As Rep. Fred Steen aims for a place in Congress, several people have subtly begun to set their sights on his State House office, including Democrat John Williams and County Commissioner Carl Ford. Dr. J. Michael Bitzer, political science professor at Catawba College, was recently featured in a Salisbury Post article discussing the matter.

Nine-term Republican Congresswoman Sue Myrick is leaving Congress at the end of the year. She announced Tuesday that she won't seek re-election to North Carolina's 9th Congressional district, which covers portions of Mecklenburg, Gaston and Union Counties. WFAE political blogger Dr. J. Michael Bitzer discusses her career and what this means in the race to replace her.

The state of South Carolina recently filed a lawsuit challenging the Justice Department's blocking of the state's voter identification law, possibly costing taxpayers $1 million or more. The state has hired high-powered Washington attorneys and other contracted associates and paralegals that will receive high earnings. Dr. J. Michael Bitzer, Professor of Politics, was featured in an article on The Huffington Post website after being asked to share his thoughts on the topic.

The Salisbury branch of the English Speaking Union will hold a dinner program at the Country Club of Salisbury on Thursday, Feb. 9 starting at 6:30 p.m. The guest speaker will be Michael Bitzer, Professor of Political Science and History at Catawba College, speaking on "American Politics in 2012."

Ladies Night has become a fixture as part of Blue-White Weekend and this year is no exception. It will be held Friday, March 30th at 6 pm (not the usual 7 pm) in Kirkland Lobby of Goodman Gymnasium. The first portion of the evening will be ideas for home entertaining entitled "Tricks, Treats,Tastes and Tablescapes" with Tippie Miller and Linda White sharing what works best for them.

K-12 students in the Rowan-Salisbury Schools will be the beneficiaries of a Saturday, March 24th benefit concert hosted on the campus of Catawba College by Catawba's Student North Carolina Association of Educators (SNCAE). Admission to the 11 a.m. concert, featuring a special performance from Christian Rock band, Grace Reigns Down of Greensboro, will be open to those who make a donation of one school supply to attend.

Dr. Gary Freeze, professor of History at Catawba College, will be a guest lecturer at the 15th Annual Salisbury Confederate Prison Symposium. The event, which runs April 13-15, will move to Tom Smith Auditorium in Ketner Hall on the Catawba College campus on April 14. A series of six lectures on topics relating to the Salisbury Prison will be presented from 9:15 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Freeze will present an overall synopsis of the prison's history from 1861 to 1865.

When Independence High School's production of "Grease" opens next weekend, drama teacher Paula Baldwin will have come full circle. Baldwin got her start in acting at Mount Pleasant High School in Cabarrus County, and attended Catawba College on a drama scholarship. After earning her MFA in acting and directing at UNC Greensboro, she headed to New York City, where she lived and worked for eight years.

Dr. J. Michael Bitzer, political expert and Professor of Politics at Catawba College was recently quoted in an article by TheNation.com entitled, "How the GOP Is Resegregating the South."

As of Feb. 2, 2012, the State of North Carolina Health Departments are reporting multiple cases of the Norovirus. While there have been no confirmed cases to date on the Catawba College campus, the college’s Health Services wanted to inform the community of symptoms associated with this virus and preventative measures that can be taken to prevent it.