By MICHAEL TOMSIC
WFAE

North Carolina is partnering with the federal government to set up a health insurance exchange. The exchange is a required part of President Obama’s health care law, and it’s supposed to be an online shop where people can compare and buy health insurance.

States have had more than two years to make a decision about insurance exchanges. North Carolina’s governor and state legislature, like those in a lot of other states, decided to put it off. Maybe the Supreme Court would overturn it? That didn’t happen. But then they thought, well, maybe a new Republican president would push for its repeal? No dice there, either. Read the full story

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By NANCY WAITE-KAHN

Are you entering this holiday season with eager anticipation, feeling too busy or tired or even a little blue? As a senior, you have more holiday celebrations to remember, maybe more family members for whom to shop; more stories to share; and more cards to send. Changes in your life this year may also necessitate alternate ways of celebrating. A move to a new apartment or retirement community, the death of a spouse, events in your family (marriage, divorce or relocation) and even health and financial constraints are among the changes that may impact your feelings about the holidays and even your planning ( or not planning) for them. Read the full story

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Davidson’s Gathering on the Green for suicide prevention drew a crowd on Nov. 3, 2012. Click image to see our Nov. 3 report and photos. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Jim Fuller

To the Editor:

Saturday, November 3rd was a memorable day for the Town of Davidson. We took the first—but definitely not the last—step towards having a community conversation about suicide prevention in particular and positive mental health in general.

Hundreds of our citizens turned out to the “Gathering on the Green” to support each other and everyone who lives in our special town. It was a time to express sadness about those who had left us in this tragic way, and it was a time to express hope about the future, and to say, in a tangible way, we are here to help each other as neighbors and friends. (See Nov. 3, 2012, “At rally, speakers urge  a community response to suicide.”)

Read the full story

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On Saturday, Nov. 3, students and families at Pine Lake Preparatory School in Mount Mourne will dedicate a day to raising awareness about stomach cancer, by the joining first-ever international walk for No Stomach for Cancer. Read the full story

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