WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, today issued the following statement on the administrative complaint filed by Consumer Product Safety Commission against Maxfield and Oberton, the manufacturer of Buckyballs: “I support the strong and rare action taken yesterday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission against the manufacturer of Buckyballs to stop sale of this dangerous product. I also want to commend the pediatric gastroenterologists that have been …
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Representative Michael H. Wray’s Raleigh Report
The governor continues to gradually sign new bills into law as her Aug. 2 deadline for action approaches. This week she signed three more bills into law and only a few remain for her consideration. She must sign the remaining bills, allow them to become law without her signature or veto them. If she vetoes any bills, the General Assembly could come back to Raleigh to consider whether to override them. New Laws Gov. Perdue has signed into law …
Butterfield to Announce $1 Million in Funding for Disadvantaged Farmers
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will be joined by U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White tomorrow to announce $1 million in available funding through an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) pilot project. Funding for the Irrigation and Conservation Efficiency Pilot Project, which is administered by NRCS, is available to farmers through an application process, with priority given to limited resource and socially disadvantaged applicants. “Too many farmers in North Carolina’s First …
New NC Small Town Main Street Communities Selected
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Commerce announced today that five new communities have been chosen to participate in the Office of Urban Development’s 2012 Small Town Main Street program. Cherryville, Elizabethtown, Richlands, Saluda and Spencer were selected through a competitive application process that included ten communities from across the state. Designation of these five new towns brings the total number of the state’s Small Town Main Street communities to 44. “We congratulate these communities for their commitment to their …
White House: Reason Why I’m Hopeful
When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, taxes are scheduled to go up for 114 million middle-class families, leaving a typical family of four paying an extra $2,200 in 2013. Preventing this from happening is critical — not just for individual people but for our overall economic recovery — and nearly everyone in Washington agrees we need to do something about it. We saw that yesterday when Republicans and Democrats in the Senate — who almost never see …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
The world’s most prestigious sporting event, the Olympics, opens today in London for the 30th time in the modern era. Held every four years, this year’s Olympics will see athletes from an estimated 205 nations take part. Among the 26 official sports, some 300 events will be featured. Tonight’s opening ceremony is expected to be viewed by 4 billion people around the world. One of the most popular televised events is gymnastics. In the 2008 Olympics, the U.S. won 2 …
VGCC Student selected for Leadership Program
Vance-Granville Community College student Rachel E. Pottern of Wake Forest is among just 28 students from across the state who have been selected to participate in the 2012-2013 North Carolina Community College Student Leadership Development Program (SLDP). Since 1999, the program has been conducted by the N.C. Community College System to enhance the leadership quality of student participants and to better prepare them for professional and civic responsibilities. The SLDP kicked off this summer, when Pottern and her fellow participants …
VGCC Computer classes scheduled to start in August at Main Campus
Vance-Granville Community College is currently registering students for popular, short-term computer courses scheduled to start in August on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. The “Beginner’s Guide to Computers & Internet” class is scheduled for Tuesday evenings from 6 until 10 p.m., Aug. 14 through Sept. 18. Exploring the Windows 7 operating system, novice students will be introduced to the common components and many uses of personal computers. Students will also learn effective ways to make the most of …
Travel and Leisure Magazine: RDU’s Terminal 2 among ‘Coolest New Airport Terminals’ and Terminal 1 Begins Makeover
In its July issue, Travel + Leisure shown its spotlight on the “Coolest New Airport Terminals.” RDU’s Terminal 2 was included on the list for its architecture, including long-span wood trusses (the first of their kind in any airport), a nod to the region’s heritage of furniture-makers and craftsmen, hanging artwork and abstract DNA sequences. Terminal 2 was also given kudos for the three ticketing counters, which reduce congestion at check-in. RDU breaks ground on Terminal 1 makeover Raleigh-Durham International …
First half of 2012 continues to show increases in N.C. lodging indicators
Lodging in North Carolina continues to improve, according to recent data received by the Division from Smith Travel Research. Hotel/motel occupancy was up 4 percent for the first half of 2012, just outpacing U.S. (+3.4 percent) and South Atlantic (+3.1 percent) levels. Since 2009, year-to-date occupancy through June in N.C. is up nearly 15 percent. As well, ADR in the state for the first half of the year had its largest growth since 2008, increasing 4 percent from 2011, and …
White House: New College Shopping Sheet Helps Students Know Before They Owe
Almost every day, President Obama gets letters from students who are swimming in student loan debt, and every week it seems we see another newspaper article about how the cost of college is becoming prohibitively expensive for too many American families. We know that college remains an excellent investment. Increasingly however, it is a financed investment, with the monthly loan payments to prove it. And, while we don’t want would-be students to be scared away from going to college because of the …
Congressman Butterfield to Join USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White to Announce Farm Bill Special Project
WHO: Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White WHAT: NRCS is inviting the media and members of the public to attend a special announcement regarding a $1 million special Farm Bill project for 23 counties in North Carolina. This pilot project will assist farmers in their voluntary efforts to address natural resource concerns such as water quantity and quality, as well as soil condition, air quality and on-farm energy use. Assistance is …
Analysis of international visitors to North Carolina now available
The Division recently completed the 2011 analysis of international visitation to the state. The analysis concluded that in 2011, more than 680,000 international visitors spent time in North Carolina, spending over $312 million. These estimates do not include Canadian visitation. The top countries of origin for N.C. were the United Kingdom (81,497) and Germany (61,053), followed by Mexico (42,470), Japan (32,383) and India (31,424). These top countries accounted for more than one-third of the international spending in the state. Interesting …
‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of July 26 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” enjoy the great outdoors at Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro. Relax at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock. Get your toes a-tapping at the PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival in Franklinton. Learn about Hamlet’s extensive train history. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Hillsborough Barbecue on Hillsborough. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) “North Carolina Weekend” is exclusively underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. In addition, UNC-TV …
Film production in 2012 already exceeding 2011 record-setting numbers
Halfway through the 2012 calendar year, film productions in North Carolina have already eclipsed 2011’s recording setting numbers for in-state spending, Gov. Bev Perdue announced today (Wednesday). As of July, the North Carolina Film Office has received notification from more than 35 productions in regards to filming in the Tar Heel state this year. The projects are expected to have a direct in-state spend of more than $300 million while creating 15,000-plus job opportunities, including more than 3,300 well-paying crew …
NC Schools State Superintendent Testifies Before U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, DC – North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson today testified in front of the U.S. Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee about concerns over the impact of sequestration and drastic funding cuts to education. Atkinson testified in opposition to automatic funding cuts that will be detrimental to education reform occurring across the country, and outlined the immediate need for clear guidance from the federal government on how sequestration will work, if …
Thursday Open Line
The shape of the modern American military was cast on this date 65 years ago when President Truman signed the National Security Act. The Department of War was renamed the Department of Defense, and the secretaries of the Army and Navy were moved from the President’s cabinet and placed under the Secretary of Defense. The same act created the U.S. Air Force, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CIA, and the National Security Council. Known simply as “DOD,” the defense …
United Way of Vance County To Hold Community Celebration, Launch New Online Resource
The United Way is rolling out a new online resource called GET CONNECTED, and will be sponsoring a Community Kick-Off event on Thursday, August 2nd to raise community awareness of this tool. The event will be held in the parking lot of Ruby Tuesday, who will be donating a portion of their proceeds that day to the United Way. The event, which will last from 5pm-8pm, will feature live music, a bouncy castle and slide sponsored by Character Antics, and …
VGCC Community & Economic Development classes teach variety of skills
From Quilting to Computer Repair and nearly everything in between, a variety of Vance-Granville Community College courses are scheduled to be offered this fall. The fall semester begins Aug. 20 and ends Dec. 14. Throughout the year, the college’s Community and Economic Development division provides opportunities for adults to hone their basic skills, complete a high school diploma, obtain training to help them become employed or advance on the job, and enjoy hobbies in their leisure time. Various types of …
White House: By The Numbers, $140 Million
Last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced its first public enforcement action: an order requiring Capital One Bank to refund approximately $140 million to 2 million customers who were pressured or mislead into paying for “add-on” products such as payment protection and credit monitoring when activating their Capital One credit cards. CFPB is the bureau of the federal government that’s tasked with protecting consumers by carrying out consumer financial laws, so that people are able to make financial decisions …