The N.C. Department of Transportation has a new, more efficient way of funding infrastructure investments that will better connect citizens to opportunities, increase jobs and enhance economic development after Governor Pat McCrory signed into law on June 26 the Strategic Mobility Formula, House Bill 817. “Everything we do is focused on strengthening our economy and making government operate more efficiently. This landmark legislation helps us do both,” said Governor McCrory. “A tremendous amount of work has gone into this initiative, …
Tearing Down Silos with UNC-Wide Cooperation Making Universities More Energy Efficient and Cost Effective
Governor Pat McCrory applauded action by the UNC Board of Governors on June 14. The board approved groundbreaking energy-saving efforts that avoid $25 million in costs through a unique guaranteed energy savings contract involving 13 UNC campuses, the UNC General Administration and several affiliated organizations. Over the seven-year length of the agreement, the energy-efficiency improvements will result in the installation of more than 100,000 lighting fixtures in classrooms, dormitories and other university facilities. “This system-wide effort represents the kind of …
LEAD releases June N.C. Today
The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division has released its June issue of N.C. Today. The North Carolina economy showed signs of improvement in May, but overall results are mixed. The smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased in May to 8.8 percent from 8.9 percent. Total nonfarm employment fell by 5,900 jobs over the month, but rose by 56,300 jobs, or 1.4 percent, over the year. The data appear less positive for manufacturing in the state as …
Louisburg College Recognized with Top Honors at PBL National Conference
LOUISBURG, NC – Louisburg College is pleased to announce that four students were Top 10 finalists at the 2013 Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) National Leadership Conference, held June 22-25 in Anaheim, California. Abdul Caesar ’13 and Kyle May ’14, both of Cary, North Carolina won Fifth Place in the Integrated Marketing Campaign category. Abdul, the son of Alnisa Caesar, will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill as an economics major in the fall. Kyle, the son of Daryl …
Butterfield Expresses Condolences on the Passing of Former Congressman William Gray
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today expressed his sadness on the passing of former Philadelphia Congressman and House Majority Whip William “Bill” H. Gray III. Congressman Gray was the first African American to chair the House Budget Committee and also the first to serve as the Majority Whip before resigning in 1991 to head the United Negro College Fund. Butterfield’s statement follows. “News of Congressman William Gray’s death came as a shock. Just last week we enjoyed …
Wednesday Open Line
Befitting the eve of the nation’s celebration of freedom, one of the most important pieces of legislation in our history became law on this date in 1964. The Civil Rights Act, signed by President Lyndon Johnson, swept away Jim Crow laws by prohibiting discrimination based on race in all accommodations and facilities open to the public, as well as employment, union membership, and voter registration. Shortly after the Civil Rights Act became law, nearly 42 percent of blacks lived in …
VGCC names head of new Paralegal degree program
Vance-Granville Community College has appointed Antoinette C. Dickens of Raleigh to lead the college’s new Paralegal Technology degree program. The two-year program officially gets underway when the fall semester begins Aug. 19, and will be based at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus near Louisburg. Dickens brings to her new role experience as both a practicing paralegal and an educator. She has held a variety of positions in the justice system, as a deputy Clerk of Superior Court in Vance County, a …
Kay Hagan: As We Celebrate July 4th, We Must Honor Those Who Have Fought to Protect Us
As we gather with friends and family this July Fourth for backyard barbecues and fireworks, we should take a moment to honor not only the values of freedom and liberty that make our country great, but also those who have fought to protect them. North Carolina is the most military-friendly state in the nation – a place where we pride ourselves on the support we provide to our military, our veterans, and their families. America’s servicemen and women put their …
New VGCC scholarship honors Dr. Beverly Tucker
Volunteers from the Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham Medical Center recently presented a gift of $25,000 to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund that will create a new scholarship. This is the sixth such scholarship established by the Guild Gift Gallery in recent years. Since 2008, the hospital’s Guild has given over $150,000 to the college. The newest scholarship was given in honor of Dr. W. Beverly Tucker of Henderson, who was joined by family members, volunteers from the …
Butterfield Announces $1.4 million Award for Halifax County
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) Monday announced a $1.4 million investment award to Halifax County for a state-of-the-art lumber processing facility owned and operated by Klausner Lumber Two. The facility will be located in the Town of Enfield. The award was made possible by the Economic Development Administration, which is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The project will leverage North Carolina’s abundance of forestry-based natural resources for the lumber and biomass industries. Klausner has …
N.C. State Fair announces 2013 concert lineup
RALEIGH – The 2013 State Fair fall concert lineup will feature performances by rock, country, contemporary Christian and bluegrass musicians, along with a unique Michael Jackson tribute band. Sister Hazel will kickoff the series on Thursday, Oct. 17. The alternative rock band has been entertaining since 1993 and has created such hits as “All for You” and “Change Your Mind.” Friday, Oct. 18, will feature two contemporary Christian artists, both of whom are Dove Award winners. Francesca Battistelli was a …
Tuesday Open Line
On this date in 1788 — 225 years ago — that 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 …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (VC BOC July 1st, 2013)
Editors Note: July 2nd, 2013 – Added Michaels Notes From The Peanut Gallery below the public hearing notes. Below is what Mr. Michael Bobbitt said at the Vance County Board of Commissioners during their public meeting tonight. He may write a traditional Notes From The Peanut Gallery later. Good Evening Chairman Hester, Commissioners, Mr. Asycue and your staff. My Name is Michael Bobbitt I want to first thank the Chairman and the Commissioners for holding 16 hours of public …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Don’t pay for job opportunities
Job search websites can be a great tool for finding your next job. But not every opportunity posted turns out to be legitimate. Some North Carolina job seekers recently found this out when they responded to a posting for what looked like security guard work but turned out to be a scam. People who responded to the post were asked to pay more than $100 upfront for training by purchasing a reloadable debit card. Victims were also asked to provide …
Congressswoman Renee Ellmers Newsletter
We had another busy week in Washington, where many important issues were both debated and acted upon. On Tuesday, I led a Special Order on the House floor with several of my colleagues form the Energy and Commerce Committee. We discussed a recent report from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) which lays out the many missed deadlines and delays for implementation of Obamacare, as well as its negative effect on jobs. All of these issues make it apparent that …
Butterfield Testifies at Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing in Support of his Bill to Honor World War II Merchant Mariners
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) testified in support of his bill, H.R. 1288, the World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act, at the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. H.R. 1288 would expand the very specific list of acceptable documents considered by the Federal government when Merchant Mariners who served during World War II apply for veterans’ status. Currently, the documents permitted to satisfactorily prove service can be extremely hard …
White House Weekly Address: Confronting the Growing Threat of Climate Change
In this week’s address, President Obama told the American people about a plan he unveiled a few days ago that confronts the growing threat of climate change, which will cut carbon pollution, protect our country from the impacts of climate change, and lead the world in a coordinated assault on a changing climate. This week, the President gave a major speech on climate change policy, hosted a roundtable discussion with business leaders, named a new director of the FBI, and …
Monday Open Lines
Income taxes first came to America 151 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 145 …
Senator Richard Burr Newsletter
This week, I worked with a bipartisan group of fellow Senators to forge a solution, the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act, to avert student loan rates from doubling on July 1st and provide a permanent solution that would lower and fix interest rates for 100% of newly issued student loans. This bill is a bipartisan, permanent market-based solution that ensures access and affordability for students seeking higher education and gives them the certainty they need to plan for the future. …
Clarence Adrian Royster Arrested for Sexual Assult of 14 year old
On June 26, 2013 members of the Henderson Police Department received a report that a 14 year-old female was sexually assaulted by her uncle. The incident was reported to have occurred in a hotel room at the Sleep Inn, 18 Market Street, Henderson. The suspect allegedly provided the juvenile victim alcohol, and during that period conducted various sexual acts on the juvenile. Members of the Henderson Police Department Criminal Investigations Division were contacted to continue the investigation. Upon investigation, Clarence …