Katherine Snow Smith
Raleigh
mom of three, Tar Heel, public relations specialist
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Katherine Snow Smith
Resurrection of a Snow Camp Drama
Tami Kress followed Bryan Wilson through the wooded world of Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre in southern Alamance County as he explained how his dad, James, had helped create its signature drama, The Sword of Peace, about the local Quakers’ response to the American Revolution. Kress, the executive director for Burlington’s Studio 1 community theater, saw potential. Yet the more she listened, the more one question kept popping up in her mind: Can this place ever be saved?
Who Can Be Held Liable in Aviation Accidents?
Every day, more than 45,000 planes take off in the U.S. Most aircraft land without incident, but the minority that don’t can end in tragedy. In 2023, there were more than 1,216 accidents involving civilian aircraft, and 327 people died in these crashes. Many of these crashes involve smaller aircraft, but larger planes aren’t immune from misfortune, as recent disasters involving commercial jets indicate. Almost 90 people have died in airplane crashes in 2025 so far.
Katherine Snow Smith finds the funny in midlife
I’m a klutz. I’m the first to admit it, and I have the scars to prove it. Don’t ask me to dance. But Katherine Snow Smith takes missteps to the Olympic level. In her first book, “Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker,” she told the story of borrowing a pair of towering heels to wear to a White House reception — then falling off them right in front of then-President Barack Obama, forcing the leader of the free world to graciously hoist her off the floor.
What Is the Status of 3M Earplug Lawsuits?
Hundreds of thousands of earplug lawsuits have been filed against global manufacturing giant 3M over their Combat Arms earplugs, alleging that a design flaw caused hearing damage or loss in countless active duty troops and veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2019, the cases were consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) under one Florida judge to streamline the settlement process. They now represent the largest federal mass tort litigation in U.S. history.
Judge Prevents 3M From Avoiding Liability in Earplug Lawsuits
A federal judge has barred 3M from using a liability strategy that would’ve shifted 3M earplug lawsuits to one of its subsidiaries. 3M has already had to pay more than $300 million in awards after 16 bellwether test trials. The plaintiffs claim that 3M knowingly sold earplugs that didn’t work properly to the U.S. military, leading to thousands of soldiers suffering preventable hearing loss and hearing damage. Last July, 3M attempted to place its subsidiary Aearo Technologies into bankruptcy.
How to Make Your Own Choco Taco (and Other Fan Favorites) Original
Klondike slammed the freezer door on a longtime fan favorite when it announced it was discontinuing its Choco Taco earlier this year. But you can make your own Choco Taco at home. In fact, there are many recipes on the Internet for other signature dishes from restaurants and fast-food places. We’ve compiled some of the best to show you how to save money making your own favorites at home for less.
Campaign finance laws brewing in Congress
In the ongoing effort to reverse the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court “Citizens United’’ ruling regarding campaign finance from Super PACs, members of Congress recently introduced the Democracy for All amendment that would allow states and Congress to pass legislation imposing spending limits. With Democrats now in control in the U.S. House and Senate, there’s an increased chance of movement for the Democracy for All amendment.
Job outlook for lawyers good in 2021
Good news for law school graduates and others in the legal profession. A year after the earliest Covid-19 cases hit the United States prompting a near-shutdown of the economy, there are more law firms and corporate legal departments hiring employees in 2021 than there are letting them go. In fact, 57 percent of respondents to a recent survey by Robert Half Legal Consulting Solutions said they are expanding compared to 1 percent eliminating positions.
How to choose a personal injury lawyer
Countless TV and radio ads begin with: “If you’ve been injured in an accident…” The internet is filled with personal injury attorney websites touting “No Fees Unless We Recover Money,” “Available 24/7” and “No Fees Until We Win.” They all seem ready and able to win your case, but how do you decide which personal injury lawyer to go with when they all blend together? One of the best approaches is to ask friends, neighbors and colleagues about their own experiences and get a referral.
Wisconsin keeps mask mandate, for now
Wisconsin’s mask requirement still stands, for now at least, after the state’s legislature almost ended Gov. Tony Evers’ emergency health declaration Thursday, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The State Senate already voted on Tuesday to end the order and mask requirement, and the Assembly was about to follow suit. Many Republican legislators have said the Democratic governor’s mandate is unconstitutional.
Your family might need a power of attorney right now. Here’s why.
Editor’s note: This article originally published on June 16, 2020 “People who are age 65 or older these days have a 70 percent chance of becoming incapacitated (mentally) sometime before they die,” said Bill McQueen, an estate planning, probate and trust attorney in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Separate trials in George Floyd case could help co-defendants
The recent ruling by District Judge Peter Cahill to hold a separate trial for Derek Chauvin, the ranking Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death, may make a subsequent trial more favorable for the other three officers involved. The move, a reversal from an early ruling by Cahill, also removes a potential claim of an unfair trial that could have been grounds for an appeal.
Demand for patents up, number of patent lawyers down. Why?
While the number of patent litigation lawyers is decreasing more than any other segment of law practice, patent lawsuits are on the rise, with the COVID-19 pandemic as one of several factors fueling the demand for patents and their protection. The pandemic has spurred online retail, the latest battlefield for patent infringement. It has also allowed more time for individual innovators to create new inventions.
How to calculate personal injury damages
How much can you get if your leg is broken in a car accident and you miss 12 weeks of work? What amount will a jury award if you fall at a grocery store and permanently injure your back? There is no set answer. And don’t believe an attorney who promises you will walk away with a set amount of money. RELATED: Need to track your lawsuit? There may be an app for that. RELATED: Living will: Create it before you need it Many factors go into determining how much money to seek in a personal injury lawsuit.
Lawsuits over 3M military earplugs reach major milestone
As the first bellwether trial is scheduled for April, the litigation against 3M Co. over defective military earplugs has passed a milestone. More than 200,000 lawsuits have been filed against the Minnesota conglomerate, making this the largest mass tort in history. The actions filed since 2018 over the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs now outnumber suits filed against Asbestos Products, litigation that has been pending since 1991.
Rideshare lawsuits a new specialty on the rise
Rideshare vehicles, such as those run by Uber and Lyft, have completed more than 11 billion trips since they began transporting passengers 10 years ago. This societal change has prompted a new type of lawsuits that is steadily increasing. Drunk driving accidents are down as folks coming out of bars and restaurants can have a Lyft or Uber pick them up in minutes with just a couple of touches on their smartphones.
Why is eggnog a holiday tradition? Exploring fresh renditions of the classic drink
Eggnog dates back to medieval times when the British enjoyed a drink called "posset" that was made with hot milk, ale and spices. Later it became a drink for the wealthy who added expensive brandy or sherry. It was the alcohol that kept the milk from spoiling when there was no refrigeration. When the drink crossed the Atlantic to the New World, Americans used rum. And when rum from the Caribbean was in short supply during the American Revolution, it was replaced with moonshine.
It’s Baking Season! Try These Frugal Cake-Decorating Tips
Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners. The holidays are here. And after the year we’ve had, we want to celebrate with a special touch. But again, after the year we’ve had, who wants to blow a bunch of money and exhaust ourselves making everything merry and bright? Yeah, us either.
With some holdouts, states overwhelmingly require masks
President-elect Joe Biden plans to ask all Americans to wear masks for 100 days to slow the spread of COVID-19. This would be the first attempt to have a cohesive mask-wearing plan across the country. It’s a plan. A request. Not a mandate, of course, because there’s no law behind it. It will be a hard sell in the 13 states that have no statewide mask laws. Within the states and cities that have laws, there are many nuances. Some require masks indoors and outdoors and some only indoors.
Need to track your lawsuit? There may be an app for that.
Los Angeles-based Venerable Injury Law, which specializes in personal injury, launched the first version of its ClaimTrack app two years ago. The app allows clients to do things like track their daily pain, schedule doctor’s appointments, receive reminders and view medical reports. One of the key features is they can see in real time how the case is moving along and what needs to happen to proceed to the next step.
You can’t watch the Supreme Court, but you can hear it
Ned Manning, an attorney for 30 years in North Carolina, had heard mentions over the decades that another lawyer from his small hometown of Kinston had argued a civil rights case before the U.S. Supreme Court. “Fred Harrison was a general practitioner and did criminal defense work,” Manning said of the attorney, now in his 80s. “He wasn’t the one talking about it. He’s pretty humble. But one day in conversation (someone) said Fred had argued a case before the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court cameras an issue that won’t go away
In an era of deep political division and more contentious confirmations of the three most recent justices, the arguments for cameras in the U.S. Supreme Court might be stronger than in past decades. It’s not a new idea. The first bill proposing to allow cameras in the nation’s highest court was filed in 1937. More than 80 years later, there is still no live coverage of the court’s proceedings, but some lawmakers continue to try.
Unregistered, un-numbered ‘ghost guns’ draw multiple lawsuits
Sales of “ghost guns,” do-it-yourself kits that offer almost everything needed to build a gun, have been steadily rising for several years, but have reached new highs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous websites selling the so-called “80 percent” guns are apologizing for delays in filling orders because of the sharp increase in demand.
DIY Fitness Gear: How to Make Homemade Weights and Other Workout Equipment Original
You don’t have to join a pricy gym to stay in shape. Supplies to make weights and other workout equipment can be found at your local hardware store, supermarket or even in your kitchen cabinet. “You can really use anything from weight vests to soup cans to gallon jugs,” said Max Cicero, general manager and performance coach of Diesel Fitness in Tampa, Fla.
What is an amicus brief, exactly? Let us explain.
As an attorney, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was known for writing an artful amicus brief. Her submissions are credited for helping inform and influence the U.S. Supreme Court to rule women could be called upon to pay alimony, serve on juries and couldn’t be forced to take unpaid maternity leave. While she didn’t argue these separate cases orally before the court, her concise, organized, well researched and persuasive amicus briefs are noted for their impact.
3 Creative Ways Kids Can Safely Make Money During the Pandemic Original
Ask most people to name ways younger kids make money, and the top answers are likely to be “lemonade stand” and “bake sale.” These enterprising ventures are rites of passage for pre-teens, who have set up stands on front yards and sidewalks for decades, charming passersby with hand painted signs and eager smiles. Now, though, due to concerns about the pandemic, pop-up stands selling slice-and-bake cookies or cups of lukewarm lemonade have become extinct in most neighborhoods.
Mock juror stint can be interesting side gig
Who isn’t on the quest right now for extra cash? Think outside the box. There’s more to the side hustle than Uber and delivering for DoorDash. There’s a good chance you haven’t thought about serving as a mock juror. Who doesn’t love a good courtroom drama? Cash in on it. Mock juries are used by lawyers to test drive their case before they hit the courtroom with an actual jury.
Pandemic brings more drinking and more legal responsibility for hosts
As the COVID-19 pandemic has made many people hesitant to go out to bars and restaurants, more are hosting small gatherings at home. Graduation parties take place on front porches with drive-by gift drops, while wedding ceremonies are held in backyards. Social media is full of creative ways people transformed their houses to bars, with friends posing as bouncers, to recognize a 21st birthday at home.
This Easy 3-Step Guide Will Help You Learn How to Write a Cover Letter
When you’re writing a cover letter, all of your deepest insecurities can surface. You start to question your writing skills, your professional experience and, really, your entire life. How do you introduce yourself? Do you repeat what’s on your resume? How much should you talk about yourself? How can you mirror your whole being on to this one page? We talked to several career-advice specialists who say a cover letter is really only as complicated as you make it.
From Drinks to Dessert: Here Are 11 Yummy Recipes for Overripe Avocados
I have a love-hate relationship with avocados. Love, because they’re delicious and creamy and wonderful, and they go perfectly with just about anything. Hate, because there’s a six-hour window of perfect ripeness that falls randomly and unpredictably somewhere between day one and day seven of purchase, after which they’re mushy and gross.
Here’s What to Do With Overripe Peaches Instead of Throwing Them Out
When you bite into a good peach, you can taste the sunshine. It’s so sweet and ripe inside its soft, fuzzy, reddish-golden skin. So juicy and dripping with nectar. So good. Call me biased, but I will argue that a really good peach offers an unbeatable fruit-eating experience. Nothing against apples, oranges and the like, but a good peach stands on its own. Unfortunately, peaches can go south pretty quickly. Before you know it, your perfectly firm, luscious peach has turned soft, bruised and mushy.
Academy Prep recruiting and creating mentors
It’s always interesting to see where a chance meeting or connection can lead. A retired New York City police officer eats Sunday breakfast with his wife at Sweet Sage Cafe & Boutique in North Redington Beach, gets to know the owner who tells him about Academy Prep, and now children’s lives are forever impacted.
Glitter Queens raise funds for teens
The Glitter Queens gathered recently to raise money for Starting Right Now, a nonprofit organization that supports homeless teens. The theme of the party was “Copa Caliente: A Night in Old Havana.” It was easy to spot the 28 women who make up the Glitter Queens because they all wore colorful calypso sleeves with black dresses. Every year, the women channel their homecoming float and Pinterest experiences to make costumes, decorations, centerpieces, photo booth props and much more.
Former Shep’s on Fourth Street going from beer to marijuana
ST. PETERSBURG — It’s gone from a convenience store and deli to a mecca for craft beer drinkers and now the Fourth Street location that housed Shep’s for more than 40 years will become a medical marijuana dispensary. Surterra Wellness is leasing the 3,000-square-foot building at 2001 Fourth St. N and expected to open by the end of this year. It has already started renovating the store that Shep’s vacated a few months ago.
St. Pete businessman Chuck Prather says he is being targeted for renting office to ICE
ST. PETERSBURG — A well-known businessman woke up Wednesday morning to find his photo on fliers downtown calling him a predator who profits from "sexual violence, physical abuse and the caging of undocumented people." Chuck Prather, owner of the Birchwood, a boutique hotel on Beach Drive NE, said more than a dozen fliers were posted on telephone poles and utility boxes.
Florida businessman says he's being targeted because he rented an office to ICE
ST. PETERSBURG — A well-known businessman woke up Wednesday morning to find his photo on fliers downtown calling him a predator who profits from "sexual violence, physical abuse and the caging of undocumented people." Chuck Prather, owner of the Birchwood, a boutique hotel on Beach Drive NE, said more than a dozen fliers were posted on telephone poles and utility boxes.
St. Pete businessman Chuck Prather says he is being targeted for renting office to ICE
ST. PETERSBURG — A well-known businessman woke up Wednesday morning to find his photo on fliers downtown calling him a predator who profits from "sexual violence, physical abuse and the caging of undocumented people." Chuck Prather, owner of the Birchwood, a boutique hotel on Beach Drive NE, said more than a dozen fliers were posted on telephone poles and utility boxes.
Former Shep’s on Fourth Street going from beer to marijuana
ST. PETERSBURG — It’s gone from a convenience store and deli to a mecca for craft beer drinkers and now the Fourth Street location that housed Shep’s for more than 40 years will become a medical marijuana dispensary. Surterra Wellness is leasing the 3,000-square-foot building at 2001 Fourth St. N and expected to open by the end of this year. It has already started renovating the store that Shep’s vacated a few months ago.
Rays on the Runway raise spirits and money
When Kelsie Vance was in the hospital for two weeks in April, being able to think about an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios helped occupy her mind and boost her spirits. The Children’s Dream Fund raised the money to pay for Kelsie’s family to go on the 6-year-old’s dream trip. She met all the princesses—Rapunzel was her favorite. She loved the "mountains," Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
PJs encouraged at Thursday’s Sunrise Sale in St. Pete. Prices go down when the sun comes up.
The annual Sunrise Sale in St. Petersburg is almost as much of a bargain hunter’s holy grail as Black Friday. For 45 years, shoppers wearing pajamas have headed out at dawn to be in position at their favorite stores the moment the sun rises. That’s when the deals begin. The frenzy starts at 6:43 a.m. Thursday. More than 40 retailers along Beach Drive, Central Avenue, Fourth Street and at Sundial are touting perks such as mimosas, deep discounts, $5 racks and raffles for gift cards.
PJs encouraged at Thursday’s Sunrise Sale in St. Pete. Prices go down when the sun comes up.
The annual Sunrise Sale in St. Petersburg is almost as much of a bargain hunter’s holy grail as Black Friday. For 45 years, shoppers wearing pajamas have headed out at dawn to be in position at their favorite stores the moment the sun rises. That’s when the deals begin. The frenzy starts at 6:43 a.m. Thursday. More than 40 retailers along Beach Drive, Central Avenue, Fourth Street and at Sundial are touting perks such as mimosas, deep discounts, $5 racks and raffles for gift cards.
Rays fans go back in time to help kids of today
Everyone got to go back in time to big hair, shoulder pads, skinny ties and Def Leppard at the Rays Foundation’s ’80s Casino Night & Auction at the Coliseum. As if blackjack, craps and poker (with chips but no real money) weren’t enough to provide a fun atmosphere, the night paid complete homage to the 1985 hit movie Back to the Future. A silver DeLorean complete with a Doc Brown impersonator and built-in time machine was parked among the craps and poker tables.
NAACP supporters celebrate and commemorate in St. Pete
The St. Petersburg chapter of the NAACP combined its annual Freedom Fund fundraiser with Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery. An estimated 500 people gathered under an air-conditioned tent in Vinoy Park on June 17 to support the organization, share fellowship, eat dinner and dance. Almost everyone was dressed in white to show solidarity.
It’s the end of the World Liquors sign as we know it (w/video)
ST. PETERSBURG — The World Liquors globe came down today, about 40 years after it quit spinning. But the iconic sphere will soon rise again and resume revolving at Ferg’s Sports Bar at 13th Street and Central Avenue. "I’m glad we got it down in one piece," said Mark Ferguson, Ferg’s owner, who paid $5,060 for the sign that has stood at the corner of 16th Street and Central Avenue since 1961.
It’s the end of the World Liquors sign as we know it
ST. PETERSBURG — The World Liquors globe came down today, about 40 years after it quit spinning. But the iconic sphere will soon rise again and resume revolving at Ferg’s Sports Bar at 13th Street and Central Avenue. "I’m glad we got it down in one piece," said Mark Ferguson, Ferg’s owner, who paid $5,060 for the sign that has stood at the corner of 16th Street and Central Avenue since 1961.
It’s the end of the World Liquors sign as we know it
ST. PETERSBURG — The World Liquors globe came down today, about 40 years after it quit spinning. But the iconic sphere will soon rise again and resume revolving at Ferg’s Sports Bar at 13th Street and Central Avenue. "I’m glad we got it down in one piece," said Mark Ferguson, Ferg’s owner, who paid $5,060 for the sign that has stood at the corner of 16th Street and Central Avenue since 1961.
Dolls come in all colors at St. Petersburg’s Woodson museum
ST. PETERSBURG — As a little girl, Terri Lipsey Scott played with a baby doll named Sindy in Savannah, Ga. Scott is black, Sindy was white. Dana Battle, also black, had a white doll named Toni, in Los Angeles. There weren’t many affordable dolls that reflected their race in the late 1950s and early 1960s, said Scott, director of the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum.
Why is eggnog a holiday tradition? Exploring fresh renditions of the classic drink
Eggnog dates back to medieval times when the British enjoyed a drink called "posset" that was made with hot milk, ale and spices. Later it became a drink for the wealthy who added expensive brandy or sherry. It was the alcohol that kept the milk from spoiling when there was no refrigeration. When the drink crossed the Atlantic to the New World, Americans used rum. And when rum from the Caribbean was in short supply during the American Revolution, it was replaced with moonshine.
Wee Gallery entrepreneurs turned black-and-white baby mural into thriving business
When Surya Sajnani and Dave Pinto were expecting their first child in 2002, she painted a mural with black and white zebras on one wall of the nursery. The couple had read that a baby’s eyes are stimulated by repeating patterns of black and white. "It worked out like we had planned. He would actually stare at the zebras," Sajnani recounted of their son, Sid.
Picturing something different: St. Petersburg man finds second career as photographer
A chance meeting during a really tough time in Rossie Newson’s life resulted in him finding a talent he never knew he had. After leaving his job as an illustrator at the Tampa Bay Times in 2009, Newson devoted most of his time and energy to his father, who had Alzheimer’s disease. During this time he met the daughter of one of his father’s caregivers and learned she was a wedding photographer. "I had always liked looking at photography but didn’t know a thing about it.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Katherine
Contact Katherine, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack