STATEMENT FROM STATE SUPERINTENDENT JUNE ATKINSON REGARDING GOVERNOR’S BUDGET DECISION “Come this August, almost 1.5 million students will enter North Carolina public schools, an increase of nearly 12,000 students from last year. The budget the Governor vetoed needs to include more resources for principals, teachers and other support staff to meet the needs of these students. If we are going to increase our graduation rate from its current all-time high and prepare all students for college and a career, the …
Gov. Perdue Vetoes Budget that Falls Short
The General Assembly passed a budget that leaves too many needs unmet, like the fact that schools in North Carolina would receive $190 million less next year than they received this year. It also has too many misplaced priorities, like giving $336 million in tax breaks to lawyers, lobbyists, and other wealthy individuals. To learn more about the shortcomings in their budget, here’s a list of the top 20 flaws with the legislature’s budget: Click Here Despite the flaws in …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers
To say this has been an eventful week would be an understatement! In this newsletter you will find my comments on the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare and the failure of the Senate to address the jobs bills we have passed in the House. You will also find information and links to press releases, video and photos from press conferences and interviews I have given this week on the Obamacare ruling, the economy and jobs, and the contempt vote on …
Monday Open Line
Seventy-five years ago today, America’s most famous woman pilot disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. Amelia Earhart, who had captured the heart of the nation with her aviation exploits, was attempting to circle the Earth at the equator. She had completed 22,000 miles of the trip and was on a leg from New Guinea to tiny Howland Island when radio contact was lost. An extended, massive search failed to turn up any trace of her, her navigator or their twin-engine aircraft. …
Heatwave Means Utilities Face Increased Power Demand
RALEIGH – Setting home and work thermostats up to two degrees higher, between 78 and 80 degrees, during the next few days can have a dramatic impact cutting electric demand and saving on utility bills as the current heatwave will spike demand for electricity. Jon Williams, N.C. Secretary of Commerce for Energy urges the state’s citizens to take some simple steps to conserve energy, stay cool and safe during this time of extraordinarily high temperatures. “If every customer adjusts the …
Independence Day Celebraton on Kerr Lake will be held on July 7th, 2012
Come see the Fireworks at Satterwhite Point, Kerr Lake on Saturday, July 7th 2012 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM. Entertainment provided by : Ryan Daniel & Band There will be food vendors, glow sticks, and T-shirt sales. No Admission Cost! Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the music and food. Sponsored by: Vance County Tourism Development Authority 1-866-438-4565 or 252-438-2222 for more information. Park and Ride free. Park your car at Roses parking lot on Norlina Rd. and …
Butterfield Joins Democratic Colleagues in Walking Out of Vote to Hold Attorney General in Contempt of Congress
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Second Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, today joined his Democratic colleagues in walking off the House Floor to oppose a Republican-led vote holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. “Never in our nation’s history has the U.S. House of Representatives voted to hold a sitting attorney general in contempt of Congress,” said Butterfield. “The Republican vote to hold Attorney General Holder in contempt is not about ‘gunwalking,’ the Justice …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Feds Aren’t Going to Pay Your Utility Bills
Watch out for a new scam that touts a federal program that will supposedly pay your utility bills. The program isn’t real. Instead, it’s a ploy by scammers to steal your personal financial information and your money. The scammers tell you that to participate in the program, you need to provide your Social Security Number and bank account information. In return, they give you a bank account number that they claim will pay your utility bills—but the information is false …
CBPP: Health Reform’s Medicaid Expansion Is a Very Good Deal for States
Today’s Supreme Court decision essentially means that states can decide whether or not to expand their Medicaid programs to cover low-income adults. The typical (or median) state only covers working parents who make less than 63 percent of the poverty line ($12,790 a year for a family of three) and non-working parents with incomes below 37 percent of the poverty line ($7,063 a year). Only a handful of states provide coverage to any low-income adults without dependent children, regardless of …
White House: What the Supreme Court’s ruling means for your health care
View the full supreme court decision here: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf Today, the Supreme Court issued a historic ruling: They upheld the Affordable Care Act and ensured that millions of American families will have access to health care and protection from the worst abuses of the insurance industry. Lots of people have questions about the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court’s decision, and their health care coverage. We’ve pulled together the most useful information — including President Obama’s remarks after the announcement — at …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
The summer theater season is under way in Farmington, New Mexico, where performances are held in a natural sandstone amphitheater. This season, the main show is “Fiddler on the Roof.” Across the country, summer theaters will present a wide variety of musicals, comedy and dramatic productions under the stars, inside tents, and in converted barns and mills. Americans are increasingly enjoying going to live theater. The big Broadway shows draw more than 12 million people a year, while their road …
Hagan: Settlement to Help Protect Veterans from Deceptive Marketing by For-Profit Schools
Senator Hagan today joined Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway and other leaders from around the country to announce that QuinStreet, Inc. will turn over the website GIBill.com to the Department of Veterans Affairs and pay $2.5 million to the states involved as part of a consumer protection settlement with 20 state Attorneys General. North Carolina will receive $225,000 as a result of the settlement.
McCaul-Butterfield ‘Creating Hope Act’ Goes to the President for Approval
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Senate sent a bipartisan provision, authored by Congressmen G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), to the President for his signature into law. H.R. 3059, The Creating Hope Act of 2011, will incentivize pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs for children with rare pediatric diseases, such as childhood cancers and sickle cell. The Creating Hope Act was passed as Section 908 of S. 3187, which reauthorizes various Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fee …
N.C. Energy Office Wins Grant for Energy Efficiency Improvement Projects
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Energy Office has received a $532,134 U.S. Department of Energy grant to expand its award-winning Utility Savings Initiative to provide energy efficiency assistance to often overlooked or understaffed rural public school systems, community colleges and local governments. The grant will enable the Energy Office to work with eight public school districts, eight community colleges and six local governments to plan, implement and finance energy efficiency improvements to buildings and other public infrastructure. “Many of our …
Triangle Host to 4 Music Festivals This Weekend
This weekend, area music fans will be challenged with an abundance of opportunities: In four towns, multi-band bills and small festivals offer very different takes on nearby musical getaways. In Chapel Hill, there’s Buried Underground, a three-day spree of heaviness. In Carrboro, there’s Dirty South Fest, a one-night blast of touring punks and slam dances. In Durham, Motorco hosts the second Death to False Hope Fest, named for its organizer’s pay-what-you-please punk label. And in Raleigh, Big Boss Brewery welcomes …
Attorney General Roy Cooper Alert: Safe Summer Surfing
Students who attend traditional-calendar schools are out for the summer. For some youngsters, summertime can mean spending more time online, playing games or using social networks like Facebook. Kids may also use the computer to stay connected with their classmates. It’s a good time of year to remind young people, especially those who are relatively new to the online world, of some good safety tips: Don’t click on links you get in unsolicited emails. Don’t click on links in an …
VA Uranium Mining ‘Would Be a Huge Mistake’ for NC
Henderson, N.C. — As Virginia considers lifting a 30-year-old ban on uranium mining, some North Carolina residents have been crossing the border to share their concerns about the possible environmental effects on this state. Lifting the ban, which has been in place since 1982, would allow a Chatham, Va., company to tap into the nation’s largest undeveloped resource of uranium. The question is how that could impact Kerr Lake and surrounding bodies of water, which straddle both states. (read more)
Thursday Open Lines
Fifteen years ago this week, the first of a series of books was published in the United Kingdom — “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” published in the U.S. with the title “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” The books, written by J.K. Rowling, ended up breaking all known publishing records, selling 450 million copies and translated into more than 60 languages. Some critics have credited the series with sparking an increase in reading among juveniles. In addition, the seven …
Colorado Wild Fires Live Streams
A reader sent us some information on the Colorado wild fire situation. If you are interested in whats going on, or have friends and or family in the area, please check out these links: Live tv feed from a Colorado Springs tv station. Runs 24 hours no commercials. http://www.kktv.com/video/live If you have nothing except time this will give you the most information over time. Link to cams atop of Pikes Peak. http://www.springsgov.com/units/pikespeak/ Views change every five minutes. Link …
VGCC offers Administrative Assistant training at night
Vance-Granville Community College is currently registering students for an upcoming “Administrative Assistant Essentials” course, starting July 30 on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. The popular course that trains people for jobs in today’s computer-driven offices will meet Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m., through Dec. 6. Classes will meet in room 7136 of Building 7. Students will receive a total of 144 hours of instruction in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher, including practice projects …