Because of Congressional inaction this week – and every week for the past two years, for that matter – sequestration, the automatic spending cuts put in place by the President, will go into effect today, March 1. While I was hopeful we could reach an agreement that would make more prioritized spending cuts, the truth is Washington has a spending problem. We need to begin to cut the size and scope of the federal government. I would prefer more targeted …
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Upcoming conference offers advice for food businesses
RALEIGH — Local food businesses will have two opportunities to take part in the annual Food Business Conference sponsored by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The event, aimed at helping small-business owners grow their food businesses, has expanded to include two conference locations in Raleigh and Burnsville. Conference East will be held at the James G. Martin Building at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh April 11. The registration deadline is April 2. Conference West will be held …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Protecting Your Tax Dollars and Acting Responsibly
A constituent called my office this week to say his personal family budget has already been affected this year by higher gas prices and higher taxes leaving him with a smaller paycheck. He wanted to know why it is okay for him to have to cut his budget, when at the same time the president and Democrats say we cannot survive spending cuts to the federal government’s budget. He is absolutely right. Washington has a spending problem and as responsible …
Furniture Manufacturer to Expand in Rockingham County, N.C.
RALEIGH — Today, Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced that Southern Finishing Company, a furniture and cabinet component manufacturer, will expand its facility in Rockingham County. The company plans to create 11 jobs and invest more than $500,000 over the next three years in Stoneville. “An important part of our economic growth strategy must include increasing the number of products made in North Carolina,” said Governor McCrory. “Our state’s skilled workforce gives manufacturers a huge …
White House Weekly Address: Congress Must Compromise to Stop the Impact of the Sequester
In his weekly address, President Obama tells the American people that a series of harmful budget cuts—called the sequester—have taken effect because Congress failed to act. Because Republicans in Congress refused to compromise to close tax loopholes for the wealthiest Americans, hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose their jobs or see their paycheck reduced, and middle class families will be hurt. Congress must join the President now to replace these cuts with a balanced approach that reduces our deficit …
Monday Open Line
The first woman to serve in Congress took her seat on this date in 1917. Jeannette Rankin of Montana shortly became one of the few representatives to vote against entry into World War I, a stand that contributed to her defeat when she ran for the Senate in 1918. She reentered Congress in 1940, and putting her principles ahead of office-holding, cast the lone vote against declaring war on Japan after Pearl Harbor in 1941. Her political career, which began …
Henderson Police Department Seeking Help Identifying Robbery Suspects
The Henderson Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects from the robbery that occurred at Cruizers, 800 Dabney Drive, Henderson on February 23, 2013 around 2:17 AM. First suspect was described as a tall male, 6’0” in height, and 180 lbs. Second suspect was described as a male, 5’7” in height, and 150 lbs. The Henderson Police Department encourages anyone with information related to this crime to contact the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141 or …
Armed Robbery in Henderson, Suspect Linwood Woodard Already Arrested
On February 28, 2013 around 11:03 AM an officer patrol in his assigned area was flagged down and advised that a robbery had just occurred in the parking lot of Roses 1471 N. Garnett Street, Henderson. Victim advised the she had returned to her vehicle from the Bank of America on N. Garnett Street. Victim advised that she was counting currency when a 25 year-old black male 6’0”in height, with a beard, wearing a black hoody, and a white shirt …
White House: Honoring Rosa Parks
National Statuary Hall inside the U.S. Capitol was once the meeting place of the House of Representatives. Now it’s home to a collection of statues and monuments — two from each state — representing some of the defining figures in our nation’s history. Today those sculptures were joined by that of a civil rights icon. One hundred years after she was born and 58 years after she refused to give up her seat on an Alabama city bus, Rosa Parks …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
This is Women’s History Month — a time to recognize the often overlooked vision, courage, and accomplishments of the nation’s women. One example is Mary Harris Jones, who brought the evils of child labor to national attention in the 1800s. Another is Grace Hopper, a long-serving naval officer who was a pioneer in computer programming. In recent years, women have excelled in educational attainment. In 1960, men received two-thirds of all college degrees. Today, nearly 23 million women hold bachelor’s …
Vance County Early College High School Information Sessions March 5th & 7th
Information sessions will be held at Eaton-Johnson Middle School and Henderson Middle School next week with eighth-grade students and their parents regarding the application process for students to be selected to attend the Vance County Early College High School as ninth graders for the 2013-2014 school year. Michael Bullard, principal of Early College, will lead the sessions at each school. A session will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, at Eaton-Johnson Middle School in the cafeteria for …
Butterfield Takes to House Floor to Speak on Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), a former civil rights attorney and judge, took to the House Floor to discuss the importance of preserving Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which is now being considered in Shelby County v Holder by the Supreme Court. The full video and transcript follows. Mr. BUTTERFIELD. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and particularly thank the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus for her leadership in convening this special hour …
Packaging Manufacturer to Expand with $4.4M Investment in Guilford County, N.C.
RALEIGH — Today, Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced that North State Flexibles, a manufacturer of flexible packaging products, will expand its facility in Guilford County. The company plans to create 41 jobs and invest more than $4.4 million over the next three years in Greensboro. “It’s good news when existing companies choose to reinvest and grow in our state,” said Governor McCrory. “Manufacturers like North State Flexibles recognize North Carolina is going to update its …
Durham Bulls to host ’14 Triple-A All-Star Game
The top talents at the Triple-A level will all convene at Durham Bulls Athletic Park next year as the Durham Bulls will host the 2014 Triple-A All-Star Game. The 27th annual Triple-A All-Star Game will take place on July 16, 2014, pitting the best players in the Pacific Coast League against the talents of the International League. It will be the first time that the Triple-A All-Star game will be played in Durham and will be the headliner during a …
Thursday Open Line
One of the most frightening industrial accidents in the U.S. occurred on this date in 1979 at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant on the Susquehanna River, south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A cascade of alarms and emergency responses started when someone mistakenly cross connected air and water lines in the plant’s number two reactor. The plant reportedly came close to a hydrogen gas explosion and a meltdown of its uranium core, which would have caused extensive radiation contamination. The …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (City Council 2/25/2013)
Proposed Increase in Utility Deposit The basics first then an observation. Ray Griffin presented a proposal to double the utility (water and sewer) deposit as a means of mitigating the loss of revenue when a customer fails to pay their water and sewer bill. Mr. Griffin started his presentation recalling that in November 2011, the two changes to the ordinance governing water and sewer bills. The first of the two changes was effective in November 2011 and “… established a …
Community Watch Meeting Thursday, February 28th
The Henderson-Vance Community Watch Association would like to recognize the importance of our Henderson-Vance Community Watch Groups on February 28, 2013 @ 7PM at Maria Parham Hospital Auditorium. We hope that everyone in the Community would come out and join us Thursday night 02-28-2013. A reminder that this meeting occurs monthly. Guests include: Chief Keith Sidwell, Henderson Police Dept., Sheriff Peter White, Vance County Sheriff’s Office Purpose to Voice & Address Your Concerns, To Reduce Crime in Our Community, To …
Henderson – Vance County Chamber of Commerce Announces 2013 Events
April 24 (Wednesday) Administrative Professionals Day– Henderson Country Club- Noon- More details to follow. You can sign up now at 438-8414! April 26- (Friday) “Meet Me in the Street” The first of three events- The Konnection Band will play! 5:30 until 8:30 in Downtown Henderson on Embassy Square. Yes, this one is on a Friday! May 30- (Thursday)- “Meet Me in the Street” Steve Owens and The Summertime Band- 5:30 until 8:30 in Downtown Henderson. June 11- …
White House: What Is the Sequester?
In less than a week, harmful automatic cuts — known as the sequester — take effect, threatening hundreds of thousands of jobs, and cutting vital services for children, seniors, people with mental illness and our men and women in uniform. To prevent a costly, self-inflicted wound to our economy and middle class families, President Obama put forward a plan to avoid these cuts and reduce the deficit by cutting spending and closing tax loopholes. Now it’s up to Congress to …
Wednesday Open Line
On this date in 1872, America’s third female law student was graduated. But this third was a first. Charlotte Ray was a freeborn African-American. With her degree from historically black Howard University, she shortly began her law practice in Washington, D.C., and was the first woman accredited to argue a case before the Supreme Court. When Charlotte Ray graduated, university degrees were a rarity in all of America. Today, among African-Americans over 25, some 3 million have bachelor’s degrees, and …