VOLUME 1 ISSUE 13
SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016
WWW.NSJONLINE.COM
the Sunday NEWS BRIEFING
Jake Metz of Urbana, Ill., interacts with a sphere, which is part of the IDEO’s interactive sound installation “Play–Sound,” in Durham on May 19. The three-day MoogFest is held to celebrate the intersection of technology, art, music and ideas.
Tillis sponsors bill honoring fallen officers Washington The U.S. Senate passed a bi-partisan resolution this week designating May 15-21, 2016, as “National Police Week.” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) was among the cosponsors of the bill, which honors 123 law enforcement officers across the nation killed in the line of duty in 2015, including Inspector Robert James Bowling of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.
FDA introduces new food label guidelines Silver Spring, Md. On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced new food label regulations. Serving sizes will be adjusted to reflect how much people actually eat, and for the first time labels will list the amount of added corn syrup, white and brown sugar. Information about calories from fat will be removed because the type of fat is more important than the amount, the FDA said. About 20 percent of all package labels will be adjusted. Manufacturers will have until July 2018 to comply.
Maroon 5 cancels NC shows over H.B. 2; civil rights group supports McCrory Raleigh This week Maroon 5 joined the list of artists that have cancelled N.C. stops on their concert tours citing H.B. 2 as the reason. Meanwhile the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an AfricanAmerican civil rights organization, announced that it supports Gov. Pat McCrory and the bathroom bill. “This is a religious issue, where the U.S. government is attempting to force the people in North Carolina to change their spiritual and moral beliefs,” SCLC said in a statement.
Two Nigerian school girls found Abuja, Nigeria The first two of more than 200 schoolgirls held by Boko Haram militants from Chibok in northeast Nigeria for over two years has been found, a parent’s spokesman said on Wednesday. The first girl rescued, teenager Amina Ali, was found near the Sambisa forest by the border with Cameroon. The circumstances of their discovery have not yet to be officially confirmed.
CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL
NORTH
STATE
JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION
COAL ASH
DEQ sets deadlines for coal ash pond closures By Cory Lavalette North State Journal ROXBORO, N.C. — The view looking down on Mayo Lake is picturesque, with waterfowl soaring over the landscape and boats skipping across the blue surface of the tree-lined water. “Mayo Lake really is one of the best hidden gems,” Danielle Peoples said. There is no denying the beauty of this body of water tucked away in Person County. But what concerns many is what is right around the corner: Duke Energy’s Mayo Plant, home of one of the electric and gas company’s coal-fired facilities. The Mayo Plant facility includes one of 33 coal ash ponds the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) said Wednesday Duke Energy must excavate to ensure environmental safety and public health. At the same time, DEQ asked the North Carolina General Assembly to revisit the Coal Ash Management Act of 2014 (CAMA), which requires high risk ponds to be excavated by 2019 and intermediate risk ponds by 2024. Duke had already agreed to excavate the eight See COAL ASH, page A2
SUPREME COURT
NC justices hit the road for historic session By Donna King North State Journal MORGANTON, N.C. — The North Carolina Supreme Court makes history regularly, but this week they were upstaged by the rich history of the Burke County Courthouse. The justices held session there Tuesday and Wednesday for the first time since August of 1861. The building was constructed in 1835 and captured by northern forces in the Civil War. The session lasted two days and justices heard five cases. “It was a real treat and a privilege,” said Justice Bob Edmunds. “It was a chance to let people see what we do, and it fits neatly in with the Chief JusSee HISTORIC SESSION, page A8
Attendees enter the Burke County Courthouse in Morganton, N.C., for the May session of the Supreme Court of North Carolina on May 18.
800K estimated truckloads it would take to remove coal ash from just one of 33 coal ash ponds in the state.
KATIE BAILEY | FOR THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
BUDGET
NC House passes budget with teacher raises and tax cuts By Jeff Moore North State Journal RALEIGH — The North Carolina House of Representatives passed their version of the state budget on Thursday after two days of voting on proposed amendments. The 2016 Appropriations Act, H.B. 1030, contains raises for teachers and other state employees and increases the the standard income tax deduction. It now heads to the North Carolina Senate where appropriations committees are already working on their own substitute budget bill. “This bill does continue us on that path of progress in North Carolina,” said Senior Appropriations Chairman Rep. Nelson
INSIDE
Bulls’ Varona ventures back to Cuba B1 Get to know ECU’s Olympic hopeful B3 Sports Rev. Richard Joyner and his students are growing goodness by the bushel in Edgecombe County C1 the good life
CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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Steam rises from a smoke stack at Duke Energy’s Mayo Plant on May 1 in Roxboro, N.C.
It’s been 154 years since the N.C. Supreme Court heard cases in the historic Burke County Courthouse.
Dollar (R-Cary). The $22.225 billion budget would increase spending from last year by 2.3 percent, while leaving more than $128 million in unappropriated funds. It contains salary raises for most state employees, but in particular a raise for teachers up to about 5 percent of their salary, with an average raise of just more than 4 percent each. Teachers with more than 25 years experience would get 2 percent raises with $1,000 bonuses, while a teacher with less than five years experience would just get the bonus. The highest raises are in the 10- to 14-year experience level, a point where workforce analysts See BUDGET, page A8
Republican 2nd congressional district battle out ahead primary On Murphy to Manteo, page A5