WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today announced that the U.S. Department of Education has granted continued funding for programs that support underserved students at three colleges in North Carolina’s First Congressional District. The grants will fund Upward Bound programs at Elizabeth City State University, Chowan University and Wilson Community College. “Upward Bound has enriched the academic development of many deserving students throughout the state of North Carolina,” said Butterfield. “I applaud the Department of Education for helping …
Infographic: How Refinancing Can Help Families
Last Friday, the Treasury Department posted this infographic to their blog and we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss it. Today, millions of Americans who are current on their mortgage payments cannot refinance at historically-low interest rates. The President is proposing legislation that would allow more homeowners to refinance. Under the President’s plan, they would have two refinancing options. Click the below graphic to see the full size:
Tuesday Open Lines
Women in military uniform serving in dangerous areas of the world are no longer a cause for surprise. It all started this week in 1942, when an act of Congress made it possible for women to enlist for noncombat duties in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. Its members were called “WACS.” At the time, only single women could join and they were prohibited from either smoking while walking or chewing gum in public. By 1978, women were integrated into the …
NCDOT awards $3 million to improve 10 bridges over I-85 in Granville and Durham counties
RALEIGH — A $3 million contract has been awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation to improve 10 bridges over I-85 between Durham and Oxford. Taylor & Murphy Construction Company Inc. of Asheville was the low bidder for work on eight bridges in Granville County and two in Durham County. Preservation work is scheduled in Granville County for bridges on: Gate #2 (Exit 189); N.C. 56 (Exit 191); U.S. 15 (Exit 202); N.C. 96 (Exit 204); U.S. 158 (Exit 206); …
Two Local High Schools Ranked by U.S. News and World Report
According to the U.S. News and World Report magazine’s website (www.usnews.com), Northern Vance and Southern Vance high schools rank among the top 73 high schools in North Carolina, based on criteria used by the magazine to review almost 22,000 high schools in 49 states (Nebraska not included). According to the website, the two local high schools are “bronze” designees in the rankings with gold as best, silver as second best and bronze as third best in the ranking categories. A …
State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison: Republican Leader Would Eliminate 5,400 More School Employees
Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger’s opposition to replacing federal “EduJobs” funds set to expire next year would mean the elimination of an additional 5,400 school employees across the state. In an interview on Wednesday, Senator Berger called replacing those federal EduJobs funds with state funds “the wrong approach.”[1] Senator Berger apparently believes that we should cut 5,400 more jobs from North Carolina schools. Superintendents, teachers and parents across North Carolina have said for months that our schools need more …
Butterfield Introduces “Talk Before You Toll Act of 2012”
WASHINGTON, DC, – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) has introduced H.R. 5713, the Talk Before You Toll Act of 2012, which would ensure that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) fully consider public opposition to tolling of Interstate 95 in North Carolina. The bill would require the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and FHWA to make public opinion the top criteria before implementing tolls. Under the bill, the FHWA would also be …
Senator Richard Burr Message
May is Military Appreciation Month and serves as an important reminder of all those who have sacrificed for our country. In honor of this month, I encourage you to make an extra effort to thank our nation’s soldiers for their courageous service. On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet with the Blue Star Families, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting military families as they tackle the unique challenges they must face when their loved ones are fighting overseas …
Monday Open Line
Tonight hosts a city council meeting, and a board of education meeting, we’ve already posted the full agendas up on the articles on Friday. President Obama is calling on Democrats and Republicans to come together and act on his Congressional “to-do list,” which will create jobs and help restore middle class security. In this make-or-break moment for the middle class, these five initiatives have bipartisan support and will help create an economy that is built to last. Check this weeks Weekly Address below: …
White House Women’s Update: Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day to you and yours! Yesterday, the President released a presidential proclamation to celebrate the special role mothers play as cornerstones of our families and our communities, and on Thursday, First Lady, Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a Mother’s Day Tea for military families in the East Room of the White House and we hosted a Twitter Chat with the leadership of MomsRising.org, Mocha Moms, and Mamiverse – who were joined by their children and parents. Additionally, please …
N.C. Special Olympics Law-Enforcement Torch Run
The N.C. Special Olympics Law-Enforcement Torch Run will be held Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at 9:00 A.M. The run will start at the Henderson Police Department located at 200 Breckenridge Street. Officers from the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and the District Attorney’s Office, will be participating in the event. The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is an international series of relays by law enforcement officers to raise money for …
For the First Time, VGCC to Broadcast Live Video of Graduation Ceremony on College’s Web Site May 11th
Today, Friday, May 11 at 6:00 p.m., Vance-Granville Community College will broadcast a live video feed for VGCC’s 2012 graduation ceremony on the College’s Web site at www.vgcc.edu. This will be the first time that a VGCC graduation ceremony has been streamed live via the Internet. To view the graduation ceremony, visitors to the Web site will simply scroll down to the “spotlight” area on the right side of the page and click on the graduation graphic to start the …
City of Henderson City Council Meeting May 14th, 2012
The City of Henderson will hold a City Council Meeting May 14th, 2012 in City Hall at 6:00pm. Download the full agenda here: 20120514_coh_meeting_packet
Vance County Board of Education Meeting May 14th
Vance County Board of Education will meet on Monday, May 14th, 2012 in the Administrative Services Center. Download the full agenda here: 20120514_vcboe_agenda_packet
VGCC graduate’s career brings her back to speak to students
A Vance-Granville Community College graduate recently returned to the college’s Franklin County Campus to provide current students with information on domestic violence and related issues. Renale Williams Giles, who graduated from VGCC with an associate degree in Human Services Technology in 2005, now works for Safe Space, Inc. as an advocate for children and victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. She said that career came about because of her college education. “VGCC opened the door for me, because while …
Representative Michael H. Wray’s Raleigh Report
Gov. Perdue released her proposed budget today. While I do not agree with every item in her plan, the governor and do I agree on her priorities for our state: education, jobs, economic development and appreciation for our military. Her budget would increase education spending in North Carolina by $785 million instead of continuing to shortchange our children as the legislative majority did this year. As I prepare for the legislative session that begins Wednesday, I want to share some …
Governor’s Budget: The Impact on NC Children
From: Action for Children North Carolina Governor Perdue’s 2012-13 budget proposal, released this morning, makes the children of North Carolina a clear priority. Particularly in education and early education, the budget restores some of the cuts made last year, by proposing a three-fourths of a cent sales tax increase, a temporary measure that was eliminated by the General Assembly in 2011. K-12 Education In K-12 education, the Governor’s budget proposes an eight percent ($562 million) increase over the 2012-13 budget …
President Obama Supports Same-Sex Marriage
This week, in an interview with ABC News, President Obama said, “I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.” With that one statement, he made it clear that he believes that it’s wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships from getting married. Obviously, the President has spent time giving this issue serious consideration, and his view has been shaped by conversations with his family, his friends, neighbors, and the people who work with him at …
Tourism interests become U.S. priority with first National Travel and Tourism Strategy
The Obama Administration gave a tremendous boost to the tourism industry today by making tourism interests a national priority in the first-ever National Travel and Tourism Strategy. The Administration’s action recognizes travel and tourism as making a critical contribution to the U.S. economy and provides an opportunity to establish travel and tourism as fundamental to America’s prosperity. Since the job recovery began, the tourism industry has created more than 260,000 new jobs, far outpacing job growth in the rest of …
Investing in Our Future: Gov. Perdue’s 2012-13 Budget Proposal
Friends, I’m writing to let you know that I introduced my 2012-13 budget proposal today. The budget is focused on “Investing in Our Future,” and I highlighted three areas: (1) investing in education; (2) investing in jobs; and (3) standing up for those who serve our nation. You can watch a video I recorded about my proposal and find more details about it at www.InvestingInOurFuture.nc.gov or view it below: I hope you will call your legislator, remind your family, and …