On this New Year’s Eve, some 315 million Americans of all ages are ready to greet the year 2013. A hundred years ago, the U.S. population was just over 97 million. Fifty years ago, it was just over 186 million. To show how the nation is growing, by this time tomorrow there will be 10,800 new babies on hand to welcome the new year. Tonight’s celebration will see many of the 182,000 musicians and singers in the U.S. entertaining crowds …
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Friday / Weekend Open Line
One of the states that figured prominently in the recent presidential election — Iowa — became the 29th state to join the Union on this date in 1846. The name “Iowa” is derived from an American Indian word meaning “the beautiful land,” and it’s thought that the nickname “the Hawkeye State” is in honor of the famous Indian chief, Black Hawk. Iowa has long been an agricultural powerhouse and is the nation’s leading producer of corn and soybeans, as well …
Video sweepstakes parlors will look for a way to stay open
News and Observer writes: “We can continue to operate our businesses,” Grace said. “We can sell the Internet time. We can sell access to our computers. We can continue to offer promotional sweepstakes. We cannot use the fun and entertaining games in conjunction with the sweepstakes.” “What we’ve told people all along, the fun and entertaining games have nothing to do with the sweepstakes,” he said. “The sweepstakes can operate without it.” What do you think? Should the local spots …
Thursday Open Line
The holidays are mostly a time of bustling good cheer — but they are also a time for winter’s most frequent misery — the common cold, and the cough that often goes along with it. More than a century ago, a restaurant owner in Poughkeepsie, New York, did something to make life a little easier for cold sufferers. James Smith cooked up the first batch of cough drops in 1847, in two flavors still popular today — cherry and licorice. …
Wednesday Open Line
Many avid skiers are headed to the slopes these days, anxious to try out the new equipment and colorful hats, gloves, and jackets they received for Christmas. It’s the height of the skiing season, and the lodges and ski lifts at resorts are getting crowded. Skiing was introduced to America in the 1840s and ’50s by Norwegians and Swedes, who came to the U.S. as part of the Gold Rush. The first winter Olympics were held in 1924. Today, snow …
Turbine Blade Manufacturer to Expand in Forsyth County, N.C.
RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Ellwood Advanced Components LLC, a manufacturer of turbine blades, will expand its operations in Forsyth County. The company plans to create 55 jobs and invest $33 million over the next five years in Rural Hall. The project was made possible in part by an $188,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. “Creating jobs is a top priority of mine,” said Gov. Perdue. “Our highly-skilled workforce and highly-rated business climate have allowed …
Senator Richard Burr: Fiscal Cliff
As regular readers of this newsletter know, the fiscal cliff has been the primary item on the agenda in Washington lately. I wish I had some encouraging news or updates to give you this week, but unfortunately, we still do not have a deal to avoid sending our economy off the cliff. While finding some sort of compromise is important, the issue is broader than simply avoiding the cliff. We are in this position today because our economy is in …
White House Holiday Greetings
Go behind the scenes as volunteers decorate the White House for the holidays. See Bo inspect the decorations, the 2012 White House Menorah, holiday ginger crinkles recipe from the White House pastry chef and more at www.whitehouse.gov/holidays The First Lady Reads “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas” White House Time-Lapse: The 2012 Gingerbread Dough White House
White House Weekly Address: The President and First Lady Extend a Holiday Greeting and Thank our Troops for their Service
n this week’s address, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and thank our brave troops and their families for their service. The President and First Lady ask the American people to visit JoiningForces.gov to find ways to honor and support our veterans and military families, and say that we must all come together, as we always do, to care for each other during this holiday season. Welcome to the West Wing …
2 Dogs, Black Lab and Beagle, Lost in Oxford Road Area, Reward Offered
Sunday, 2 dogs, Moxie and Merle, were lost in the Oxford Road area around lunch time. The owner is offering a reward for their return, please call 919-636-1014
NC Cash Program Raising the Bar to Benefit North Carolinians
Throughout 2012, the Department’s NC Cash Program has improved its processes in order to put more money back into the pockets of North Carolinians. The Program has taken steps to bring more money in and increase the number of outreach events. As a result, the Program expects to return $50 million to its rightful owners by the end of the year, compared to $46.9 million in 2011. The Department has stepped it up a notch, from 17 events in 2011 …
Money Matters: Your Path to Financial Wellness
The holiday season is upon us. It is all too common for people to splurge on extensive gift lists, holiday decorating and entertaining. If you are not careful, overspending during the holidays can get you off track with your financial goals. Here are tips for staying above water during the holidays. 1) Pay the bills first. Before you begin holiday shopping, set aside the money for your upcoming bills. This is especially important in December as some employers pay their …
Textile Manufacturer to Add 37 Jobs in Surry County
RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Willow Tex LLC, a textile manufacturer and distributor, will locate a new facility in Surry County. The company plans to create 37 jobs and invest $6.1 million during the next three years in Mount Airy. The project was made possible in part by a $130,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. “North Carolina has a long and celebrated history in the textile industry,” said Gov. Perdue. “Manufacturers are locating here because …
White House: Get the Facts about House Republicans’ ‘Plan B’
With tax cuts for middle-class families set to expire soon, Republicans in Congress have proposed legislation known as “Plan B” that not only raises taxes on 25 million middle-class families, but cuts taxes for households making more than $1 million each year. We’ve put together a graphic to help explain what’s in the proposed legislation. Check it out: President Obama has put forward a proposal that addresses both taxes and spending and is good for American families, the economy, and …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
Winter arrived this morning at 6:12 a.m., Eastern Standard Time. While some parts of the country already have a blanket of snow, others anxiously hope for a white Christmas. Still others have unhappy memories of recent winters and hope this one turns out to be milder. In the continental U.S., Rogers Pass, Montana holds the record low winter temperature at 70 below zero, followed by Peter’s Sink, Utah, just one degree warmer. The absolute lowest temperature ever recorded in the …
Why the World Didn’t End Yesterday
NASA is so sure the world won’t come to an end on Dec. 21, 2012, they have already released this news item for the day after. Dec. 22, 2012: If you’re reading this story, it means one thing: The World Didn’t End Yesterday. According to media reports of an ancient Maya prophecy, the world was supposed to be destroyed on Dec. 21, 2012. Apparently not. “The whole thing was a misconception from the very beginning,” says Dr. John Carlson, director …
AAA: Christmas, New Year’s travel busiest in 6 years
This Christmas travel season could be the busiest in six years, with AAA predicting that 93.3 million Americans will hit the road. That’s 1.6 percent more than last year and just 400,000 people shy of the 2006 record. More cars will crowd the highways than ever before, largely because finding a seat on a plane at a desirable price has gotten more difficult. AAA says a record 84.4 million people will drive at least 50 miles between Dec. 22 and …
Apparel Manufacturer to Create 170 Jobs in Rowan County
RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that Gildan Activewear Inc. (“Gildan”), through its yarn-spinning subsidiary, CanAm Yarns LLC (“CanAm”), plans to open a new ring-spinning facility in Salisbury to support its projected growth. Gildan is a marketer and vertically-integrated manufacturer of quality-branded basic family apparel and is rapidly expanding its presence in the U.S. and international markets. The company plans to create approximately 170 jobs over the next two years and invest over $50 million. The project was made …
International Timber Manufacturer to Locate in Halifax County; Create 350 Jobs
RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that Klausner Lumber Two, a privately-owned softwood timber manufacturer, will establish a state-of-the-art sawmill in Halifax County. The company plans to create 350 jobs over the next three years and invest $110 million. The project was made possible in part by state grants from the Job Development Investment Grant and the One North Carolina Fund. “Creating jobs is my top priority and the fact that globally competitive companies continue to make investments like …
White House: “Words Need to Lead to Action” on Gun Violence
Five days after the tragic shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, President Obama said that he is committed to reducing the epidemic of gun violence that plagues this country every single day. At a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, the President announced that Vice President Joe Biden will lead a new initiative that has been tasked with identifying concrete proposals for real reform by January. The Vice President, …