RALEIGH – The first day of spring may be a few weeks away, but the State Farmers Market has already planned a full lineup of special events in March to kick off the spring growing season. The season starts with the Spring Craft Fair March 8-10. The annual event features vendors with a variety of floral arrangements and ornamental garden accessories, handmade baby blankets and quilts, jewelry and handbags, candles and soaps, as well as stained glass, woodworking and other …
Tuesday Open Line
A severe economic panic, striking in 1893, led the city of Seattle to create the nation’s first municipal unemployment assistance office on this date in 1894. State and federal unemployment assistance wasn’t established until the 1930s. Recently, the national unemployment rate, as determined by the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, has settled to around 7.9 percent. In 2010, Washington state’s average was at the then national average of 9.6 percent. The most current unemployment rate is one of the statistics …
Vance County Democrats hold Precinct Meetings March 9th
The Vance County Democrats will hold their Precinct meetings all together. All precincts will meet in the Vance County Commissioners meeting room on March 9th at 10:00 a.m. They will have a joint opening and then break into separate precincts. Any and all registered Democrats are invited to come to be a part of these precinct meetings. The meeting will be over by 12:00.
Shoe Retailer to Expand in Mecklenburg County, N.C.
RALEIGH — Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced that Rack Room Shoes, a family footwear retailer, will expand its corporate headquarters in Charlotte. The company plans to create 87 jobs in North Carolina by the end of 2017 and invest $16.03 million into its Mecklenburg County location. The project was made possible in part by an award from the state Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program. Receipt of the award is based on proof of …
Background Screening Firm to Create 400 Jobs in New Hanover County, N.C.
RALEIGH — Today, Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced that Castle Branch, a company that provides background screening, drug testing, employment verification, vendor credentialing and other services, will expand its corporate headquarters in Wilmington. The company plans to create 420 new jobs in North Carolina by the end of 2017 and invest $10.2 million into its New Hanover County location. “We’re proud to have Castle Branch as a strong corporate partner in North Carolina,” said …
Senator Richard Burr Newsletter
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 …
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 …