Legislature approves cuts in unemployment benefits

(WRAL) North Carolina legislators agreed Wednesday to cut payments to future jobless workers and raise business taxes to hasten repayment of $2.5 billion owed to the federal government because the state couldn’t keep up with benefit requests during the recession.

The Republican-controlled Senate’s 36-12 vote in favor of the state unemployment system overhaul sends the changes to Gov. Pat McCrory for his signature. Several liberal-leaning groups have urged McCrory to veto the bill, but he has said he supports the plan.

“We’re going to pay down that debt, make the system solvent and provide an economic climate that allows businesses, large and small, to put people back to work,” McCrory said in a statement after the final vote.

Maximum weekly benefits would fall more than one-third — from $535 to $350 — for new jobless claims starting July 1. The maximum number of benefit weeks would fall from 26 weeks to a sliding scale of 12 to 20 weeks.

The bill, which already passed the GOP-controlled House last week, also means federal emergency extended benefits approved by Congress in January are poised to expire in North Carolina six months early, in July. The federal law directs extended benefits be canceled in states that modify benefits.

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Federal labor official criticizes N.C. move to cut jobless benefits

(Journal Now) The acting U.S. Labor Department secretary called out North Carolina legislators Monday, saying that their action to cut state jobless benefits will cause “a grievous blow” to the state’s middle class through forfeiting $780 million in unemployment insurance funds during the second half of 2013.

Seth Harris issued his statement as N.C. legislators, the bulk being Republican representatives, have stated their willingness to go it alone in the country in passing on federal extended unemployment insurance benefits this year for a quicker swing of the ax on $2.5 billion owed to the federal agency.

House Bill 4 cleared the state House mostly along party lines last week. The N.C. Senate will discuss today, and potentially vote, on its equivalent of the bill.

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Unemployment overhaul moves forward in NC legislature

(Raleigh News Observer) A top-to-bottom makeover of the state’s unemployment system took a major step forward Tuesday when the Republican-backed bill won preliminary approval in the Senate by a 36-13 margin.

The measure, which was approved by the House last week over the objections of Democrats who complain it hurts jobless workers by significantly cutting their benefits, is scheduled to get its final vote by the Senate on Wednesday. Gov. Pat McCrory has said he will sign it into law.

Backed by the politically potent N.C. Chamber, the bill was inspired by the $2.5 billion the state owes the federal government, money it began borrowing to cover the first 26 weeks of jobless benefits when unemployment soared during the recession. The state continues to borrow money, about $25 million a week, to cover those benefits.

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Lancaster Woman Facing Charges For Allowing Toddler To Pump Gas

(CBS Philly) Police say a Pennsylvania woman has been charged because she allowed her 3-year-old son to handle a gasoline pump, and the child sprayed fuel onto himself.

Manheim Township Police said Tuesday they filed a charge of endangering the welfare of a child against 46-year-old Theresa Moran Camera, of Lancaster.

Police say they were called to a supermarket on Jan. 19 and determined the boy removed the nozzle from the vehicle without releasing the handle.

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Local Expert: ‘Sleep Texting’ Is Growing Problem Among Teens

(CBS Philly) Teenagers are prolific texters. But now’s there’s evidence that they are even doing it in their sleep.

It’s called sleep texting.

“It’s just what you’d think it is, it’s texting while asleep,” says Elizabeth Dowdell, nursing professor at Villanova University, “It’s exactly what is sounds like, or really more between that, you know, that area between being asleep and being awake.”

“The phone will beep, they’ll answer the text,” Dowdell says. “They’ll either respond in words or gibberish. (It) can even be inappropriate. Ex-girlfriends contacting ex-boyfriends, saying ‘I miss you. I want to see you.’ The thing that happens, though, is that when they wake up, there’s no memory.”

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Haywood Democrats won’t consider Republican for sheriff replacement

(Smoky Mountain News) Lt. Bill Wilke, a district commander with the Asheville Police Department, isn’t in the running. The reason: Wilke is a Republican, and the job of picking the next sheriff lies with Democrats.

“We have to nominate a Democrat,” said Janie Benson, chairwoman of the Haywood Democratic Executive Committee, citing state party rules.

The job of picking a replacement for retiring Sheriff Bobby Suttles falls to the local Democratic Party since Suttles is himself a Democrat. Suttles had two years to go in his term.

In his application, Wilke had urged Democratic Party leaders to consider his qualifications and not his party affiliation, and was disappointed he was ruled out.

“The process, quite obviously, is not open and democratic,” Wilke said in a statement.

In his comment, Wilke announced his plans to run for Haywood County sheriff in 2014. Wilke ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in 2010. Suttles defeated him by 7 percent.

“Our campaign for the Sheriff’s Office starts now, and I am confident that I will be elected in 2014,” Wilke said. As sheriff, my first order of business is to take the politics out of the Office so we can get down to the business of keeping our communities safe and prosperous.”

The two remaining candidates vying for Suttles’ seat are Chief Deputy Larry Bryson, 57, of the Haywood Sheriffs Office and Lt. Greg Christopher, 51, with the N.C. Highway Patrol.

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About Us Resources Send Tips Donate RSS CNSNews.TV On the Spot On the Scene The Schein OTJ Golden Hookah 65.4 Million Gun Purchases Since Obama Took Office, 91% More Than Bush’s First-Term Total

(CNSNews) There have been 65,376,373 background checks completed for Americans purchasing firearms since February of 2009, the first full month of Barack Obama’s presidency.

According to data compiled by the FBI, the number of Americans purchasing guns has skyrocketed since Obama was elected.

In 2009, there were 13,984,953 background checks for Americans buying firearms. If we subtract the 1,212,860 checks completed in the month of January, the total checks for the year under Obama were 12,772,090.

For 2010, background checks totaled 14,320,489. In 2011, checks were 16,336,732, and in 2012, 19,463,832. Background checks for the month of January 2013 were 2,483,230.

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Lehigh University graduate sues school for $1.3m for C-plus

(Washington Times) A former Lehigh University student is suing her alma mater for $1.3 million over a C-plus she received in class in 2009.

The grade ruined her dream of becoming a licensed counselor, The Daily Caller reports — and it’s the Pennsylvania university’s fault.

Megan Thode, now 27, is alleging a breach of contract and sexual discrimination on the part of the school. She claims the C-plus was the last of a series of efforts taken by the school to push her to abandon her degree, according to The Daily Caller. She needed a B to qualify for field work that was necessary to her degree; her professor gave her a zero for classroom participation, according to the report. And that zero lowered her overall grade to C-plus.

Her lawyer thinks she deserved a better grade, The Daily Caller said.

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Several areas could be considered for city/county merger

(Star News) If history is any guide, these governmental functions could be some of the first that Wilmington and New Hanover County officials look at if they do decide to investigate merging operations.
Recycling/trash

Joe Suleyman, the county’s Environmental Management director, said there are four key steps that would need to be taken in order for a city-county partnership in solid waste collection to occur.

He said they would need a relationship with private haulers; consideration of the potential financial impacts; optimization of collection routes; and an establishment of an ongoing funding mechanism.

Suleyman said he would need to know that the service would be self-supporting.

Suleyman confirmed there have been informal discussions on the subject.

“As we move forward with developing the comprehensive solid waste management plan, I expect that this idea will be analyzed in greater detail,” he said.

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NC DOT chief Tata talks job creation with roads

(Star News) North Carolina’s new transportation secretary wants more emphasis put on job creation in determining which road and other infrastructure projects will be funded with the state’s limited construction dollars.

Tony Tata, a retired Army general and former Wake County schools superintendent, said in an interview with The Associated Press that the economic benefits of projects ought to play a large role in developing a 25-year infrastructure plan for the state. Tata is spearheading the plan for Gov. Pat McCrory.

Tata said his new job leading an agency that spends $5.2 billion in state and federal funds annually isn’t that much different than leading forces in places such as Fort Bragg, Afghanistan and Kosovo over his 28-year military career. When his forces weren’t getting shot at in combat, he said, they were building airports, road and other projects to improve the local economy.

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(ARCHIVE) Ted Nugent Threatens to Kill Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton During Vicious Onstage Rant

(Rolling Stones Music) Renegade right-winger Ted Nugent recently went on a vicious onstage rant in which he threatened the lives of Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Decked out in full-on camouflage hunting gear, Nugent wielded two machine guns while raging, “Obama, he’s a piece of shit. I told him to suck on my machine gun. Hey Hillary,” he continued. “You might want to ride one of these into the sunset, you worthless bitch.” Nugent summed up his eloquent speech by screaming “freedom!”

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Ted Nugent to attend State of the Union. Will that backfire?

(CS Monitor) Rock star/gun rights advocate Ted Nugent is attending Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, Rep. Steve Stockman (R) of Texas announced Monday.

Representative Stockman invited Mr. Nugent and gave him a ticket to sit in the gallery overlooking the House chamber. The Texas lawmaker, who recently made headlines by threatening to file articles of impeachment against President Obama over executive actions on gun control, said he was excited to have a “patriot” like the Nuge as his guest.

“After the address I’m sure Ted will have plenty to say,” said Stockman.

Yes, yes he will. That’s certain. But beyond that we have to ask: Is this a good idea?

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Should Gun Owners Have To Buy Liability Insurance?

(NPR) All kinds of proposals to reduce gun violence have been floated recently. One idea that has gotten the attention of economists is liability insurance. Most states require car owners to have liability insurance to cover damages their vehicles cause to others; some economists think we should require the same of gun owners.

We reached out to a few economists to get their thoughts.

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Local sheriff under fire after gun rights rally in Zebulon

(Raleigh News Observer) A local sheriff is hoping a statement he posted on Facebook will ease concerns about his position on gun control and the Constitution.

Franklin County Sheriff Jerry Jones said he has received “countless” emails and letters since his participation at a Jan. 16 gun rights rally in Zebulon. During the rally, Jones, Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison and Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders were repeatedly asked about their interpretation of the Second Amendment, and whether they would ever enforce federal laws requiring them to seize certain firearms.

Winders and Harrison took clear positions. Winders said he would never take guns from law-abiding citizens. Harrison said his office would be “obliged” to enforce a law requiring the seizure of firearms.

Jones didn’t provide a definitive answer. Harrison and Winders wielded the microphone for most of the night.

Jones said thousands of people called and emailed the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office wanting to know his views. “People asked me why I didn’t say more,” Jones said in a recent phone interview.

“And I got credited with some of the stuff Donnie (Harrison) said. That wasn’t good,” Jones said with a laugh.

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Police Worry Dorner May Be Capable Of Flying A Plane, Warning Issued To Local Airports

(CBS los Angeles) As the hunt continues for triple-murder suspect Christopher Dorner, authorities are now concerned that he may be capable of flying a plane.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: SoCal Manhunt

Los Angeles police believe Dorner may have received some flight training during his time in the Navy, however they are unsure of the extent of his abilities, KNX1070’s Jon Baird reports

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