VOLUME 9 ISSUE 18 | THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024
NSJONLINE.COM
inside The NBA and NHL will both hold their drafts this week, and both present opportunity for the Hornets, who have the sixth overall pick, and the Hurricanes, who will be at The Sphere in Las Vegas for the two-day draft. See more in Sports.
JAMES SCHAEFFER / LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL VIA AP
the
House, Senate offer budget adjustment bills
BRIEF this week
Plea agreement with U.S. would free Assange Melbourne, Australia The U.S. Justice Department said in a court filing that Julian Assange, pursued for years over WikiLeaks’ publication of a trove of classified documents, had left a London prison and was expected to plead guilty to a charge under the Espionage Act. If a judge accepts the agreement, he could be freed and return to his home country of Australia. A plane chartered by Assange landed Tuesday in Bangkok as he heads to the Northern Mariana Islands, where he was expected to appear in a U.S. federal court on Wednesday. He is expected to plead guilty to a charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified national defense information, the U.S. Justice Department said in a letter filed in court. Assange is expected to return to Australia if a judge accepts the plea agreement.
Apple pausing work on RTP campus Cupertino, Calif. Apple’s plan to build a sprawling campus in Research Triangle Park is on hold, though the tech powerhouse says it is still committed to building the half-billion-dollar facility. Apple told Triangle Business Journal that it is working with the state’s Department of Commerce and Gov. Roy Cooper to push the project’s timeline out four years. The state approved a package of $846 billion in incentives in 2021 to lure Apple to North Carolina. “Apple has been operating in North Carolina for over two decades. And we’re deeply committed to growing our teams here,” the company said in a statement. “In the last three years, we’ve added more than 600 people to our team in Raleigh, and we’re looking forward to developing our new campus in the coming years.” The $552 million campus is expected to create at least 2,700 jobs, and Cooper is confident the plans will still move forward. “I have spoken with officials at Apple and they emphasized their commitment to build this transformative campus here in North Carolina,” Cooper said in a statement.
The House plan has $31.7 billion in adjustments, while the Senate’s has $31.4 billion
Folwell’s use of vehicles being investigated The inquiry follows the hit-and-run indictment of former state auditor Beth Wood The Associated Press RALEIGH — North Carolina law enforcement officials are investigating the potential improper use of state vehicles by state Treasurer Dale Folwell, according to a local prosecutor and records. State investigators launched a probe in March after a spot check conducted by the Department of Administration’s Motor Fleet Management division flagged some 2022 trips, WRAL-TV reported on June 19. At least three state vehicles operated by Folwell traveled to medical offices, a country club, fast-food offices, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville and Republican Party offices, WRAL reported, citing a search warrant application filed last week in Wake County. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said she asked the State Bureau of Investigation to probe Folwell’s use of state vehicles. “As with all cases involving
public officials, it is important that the public be able to trust that these sorts of matters are appropriately scrutinized,” Freeman said in a written statement. “We are at the beginning of what is a standard review.” Folwell, a Republican who has served as treasurer since 2017, has not been charged with any crimes. State vehicles are only supposed to be used for state business or approved commuting. Folwell told WRAL that he hadn’t seen search warrants, but that he believed he was compliant with state guidelines and that the trips would be considered approved use of a state vehicle. “But I’m not perfect,” he said. “We have provided pages of documentation throughout the course of this review,” Folwell said in a statement released the same night as the WRAL report. “We look forward to continuing to cooperate (with Motor Fleet Management) to satisfactorily resolve this issue.” Folwell is not seeking reelection this fall. He made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for govSee FOLWELL, page A2
proud that this budget has received bipartisan support in our chamber.” The same day the House approved its version, the Senate released its own $31.4 By A.P. Dillon billion proposal through a preNorth State Journal ferred committee substitute for House Bill 317. It is just 46 pagRALEIGH — Both cham- es compared to the 271-page bers of the General Assembly House plan. have issued their budget adjustSenate Leader Phil Bergment proposals but disagree er (R-Eden) previously said the about the amount of spending Senate was not in agreement and from what state with drawing from reserves that spendstate reserve funds ing will come. and the $1.4 billion The state current- “We have surplus for budget ly has a $1 billion adjustments, expanprojected surplus agreed to sions or “pork” projover the next fiscal dip into the ects. year. “The Senate has The House un- reserves, but tried to work someveiled its $31.7 bil- not nearly to thing out with the lion budget adjust- the tune of House,” Berger said ments proposal during a press avail(House Bill 286) on the House, ability on June 18 beJune 17, which will and we’ve only fore the issuance of head through comthe Senate’s proposmittees and a floor done that to al. “We have agreed vote this week to try to get a to dip into the resend it to the Senserves, but not nearate. The House ap- deal, and they ly to the tune of the proved its version continue to House, and we’ve on June 19 following want to spend only done that to try approval of nine out to get a deal, and of 20 amendments way too much they continue to offered. want to spend way money.” “The House budtoo much money.” get funds critical Senate Leader Berger added the needs like child care, Phil Berger Senate is planning Opportunity Schol- (R-Eden) to head home at the arships, and raisend of June “unless es for our teachsomething changes ers and state employees,” said drastically.” House Speaker Tim Moore in A two-year budget was ena statement following the June acted last year, so the adjust19 vote. “I’m confident that ments bill does not necessarily this fiscally responsible bud- have to pass. If no agreement is get strikes the right balance of reached, the previous budget’s conservative spending and pri- spending will stand and standoritizing our needs in (President Joe) Biden’s economy. I am See BUDGET, page A2
Bill amendment adds regulation on vape products The proposed change, which was criticized by lobbyists, would inact directory and certification mandates By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — During a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on June 19, an amendment to House Bill 900 was approved that would create a comprehensive regulatory and certification process for alternative nicotine and vapor products in North Carolina to be overseen by the Department of Revenue. The amendment was later approved by the committee as a preferred committee substitute (PCS) to House Bill 900. The PCS was sent to the Rules and Operations of the Senate which approved the measure the same day. Sen. Mike Lee (R-New Ha-
nover) introduced the 10-page amendment, describing it as “somewhat complicated” because it has a “federal overlay” with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) process for regulating new tobacco products. “But the amendment’s really simple because what it does in North Carolina is it creates a certification process and that certification process dovetails on the FDA approval,” Lee said during the committee meeting. “It’s managed by the Department of Revenue, and then once they’re certified, they’re listed on a directory” Lee explained the directory would protect kids and others by allowing stores to check the list to see if their products are approved or not. If they’re not approved, stores have some time to sell what they have left or send it back. After that, they can’t sell these products any-
An amendment tacked onto an N.C. House Bill would create a regulatory and certification process for vaping and other alternative nicotine products. TED SHAFFREY / AP PHOTO
more. He also said companies that break these rules will get “hefty fines.” Fines mentioned in the amendment include civil penalties of up to $10,000 per product for manufacturers vioSee VAPE, page A8
$2.00