North State Journal Vol. 146, Issue 52

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 52

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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2024

the

BRIEF this week

FAA funds $45 million in improvements at four airports Charlotte Gov. Roy Cooper and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced last week that four North Carolina airports are among those that will receive federal grants totalling nearly $1 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Airports in Charlotte, the Triangle, Wilmington and Spruce Pine were awarded a total of $45 million to enhance the passenger experience including new baggage systems, larger security checkpoints, increasing gate capacity, and modernizing aging infrastructure throughout terminals and ground transportation.

PHOTO VIA NCDA&CS

NSJ STAFF

Polls: Trump leads Biden in expected November presidential election Raleigh Former President Donald Trump leads President Joe Biden in a pair of polls that were released last week by East Carolina University and Fox News. The ECU poll found that Trump leads Biden 47% to 44%, with third-party candidates earning around 4% of the vote. In its poll, Fox News showed Trump 50% to Biden’s 45% in a head-to-head matchup. Including third-party candidates, Trump led Biden by 47% to 36%, with independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at 8%. Additionally, the ECU poll showed Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson with 57% and 53% of the vote in their respective gubernatorial primaries. “Unless there is an extraordinary shift in issues or events, Mark Robinson is very likely to be the Republican Party’s nominee for governor. It is also apparent that Josh Stein is all but certain to be the Democrats’ choice for governor,” said Dr. Peter Francia, Director of the ECU Center for Survey Research. NSJ STAFF

Capital One to buy Discover for $35 billion in deal that combines major credit card companies New York Capital One Financial said it will buy Discover Financial Services for $35 billion, in a deal that would bring together two of the nation’s credit card companies as well as potentially shake up the payments industry, which is largely dominated by Visa and Mastercard. The deal marries two of the largest credit card companies that aren’t banks first, like JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, with the notable exception of American Express. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PHOTO VIA NCDA&CS

Top, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler poses for a photo following the announcement of a year-round Midway Event Center at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Bottom left, in this 2022 photo, the Apex Lions Club was one of seven tenants at the Lunch Stand Building that is set to be torn down. Bottom right, a rendering provided by the N.C. Dept. of Agriculture depicts what the new building will look like when completed.

Troxler announces major upgrades at state fairgrounds New year-round dining and meeting complex is set to be built By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

Left-leaning NC organizations receive $1M in ‘civic engagement’ grants By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

Grants” were awarded to six national groups as well as multiple groups focus in three states; ArRALEIGH — The Katz Am- izona, Nevada and North Carosterdam Charitable Trust an- lina. One million dollars in grants nounced $3.55 million in “civic engagement grants” in late have been awarded to six 2023. Per the news release, groups in North Carolina, all grantees were chosen for their of which are all progressive and work “focusing on increasing left-leaning organizations that include Blueprint NC, voter access in comknown for its leaked munities of color, “attack memo” issued with an emphasis on to its coalition memvoter registration and “We are bers which outlined education.” committed directives to “cripple,” “We are commit“slam,” and “eviscerted to funding orga- to funding nizations that help organizations ate” elected Republican officials in the close racial gaps in state a decade ago. voter participation, that help North Carolina reso we can move to- close racial cipients include: wards the promise We Are Down of a multiracial and gaps in voter inclusive democra- participation, Home – $250,000 for impacting “communicy,” Vail Resorts CEO so we can ty change by increasand co-founder of the Katz Amsterdam move towards ing voter registration Foundation Rob Katz the promise of in rural communities of color and addresssaid in the news reing the disinformation lease. “These civic en- a multiracial and voter disenfrangagement grants are and inclusive chisement.” focused on increasing Blueprint North voter participation to democracy.” Carolina – $200,000 help build communifor Convening “41 orty power and address Vail Resorts ganizations to provide the concerted voter CEO and cotraining and resource suppression tactics founder of the sharing to advocate that threaten to de- Katz Amsterdam for their communities stabilize the foundaFoundation Rob and advance equity tion of our democraKatz and social justice.” cy.” North Carolina This is the eighth Asian Americans Toyear Katz Amsterdam has awarded such grants, gether – $200,000 for fosterwith funding totaling more ing “community among Asian Americans and allies in North than $56 million. The grants support civic en- Carolina through civic engagegagement and provide “fund- ment, leadership development, ing focused on improving com- grassroots mobilization and pomunity-developed behavioral litical participation.” Southern Coalition for Sohealth services for communities of color and reproductive cial Justice – $200,000 for supjustice.” The “Civic Engagement See KATZ, page A2

way Event Center is completed, it will become a hub for lunch options and after work gatherings, weekend brunch dates and quick business meetings,” Troxler said in a press release. “It will become a neighborhood meeting spot and a place where friends can enjoy time together before heading out to another event in the area.” With indoor and patio seating available year-round, visitors would be able to sample the food hall offerings by utilizing year-round indoor and patio seating. During the State Fair, the venue will showcase fair food classics and venue plans include multiple event spaces, ideal for hosting meetings, gatherings, and smaller events throughout the year. The fairgrounds sees some 350 events annually, per Troxler’s office.

RALEIGH — At a press conference on Feb. 12, North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler unveiled plans to modernize the state fairgrounds and add year-round dining options. While still in the developmental phase, the Midway Event Center concept art shared by Troxler’s office envisions a glass-windowed structure with two floors that will feature a “multi-vendor” food hall. No timeline or budget has been set as of yet, however, the future space is estimated at around 32,000 square-feet. “We believe once the Mid- See FAIRGROUNDS, page A2

Superintendent: Legislature needs to act on math achievement By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — At a Feb. 12 meeting of the House Select Committee on Education Reform, State Superintendent Catherine Truitt urged for lawmaker action on student math achievement. Truitt and Deputy Superintendent Michael Maher gave a presentation to the committee outlining key points to increase proficiency in math and increase application of math in classrooms, as well as generate more student interest in the subject. The presentation’s title slide states, “It is past time to change the narrative to: “Math is for everyone” and “All kids are math kids.” “We will need to legislate some of these requirements because when we’re hurting students we need to change the law,” Truitt told lawmakers. “We know what the problems are. We know how to fix them. We will be looking to you all to partner with us in the short session to get this done.”

Truitt’s proposal starts with shaping up Math I by implementing 60 minutes of daily, grade-level math instruction from Kindergarten to 8th grade, using effective and aligned instructional materials, making sure board policies support educators with necessary resources, and keeping both parents and students updated on progress made. A list of strategies to accomplish those goals were also part of the presentation, as were updates on the next round of revisions to the state’s math standards with the review phase beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Truitt’s plan includes use of Patterns for Reaching & Impacting Students in Math See MATH, page A3

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