Weekly Address: Extending the Payroll Tax Cut for the Middle Class – President Obama urges Congress to extend the payroll tax cut to prevent a tax hike on 160 million hardworking Americans. Back in December, Congress faced this exact same predicament. People all over the country tweeted, emailed and wrote to explain how losing $40 each check would affect them. Ultimately, thanks to your stories, Congress did the right thing and passed a two-month tax cut extension. It’s more important …
Month: February 2012
Alonzo Ellis Arrested and Charged Regarding September 2011 Assault
On Thursday, February 9, 2012, Alonzo Ellis, 34, 513 Zene Street, Henderson, N.C. was arrested and charged with one count of Robbery With A Dangerous Weapon, Assault, and an outstanding order for arrest. He was placed in the Vance County Jail after failing to post a $23,800.00 secured bond. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Vance County District Court on February 21, 2012. The robbery charge stems from an incident that occurred in Henderson on September 5, 2011. The …
Butterfield Urges the DOJ to Maintain Its Original Decision to Oppose Changes to Elections in Kinston
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to maintain its opposition to proposed changes that would make the City of Kinston’s elections nonpartisan. In 2009, Kinston, located in Lenoir County, voted to alter their election procedure by making all city council elections nonpartisan. Butterfield believes nonpartisan elections in Kinston would reduce Black voters’ ability to elect their candidate of choice. Since Lenoir County …
Grants from BB&T and Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Support Leadership Development Efforts for Innovative Secondary Schools
RALEIGH — Grants from BB&T and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation are helping support efforts led by the North Carolina New Schools Project to hone the skills of leaders of innovative secondary schools across the state. BB&T is providing $300,000 over three years for leadership development; the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation is giving $130,000 over two years for the same effort. “These funds will help us provide the kind of coaching and support that principals want and need to be …
Representative Michael H. Wray’s Raleigh Report
The General Assembly is scheduled to return to Raleigh next week, and I plan to attend even though we have been told that no floor votes are scheduled. Committee meetings may be scheduled and I want to be available for any of my committees that are asked to meet. I also want to be prepared to represent your interests if a vote is scheduled quickly, as happened during a recent session. The last few weeks have been tumultuous, as a …
Senator Richard Burr Message
This Week in Washington: Unemployment Benefits Reform Act This week, I introduced a bill called the Unemployment Benefits Reform Act of 2012 which would individuals who have been unemployed for six months or more to complete 20 hours of public service and 20 hours of active job search or other work related activities per week as conditions for receipt of federal extended unemployment benefits. The United States economy is suffering, and we are experiencing record levels of sustained unemployment. Being …
Division of Aviation Awards $400,000 to Triangle North Executive Regional Airport for Terminal Area Expansion
RALEIGH — As part of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s ongoing commitment to improving aviation in North Carolina, the N.C. Division of Aviation awarded $400,000 in State Aid to Airports funds to Triangle North Executive Regional Airport in Louisburg for a terminal area expansion project. The funds will be used to acquire land for the expansion, which will include additional hangars and an aircraft parking apron. “The land acquisition is the key initial step in allowing the airport to develop …
Henderson City Council Regular Meeting Monday January 13, 2012
The Henderson City Council Regular Meeting is scheduled for Monday, 13 February 2012 at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave., Henderson, NC 27536 You may download the full packet here: (103 pages) 20120213_coh_regular_meeting_agenda_packet Consideration of Approval of Resolution 12-13, Requesting the Closeout of the A. L. Harris Estates Grant 06-C-1609.Public HearingResolution 12-13I.PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON AGENDA ITEMSCitizens may only speak on Agenda items at this time. Citizens wishing to address the Council must sign-in …
Thomas Day Program at Warren County Memorial Library
“Thomas Day, Cabinet Maker: Man in the Middle” will be presented on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. in the community room at Warren County Memorial Library by Laurel Sneed, educator, researcher, media producer/film-maker, executive director of Thomas Day Education Project. The event is free and the public is invited to attend. This project is made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Be …
Vance County Board of Education January 13th, 2012
Vance County Board of EducationHenderson, N. C. 27536February 13, 2012 7:00 p.m.Administrative Services Center Download the full agenda packet here: 20120209_vc_boe_agenda_packet A G E N D A I. Call to Order II. Moment of Silence * III. Approval of Minutes * IV. Approval of Meeting AgendaV. Recognitions/Announcements A. Shining Moment Award B. North Carolina School Boards Association Presentation VI. Comments from the Public (Citizens who would like to address the Board may do so …
State Tourism Office Unveils Tools To Assist Wine Travelers
RALEIGH— The North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development today announced the release of three new tools to help travelers find their way to more than 100 wineries in North Carolina. A new winery guide, mobile website and billboard campaign are designed to draw attention to wineries as attractive destinations where visitors can connect with North Carolina traditions in taste and agriculture. “The wine industry and travel and tourism industry are critical economic drivers for …
Raleigh Realizes 4th Greatest Job Growth in Nation
The number ten city by total number of jobs added was North Carolina’s capital city, where job growth swelled by 48,900 from 2001-2011, according to an article by G. Scott Thomas in the Triangle Business Journal. Raleigh was fourth in the nation in terms of job growth percentage. The city’s number of jobs expanded by over 13 percent since 2001. As we emerge from the Great Recession, hindsight reveals there was a place job growth and a more stable economic …
UNC-Chapel Hill Reaffirmed as Best College Value
Duke may have pulled out a win at the buzzer last night, but it seems UNC-Chapel Hill has a solid grip on number one—for best college value, that is. In January, the Tarheel school was named by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine as the number one top value for public universities. This month, The Princeton Review arrived at the same conclusion, naming UNC-Chapel Hill the number one best value for public colleges. The rankings were based on institutional data and student …
Butterfield Urges USDA Secretary to Keep State Farm Service Offices Open
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack opposing the proposed closures of several U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in North Carolina. As part of an effort to cut its budget, the USDA released a proposal in January suggesting the closure of a number of FSA offices, including those in Chowan, Hertford and Warren counties, which provides critical access to USDA services for …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
Greenway’s new restaurant on Garnett Street is open. Lunch: Sunday – Fri 11 – 2 Dinner: Fri – Sun 5 – 10 Located in the old Wildflower / Bullpen / Jessica Charles / restaurant location Martin Robinson Delany had many careers — doctor, editor, author, politician, judge, and army officer. He used his talents toward abolishing slavery and promoting emigration for African-Americans. He went to Harvard to become a physician, and during the Civil War recruited soldiers for all-black units …
Presentation by Brian Short Regarding Backup 911 Site on February 6th, 2012
This was presented to the Board of Commissioners February 6th, 2012 20120206_Back Up PSAP Proposal Draft 7 Vance County BOC
NC Students Continue To Improve Advanced Placement Participation And Scores
A total of 18.4 percent of North Carolina’s high school Class of 2011 earned a score of 3 or better on at least one Advanced Placement (AP) exam, according to the annual Report to the Nation today released by The College Board. The report showed that 18.1 percent of the nation’s students reached the same achievement Over the past five years, North Carolina students have increased both their participation in the Advanced Placement program and also the percentage of graduates …
VGCC offers small business seminar on Hiring, Retention
Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center will offer a free seminar, entitled “How to Hire and Retain Good Employees,” from 9 a.m. until noon on Thursday, March 8 in room 7107 of Building 7 on the college’s main campus in Vance County. The seminar will help business owners and managers match the right workers with the right jobs, thereby reducing turnover and increasing the bottom line. Topics will include the selection process, finding suitable candidates, interviewing and reasons behind employee …
Butterfield to Announce His Candidacy for Re-election in Durham, Friday
WILSON, NC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will make three stops in North Carolina’s First Congressional District to kick-off and announce his re-election campaign. Butterfield’s campaign stops will begin with a rally at the Durham Arts Council on Friday, with special guest Durham Mayor Bill Bell. On Monday, the Congressman will host a Meet & Greet at GK Café and Catering in Greenville, and a rally at the Booker T. Theater in Rocky Mount. “I am particularly excited about …
Vance County Schools Bus Driver Training
Vance County Schools is offering school bus driver training to interested persons Monday, February 13, through Wednesday, February 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day in the Drama Room at Southern Vance High School. Persons seeking school bus driver certification must attend training sessions all three days. No pre-registration is necessary. Participants should arrive prior to 8:30 a.m. each day and must have their driver’s license with them. For more information, interested persons may contact the Vance County …