair-trigger issue such as corporal punishment.
Spanking is behind the times
Sheehan:Surely not. That was my first reaction to the study indicating that teachers are allowed to paddle, spank or otherwise accost their students in more than half the counties in North Carolina.
Red tape blocks runners
Sheehan:As they say in church, wherever two or three are gathered ... don't bother to wear running shoes unless you can provide proof of insurance and an hourly fee.
To binge at 21 is tragic
Sheehan:Some young people call it 21-at-21 -- that's 21 shots to celebrate a 21st birthday.
Real men tune out hate radio
Sheehan:This is a story about drive-time morning radio and the outrageous comments of one local man.
Shea's a one-issue long shot
Sheehan:Don't worry: Mike Shea hasn't lost his mind. He's championing an issue -- and he's just a little bit obsessed.
A truly healing ministry
Sheehan:Dr. Susan Weaver knows something about healing that she didn't learn in medical school.
Playing favorites in death
Sheehan:Abhijit Mahato and Latrese Curtis were mourned privately, by their own families, colleagues and faith communities -- while entire NCAA basketball teams wore ribbons for Eve Carson.
Where's raunch patrol?
Sheehan:On Wednesday, in the middle of the workday, I went shopping at The Streets at Southpoint.
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