VOLUME 9 ISSUE 26 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2024
NSJONLINE.COM
the
BRIEF this week
Stein files appeal in Smithfield Foods settlement Raleigh North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is appealing a July ruling ordering his department to remit funds collected from a lawsuit settlement to schools instead of projects and organizations picked by Stein. Special Deputy Attorney General Matthew Tulchin filed the appeal on behalf of Stein on Aug. 15. Last month, Wake County Superior Court Judge A. Graham Shirley ruled money collected in the Smithfield Foods settlement must be appropriated by the General Assembly and used for environmental enhancement in public schools. The ruling applies to funds received after July 1, 2019. That date was chosen as it corresponds to the year North Carolina was changed to dictate such settlements be deposited in the state treasury. The money in question is from an agreement made in 2000 between Smithfield Foods and then-Attorney General Mike Easley after the company’s hog waste pits overflowed due to the impact of Hurricane Floyd. Smithfield was ordered to pay $2 million annually for 25 years. The settlement funds were placed under the control of the North Carolina attorney general’s office, which critics said amounted to a slush fund that allowed the attorney general to pick groups or projects for environmental grants with no oversight. Stein’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the appeal.
NC-based soldier indicted for lying about anti-government group Raleigh An active-duty soldier based at Fort Liberty has been indicted on charges of having lied to military authorities about his association with a group that advocated overthrowing the U.S. government and of trafficking firearms. Kai Liam Nix, 20, who is stationed at Fort Liberty, made his first federal court appearance Monday on the four criminal counts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina said in a news release. A grand jury returned the indictment against Nix — also known as Kai Brazelton — Aug. 14, and he was arrested the next day, the release said. Nix faces a maximum of 30 years in prison if convicted.
PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville on Aug. 13.
Whatley lays out Trump’s economic plan The former NCGOP head, now chairing the national party, attacked Kamala Harris’ record
Local Government Commission approves $736M in projects The projects include stormwater management, affordable housing and critical infrastructure needs By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The North Carolina Local Government Commission approved dozens of projects totaling around $736 million at its August meeting. Projects greenlit by the Local Government Commission (LGC) ranged from stormwater management and affordable housing to funding for critical
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal
infrastructure and community development. State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who chairs the LGC, emphasized the commission’s role in ensuring fiscal responsibility. “Our duty is to carefully examine each proposal to ensure that the amount borrowed is both adequate and reasonable for the proposed projects, and that the governmental units can afford to repay the debt,” Folwell stated. The largest piece of funding approved was for Charlotte, securing $205 million in revenue bonds for stormwater projects to fortify the city’s defenses
KNIGHTDALE — National Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley outlined former President Donald Trump’s economic plan in front of a crowd at Prime Barbecue in Knightdale last Friday. The event in Wake County followed Trump’s rally in Asheville earlier in the week where he announced that under his leadership, the U.S. “will commit to the ambitious goal of slashing energy and electricity prices by half, at least. We intend to slash prices by half within 12 months, at a maximum 18 months.” Joining Whatley at the event were NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons and Prime Barbecue owner Fred Von Canon. The restaurant’s assistant general manager, Sam Floyd also spoke, endorsing Trump’s no tax on tips plan, saying it would “put money in their pockets.” Floyd described the financial strain his family was experiencing paying their bills under the current administration with two young children in the house and grocery costs “going through the roof.” Simmons opened formal remarks by stating Trump’s economic policies will “lower taxes, reduce regulations and to be able to spur economic development by unleashing America’s energy independence.” He characterized
See LGC, page A2
See WHATLEY, page A3
“All of a sudden, she’s starting to change her positions on a number of these issues.” National Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley on Vice President Kamala Harris
Recreational flounder season will happen — briefly and with limits “It’s a shame that it’s all we’re getting this year, but it’s better than nothing.” Brian Cope, edtior of Carolina Sportsman. com
The reversal will allow anglers to keep one fish daily on four days in September By Abby Cavenaugh North State Journal RALEIGH — Recreational anglers will be able to catch and keep flounder this year after all with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission recent approval of a temporary amendment to the flounder rule to allow for a recreational season. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) approved the amendment at its July 25 business meeting, and it was subsequently approved by the N.C. Rules Review Commission on
July 31. “Under this modification,” a press release from NCWRC explained, “the 2024 flounder season will be open in inland fishing waters and in joint fishing waters for hook and line fishing only on Sept. 1 and 2, and again on Sept. 7 and 8. The daily creel limit is one fish with a minimum size limit of 15 inches.” The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMFhad stated earlier this year that the recreational flounder harvest season would not open in 2024 due to the recreational sector exceeding the 2023 harvest allotment last year. According to the NCWRC press release, dated Aug. 7, “after reviewing and considering the available data and public comments, the NCWRC adopted amendments to provide a lim-
ited 2024 flounder season that balances the needs of the resource and the public.” The designations for inland and joint fishing waters can be found online at ncpaws.org/ ncwrcmaps/FishingAreas. In the Coastal Region, inland waters are shown with no color, joint waters are outlined in red and coastal waters are outlined in blue. Though this information was shared in the NCWRC’s press release, Brian Cope, edSee FLOUNDER, page A2
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