RALEIGH – The option to place local calls using 7-digits in the current 919 area code will end March 30, 2012. Beginning March 31, 2012, all local calls in the current 919 area code must be placed using the 10-digit telephone number (919 or 984 plus the 7-digit local telephone number). Customers having automatic dialing equipment, including alarm or security systems, abbreviated dialing, or a PBX system, should make the necessary changes to accommodate mandatory 10-digit dialing including, if necessary, …
Representative Michael H. Wray’s Raleigh Report
The full General Assembly is set to return to session in February, but in the meantime we remain busy with interim committee meetings and budget discussions. In addition, I am active here at home in support of our community. An Appropriations Committee comprised of both House and Senate members met this week to get updates on the state’s budget. Committee members learned that Gov. Perdue and her administration helped North Carolina win one of nine federal grants for pre-kindergarten programs. …
Butterfield Calls for Hearing on Merger of Two Pharmacy Benefit Management Companies
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (D-NC), Ranking Member of the House Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, today sent a letter to Subcommittee Chairman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) requesting a hearing to review the potential impact of a proposed merger between Express Scripts Inc. (ESI) and Medco Health Solutions Inc., two of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies. In his letter Butterfield wrote, “Given the enormity of the proposed merger and its potential to threaten fair and …
First Aviation Pleased to Call North Carolina Long-Term Home
RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Piedmont Propulsion Systems LLC, a leader in military, regional airline and general aviation turboprop overhaul and repair, will expand in Forsyth County. The company plans to create 25 jobs and invest more than $1.6 million during the next three years in Winston-Salem. The project was made possible in part by a $50,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. “My top priority is creating jobs,” Gov. Perdue said. “We have been able …
NC Expects Positive Effects From U.S. Tourism Initiatives
RALEIGH — The North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development applauded Thursday’s initiatives by President Barack Obama to boost international tourism. “We’ve been actively positioning North Carolina as a preferred international travel destination for nearly 20 years,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco. “Attracting international visitors to North Carolina is very important because they tend to stay longer and spend more of their money at North Carolina businesses.” The President’s initiatives, which include national parks promotion, increased tourist …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
On Thursday, January 19th, the President traveled to Disney World where he unveiled a strategy that will significantly help boost tourism and travel, an important sector in the U.S. economy. We’re asking Americans across the country to add their voices to the discussion on tourism in the U.S. and share what makes their city or town a great place visit. Use the form below to tell us what’s great about where you live. If you’re on Twitter, you can also use the …
SECU Teams with the North Carolina Department of Revenue and Office of State Personnel to Enhance and Promote Tax Debt Payment Program
As North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announces a new Individual Income Tax Debt Relief Program, State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) is teaming up with the North Carolina Department of Revenue and the Office of State Personnel to get the word out about another special advantage for SECU members — an Individual Income Tax Debt Payment Loan. State Employees’ Credit Union will offer qualifying members a 5% loan to repay unresolved balances, generating tremendous overall savings for these members and allowing …
Thursday Open Lines
There’s been a lot of emphasis lately on making houses that are more energy efficient — with better insulation, windows that seal out heat and cold and better weather stripping. Many feature the use of solar panels to capture the natural heat of the sun. The first house in America with solar heating and radiation cooling was built by Raymond Bliss and opened this week in 1955 in Tucson, Arizona. A large, slanting slab of steel and glass converted sunlight …
Felon Arrested with Firearm
Rodriquez Crudup On January 13, 2011 members of the Henderson Police Department were conducting patrols in the area of America’s Best Value Inn, 200 Parham Road, when the officers located suspicious activity. Upon conducting their investigation officer’s located a firearm on Rodriquez Crudup, 25, of 707 Champion Street, Henderson. Mr. Crudup was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm by felon. Mr. Crudup received a $40,000 secured bond pending a court hearing on February …
Perdue Pushes To Temporarily Restore Three-Quarters Of The One-Cent Sales Tax To Stop Deep and Unnecessary Cuts to Schools
Gov. Perdue today issued the following statement regarding her plan for the future of North Carolina schools. “Education has always been part of the fabric of who we are as a people in North Carolina and it’s the key to our future. We must stop the deep and unnecessary cuts that are going on in North Carolina’s schools. That’s why I’m for temporarily restoring three-quarters of the one-cent sales tax that the Republican-controlled General Assembly eliminated and for dedicating those …
How Senator Hagan’s Office Can Help With Federal Agencies
As your United States Senator, my staff and I are responsible for helping North Carolinians navigate the complex federal bureacracy. Our “constituent services” take many forms—we help resolve issues with agencies such as the VA and IRS, facilitate the passport process, nominate our state’s best and brightest students to our nation’s service academies, offer my support for federal grant applications, and assist those affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Irene. Often times, we are contacted by people who have …
Wednesday Open Line
Did anybody see the Mystery Machine in town today? What do you think they’re investigating? Today, some websites will be going offline in a show of protest against new bills curretly in talks SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) aimed at combating online piracy. Wikipedia joins sites like MoveOn, Reddit, BoingBoing, Mozilla, WordPress, TwitPic and the ICanHasCheezBurger network. Google, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr will not be joining the day of protest, however, all have expressed their …
Oxford Police Need Your Help In Identifying Suntrust Bank Robber From Tuesday
If you have any information regarding the robbery please call the Oxford NC Crime Stoppers at (919) 693-3100
Tuesday Open Line
Raleigh Tops List of America’s Healthiet Cities for Women. Scrutinising the stats across the U.S. is Women’s Health magazine, who has compiled its latest healthiest cities for women list, naming Raleigh, North Carolina as the best place to live as a woman. Combining a wide selection of health, wellbeing and social factors across 30 categories including how often they visited doctors and obesity rates, the magazine crunched the numbers from 100 cities. (Read more) How ‘Healthy’ is Henderson? We have …
Martin Luther King Jr’s I Have A Dream Speech
Here we have the video and transcription of Martin Luther King Jr’s, famous speech. I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in …
Phony Cops Are Scamming Business Owners
A Wake County restaurant has fallen victim to a scam that targets employers. The Bonefish Grill in Cary received a call from someone claiming to be a law officer. The phony cop identified an employee at the restaurant by name, saying the employee had been arrested for driving while impaired. He relayed a request from the employee, asking the restaurant to wire money for bail. The phony cop was convincing and in an effort to assist its employee the restaurant …
National Service Participants to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through Service
National service participants across North Carolina will celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by volunteering their time to help others on Monday, Jan. 16. Members will help distribute food, collect books and educate children about the legacy of Dr. King. Gov. Bev Perdue signed a proclamation today in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. “Dr. King’s message of peace, racial equality, social justice and service embodied the spirit of his dream for all Americans,” said …
Gov. Perdue extends unemployment benefits for 25,000
Gov. Perdue this week signed Executive Order 113, which extended unemployment benefits for 25,000 unemployed North Carolinians. The flow of federal dollars to struggling families will benefit all North Carolinians. “In addition to providing desperately needed financial help to the families that actually receive the benefits, these federal dollars will help all North Carolinians because the money will circulate throughout the economy and help support large and small businesses across the state,” Gov. Perdue said. “To be clear, were able …
VGCC offers Administrative Assistant training
Vance-Granville Community College is currently registering students for an upcoming “Administrative Assistant Essentials” course, starting Feb. 13 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 through Friday from 9 a.m. until Noon, through May 4. Students will receive a total of 177 hours of instruction in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher 2007, including practice projects that utilize key features of the those programs. The …
Monday Open Line
Sunday, January 15th. Dr. Martin Luther King would be 83 years old. The civil rights leader, minister, and recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize was born in 1929 and assassinated in 1968. Monday is a federal holiday honoring his memory and marking his long fight for equality for everyone through nonviolent means. King’s hopes for America’s future were embodied in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. Today, America’s diverse population continues to work toward King’s …