RALEIGH – The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative recently awarded $500,000 in grants for six new research projects to boost bioenergy opportunities and production in the state, according to Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We are excited to have the opportunity to explore bioenergy potential through these grants for North Carolina’s agricultural and forestry industries,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. Below is a list of grant recipients and projects: $35,000 to the Institute of Forest Biotechnology for “Testing Biotech Poplars as a …
Month: July 2014
N.C. State Fair announces 2014 Dorton Arena lineup
RALEIGH – The 2014 N.C. State Fair Dorton Arena lineup will feature performances by country, gospel, rock and contemporary Christian artists, along with a stand-up comedian. Vanilla Ice will kick off the series on Thursday, Oct. 16, with a “Throwback Thursday” show. The rapper and reality TV show personality became the first hip hop artist to top the Billboard pop singles chart with his hit “Ice Ice Baby” in 1990. Friday, Oct. 18, will feature gospel artist, Tamela Mann. Mann …
Coastal Divisions Prepare for Tropical Storm Arthur
RALEIGH —The N.C. Department of Transportation is keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Arthur and making preparations to ensure we’re ready to respond if needed. Crews in the coastal divisions are checking equipment to make sure it is working properly, topping off their fuel tanks and staging equipment as necessary prior to the storm’s arrival. Along the Outer Banks, crews are staging front end loaders, motor graders and bulldozers along N.C. 12 in Ocracoke, Rodanthe and Pea Island, south …
NCDOT Awards $7.8 Million Contract for Tryon Road Improvements in Wake County
RALEIGH — N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a contract to widen and improve Tryon Road in Wake County. The $7.8 million contract was awarded to S. T. Wooten Corp. of Wilson. The project includes realigning part of the current Tryon Road route to go through the Renaissance Park development from U.S. 70/401/N.C. 50, as well as replacing the bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway. That will eliminate two sharp curves just east of the railroad bridge. In addition, both new …
General Assembly Approves Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina has recieved full approval from the General Assembly. Governor Pat McCrory signed the bill into law on Tuesday, June 24 at a special ceremony in the Old House Chambers of the State Capitol. The public-private partnership will start operations this month. The Economic Development Partnership will operate as a private, non-profit corporation that will contract with the Department of Commerce to handle many of the state’s job recruitment and retention functions. The EDPNC …
Independence Day Weekend Celebration July 5th, 2014 Kerr Lake
Saturday, July 5, 2014 6:30 – 10:00 pm Satterwhite Point Kerr Lake Fireworks, Live Entertainment, Food Vendors, T-Shirts, Glow Sticks and more. “The Sand Band” will perform Beach and Carolina Shag dance music along with your favorite oldies from 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm Satterwhite Point, Kerr Lake, Henderson, NC No Alcohol Allowed Free and open to the public Sponsored by: Vance County Department of Tourism 252-438-222 or 866-438-4565 www.kerrlake-nc.com
Restraining order sought for victims of sexual extortion in federal housing subsidy program
LAURINBURG, July 1, 2014 – Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project and Greensboro attorney Craig Hensel are asking a U.S. district court to prevent a nonprofit housing group from retaliating against eight women who say the group’s employees extorted sex in exchange for facilitating their participation in a federal housing subsidy program. Legal Aid and Hensel filed a motion for a temporary restraining order against the group, Four-County Community Services (FCCS), and two of its employees, John Wesley …
VGCC offers CDL-B driver training course
Vance-Granville Community College has scheduled a Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL) course at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Aug. 2 through Oct. 11. This course prepares North Carolina residents for jobs operating a variety of commercial vehicles, such as delivery trucks, dump trucks, cement trucks, passenger buses and utility trucks. The training provides students with the vehicle maneuver skills and background needed to take the …
Wednesday Open Line
On this date in 1788 — 226 years ago — the Constitution of the United States was formally established, transforming the loose organization of the states under the Articles of Confederation into a more perfect union. Besides securing the rights of citizens and establishing the limits of government authority, the Constitution calls for a census every 10 years to ensure that seats in the House of Representatives reflect the distribution of the U.S. population. The 1790 Census found 3.9 million …
July is Got to Be NC Agriculture Month
RALEIGH — Farmers across North Carolina are in full swing, bringing their fresh fruits and vegetables to market. Those farmers are part of the state’s $78-billion agriculture industry. In recognition of agriculture’s importance as the state’s top industry, Gov. Pat McCrory has proclaimed July 2014 as Got to Be NC Agriculture Month. “We created the Got to Be NC marketing program almost a decade ago to help consumers identify local products no matter where they shop,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve …
Tuesday Open Line
Income taxes first came to America 152 years ago today, when President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill levying a 3 percent tax on incomes between $600 and $10,000, and 5 percent for greater incomes. After helping finance the federal cause in the Civil War, the tax was rescinded in 1872. The income tax all of us know today dates to 1913, when the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, giving Congress the power to levy such taxes. About 146 …