For years, scammers have exploited people’s sympathy by setting up fake charities supposedly to help those in need. But these heartless crooks now have a new way to divert donations to their own pockets. Crowdfunding takes places when someone sets up a way for people to make donations, usually online, for a cause such as helping someone cover hospital bills after an illness or accident. Although many of these efforts are legitimate, hosting websites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe don’t screen …
Month: June 2014
Disposal of Coal Ash Timelines
From senator Angela Bryant: SB 729- Coal Ash Timelines Disposal of coal ash (G.S. 130A-309.208, page 10): July 1, 2014 – No new impoundments or expansion of existing impoundments. October 1, 2014 – No coal ash disposed in impoundments at retired plants. December 31, 2018 – No stormwater discharged into impoundments at retired plants. December 31, 2019 – No stormwater discharged into any impoundment. December 31, 2018 – Must convert to disposal of dry fly ash or retire the electric …
Summer Kicks into High Gear with Bucket List from VisitNC.com
RALEIGH, N.C. (June 21, 2014) — From the Atlantic Ocean to the Blue Ridge Mountains, summer travel reaches new heights of engagement with the North Carolina Summer Bucket List on VisitNC.com. Using #NCbucketlist as the hashtag, travelers can share photos of 20 essential experiences on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram and potentially reach a community of 135,000 VisitNC followers. The collected images will extend an inspiring conversation about places of great beauty, homegrown flavors and choice destinations across North Carolina. “We …
Wednesday Open Line
Today is the anniversary of the first color television broadcast. In 1951, CBS transmitted the appropriately named program “Premiere” from New York City and through stations in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. The program was seen in color only at a few select facilities because color sets for the home weren’t available until 1954. By the end of 1957, while nearly 39 million U.S. households had TV sets, only 150,000 were color units. Sales of color sets caught up with those …
Vance County School Media Centers Open For Summer
All of the school media centers, with the exception of Clarke Elementary School, are open this summer each Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for students to have summer reading materials and for book check outs. We urge all students and their parents or guardians to visit our school media centers during this summer. We want students to continue to read and improve their reading skills. The Clarke Elementary School media center is having repair work completed …
Tuesday Open Line
In the past, hot summer days meant that some enterprising youngsters in the neighborhood would set up a lemonade stand or the family would share a pitcher of iced tea on the front porch to cool off. In recent times, we usually resort to something in a bottle or can to slake our year-round thirsts. Today, the drink of choice is often a soft drink, usually carbonated. As a result, fizzy soft drink manufacturing is a nearly $35 billion a …
Saturday Night Shooting, Rewards Offered for Info
On Saturday night, June 21, 2014, members of the Henderson Police Department responded to the intersection of Orange Street and Merriman Street in response to someone shot. Officers found Theodus Williams, 43. 1453 Perry Avenue, Henderson suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Williams was transported to Maria Parham Medical Center and subsequently to Duke University Medical Center. Williams was listed in stable condition. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Henderson Police Department at …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Obamacare Causes NC Premiums to Skyrocket
This week marked the 4th anniversary of President Obama’s “Recovery Summer,” but the American economy continues to struggle. House Republicans remain focused on ways to create new jobs and expand opportunity for everyone. Visit GOP.gov/jobs to see our plan for jobs. Unfortunately, Obamacare continues to negatively affect our economy as a whole, as well as our individual households. In a recent 3,137-County Analysis by the Manhattan Institute, we see more evidence that the “Affordable” Care Act doesn’t live up to …
White House Weekly Address: Bringing Our Workplace Policies into the 21st Century
In this week’s address, the President previewed Monday’s first-ever White House Summit on Working Families where he will bring together businesses leaders and workers to discuss the challenges that working parents face every day and lift up solutions that are good for these families and American businesses. Many working families can’t afford basic needs like childcare or receive simple benefits such as paid family leave that are common in most countries around the world. When hardworking Americans are forced to …
Monday Open Line
The keyboard on your computer is descended from the invention of Christopher Sholes of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On this date in 1868, he patented the first practical typewriter, with the now familiar placement of keys. Its acceptance was slow, and for several decades, many people considered it slightly insulting to receive a typewritten letter. But as machines improved, the advantages of the typewriter became clear. The need for skilled typists allowed many women to first enter the world of business. Decades …
Legislative Update from Senator Richard Burr
Yesterday, I spoke on the floor about the growing threat in the Middle East. I understand that our nation is weary of war. I respect the sacrifices made by our service members and I work every day to ensure that our brave men and women, our veterans, are provided the care and treatment they deserve. Their efforts should not be in vain. Our service members served and sacrificed overseas so we could be safe at home. We cannot in good …
Butterfield Disappointed by VA’s Explanation of Durham Medical Center Wait Times
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) “interim response” to his request made last week for an explanation of the long wait times for new mental health patients at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), and the 79-day discrepancy in reported wait times by the Durham VAMC and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA): “I am deeply troubled that the VA did not provide clear, sufficient …
Interstate Paving to Close I-85 in Orange County/Nightime Closures to Begin Monday
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation will close I-85 South in Orange County beginning Monday night, June 23, for paving operations, weather permitting. The paving will begin at the Durham County line and end just east of the I-85/I-40 split. Crews will close I-85 South at the US 15/501 South split (Exit 174A). N.C. 147 West will also be closed at Exit 16B to prohibit traffic from merging onto I-85 South. Nightly closures will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Should …
VGCC and Chamber present free Tax seminar for Small Businesses
The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Revenue and the Chamber of Commerce of Warren County, will present a free seminar, called “Business Essentials,” on Tuesday, July 22, from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the college’s Warren County Campus in Warrenton (room W432). Lunch will be provided by VGCC’s Warren Campus. In this seminar, the Department of Revenue will cover basic requirements to help businesses in North Carolina understand the laws …
Representative Baskerville’s Statement on Additional Coal Ash Discoveries
Henderson, NC — North Carolina State Representative Nathan Baskerville released a statement today detailing his growing concerns regarding the discovery of additional coal ash problems. On June 18, 2014, DENHR identified additional problems at multiple coal ash sites. There are discoveries that Coal Ash is leaking from deteriorated pipes and cracked joints and has contributed to concrete flaking and chipped pipes in multiple sites, all spelling one thing – another disaster waiting to happen. Plans written by the Governor’s office …
Vance County Called Meeting and upcoming committee meetings
This memorandum will serve as notice that Chairperson Deborah F. Brown has called a special meeting for Monday, June 23 at 5:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC. The purpose of the special meeting is to address the following:1. Adoption of FY 2014-2015 Budget Ordinance – to be distributed at meeting2. Authorization of Year-End Closeouts3. Approval of Appraisal Company for 2016 Property Revaluations4. Approval of Lease Agreements5. Other items as needed …
N.C. peach season on tap to be a good one
RALEIGH – Homemade ice cream, cobbler or sliced fresh, no matter what way you enjoy peaches, this season is looking good for the crop. While an unusually cold winter did impact the crop, mid- to late-season peaches will be plentiful in much of the state. “North Carolina growers produce 70 varieties, each with its own unique flavor,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Peach season typically runs from late May to August, so consumers have time to sample many different varieties …
City of Henderson City Council Meeting (June 23rd 2014)
The Henderson City Council Short Regular Meeting will be on Monday, 23 June 2014 at 6:00 PM with a Work Session to immediately follow in the City Hall Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave., Henderson, NC 27536 Download the full packet here: 20140623_coh_agenda_packet I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. OPENING REMARKSIn order to provide for the highest standards of ethical behavior and Transparency in Governanceas well as provide for good and open government, …
White House: President Obama Makes a Statement on Iraq
After meeting with his national security team, President Obama entered the White House Press Briefing Room this afternoon to give an update on the situation in Iraq. The President outlined a number of steps that his Administration has made in response to ongoing developments — and closed by announcing that Secretary of State John Kerry will depart this weekend for meetings in the Middle East and Europe, leading a diplomatic effort to support stability in the region. Watch the President …
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Survey
In 2014, North Carolina Cooperative Extension celebrates 100 years of service, enhancing the lives, land and economy of North Carolina citizens. As we do so, we need your help to illustrate our impact and identify ways to better serve you during the next 100 years. To do this, Cooperative Extension has asked N.C. State’s Center for Urban Affairs and Community Services to administer a survey to ask you about what differences we have made in your lives, your businesses, and …