North State Journal — Vol. 2., Issue 20

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VOLUME 2 ISSUE 20

www.NSJONLINE.com |

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Inside Exclusive Kevin Keatts interview, Sports

Eamon Queeney | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Sen. Richard Burr speaks during The Jesse Helms Center Foundation’s 30th Anniversary Lecture Dinner at the Sheraton in downtown Raleigh. The Jesse Helms Center Foundation was founded in 1988 to maintain the collection of professional and personal papers of Sen. Jesse Helms as well as promote free enterprise and principled leadership.

the Wednesday

News BRIEFing

Trump releases slate of judicial nominees Washington, D.C. In what is expected to be a series of appointments to fill 120 vacancies on lower federal courts, President Donald Trump nominated 10 judges this week, several from the short list of Supreme Court consideration. The White House called the conservative judges part of the Trump’s commitment to “principled jurists to the federal bench who will enforce the Constitution’s limits.”

Private investigator says murdered DNC staffer had links to WikiLeaks Washington, D.C. Rod Wheeler, a private investigator and former homicide detective, claims that he has seen evidence a young DNC staffer shot dead in the summer of 2016 on a street in Washington, D.C., was in contact with WikiLeaks. Seth Rich was shot and killed at around 4 a.m. on July 10, 2016, in what police have called an attempted robbery, although Rich was found with his watch, wallet and cell phone still on his body.

On July 22 WikiLeaks released a series of emails from within the DNC that showed top political aides conspiring against primary candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders. DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz resigned soon after. One month after his murder, WikiLeaks announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. A spokesman for Rich’s family said Wheeler was not authorized to speak for the family and called assertions Seth Rich sent emails to WikiLeaks “unsubstantiated.”

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

U.S. top court rejects appeal of NC voter ID law Chief Justice Roberts warns it doesn’t indicate the court’s opinion citing a “blizzard” of filings

By Donna King North State Journal WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal filed by Republican legislators to overturn a lower court ruling that voiced the state’s voter I.D. law. The court cited what they called a “blizzard” of filings that created confusion over who was authorized to represent the state in the case.

The decision leaves in place a July 2016 ruling by the Richmond, Va.-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled the law passed by a Republican-controlled legislature and signed by former N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory was discriminatory.

N.C.’s current Gov. Roy Cooper and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein had told the justices they wanted to drop the state’s appeal of the 4th Circuit ruling.

But the Republican-led state legislature said it should be able to intervene in the case to defend the law.

Chief Justice John Roberts, citing a “blizzard of filings over who is and who is not authorized to seek review in this court under North Carolina law,” wrote a twopage statement noting that the confusion over who represents the state was a reason not to hear the dispute.

“It is unconscionable that Roy Cooper and Josh Stein — who ignored state law and flouted their conflicts of interest to kill voter ID in North Carolina — have now caused the vast majority of voters who support voter ID to be denied See SCOTUS, page A3

RALEIGH — The Jesse Helms Center hosted an event Friday in conjunction with The John William Pope Foundation featuring speakers from North Carolina’s congressional delegation.

The all-day event, Foreign Policy And Trade Challenges In The Age Of Trump, attracted policy wonks and conservative donors from across the Old North State as they sought the perspectives of the influential speakers on issues of national security and the direction of U.S. trade policy.

“I don’t think that you can talk about national security any longer without talking about homeland security,” said U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis during lunchtime remarks.

On the threat of Islamist terrorists, Tillis revealed the extent of threats right here at home based on his conversations with former FBI Director James Comey, while also cautioning against reductions in foreign aid that could hurt diplomatic efforts abroad. "[Comey] said there are 1,000 active investigations for what they consider to be homegrown terrorists, legitimate threats that did not appear to have any nexus with any Middle Eastern or terrorist organizations,” said Tillis. “He then went on to say there’s at least another 1,000 or more that do seem to have their roots in some sort of association or inspiration from the Middle East, and 300 of them are people who came to this country through the refugee program. So we have to recognize that threat is real.”

Tillis also cautioned against reductions in foreign aid because it could hurt diplomatic efforts abroad and create more work for our military.

“I also believe a very important part of improv-

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

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“I can’t just focus my efforts on an investigation into Russia’s involvement in our elections because the globe is a very unstable place as it relates to security today.”

— U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), chairman U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

See FOREIGN POLICY, page A8

By Mollie Young North State Journal

Jones & Blount

$2.00

By Jeff Moore North State Journal

Complaint filed one week after failed negotiations with distributors

County Commissioners travel to Raleigh for 2017 Assembly Day

20177 52016

U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, along with U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, spoke at the Jesse Helms Center 30th anniversary event Friday on foreign policy and trade under President Donald Trump

Craft breweries file suit against state’s 25,000-barrel limit

INSIDE

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NC congressional delegates talk foreign policy, trade in Raleigh

Red Oak Brewery owner Bill Sherrill poses inside the brewery in Whitsett, N.C. Sherrill, owner of one of North Carolina’s oldest craft breweries, has fought to change state law with the Craft Freedom legislation.

RALEIGH — After several failed attempts at finding compromise through legislation and private negotiations, North Carolina craft breweries have turned to the courts to resolve state limits that that they say are a constitutional infringement on their businesses.

Craft Freedom, along with founding Charlotte-based brewing companies NoDa and Olde Mecklenburg (OMB), filed a complaint in Wake County Superior Court on Monday challenging a current

law that requires brewers to use a third-party distributor if they exceed a 25,000 annual barrel limit.

The motion argues that the law, “punishes craft breweries for their own success by forcing them to hand over the rights to distribute their own beer.”

The barrel limit was established in 2003, prior to the craft beer boom in North Carolina. Today, the state hosts more than 200 breweries, many of which were established in the last several years.

NoDa and OMB say that they have been forced to ignore demand and restrict sales in order to avoid losing meaningful control over company sales, brand and distribution.

See Breweries, page A8

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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05.17.17 #76

“Elevate the conversation” Visit North State Journal online! nsjonline.com jonesandblount.com nsjsports.com carolinabrewreview.com chickenbonealley.com

Barber steps down as president of NAACP, enters national fray Goldsboro pastor to join in new Poor People’s Campaign a half century after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the movement

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal

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North State Journal (USPS PP 166) (ISSN 2471-1365)

ALEIGH — As his group of supporters sang out the traditional gospel song “Hold On Just A Little While Longer,” the Rev. William J. Barber II walked out of Davie Street Presbyterian Church on Monday and onto the national scene.

Barber — an omnipresent influence statewide in the progressive movement, from opposition to voter ID and House Bill 2 to support for a $15 minimum wage and Medicaid expansion — announced he would step down as president of the North Carolina NAACP to join a new Poor People’s Campaign nearly 50 years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a movement of that name.

“This is not a commemoration,” Barber said of the new campaign.

“We’re not doing this for one year to quit. But this is a launching.”

Barber said he wants to take the momentum from what he helped create in North Carolina and “shift our national moral narrative.”

Barber’s announcement came the same day the U.S. Supreme Court said it would not hear the case the N.C. NAACP brought against the state and then-Gov. Pat McCrory regarding a voter identification law.

That left in place the U.S. 4th Cir-

Neal Robbins Publisher Donna King Managing Editor Drew Elliot Opinion Editor Will Brinson Sports Editor

SCOTUS from page A1

We stand corrected To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

• Cheerwine celebrates its 100th birthday in downtown Salisbury, N.C. on May 20. In the May 10 issue of the North State Journal we published the celebration date as May 13. Happy Birthday, Cheerwine!

Published each Wednesday and Saturday by North State Media, LLC 819 W. Hargett Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27603 TO SUBSCRIBE: 866-458-7184 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

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their day in court,” said N.C. Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland). ”... All North Carolinians can rest assured that Republican legislators will continue fighting to protect the integrity of our elections by implementing the commonsense requirement to show a photo ID when we vote.”

Currently 31 states have a voter ID law, with nine of them more strict than N.C.’s. The North Carolina law, called the Voter Identification and Verification Act, passed in 2014 and required that certain forms of government-issued photo identification cards be presented by voters. It allowed, for example, driver’s licenses, passports and military ID cards but not public assistance cards, giving ammunition to those who called it discriminatory.

Other provisions included ending same-day voter registration and reducing the number of early voting days, while keeping the same number of early voting hours. The bill did establish and fund a multiyear plan to provide all N.C. voters free government ID cards ahead of implementation of the law.

Civil rights groups, including the state chapter of the NAACP, as well as Democrats claimed the law was

The Rev. William J. Barber II discusses his plans to step down as President of the North Carolina NAACP during a press conference May 15 at the Davie Street Presbyterian Church.

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

cuit Court of Appeals’ ruling that sided with the NAACP and tossed out law, saying it targeted African-Americans with “almost surgical precision.”

“The Supreme Court has spoken and said we were right,” Barber said to applause.

It was one of many issues Barber tackled as the spokesperson for liberal causes in the state. But despite targeting conservative Republican initiatives almost exclusively, Barber — a registered Independent — said his movement had welcomes people of all political ideologies.

“This is not about left vs. right,” Barber said.

Still, at the press conference announcing Barber’s decision to step down from his state NAACP post — he will remain on the national NAACP board — several speakers took shots at the right.

Outgoing Democracy North Carolina executive director Bob Hall referred to the state’s Republicans as “jokers,” while Tim Tyson, a professor at Duke University who was arrested along with Barber during a protest of a Wake County Board of Education meeting in 2010, several times referred to political adversaries as “crackpots” during his speech Monday.

Despite accusations that his cam-

“I will always serve the mission of the NAACP to eradicate discrimination.”

— The Rev. William J. Barber II paigns were divisive, Barber has preached an inclusivity during his 12-year tenure as head of the N.C. NAACP, expanding the organization’s reach to other races, religions, the LGBT community, teachers and even fast food workers.

Barber now looks to take the momentum across the country, targeting the District of Columbia and more than 20 states where he says lack of Medicaid expansion and a living wage, high poverty rates, voter suppression laws and high populations of Protestant evangelicals overlap and are the battleground areas for his new movement.

“If there are people cynical enough in the same states to hold people down, we ought to be courageous enough to come together and lift them up,” Barber said.

He said the new Poor People’s Campaign would do an audit of those states, led by Tyson and due

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

NCGOP Chairman Robin Hayes discusses the Supreme Court’s decision to not hear the state’s voter identification case during a press conference.

racist and contained voter suppression measures intended to make it harder for groups that tend to back Democratic candidates to cast ballots. The NAACP and individual voters sued, arguing it disproportionately burdened black and Hispanic voters.

The appeals court ruled the North Carolina law’s provisions “target African-Americans with almost surgical precision” and “impose cures for problems that did not exist,” concluding that the Republican-led legislature enacted the measure “with discriminatory intent.”

“Today’s announcement is good news for North Carolina voters. We need to make it easier to vote, not harder,” said Cooper in a statement on Twitter Monday. “The court found this law to discriminate against African Americans with ‘surgical precision.’ I will continue to work to protect the rights of every legal registered North Carolinian to participate in our democratic process.”

However, the high court was quick to point out that the decision was not a statement on the merits of the case. Citing the confusion over who represents the state as

in December, and being training people in preparation for 40 days of activism in 2018.

Barber said he will still be involved and also stay on as pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro.

“I ask you to stay engaged in North Carolina,” Barber said. “This was never about one person.”

Barber had earned national recognition for the Moral Mondays movement, appearing on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” in 2014 and truly jumped into the national consciousness with his speech on the final day of the Democratic National Convention two years later.

In that speech, Barber called for people “to be the moral defribrillators of our time.” Much like Monday, Barber walked away from that speech to cheers, never looking back at the crowd cheering him on.

Instead of walking back to his efforts in North Carolina, this time he walks onto the national stage.

“The way to change the nation is to nationalize state movements,” he said.

With the new Poor People’s Campaign, that is his goal. He leaves the N.C. NAACP “in good hands,” he said.

“But I want to be clear: I’m not going anywhere.”

the reason they will not take up the case, Roberts addressed such speculation in his writing. Roberts made an unusual statement saying the high court’s decision not to hear the case should not be taken as an indication of the justices’ views on the broader issues of voter identification.

“The effort to confuse who had standing was an effort to stop an almost certain loss by Roy Cooper and Stein,” said N.C. GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse.

“Other states have this, other states have stricter laws, so saying we want to pull it back was an effort to gum it up and not to lose. It’ll cost million more dollars and lots more litigation but the end result will be the same. We will have voter ID.” The N.C. Republican Party’s chairman, Robin Hayes, held a press conference after the election saying he anticipates that the work toward establishing a photo ID requirement to vote in N.C. will continue, possibly in the form of new legislation, but the fight is also likely to travel through the court system.

“That’s what lawyers do,” said Hayes following the press conference. “There is a clear record by Roy and Josh is using the courts to benefit their position. Do I think they’ll give that up? Absolutely not.”

Want to learn more about North Carolina Agriculture?

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North State Journal for Wednesdsay, May 17, 2017

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Hayes, Womack vie for NC GOP chair On June 2-4 N.C. Republicans will converge on the Wilmington Convention Center to set a course for 2018 midterm elections and beyond.

The party has already announced its lineup of speakers that includes Kellyanne Conway as keynote speaker at the convention lunch on June 3. Conway made history in 2016 as the first woman to run a winning presidential campaign and is currently senior White House adviser.

Also speaking at the luncheon is Lara Trump, a native of

Wilmington, and alumna of N.C. State University. She is daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump.

Among the party business and pep rally atmosphere, state Republicans will select a new chairman. Current Chairman Robin Hayes took the reins in 2016 just before the presidential election during a challenging time for the party. Lee County GOP Chairman Jim Womack is challenging Hayes to lead the party, saying it is time for a change.

Robin Hayes

Jim Womack

Chairman, N.C. Republican Party

Chairman, Lee County Republican Party

Professional background: owner of Mt. Pleasant Hosiery Mill, former president of Central Motor Lines.

Professional background: Retired Army officer, information systems executive

1992-1998: N.C. House member

1992-1996: Concord Board of Aldermen

1999-2009: U.S. Congressman from N.C.’s 8th District

2010-2014: Lee County commissioner

Education: Duke University

2012-2014: Chairman of the N.C. Mining & Energy Commission, vice chairman of the Environment and Energy Committee of the National Association of County Commissioners

Family: Married with two children, seven grandchildren

2015: Appointed to the N.C. Oil and Gas Commission

2011-2013, 2016-current: Chairman of the N.C. GOP

Education: West Point Family: Married with five children

North State Journal: Why have you decided to run for re-election to the N.C. GOP? Robin Hayes: I have enjoyed being chairman of the N.C. GOP immensely. We were very successful in the first go-round not because of me but because of people who really care about the party and enjoy rallying around my chairmanship and doing those things we need to do turn out the vote. To be the only battleground state to win against [President Barack] Obama in the previous election. The change to take the successes that they created in the previous election and to build stability and credibility for the future seems more than important enough for me continue on and build on the success that our folks have come up with.

What were the biggest challenges when you took office in 2016?

The party was broke, we were just a couple of days away from closing the door, may not even a couple. Morale was sagging, nobody knew exactly what was going to happen and who was in charge, and we had just had a very interesting presidential primary and here we are on the eve of a presidential election and the party was in complete disarray. What I found was not surprising but it was heartwarming. We had a bunch of folks, especially young people, who were ready to go. They just needed someone to support them, remove a few obstacles and, most importantly, bring enough money through the door to support our limited staff, pay for our billing, lights, overhead.

When those basics were attended to quickly we were positioned to raise a record amount of money for all of our candidates. ... I’ve got a long record, it says here “is a guy you can trust,” and when I come asking you for an investment in the Republican Party people immediately started answering the phone.

We were able to maintain a financially strong and rewarding relationship with the Republican National Committee, [and] also some folks from out of state because they saw stability at the top so they were willing and able to step up. It was a pretty rapid turnaround. Don’t think I’m taking credit for it, my record stands for itself.

How can you build on 2016 and tap into the new Trump voter in N.C.?

The party’s main function, turning out the voter, we have those mechanics and people in place. Once Trump had the nomination he didn’t have the staff here, but we were ready and willing and able to fill in those gaps… I was asked to emcee a Trump rally.

I have never seen the energy — you could just feel it pushing out the walls of that building.

This momentum brought people who have not typically voted before, they were motivated to vote for Trump and it carried down through the ticket. … Those folks are still out there. They need to know what they did was critically important, and we appreciate them. ... My vision for the future of the party, which is to have a much more enthusiastic and active precinct-level organization in all 100 counties. I will be asking our precinct chairmen to broaden their vision of what the party can be. If we demonstrate in our neighborhoods that we care about our fellow human beings, putting resources where they are needed, build relationships, the sky is the limit.

We also have a lot of good young people coming along: teenage Republicans, college Republicans, women’s groups. We are so much stronger as a team. The party needs to continue to grow, never leaving its core principles. We are pro-life, we believe we are endowed by our creator, we believe in free enterprise and less government. That’s what makes up the tent, and there is plenty of room.

North State Journal: What made you decide to run for chairman of the N.C. GOP? Jim Womack: I truly was recruited by the grassroots, and my campaign is being propelled by grassroots activists all over the state. We have at least three activists in each of the 13 congressional districts and more in some. The number is growing by the week with people who are disaffected by the party and really want to see a change in the way the party operates, the way the party is governed and the way the party recruits new members, as well as how it vets candidates. From top to bottom there is great disaffection within the Republican Party that is demanding change. I believe I am the change agent that can bring those reforms into the Republican Party, keep us operating smoothly, keep money in the bank, and implement the changes at the same time.

What changes would you like to see in the party as you look to the 2018 midterms and beyond?

We’ve run the party like a country club for decades. We’ve never really run the party like a business. That is unfortunate because if you don’t run it like a business you lose things like strategic planning, goal setting, and this party doesn’t do that. There’s no strategic plan for the North Carolina Republican Party other than the generalized goal of winning elections.

How do you run a party with no goals?

How do you make an organization as complex as the N.C. Republican Party synchronize without a plan?

It’s happenstance; you hope you’re going to win. There’s no logistics, no distribution scheme for materials. The word logistics does not exist in the

lexicon of the party. It’s dysfunctional.

You look at this and you say to yourself, “You can make that work better, you can help that party achieve its goal of winning all elections in the state of N.C.” We have to be planning now for 2018, recruiting and vetting candidates, and fundraising. The way you raise funds in a business is you have to build value in the party. … We need to be able to brand the party in such a way that people see the value of having Republicans in charge — smaller government, lower taxes, less regulation. Take that message to constituents and convince them to invest in the Republican Party.

How can the party grow its base of voters?

This is when you move people into your party and change the demographic, make room in the tent for others.

By October unaffiliated voters will outnumber us. First, because there’s no incentive for them to affiliate, but also because the federal government has shown itself to be ineffective regardless of who is in charge.

We have to give them a reason to come back. Eighty thousand did for Donald Trump in 2016, and we’ve done nothing to really welcome them into the Republican Party and make them feel respected. We haven’t put them in governance, and I’m not sure the folks in Raleigh know how to do that, bring them in and get the active.

For young people, we have to appeal to them through social media and win over active young Republicans. Get them to network in social media, put them in your governance structure, and get them to bring you in and share that message.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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Murphy Big Avery Loop, Pisgah National Forest

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

to

Manteo

jonesandblount.com @JonesandBlount

Hanging Rock State Park

Legislature votes to override veto of farm nuisance remedies bill

Danbury

Wild Turkey Mountain Bike Trail Greensboro

Muddy Creek Greenway

Winston-Salem Atlantic and Yadkin

Greenway

Greensboro

Thermal Belt RailTrail

Avery County

Jones & Blount

Nebo

While only 12.9 miles, the grueling route takes you over eight water bars, through a magical rhododendron tunnel, a narrow track not much wider than your bike and even a set of rock stairs called “Devil’s Staircase.” While this mountain biking trail is not for beginners, many find not only thrills but great views including that of Looking Glass Rock.

Linn Cove Viaduct

Duke Forest

The tranquil, seaside 25-mile trail spans throughout North Carolina Highway 12 with views of the Pamlico Sound on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

Your destination is the historic landmark, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

Durham

Rutherford County

Bryson City

Lake Lure

Cashiers Tour Cashiers

DuPont State Forest

Little Sugar Creek Greenway

Cedar Mountain

Cycling through the state

The first traceable claim for a bicycle dates back to 1817 and belonged to German Baron Karl von Drais, a civil servant to the Grand Duke of Baden in Germany and was called “Laufmaschine” (German for “running machine”).

PIEDMONT

Banner Elk announces ‘Art on the Greene’

Watauga County According a complaint filed May 12 in U.S. District Court, a wire fraud scheme during a transaction for Appalachian State University’s College of Health and Sciences has cost the university nearly $2 million.

The fraudulent intervention occurred during payment to Rodgers Builders with $1,959,925.02 stolen and distributed to Royce Hub Trading. The court complaint states the university employee was not aware the email was illegitimate. On Dec. 27, the FBI executed a seizure warrant on the account. To date, 80 percent of funds have been recovered while the criminal investigation is ongoing.

Watauga Democrat

Woman fires 15 rounds into car Catawba County Melissa Rector has been charged with three counts of attempted murder after shooting more than a dozen bullets at another car. Deputies believe Rector and another woman got into an argument Friday morning on Lindsey Lane. One passenger in the backseat was shot in the wrist but suffered no serious injuries. The passenger in the front seat was able to avoid gunfire by ducking in the floorboard.

WSOCTV

RALEIGH — The N.C. Senate voted Thursday to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s latest veto, following an override vote by the N.C. House Wednesday and the bill is now law notwithstanding the governor’s objection. The Agriculture and Forestry Nuisance Remedies, H.B. 467, will cap the damages property owners can collect in specific lawsuits against neighboring farms or forestry operations. The amount of money that could be awarded in a lawsuit would be no more than the value of the farm.

House members voted mostly along party lines as seven Democrats joined nearly all chamber Republicans in the 74-40 vote to override the veto of the bill which they say protects small family farms from being sued into bankruptcy and discourages frivolous lawsuits. Cooper and opponents of the bill say it amounts to special protections for the agriculture industry and poses a risk to the environment.

“Special protection for one industry opens the door to weakening our nuisance

Avery County From May 27-28, the grounds of the Historic Banner Elk School will transform into an outdoor art gallery.

The Memorial Day weekend show is one of three that will take place throughout the summer. The second show will be Fourth of July weekend (July 1-2) and Labor Day weekend (Sept. 2-3). The event showcases local and regional artists with proceeds from booth rental fees going to support renovation efforts at the school. The event is free and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food vendors will be on-site.

Cheerwine rings in 100 years with Centennial Celebration Rowan County The iconic, family owned soft drink will ring in 100 years with a grand celebration in downtown Salisbury on May 20 from noon to 8 p.m. on North Main Street. The event includes an N.C. BBQ competition, live music, food and craft vendors as well as a visit from the original 1927 Cheerwine Ford truck. NCBYTRAIN and Amtrak are also offering a travel discount to Salisbury for those attending the celebration.

News & Observer

EAST

High school pulls yearbooks with Trump quotes Richmond County All yearbooks distributed at Richmond Early College High School near Rockingham have been taken back after the discovery of yearbook quotes deemed inappropriate. Graduating students were allowed to select a quote to go beneath their yearbook photos. One quote, “Build that wall,” was credited to President Donald Trump. Only 22 yearbooks had been preordered with a small amount distributed before the quotes were discovered by Principal Tonya Waddell.

No students were disciplined for the quotes.

Banner Elk TDA Charlotte Observer

Fonta Flora named Attraction of the Year Burke County Morganton brewery Fonta Flora was recently named Burke County Attraction of the Year for 2017 by the Burke County Tourism Development Authority. Since opening three years ago, Fonta Flora won a gold medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival and founded the State of Origin Beer Festival in 2014 that showcases North Carolina-made beer from natural ingredients in the courthouse square in downtown Morganton. The brewery’s popularity has resulted in plans for a second location opening at the end of the year on the former Whippoorwill Dairy property.

Southern Pines

Between towering longleaf pines, horse farms, exquisite homes and 40 golf courses including the world-famous Pinehurst Resort, the Golf Country Tour is a scenic cruise for the golf and non-golf lover.

The route starts in Southern Pines then turns to Midland Road toward Pinehurst.

Did you know?

With all of May being National Bike Month and the 19th as ‘National Bike to Work Day,’ why just bike to work when you can bike across the state? From scenic country roads, winding beach greenways, or climbing mountains; across Murphy to Manteo there’s no shortage of gorgeous state biking trails that lead you to and through amazing destinations on two wheels.

ASU loses $2 million from email scam

By Donna King North State Journal

Charlotte

Golf Country Cycling Tour

west

Legislators voted along party lines, 74-40, to override the veto of the bill which they say protects small family farms

Hatteras Island

Buffalo Creek Park Tsali Trails

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Trump meets students with namesake rocket Mecklenburg County Out of 100 teams that competed Saturday in the finals of Team America Rocketry Challenge in Northern Virginia, students from Victory Christian Center School in Charlotte named their rocket “Trump,” after President Donald Trump. When Trump asked the students why, they told him, “Simply because it conquers all,” in which Trump replied, “They’re never going to put that on television.” The model missile failed to place in the top24 finalist category but the students did snag an Oval Office visit Friday to show it off.

New York Post / WSOCTV

Kona Ice trailer stolen Wake Forest Wake Forest police are investigating potential theft of a colorful Kona Ice trailer owned by the company and used to serve flavored ice. The truck was last seen 10 p.m. Friday at the owner’s warehouse. The owner has posted surveillance camera photos on social media and is asking for public assistance in locating the $40,000 trailer.

WRAL

Health department closes, reopens after bed bug discovery

Wife charged in death of Cape Fear Serpentarium owner New Hanover County Snake expert and Cape Fear Serpentarium owner Dean Ripa was shot to death Saturday in an apartment above the Serpentarium. His wife, Regina Ripa, has been charged with murder and being held without bond. Dean Ripa had survived 12 venomous snake bites and founded the serpentarium in 2001.

Carteret County The Carteret County Health Department in Morehead City closed Thursday after bed bugs were discovered in the waiting area and in one office. The health department brought in a pest control specialist Thursday and remained closed on Friday. The Bridges Street Facility reopened Monday morning.

WRAL

Fifth-graders get tour from Chef Vivian Howard Lenoir County A fifth grade class of nearly 40 students from Southeast Elementary School received a special tour of the Kinston Farmers Market Tuesday from Vivian Howard. Known for both Chef & the Farmer and the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning television series “A Chef’s Life,” Howard lead the class on “A Chef’s Life’s Farm to Fifth Grade Field Trip.” The outing included a tour of the farmers market, samples of locally grown produce, introduction to farmers and a scavenger hunt.

Sponsored by State Employees’ Credit Union members via SECU Foundation, the field trip aims to teach children the value of farmers and fresh food.

State ferry system adds additional runs for summer season Dare County The State Ferry System started its summer schedule Tuesday with more runs and longer hours. The popular Hatteras to Ocracoke route will include 36 round-trip rides per day between the two islands. Starting next week, the ferry system will also run more rides for the Pamlico Sound route. Visitors should still expect potential traffic and to arrive early at the dock.

WNCT9

Burke County TDA

County commissioners come to Raleigh for 2017 County Assembly Day The N.C. Association of County Commissioners organizes the event for local officials to network with state lawmakers and speak to local issues

WITN

WITN

laws in other areas, which can allow real harm to homeowners, the environment and everyday North Carolinians,” said Cooper in a statement after the veto.

The N.C. Senate followed suit on Thursday, overriding Cooper’s veto resulting in the bill becoming law upon conclusion of the vote.

The resident farmer of the upper chamber, Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Sampson) who farms watermelons among other crops, was encouraged that farmers’ livelihoods would now have more protection under the law.

“While I respectfully disagree with Gov. Cooper’s veto of H.B. 467, I am incredibly pleased that this bill providing legal certainty to family farmers and the thousands of North Carolinians who earn their living in the agriculture industry is now law,” said Jackson. “This is a victory for farmers and our rural communities.”

Supporters of the bill say it protects family farms from costly lawsuits. Agriculture is one of the state’s leading industries, contributing more than $84 billion to the state’s gross domestic product. According to the N.C Department of Agriculture there are 48,000 farms in N.C., the majority of which are small and employ 17 percent of the state workforce.

Republicans have a veto-proof majority in both chambers of the legislature. Cooper has now had all four of his vetoes so far in his tenure overridden by the state legislature.

By Jeff Moore North State Journal RALEIGH — As former U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill would say, “All politics is local.” That was especially true last Wednesday at the N.C. General Assembly as the N.C. Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) descended upon Raleigh for their 2017 County Assembly day.

“Make sure that you build those relationships and when you get back home follow them up,” NCACC President Fred McClure (Davidson) advised the group of commissioners before they headed to the legislature.

The local officials heard from Gov. Roy Cooper on his belief in the importance of local governance.

“County government is where it happens,” said Cooper. “You’re the hub. You’re the people that have to make decisions about what happens to your area. One thing I know, is that local decisions can be best made on the local level.”

The governor reiterated his legislative priorities of education, health, and more money in citizens’ pockets, and related how he thought improvement in areas such as broadband

access and better local infrastructure can help counties and the state achieve its goals.

Cooper also addressed the partisan nature of county politics, just like state politics, and encouraged the local officials to strive for common ground.

“It’s important for Republican and Democrat county commissioners, as well as a Democratic governor with a Republican legislature, for the first question to be, ‘Where do we agree?’” said Cooper. “Where can we find consensus to go forward?

That’s what we all should be asking.”

The commissioners were also treated to remarks by N.C. House Majority Leader Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne), who related to the significance of local issues and the precarious balancing act between rural and urban areas of the state.

“Whether you live in downtown Raleigh, downtown Charlotte or in Pink Hill, N.C., we all have to work together. Republican, Democrat, unaffiliated — we all have to work together to do what’s best for the citizens of the state.”

Bell echoed the governor in pointing to infrastructure, education and broadband access as areas both sides of the aisle can work together to improve. Open lines of communications between locals and the state, according to Bell, is where it starts.

“If we’re not working with our county commissioners, if we’re not working with our school board, we can’t address all their concerns,” asserted Bell.

100 YEARS OF MAKING MEMORIES.

TIMELESS WONDER

For more information visit ncparks.gov or call 919-707-9300.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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north STATEment Neal Robbins, publisher | Drew Elliot, opinion editor | Ray Nothstine, deputy opinion editor

Visual Voices

EDITORIAL | Drew Elliot

Do Berger, Cooper share priorities?

Overall, and in most areas, the Senate budget doesn’t spend as much as Cooper’s.

But there are exceptions.

State Senate leader Phil Berger spoke to reporters May 9 about the Senate’s budget plan, which then passed the upper chamber May 12. In the press conference, Berger spoke at several different points to what he saw as similarities between the Senate budget and Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget proposal.

“In large part, what you’ll find is that in this budget, and in Gov. Cooper’s budget proposal, are many of the same funding priorities,” Berger said. “The difference is simply different spending levels.”

Is Berger right? There’s no simple way to answer that question, but there are several ways the two budgets can be examined.

Overall, and in most areas, the Senate budget doesn’t spend as much as Cooper’s. But there are exceptions. Berger’s plan includes $150 million for Hurricane Matthew relief while Cooper included $115 million, for instance. The Senate budget also included more money for transportation infrastructure than the governor. But these spending differences are small compared to the total outlay, considering that both plans spend more than $22 billion. And some of the difference might simply be due to timing.

The governor must submit a budget proposal before the legislature, in early March.

Legislators can wait until after the April 15 tax filing deadline to propose their plan, which means they can have much more confidence in the fiscal shape of the state. The reason is that the “consensus forecast,” the revenue estimate of the executive branch’s Office of State Budget and Management and the legislature’s Fiscal Research Division, comes out in early February, and then again in early May. And while the surplus estimate changed only about

$60 million between the February and May estimates this year, the jump in the confidence in the forecast is enormous. May is that much closer to the June 30 end of the fiscal year, of course, but the confidence boost is mostly because the May estimate can include the tax filing information of most North Carolinians.

Back to the budgets. State budgets are generally separated into six functional areas: education, general government, health and human services, justice and public safety, natural and economic resources, and capital improvements. A seventh area is a combination of debt service, reserves, and adjustments.

Education is the largest slice of both Berger and Cooper’s pies. The Senate budget increases teacher salaries by 9.5 percent over two years, while Cooper’s plan gives raises of 5 percent each year (both include raises for principals as well). In percentage terms, Cooper’s budget spends 56.8337 percent on all levels of education. Berger’s budget spends 56.7868 percent on those items, or a difference of 0.0469 percentage points from the governor’s proposal (56.8337 minus 56.7868).

After education, the next largest outlay is for health and human services, where Cooper spends more on a raw dollar basis but Berger spends more as a percentage (22.7738 percent for Cooper versus 22.8914 percent for Berger).

Looking down the line of priority differences in the six functional areas, the smallest difference is in education and the largest in natural and economic resources, where Cooper would spend 3.0247 percent of his $23.48 billion budget and Berger would spend 2.4359 percent of his $22.87 billion, for a difference of 0.5888 percentage points. The difference

is largely a result of the Senate’s decision to eliminate a division in the environmental agency, continuing the trend to make that agency as purely regulatory as possible.

So while there are real policy differences between the budgets, Berger is largely correct that the priorities are the same and the funding levels are different. The spending differences are attributable to philosophical differences — the Senate would return much of the $580.5 million surplus to citizens in the form of tax cuts, while Cooper would keep that money and make modest increases in the size of government instead.

In the end, what Cooper wants is mostly irrelevant. It is the budget plan from the House of Representatives that matters now, since the Republican-controlled General Assembly will override Cooper’s veto of their final budget.

That’s why Berger could appear so conciliatory toward the governor’s budget, while Cooper and Democratic senators decried the Senate plan as “prioritizing the wealthy over the middle class.”

Portraying the Senate tax plan, which would cut taxes for almost all taxpayers and remove 94,000 of the state’s poorest taxpayers from the income tax rolls entirely, as a boon for the rich is a tough rhetorical row to hoe.

But facing supermajorities in the legislature, rhetoric is about all the Democrats have right now.

EDITORIAL | Ray Nothstine

Finding truth in the sea of commencement addresses Perhaps one of the most important commencement addresses of the last few years came from a figure generally applauded by the left.

University commencement addresses should be a time for delivering desperately needed words of wisdom or just plain truth to graduates. Many thought leaders use the occasion to address cultural problems, offer political statements, or perhaps glean even higher truths. President Donald Trump offered a poignant line at Liberty University on Saturday when he declared, “In America, we don’t worship government, we worship God.” To Trump’s credit (and his speechwriters), it was a great line, and certainly one students outside of the conservative and evangelical campus in Lynchburg, Virginia need to hear more. Not surprisingly, one of the main problems of many commencement addresses is that they offer affirmation from ideological apparatchiks who reinforce prevailing campus groupthink. Just look at the commencement speaker lists at most major universities: they usually offer up a spattering of homogeneous thought — especially regarding culture and politics.

Now that there is a Republican over the executive branch, there are inevitably a few more commencement address from cabinet officials sprinkled in that may stray from the academic bubble.

One truly embarrassing moment occurred last week at Bethune-Cookman University, when the school’s president interrupted the address by Betsy DeVos, the current secretary of education. The president tried to restore a semblance of decorum while DeVos was mercilessly heckled and disrespected despite offering non-controversial remarks largely

devoid of anything political. It was a pitiful look for the historically black college, and another reminder of what many institutions of higher learning have now become. However, the school receives some credit for upholding and defending the invitation, since most universities pathetically crumble now to any pressure to oust a speaker who strays from the herd’s preferred ideology.

When they are less political, many addresses might focus on humor or pour on platitudes about the graduates “inner awesomeness,” or predicting that “this will be the generation that cures cancer,” while ignoring the cancers of the soul. “Having a closet full of shoes doesn’t fill up your life,” offered Oprah Winfrey to this year’s graduating class at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia.

But there is an ability to go even deeper than stating the obvious or mere platitudes like “go and change the world.” One of the more brilliant addresses occurred at Hillsdale College in Michigan. Anthony M. Esolen, a professor of English, rightly denounced modern commencement addresses as devoid of truth and essentially full of individualistic secular fluff. Esolen, who taught at and earned an M.A. and Ph.D. from UNC Chapel Hill, left Providence College in Rhode Island after being sidelined for offering up criticisms of the Catholic college’s march to embrace a deeply secular understanding of diversity. “We are full of ideology these days but less so of ideas,” declared Esolen. The professor challenged students to not aspire to change the world, since human nature remains fundamentally

unchanged, but to “remember the true order of things, the good things.” He implored students to look at the world today and “turn instead from unreality to reality,” a definite criticism of what he believes to be a false and inauthentic age. “Beg instead for the grace of God, that you may be changed by that grace,” added Esolen.

But Hillsdale College has been going against the grain for over 170 years and they almost always offer great commencement addresses.

Last year at that school, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas delivered inspirational remarks on the necessity of freedom and responsibility, as well as faith and reason.

Perhaps one of the most important commencement addresses of the last few years came from a figure generally applauded by the left. In the 2014 commencement address at Harvard University, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wisely called out the censorship at America’s colleges and universities. Just two years later, Bloomberg was booed by some at the University of Michigan for heaping up some criticism of “microagressions,” “safe spaces,” and “trigger warnings” to demand censorship. That alone proves that the greatest commencement speeches today not only challenge popular perceptions, but also deliver truth.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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Guest Opinion | AIMEE MULLIGAN

Are liberal students treated unequally on college campuses?

Progressive students leave college reaffirmed, rather than challenged.

It is no secret college administrators and faculty tend to lean left, taking their college campuses with them. They fight for big government sectioned off into bureaucracies to be run by themselves, the so-called “experts.” This idea was largely initiated by Woodrow Wilson. Wilson strongly believed public policy should be set by academic experts because, unlike the populace, they were specifically educated in their fields. This concept still creeps around college campuses today, where students take their professors’ lectures as unquestioned truth. According to a recent study, 60 percent of professors identify as liberals, while a mere 12 percent identify as conservative.

North Carolina public colleges are no different.

They reflect what we see throughout the country, an uneven ratio of Democratic and Republican professors. According to The College Fix, “professors registered as Democrats outnumber those registered as Republicans by a ratio of roughly 12 to 1 at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.” Professors who identify as Democrats saturate the humanities departments, again a trend we see throughout the country. However, does uneven professorship need to be corrected?

Earlier this year, state Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchcell, introduced an amendment which would require “ideological balance in faculty hiring” within North Carolina’s universities. This would entail party affiliation to be taken into consideration upon the hiring of a professor. In many ways, it would institute affirmative action for college professorships within the state. While college campuses have become the sounding board for “diversity” through policies like affirmative action, one can only imagine the response if the same standard was applied to university professorship. At the end of the day, it is external diversity and internal conformity colleges seek. While Hise’s amendment was not intended to pass, but rather to make a statement, other states such as Iowa have considered similar legislation.

Another rising solution to this perceived problem is a “free-market” approach developing among students.

Through social media networks, students are able to help other students dodge classes taught by politically progressive professors who are unfriendly to conservatives.

The initial reaction to the lack of diversity among college professors may be a concern for Republican or conservative students. However, it is not Republican

students who are shorthanded in their education experience, but rather the students who occupy the left side of the political spectrum.

The college experience, in the classroom at least, is different depending on where the student falls on the political spectrum. Conservative students may feel as though they are in an uphill battle, while liberal students do not recognize the echo chamber surrounding them. Their minds are set to autopilot as they already agree with the principles underlining what they are being taught and are therefore, not exposed to the same level of critical thinking as their conservative counterparts. If liberal students already know and agree with what the professor is teaching, there is no need to question or challenge their professor, the “expert.” Further, there is no motivation for introspection and the questioning of one’s own beliefs. Progressive students leave college reaffirmed, rather than challenged; shutting down others’ views, rather than developing the skills to discuss and debate.

I earned my degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and my college experience was nothing close to unbiased.

Most of what I was being taught conflicted with my conservative principles of individual liberty, limited government, and the rule of law. I knew what I believed and despite the constant indoctrination from my professors, my political ideology did not shift toward the left, but in fact was strengthened.

Challenges to my ideology and worldview in college was beneficial. I always found class discussions interesting, stimulating, and an opportunity to learn something new about views which were not my own. I was exposed to the shortcomings of my own argument and learned how to address those shortcomings for future discussions. In preparation for class discussions, I would typically do my own research and readings not assigned by my professor.

I wanted to make sure I had enough facts to make a sound argument. Instead of avoiding dialogue or whining about my “unfair” professors, I learned how to have political, religious, and philosophical discussions in an environment unfriendly to my worldview.

This is the purpose of college, to challenge students and encourage them to question everything.

Aimee Mulligan is the executive producer at Red Wolf Broadcasting in Raleigh.

The Old Well at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mr. President, please stop the insults uring an interview last June in his New York office, I asked Donald D Trump about his use of language that

many considered insulting and divisive.

“Will there be a pivot for you from the primaries to the general election campaign?”

The candidate said “I agree” about the tone of the campaign and that he intended to pivot. “It’s starting very soon,” he promised.

We’re still waiting.

The president was within his rights to discharge FBI Director James Comey, but it is the way he did it, sending a letter instead of a face-to-face meeting or even a phone call, that was disturbing. Comey was not only blindsided when he learned of his dismissal during a speech in Los Angeles, the president called him names and then tweeted that Comey ”...better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”

Intimidation is ugly and unbecoming for any president. Comey’s sudden dismissal is fueling suspicions there is more to discover about alleged connections between the Trump campaign and Russia, something that has yet to be proved.

Whatever Comey’s shortcomings — and there are more than a few — he deserved better, even if only to make the president look good. In an interview with Lester Holt of NBC News, the president called Comey “a showboat” and said he was guilty of “grandstanding.” Maybe so, but wouldn’t the president have benefited by thanking Comey for his years of public service?

Wouldn’t it have been better if he’d said, “I want to see the FBI move in a different direction”?

Trump’s instincts to reform a government that has become bloated, dysfunctional and burdened with debt are much needed. However, the president’s goals are hurt when he, instead of his policies, becomes the story.

quickly approved. He was granted 100 percent service-connected disability.

This was only one of the nearly 10,000 cases my office has closed for North Carolinians who were having issues with the federal government. Nearly half of our cases have involved veterans facing bureaucratic hurdles at the VA, which my staff worked tirelessly to resolve. My office has also assisted North Carolinians with a wide range of other federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration, the IRS, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Citizenship and Immigration Services, among others.

The one regret I’ve repeatedly heard from North Carolinians who have been assisted by my office is that they simply wish they knew about the constituent services we offer sooner. That’s why I need your help spreading the word to your friends, family, and neighbors that my office is ready to lend a helping hand if they’re experiencing difficulty with a federal agency.

Make sure their next phone call is to one of my regional offices or send me an email by visiting tillis. senate.gov.

We look forward to assisting them.

The president has threatened to cancel the daily White House briefings because he says he is moving so fast his spokespeople don’t always get it right. Fine, let him brief the press directly as FDR and Calvin Coolidge did.

I voted for Trump and have appreciated his promises to take the country in a better and more prosperous direction. His selection of Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court and his promise to fill lower courts with constitutional conservatives has the potential to place government back within the boundaries the Founders set for it. His businessman instincts to reform a government that has become bloated, dysfunctional and burdened with debt are much needed. However, the president’s goals are hurt when he, instead of his policies, becomes the story — especially a negative story.

Anger is not policy. Insults do little to change anyone’s mind. The latest Quinnipiac University Poll shows the president’s approval rating has dropped to 36 percent, a near record low. His disapproval has risen to 58 percent.

Astonishingly, the poll also shows the media, which Trump has often called “fake news,” and worse, is now trusted more than him. That is bound to harm his policy goals as Democrats smell blood and feel empowered to oppose him on everything.

Here are some positive suggestions that might turn things around. An old Glen Campbell song should be his theme: “Try a Little Kindness.” Find some positive things to say and do. Unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since 1988. Have some newly employed people in, as he did with the coal miners, some of whom were unemployed or underemployed during the Obama years. They could thank the president for reducing expensive regulations on businesses that allowed them to hire more people.

Trump should remind Americans where he is trying to take the country. Turn those constant tweets into positive statements.

Just as light overcomes darkness, so, too, do positives overcome negatives.

Americans respond to optimism (read Ronald Reagan’s speeches). Let the Democrats own gloom and doom.

The president should rise above that and rekindle an optimistic spirit that has always led America to new heights. Please knock off the insults, Mr. President. They are poisoning your presidency and the good you and a Republican Congress can do.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is from Huntersville.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist.

CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

GUEST OPINION | U.S. SEN. THOM TILLIS

Constituent service can cut red tape

Nearly half of our 10,000 cases have involved veterans facing bureaucratic hurdles at the VA, which my staff worked tirelessly to resolve.

CAL THOMAS

If you’ve ever had to deal with a federal department or agency, you probably know firsthand that the government doesn’t exactly place a priority on providing stellar customer service, especially if you hit a roadblock that was created by the government in the first place.

It happens far too often.

Veterans who can’t get timely appointments at the VA or are inexplicably denied for VA disability benefits. Hardworking families who aren’t able to receive their tax refunds from the IRS after becoming victims of identity theft. Seniors on fixed incomes who don’t receive their Social Security checks on time.

Americans who face these types of dilemmas and try to get them fixed can get stuck in a web of red tape and endless bureaucracy, with letters that go unanswered and calls that go nowhere for months and even years.

All residents of North Carolina should know that my five North Carolina offices — in Charlotte, Greenville, Hendersonville, High Point, and Raleigh — are here to help you when a federal agency isn’t being responsive or accountable. My staff can serve as your personal advocate by stepping in and directly corresponding with the government on your behalf.

Providing top notch constituent

services has always been my top priority as your senator. That’s why one of the first things I did after being elected was to hire a talented and dedicated team with more than 100 years of combined prior experience serving the people of North Carolina and helping them navigate the government bureaucracy. Each of my staff members has a wealth of expertise in specific areas, which makes them incredibly efficient and effective when it comes to contacting the right people at federal agencies and getting you answers.

My office always strives to go the extra mile to assist North Carolinians.

For example, late last year a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars from the Triangle contacted my office to ask if any programs were available to assist him and his wife with basic living expenses. After learning that the veteran had several conditions that have been connected to Agent Orange exposure, one of my staff members discovered that he had never applied for VA benefits. My office connected the veteran with the Veterans Service Officer in Smithfield to submit a claim to the VA. Due to his age and medical situation, my office requested that his case be expedited as an exception to the usual guidelines. Our request was granted, and his claim was

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North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Nation & WORLD

the BRIEF ‘If you delay, you die’ Tulsa officer charged with manslaughter testifies

week in images

Tulsa, Okla.

A white Tulsa police officer charged with killing an unarmed black motorist took the stand in her own defense on Monday, saying she fired because training taught her to act quickly against a perceived deadly threat, according to local news reports. Betty Shelby, 43, could face between four years and life in prison if convicted of manslaughter in the September 2016 killing of Terence Crutcher.

PEDRO NUNES | reuters

Pilgrims pray before Pope Francis’ arrival at the Catholic shrine of Fatima, Portugal.

DAVID BECKER | reuters

Miss District of Columbia Kara McCullough reacts after being crowned 2017 Miss USA.

Oregon county to vote on blocking natural gas terminal Coos County, Ore. A coastal Oregon county will vote Tuesday on a ballot measure to block a proposed natural gas terminal, the latest in a series of efforts to thwart energy projects across the Pacific Northwest. The measure would ban transport of fossil fuels not intended for local use through Coos County, located about 200 miles south of Portland.

PARWIZ | reuters

An Afghan boy cools off under a muddy waterfall on the outskirts of Jalalabad province, Afghanistan.

Athit Perawongmetha | reuters

Buddhists carry candles as they pray during Vesak Day, an annual celebration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death, at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

From right, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson answer questions during a foreign policy and trade forum hosted by the Jesse Helms Center Foundation.

FOREIGN POLICY from page A1

ing our national security posture and our tools is to make sure that we understand that foreign aid is a very important part of those tools,” asserted Tillis. “There are some people ... that think we should zero out the foreign aid budget. I will tell you: every general, every admiral, anyone we’ve had come before the Senate Armed Services Committee, when we ask them what they think about that proposition they say, ‘Just make sure you buy me more bullets.’”

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (N.C.-8), another member of the congressional delegation, spoke of his desire to tackle immigration and border security as part of a larger national security strategy.

“The threat is real,” stated Hudson. “Frankly, when ISIS says they’re going to use the refugee program to come here and kill us, I take them at their word. We’re foolish if we don’t.”

Our nation’s defense, Hudson said, is also predicated on entirely different issues such as fiscally floundering entitlement programs.

“I’m very concerned about the defense budget next year, but I’m really concerned about the defense budget in 10 years when we spend as much on the interest of our national debt as we spend on all of military expenditures,” said Hudson. “Think about that. Or how about in 20 years when we spend as much on interest on the debt as we spend on everything else the federal government spends money on. That’s scary. We’ve got to

Breweries from page A1

“It seems that the principles of free markets and reducing regulations on small businesses has fallen on deaf ears by those who claim to value it the most,” said Craft Freedom in a statement Monday morning. The organization represents dozens of independent breweries across the state.

The N.C. Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association (NBWA), however, has lobbied hard against the measure, claiming that a three-tier distribution system helps ensure fair pricing and variety in stores.

NBWA argues that craft brewers actually benefit from the system by not having to invest in expensive trucks, warehouses and sales teams.

But supporters of the Craft Freedom movement say the decision to use a distributor should be a personal business choice, not a government mandate.

Last month, after strong pushback from wholesalers, the General Assembly gutted a piece of

CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

deal with this national debt issue, and that means Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. All three programs are on a path to going broke.”

On trade policy, Hudson explained his view of President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies within the context of North Carolina industries.

“I agree with that notion, but for North Carolina manufacturers and for our agriculture industry here — our No. 1 industry in the state — we need foreign markets,” said Hudson. “I believe in trade, which I think we as conservatives ought to. I’ve been troubled that over the last several years conservatives in Washington have turned

legislation that would have raised the annual limit from 25,000 to 200,000. After the compromise fell through, NoDa and Olde Mecklenburg founders expressed that while they hoped to avoid it, legal action might be on the table.

Rep. John Bradford (R-Mecklenburg), who’s home district would benefit from a proposed $10 million OMB expansion, said brewers met privately with NBWA representative Tim Kent last Monday in one last attempt to reach a compromise on industry reforms.

Bradford said he did not attend the meeting but that he personally delivered the offer from brewers to Kent prior to the sit-down, asking for the annual limit to be raised to 60,000 — a major step back from the 200,000 limit originally proposed in House Bill 500 in April.

After the meeting, brewers told Bradford they had negotiated down to a 50,000-barrel cap with exemptions for beer sold at tap rooms and out of state. Brewers left feeling good about the discussion, but the NBWA board later reject-

anti-trade, and I think that is not philosophically where we ought to be and I think we’ve got to be very careful about that.”

Hudson did say he supports Trump in his opposition to unwieldy, multilateral trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“It may be that the future trade in the United States is bilateral trade,” posited Hudson. “Maybe these big deals are too complicated.”

The event’s final speaker from North Carolina was U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, who gave his perspective on national security issues from his position as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Burr said the most

frequent question he gets from foreign leaders and intelligence officials is, “Is America going to lead again?” now that Trump has assumed the presidency.

“The challenge that we’ve got today is, ‘Can we lead?’ and to recognize the fact that we can’t co-share that position with China and Russia,” said Burr. “I think there was a tendency on the part of the last administration to say, ‘Ya know, let’s rotate this leadership of the world.’ Rotating the leadership does not provide the relationship with our long-standing partners that we have to have to make sure we can police the world, especially when we have the security threats that we do today.”

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Bottles of Red Oak Brewery’s new 1516 Heller Bock go through the bottling machine inside the Whitsett, N.C., brewery,

ed the most vital term: raising the limit, a decision Bradford said is just plain dumb.

“They are playing Russian roulette with a loaded gun,” said Bradford. “A lawsuit will cost brewers

time and money, but they have everything to gain. If I’m a distributor, I’d want to recognize what is at risk.”

Exactly one week later, brewers filed suit, retaining judicial heavy-

Accused bomber Rahimi seeks reduced charges in New Jersey case New York City An Afghan-born U.S. citizen accused of planting bombs in New York and New Jersey fired on police in New Jersey to evade arrest, but those crimes fall short of attempted murder as charged, his defense lawyer argued on Monday.

Ahmad Khan Rahimi, 29, faces a 30-count indictment in New Jersey’s Union County in relation to a bomb blast in New York City’s Chelsea district last September that wounded about 30 people. Another bomb in New Jersey injured no one and other devices he is accused of planting did not detonate.

Georgia prisoner to be executed seeks firing squad instead of injection Atlanta A U.S. appeals court has rejected a Georgia death row inmate’s last-minute appeal to postpone his Tuesday execution by lethal injection and instead compel the state to use a firing squad, which his lawyers claim would be less painful for him. J.W. Ledford, 45, has spent about a quarter century on death row after being convicted of the 1992 robbery and slashing murder of a doctor who lived near him. He was scheduled to be put to death Tuesday evening. A lawyer for Ledford said his legal team would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

weight Bob Orr as primary council.

“After many years of going down the legislative path, we’re left with no other option to protect our business than through the court system,” tweeted NoDa Brewing Company following the announcement.

The Craft Freedom movement has significant support from nonprofit, free-market organizations including the Civitas Institute and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, has called the cap a “glaring example of harmful regulation that inflicts economic harm while serving no purpose other than pure protectionism.”

Bradford said he hopes this lawsuit will bring wholesalers back to the table, as they should realize brewers are not bluffing.

“I’d tell the distributors to take a long, hard look at this complaint,” said Bradford. “The keys to the kingdom lie in the oligopoly, and if that is ruled unconstitutional, their whole business model is at risk — they could lose everything.”

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017

Ray of light The Mudcats Corey Ray (2) prepares to go up to bat during the game against the Down East Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium, April 27, 2017.

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT

SPORTS

MILB

Bulls Chirinos Int’l League Pitcher of the Week

EBULON, N.C. — In September 2016, Corey Ray was informed he would undergo surgery Z for a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee stem-

NFL

Chiefs QB Mahomes uninjured during robbery

CFB

Three local players on Lott Impact Award Watch List Three football players from local schools were among nine ACC football players named to the 2017 Lott Impact Award Watch List. NC State senior linebacker Airius Moore, Wake Forest senior defensive end Duke Ejiofor and Duke senior cornerback Bryon Fields all made the list. The award is named after Pro Footbal Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, and annually recognizes a defensive player for both his performance on the field and his character traits of integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity. The winner will be named at a Dec. 10 banquet at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California.

Mudcats’ Ray proving ‘size doesn’t matter’

By R. Cory Smith North State Journal

The International League announced Monday that Durham Bulls pitcher Yonny Chirinos has been named the Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 8-14. The right-hander went 2-0 in two starts on the Bulls’ sevengame homestand last week with a 1.15 ERA, as he only allowed two earned runs in 15 2/3 innings, struck out 17, walked five, and allowed nine hits in his second and third career Triple-A starts. Chirinos pitched 6 2/3 innings in a 9-2 victory over the Columbus Clippers on May 8. The Venezuelan saved his best work for a 5-0 win over the Toledo Mud Hens on May 13, picking up a complete-game shutout on 100 total pitches.

Rookie Patrick Mahomes II, the Kansas City Chiefs’ top pick in last month’s NFL Draft, was uninjured after being robbed in Texas.

Mahomes, the former Texas Tech quarterback selected 10th overall after the Chiefs traded up in the first round, was back in his hometown of Tyler, Texas, when he was robbed on Friday night, according to the Smith County Sheriff’s office.

Deputies were dispatched at about 9:15 p.m. to a residence when they found Mahomes and three others who said they had been robbed by a man pretending to have a gun.

“We believe this offense was a completely random act and the suspect had no idea who he was robbing,” Sgt. Darrell Coslin said, per ESPN. “He wasn’t being targeted or anything.”

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

BOB DECHIARA | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) looks on during player introductions prior to game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden in Boston on May 15.

Olynyk channels inner Bird as Celtics slide past Wizards in Game 7 Kelly Olynyk went off down the stretch for Boston, propelling the Celtics to a win and into the Eastern Conference Finals

By Mike Shalin The Sports XChange BOSTON — Brad Stevens thought there was a simple explanation for what happened at TD Garden Monday night.

“If Kelly doesn’t go nuts and they throw in a couple more threes, we’re not talking about the next step,” the Celtics coach said after Kelly Olynyk’s huge game off the bench led Boston into the Eastern Conference finals with a 115-105 Game 7 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.

Olynyk, appearing on TNT after the game, said he got a call from his coach in the morning, telling him he had to be his “best when your best is needed.”

It was needed and Olynyk delivered.

Averaging 8.3 points per game in the playoffs, Olynyk exploded for 14 of his career-playoff-high

26 points in the first 8:34 of the fourth quarter, making five consecutive shots and playing solid defense to help the Celtics put away the Wizards.

The top-seeded Celtics host the defending champion Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday and Game 2 on Friday. Second-seeded Cleveland, 8-0 in the playoffs, took the season series 3-1.

“They’re tremendous. The defending champs,” said Stevens. “I think they’re playing better this year than they did last year.

“I’ve seen them play before. We played them four times. I think they’re better than any of the four times they played us.”

Asked what it would take to beat the Cavs, Boston’s Marcus Smart said, “Perfection.”

Boston, keeping the homecourt dominance of the season series intact, trailed by five with 5:39 left in the third quarter but outscored the Wizards 21-9 over the remainder of the period. With the Celtics down by three, Isaiah Thomas, who had 29 points and 12 rebounds — making him the first See OLYNYK, page B7

ming from a slide into third base in an instructional league game. After just 60 professional games in the Brewers’ system, Ray saw his 2016 season end prematurely.

Ray, the fifth-overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, was terrified to learn the news. Unlike most athletes who are all too familiar with minor surgeries, the 22-year-old outfielder had never undergone any sort of surgery in his life. He had never even suffered a baseball-related injury.

Wait, never?

“Yeah, never,” Ray said with a laugh. “I guess I’ve just been really lucky. I was really freaked out because surgery kind of scares me a little bit.”

One thing Ray did know was that knee injuries aren’t anything to mess with — especially for an outfielder who relies on his speed in every aspect of the game.

“When you mess up the knee, it could be a torn ACL, MCL or worse,” Ray said. “So it was bad, but it could’ve been much worse. I was blessed that, that late in the season, I was able to have surgery, go through rehab and get back on the field this quickly. That’s the way I’ve looked at it the whole way.”

Following his short stint with Milwaukee in Spring Training, Ray went through Extended Spring Training to fully heal before heading to Zebulon. He made his first start with the Carolina Mudcats on April 16 with a 2-for-5 outing with a stolen base and a run.

His first hit of the season? A triple. Kind of fitting for a player who suffered the first injury of his life sliding into third base.

“All I was worried about was just finding the barrel,” Ray said. “I knew my knee was fine, so the actual sprinting wasn’t a big deal for me. But man, getting a good piece of wood on the ball was huge for my confidence. Ending up at third was just icing on the cake.”

Born in Chicago, Ray came up through the

After coming off the first injury of his life, Corey Ray is showing out in Zebulon with a combination of power and speed.

See RAY, page B8

INSIDE

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

New basketball coach Kevin Keatts has optimism high at NC State, despite the departure of some talented players from last year’s roster. Keatts high-octane offense is only matched by his enthusiasm and energy, which has revived people in and around the program. It is Keatts first time as a head coach at a P5 program, but he’s not worried about the pressure. R. Cory Smith sat down with him for an exclusive interview. Read the story: B4-B5

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

B2 WEDNESDAY

05.17.17

TRENDING

Steve Palermo: Former MLB umpire and current supervisor died of cancer at the age of 67, Major League Baseball announced. Palermo was a full-time umpire in baseball from 1977 through 1991 when he was forced to retire after being shot in a parking lot while trying to help a pair of Texas waitresses who were being mugged.

Robert Griffin: Former Redskins and Browns quarterback announced on social media that he and his girlfriend, Grete Sadeiko, are both engaged and expecting. Griffin remains a free agent in the NFL. Oakland Raiders: The Las Vegas Raiders could take a hit when it comes to their timeline to move, as there is reportedly a “distinct possibility” that the Raiders could be delayed in moving to Las Vegas until 2021 by lease issues.

Ian Happ: Cubs called up their top remaining prospect in the farm system to play second base while the starting lineup battles with injuries. Happ, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, batted .298 at Triple-A Iowa and promptly hit a home run in his first game.

Adrian Peterson: Details of the contract for the Saints running back leaked out this week and it appears that Peterson’s contract will largely be tied to incentives.

Peterson gets a $2.5 million signing bonus and a $1 million base salary in 2017, along with a bevy of incentives related to rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

Kevin Cash: Rays manager was trolled

by Indians and former boss Terry Francona on video board before the two teams played.

beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

NBA

The San Antonio Spurs looked poised to shock the world and send the Bay Area into hysterics during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, leading the Golden State Warriors by 20 points when Zaza Pachulia slid underneath Kawhi Leonard and injured the MVP candidate. He left and the Warriors caught fire, eventually winning the game 113-111.

TROY TAORMINA | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

“You ever hear of manslaughter?

You still go to jail, I think.”

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on a wild rant when asked about whether or not Warriors big man Zaza Pachulia had intent to injure Kawhi Leonard during Game 1 of the Western Conf. Finals.

KYLE TERADA | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

GOLF

NFL

GEOFF BURKE | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

“He hasn’t played like this all year.

He probably hasn’t played like this in his career.”

Celtics center Al Horford praising Kelly Olynyk’s breakout game (26 points) in Boston’s Game 7 Eastern Conference Finals victory.

NFL

9 Number of wins that Las Vegas expects the Carolina Panthers to have in 2017, according to numbers released on Monday morning by the Las Vegas Westgate Superbook. The Panthers disappointed in 2016, falling well short of their projected 10-win total, but are considered the second most likely team to win the NFC South according to Vegas win total projections.

PETER CASEY | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

JEFF HANISCH | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

When the Seahawks signed running back Eddie Lacy this offseason, they made it clear that his contract would be tied to his weight. Lacy passed the first test with flying colors, unlocking a $55,000 bonus for coming in under 255 pounds (he weighed 253).

Si Woo Kim became the youngest-ever winner of The Players Championship with a three-under 69 in the final round at the Ponte Vedra course. Kim, who won the tournament by three strokes, shot even on the iconic par-3 17th hole for the course of the event.

MLB

Mother’s Day has long been a tradition around Major League Baseball, with every single team in the league donning some sort of pink attire to celebrate all the moms out there. On a day that was largely about Derek Jeter being honored by the New York Yankees and having his No. 2 retired (see more on B6), pink still ruled the day. The Braves were no exception, with rookie shortsop Dansby Swanson sporting a pile of pink while stepping to the plate.

STEVE MITCHELL | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Always Dry. Always Comfortable.

introducing the NEW 29 Express

w w w . a l b e m a r l e b o at s . c o m

Find us on

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

B3

LOCAL ROUNDUP

SPLITTER TO SPOILER

High Point makes NCAA history, Fayetteville hockey gets new name

By NSJ Staff Fayetteville FireAntz get rebrand, new name

ALLAN HENRY | USA TODAY SPORTS

NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman (31) celebrates after winning the Camping World 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale,

Redemption for Truex in record-breaking Kansas race ast year, Martin Truex Jr. led a race-high 172 laps at Kansas L and came into the pits for one last

pit stop ahead of the final restart.

He returned to the track with a chance to win, but quickly realized he had a loose wheel and returned to the pits, ultimately finishing 14th overall.

On Saturday night, he exacted some revenge on the track that left him feeling snake bitten last year.

Truex found his way to the front multiple times — leading a race-high 104 laps — but it was the final restart that sealed the win for Furniture Row Racing. Polesitter Ryan Blaney lost the lead on the restart and Truex pounced, taking the checkered flag ahead of Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Blaney and Kyle Busch.

“It’s always good to get a nice beer shower, 5-hour Energy and whatever else they’re throwing on us,” Truex said. “Pretty awesome, awesome day, awesome weekend.

This team rocks, man. They’re so good.

“We just stuck with it all night.

We had an awesome race car.

There’s times, there, we looked like we weren’t going to have a shot at it. We just kept fighting and made it happen.”

It was somewhat of a fitting win for Truex and his entire team given the circumstances. The caution flag waved a track-record 15 times on Saturday night and the No. 78 team was perfect on nearly every stop.

The win on the night before Mother’s Day marked Truex’s ninth win of his career. It was also the eighth overall win for Furniture Row Racing. Seven of those wins have come with Truex behind the wheel. It’s been a match made in heaven for both sides.

“Any of those restarts I could’ve got beat on,” Truex said. “I’m just so proud of everyone on this team; all my guys. ... It’s just amazing. It’s awesome.”

Truex is now propelled into the second overall spot in the NASCAR standings and joins Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski as the only drivers with multiple wins this season.

More importantly, he now has the most playoff points this year, which carry over into the postseason for each individual driver.

Oh, and don’t expect Truex and the No. 78 team to slow down any time soon. The next points race on the calendar happens to be the Coca-Cola 600, a race that Truex led for 392 of 400 laps — or 588 of 600 miles — last season.

Almirola aftermath proves how dangerous NASCAR still is Aric Almirola sat trapped in his car for nearly 15 minutes following a wreck that was started when Joey Logano made contact with Danica Patrick at Kansas.

Emergency personnel eventually cut the roof off the No. 43 car to remove Almirola from the mangled machine.

The wreck all started when Logano reportedly had a brake rotor blow, sending him down into Patrick’s rear quarter panel. With Patrick and Logano log jammed at the top of the track, Almirola had nowhere to go and slammed into both cars.

Almirola was carried off the track in a stretcher before being airlifted out of Kansas Speedway to Kansas University hospital, where he was kept overnight for further evaluation. It was revealed on Sunday that Almirola suffered a compression fracture to his T5 vertebra, located in the middle of his back. Almirola is mobile and was released from the hospital on Sunday morning.

The contact couldn’t be prevented, but it was a terrifying reminder of just how dangerous NASCAR racing can be.

“Just saying a lot of prayers for Aric [Almirola] right now,” Logano said. “I just hope everyone is okay. I hope Aric is alright.

R. CORY SMITH

That’s the last thing you want to see, a big hit like that for anyone.

It’s unfortunate for everyone. Let’s hope that Aric is alright.”

NASCAR has come a long way since the on-track deaths of several drivers, including Dale Earnhardt 16 years ago. But there is still clearly the risk of serious injury, as evidenced by Kyle Busch’s broken leg in 2015 and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s concussion last season.

As for Patrick’s response to the scary scene, well, it was something.

“We were having a really good race and having fun out there and had a lot of speed,” Patrick said. “I kinda felt like Wonder Woman for a little while. All I know is that I all of a sudden crashed. ... I am just frustrated for the lack of breaks I get. It seems like every time things are going better and something happens I get crashed or am in a crash. Especially a place like this, a brake rotor, when we are using 200-300 pounds of pressure seems odd.

“Unfortunately there were two of us that got collected and while I am OK, one of these times, one if these really big accidents someone is not going to be OK. Aric (Almirola) is not OK and his car looked the best of everybody.

You never know when it is going to be the wrong hit. I have a team that works hard and put another car on the track and I hope we are saving up for a really good run of good luck.”

While Patrick’s post-wreck comments were a bit self-centered — especially considering Almirola was carried off the track on a backboard — she’s saying what most drivers would in any other situation. It could literally happen to anyone. And while Almirola’s hit may have been a freak accident, NASCAR knows it’s possible. No better time than now to act.

Script written perfectly for Blaney, Wood Brothers

For the second time this season, Ryan Blaney won a stage but didn’t win the race. Saturday was also the second time this year he’s led more than 80 laps, only to watch someone else surpass him at the end.

Even with the heartache of another unfortunate loss, Blaney’s script couldn’t be written more perfectly. After all, he heads back home to Charlotte over the next two weeks with two chances to make a statement.

“It was nice to show our muscle this weekend and prove that, like I said, this is where the 21 team deserves to be, so it’s just nice to get back on track,” Blaney said.

“Going to a few racetracks that are pretty good for us, Charlotte and then we’ll keep moving on. It’s nice to have a good run today. Yeah, of course we wanted to win, but at the same time, you look at the gains we made all weekend and really being fast all weekend, that puts us back to where we need to be for sure.”

Blaney and Wood Brothers Racing have had their most success this season at 1.5-mile tracks in Las Vegas, Texas and Kansas. Charlotte is a 1.5-mile track that Blaney has plenty of experience at in the Xfinity and Cup levels.

Though he’s never won at Charlotte in any of the top three series, he also led a total of 16 laps over the last two seasons at the Cup level. This is a completely new Blaney and Wood Brothers Racing team. A win in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the year, would likely wipe away any doubts of his talent

Fayetteville’s minor league hockey team got new owners last month. Friday, the Southern Professional Hockey League team got a new name.

Charlotte businessman Chuck Norris and partner Jeff Longo announced at a public ceremony that the team formerly known as the FireAntz will now be called the Fayetteville Marksmen.

“There is no other community anywhere that could represent a badass name like the Fayetteville Marksman,” Norris proclaimed in announcing the name change at the team’s home, the Crown Coliseum.

According to Longo, a former college goalie who previously worked in the front office of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers, the Checkers’ marketing department played a role in coming up with the team’s new name.

They settled on Marksmen as a way of paying tribute to the soldiers stationed at nearby Fort Bragg, which is appropriate considering that Norris served as an Army private at the base from 1989-93 and often attended FireAntz games with his family.

“I learned to love this city after I got out of the military and stayed here. This is home to me,” Norris said. “I’m honored and privileged to give a home to this team and try to bring hockey back to where it used to be when we first got here.”

The FireAntz were founded in 2002 and were a charter member of the SPHL when it came into existence two years later. The team was annually among the league leaders in attendance and still holds eight of the nine largest single-game crowds in SPHL history — including a record 9,446 on Nov. 16, 2007 for a game against the Twin City (Winston-Salem) Cyclones.

High Point nets first ever NCAA victory High Point made history Friday night by beating Towson 21-

15 in the opening round of the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament in College Park Maryland.

By doing so, the Panthers scored the first NCAA tournament victory in any sport in school history.

The 36 combined goals were also a record, surpassing the 33 scored by Syracuse and North Carolina in 2012 as the most ever in an NCAA tournament game.

Junior Darla Poulin tied her career high with six goals while sophomore Emory Gaeng netted a personal-best five to lead the Big South Conference champions to their school-record 16th straight win.

With the victory, High Point advances into a second round matchup Sunday against top-seeded Maryland, which comes into the game with a 19game winning streak.

The Panthers (16-3) got off to a slow start against Towson, falling behind 5-3 after the opening 18 minutes. But they answered right back by scoring the next 10 goals to take control of the game and pull away.

The news wasn’t as good for the other state school playing in the women’s tournament Friday.

Elon, making its first NCAA appearance in only its fourth year of competition in the sport, surrendered the game’s first four goals and never recovered in suffering an 11-9 loss to Virginia in Chapel Hill.

The Phoenix (14-6) actually outscored the Cavaliers for the rest of the game, but it never got closer than the final three-goal margin.

Seven of Elon’s nine goals in the game were scored by players coming off the bench, led by a hat trick from Jacie Cooper and two scores each by Shelby Scanlin and Melissa Birdsell.

Virginia’s victory sets up a second-round showdown with ACC rival and defending national champion North Carolina at Fetzer Field on Sunday.

NCSU picks up A&T transfer Hunt NC State coach Kevin Keatts continued to add to his first roster at NC State with the addition

Duke rebounds big with recruiting efforts The Blue Devils cannot be held down for very long

By Shawn Krest North State Journal Good luck keeping Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils down for long. Even though the 2016-17 season came up short of expectations and a slew of players left for the 2017 NBA Draft, Coach K and Duke have rebounded quickly on the recruiting trail.

Luke Kennard leaving was not a surprise, but Frank Jackson staying in the NBA draft was a bit of a shocker and missing out on Kevin Knox looked like a huge blow.

Coach K promptly went out and landed a pair of recruits in Jordan Tucker and Trevon Duval.

Tucker, a four-star forward, became the fifth member of Duke’s 2017-18 freshman class when he announced his decision on Twitter this past weekend.

The 6-foot-7, 205-pounder became the focus of Krzyzewski’s recruiting efforts after top target Knox spurned the Blue Devils and Tar Heels to commit to Kentucky last week.

Tucker didn’t seem to be concerned about being second choice behind Knox. On Sunday, he tweeted, “Being a 2nd priority doesn’t change who I am as a player, I know what I’m capable of and I’m going to what’s best for myself and my family.”

Despite not offering a scholarship until recently, Duke had been on Tucker’s radar throughout his recruitment. In August, he named the Blue Devils as one of his eight finalists, along with Syracuse, Villanova, Indiana, USC, Connecticut, Maryland and Louisville.

On Saturday, Tucker posted

on his Twitter account, “I spent a long time thinking about this college decision, and I am excited for the next step of my career.

When weighing in all the factors, one school has the right combination of great academics and basketball. It feels like the best decision and fit for me. I know people may not agree with my decision, but I’m just a kid from White Plains, NY following his dreams! It is with great pleasure that I have decided to attend Duke University next season and join the brotherhood.”

Tucker is considered an elite shooter, particularly for a player his size. He’ll become the only small forward on Duke’s roster.

The 247Sports Composite Index rated him the No. 77 player in the senior class, the No. 18 small forward and the No. 10 player in New York.

Tucker joins five-star power forward Wendell Carter Jr., fivestar shooting guard Gary Trent Jr., four-star shooting guard Alex O’Connell and three-star point guard Jordan Goldwire in Duke’s

of former North Carolina A&T guard Sam Hunt on Saturday afternoon.

Hunt, a rising senior, is a graduate transfer and can play right away for the Wolfpack.

Over his final two seasons with the Aggies, Hunt was the leading scorer with 15.4 points per game as a junior and 12.7 as a senior.

While Hunt was the clear star for the Aggies, the team was headed in the wrong direction after a 3-29 campaign in 201617. Given a chance with a new head coach and a new program — regardless of his role — was too tempting for the Greensboro native.

“We talked about how it was all new,” Hunt told Pack Pride.

“They said I had a chance to start from scratch there with a new team, new environment.

“I could be a part of that and be a player that could maybe help them win games and win the conference.”

What Hunt offers NC State is another outside shooter to compliment Torin Dorn, Markell Johnson, Lavar Batts and fellow transfer Al Freeman. Keatts likes to play a guard-heavy lineup around a big and set a school record for 3-pointers last season with UNCW. Apart from just the depth Hunt brings to NC State, he also offers an emergency option if Terry Henderson doesn’t return.

Henderson is still awaiting word on whether he’ll be granted a medical redshirt for his junior season where he played only seven total minutes after transferring from West Virginia.

Given the corps officially coming back Hunt knows he has a chance to carve out a role in the backcourt.

“Well, coach Keatts isn’t the type to promise playing time,” Hunt said. “I know they have a great group of guys coming in with Al Freeman and my little brother, Lavar Batts. I know the big kid is coming back, [Abdul-Malik] Abu, and with the guys coming in I’d have a chance to compete for playing time and minutes. It would be a great situation.”

incoming class.

Then this week, Coach K really shored up the class by adding Duval, a five-star playmaking point guard out of Bradenton, Florida’s IMG Academy. The 6-foot-3, 190 pounder is the fifth-rated player in the senior class, according to the 247Sports Composite Index. He’s the No. 2 point guard and top player in the state of Florida.

Duval chose Duke over Arizona, Baylor, Kansas and Seton Hall. He had long been rumored to be close to declaring himself a Blue Devil. The announcement was delayed, possibly until freshman Frank Jackson’s NBA draft plans became clear. Jackson announced late last week that he would hire an agent and remain in the NBA Draft.

“Today, I’m ready to announce the next step in my journey,” Duval said in a video posted on The Players’ Tribune on Monday morning. “Next year, I’m going to be playing basketball at Duke University. I’m excited to evolve as a student, as a basketball player, and, now and forever, as a Blue Devil.”

Duval averaged 16.6 points and 7.7 assists as a senior last season. He was chosen for the McDonald’s High-School All-American Game, where he scored eight points.

CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski reacts during the game against Pitt Feb. 4, 2017 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

B5

Ready for the moment The journey to becoming the head coach of his own Power 5 program has taken Kevin Keatts a long time. But now that he is in charge of the NC State baskebtall program, the long-time coach is more than ready to embrace the pressure that comes with coaching at the highest level.

By R. Cory Smith North State Journal

R

ALEIGH — Kevin Keatts has been preparing for this moment for more than two decades.

Since starting out as an assistant coach at Southwestern Michigan — a now defunct program — Keatts always dreamed of being a head coach at the highest level of college basketball. Getting that chance with NC State was just icing on the cake in a coaching career that has spanned 21 seasons.

Growing up in Lynchburg, Va., Keatts didn’t root for the typical teams in Virginia, Virginia Tech or even Richmond or George Mason. Keatts was drawn to NC State at an early age and it carried with him all the way through his playing and coaching career.

“I don’t know if it was the ‘Wolfpack’ or if it was the color red, I just always had a fondness of NC State,” Keatts said. “When I took the job at Hargrave Military Academy I made several, several trips down here to take recruits and just visit Reynolds Coliseum. Something about this place drew me in.”

Keatts played as a point guard at Ferrum, but quickly discovered coaching would be his path to a long-standing career in basketball. His intuition was correct, taking him on a journey that eventually led him to the toughest conference in the sport.

It’s not an opportunity Keatts takes lightly.

“When you look around, there’s a lot of guys who would love to be coaching in the ACC,” Keatts said. “I certainly don’t take that for granted. We understand the guys we have to compete with and doing that starts with recruiting. A lot of the teams winning have pros. We’ve got to get guys in the program that can one day play professionally.”

Keatts’ unique path

Keatts hasn’t followed the typical path of being an assistant coach in the college ranks to eventually land a head coaching gig. In fact, he served as a college assistant in three different universities for a total of six seasons before UNCW came calling to rebuild the program in 2014.

The rest of that time was spent with Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., where Keatts led one of the premier programs in the country. During 10 years over two stints with Hargrave, Keatts compiled a 262-17 record, including two national championships and an unblemished 29-0 season in 2008 — the first in the school’s history.

“It gave me the opportunity to help young men grow,” Keatts said. “Whether guys needed help in the classroom, socially or on the court, by the time we let them out the door at the end of the year they had become grown men. I learned that coaching a player was more than just basketball, it was developing the whole man.”

How much does Keatts focus on winning? He doesn’t even remember his lone losing season in the last two decades.

In between his two lengthy stints with Hargrave, Keatts was an assistant coach at Marshall. During his second and final season with the Thundering Herd, Keatts was part of a team that went 14-15 overall.

Keatts remembers his time spent under Marshall coach Greg White, but has tried to forget that last season.

“Quite honestly, I didn’t even remember that until you told me,” Keatts said with a smile. “But any time you struggle as a coach or finish around .500, it makes you reflect and reevaluate everything as a coach. I’ve been blessed to have a lot of very good seasons. That just wasn’t one

“When you look around, there’s a lot of guys who would love to be coaching in the ACC. I certainly don’t take that for granted.”

— Kevin Keatts, NC State men’s basketball head coach of them.”

In 2011, Keatts left Hargrave for an assistant opportunity that went slightly better, joining Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino at Louisville. The Virginia native instantly became one of the program’s best recruiters, helping bring in future stars like Peyton Siva, Russ Smith and Montrezl Harrell.

Keatts never coached in the ACC during his time with Louisville, but helped win a National Championship in 2013, the program’s first since 1986.

While the continued success and chance to learn under Pitino were crucial, Keatts said it wasn’t easy to go back to being an assistant coach.

Luckily, Pitino never made Keatts feel like one.

“It was an adjustment for me going back to being an assistant again,” Keatts said. “But you can do that when you’re working with a Hall of Fame coach. He didn’t strip me from being a head coach.

He actually allowed me to inject some of my head coaching experience into the program.

“One of the things he told me was, ‘I don’t hire assistant coaches. I hire future head coaches.’ I think that was the biggest thing for me because it gave me the confidence I needed.”

UNCW plucked Keatts straight from Louisville after 2014 and he immediately engineered a substantial turnaround.

Keatts became the first coach in UNCW history to win three straight CAA titles and was the first coach in CAA history to be named the conference’s Coach of the Year Award two straight seasons.

For all the success he enjoyed in Wilmington, Keatts knows the ACC is a completely different beast. NC State is a program that has had some recent success in the NCAA Tournament, but Keatts is certain his system can take the program to new heights.

“It’s a different situation, different time for this program,” Keatts said. “But I am confident that when we start to implement our system and get some of our own guys in we will be successful. Now if that’s one year or two years, I can’t answer that. But I know we’re going to work extremely hard to get this program where it should be.”

But if there’s one thing Keatts can promise it’s that he won’t be outworked.

Blessed with an opportunity he aspired to his entire coaching career, Keatts made that abundantly clear during his opening press conference.

“This is an unbelievable opportunity for me,” Keatts said. “It’s something that I don’t take for granted. I’m going to work every day like this is my last day.”

Keatts the recruiter

When Keatts walked into the gym at the Dail Basketball Center on NC State campus to meet with us, he quickly noticed a familiar face shooting on the court. Former Wolfpack center DeShawn Painter was chucking up shots from just outside the college three-point line.

Keatts, who coached Painter at Hargrave, called out his former player from the balcony.

“What are you doing, trying to shoot threes?” Keatts asked.

“Yeah coach, that’s the European three-point line,” Painter answered.

“Only you and Omer [Yurtseven] know about that,” Keatts joked.

“Come on down and show me what a real one looks like, then,” Painter said.

Exchanges like that are exactly the approach Keatts says he takes with current players and future recruits. He doesn’t try to put on a facade with any player and always tries to treat each person, from the team manager to the trainer to the star player, the exact same. Nobody gets shown favoritism. That’s another lesson he took away from Pitino.

Taking those lessons to Wilmington, Keatts built a program around overlooked players like C.J. Bryce and Devontae Cacok along with transfers in Chris Flemmings and Denzel Ingram. Each of those players blossomed into a star, helping carry UNCW to two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

As for his approach to recruiting players now, everything has changed for Keatts in Raleigh.

“You have to sell what’s here, and at NC State we have a lot,” Keatts said. “You talk about the great academics, the city of Raleigh, the tradition with the national championships and Final Fours. And, probably most importantly, you talk about the style of play.

“Obviously with me being a player’s coach, you want to talk about what you can offer to help them reach their full potential.”

NC State was a fresh start in every sense of the word. Keatts still hasn’t found a home in Raleigh and even opined about how he had to convince his entire family, especially his sons, K.J. and Kaden, to make the move from the beach.

Prior to hiring his assistant coaches in James Johnson and Takayo Siddle, Keatts said he worked alone on nearly everything for the first few weeks. That included not only recruiting future players like top commit Lavar Batts, but also the current players while staying on top of academics and leading workouts.

“It’s not easy,” Keatts said. “Whenever you take over a program, you’ve got to multitask. … But it’s something that you have to do when you take over a job.”

Forward Shaun Kirk, a player who Keatts missed out on at UNCW as a recruit, was ecstatic to learn he would be taking over the NC State program. If anyone has a firsthand account of what Keatts is like as a recruiter, it’s the Whiteville, N.C. native.

“He’s not the type of coach who just tells you what you want to hear,” Kirk said. “He’s straightforward with you and wants the best for you as a person. That’s what makes him a great recruiter.”

So would Keatts being at an ACC school instead of Wilmington have swayed Kirk’s decision?

“It may have,” Kirk said with a smile.

“I get along with him very well and I respect him very much. I feel like that would have changed just a little bit because of his style of play. That would have made a big difference.”

Keatts the coach

While Keatts calls himself a “player’s coach,” he sets the bar extremely high for every single one of his players. In order to extract every ounce of talent out of his players, Keatts leads workouts — which is usually left to assistant coaches — and oversees every component of player development.

When asked what fans should expect

from his program, Keatts simply answered he wants to have the “best-conditioned team in the country.” Senior big man Abdul-Malik Abu is excited about the possibility, but not looking forward to the workload that’s coming.

“It’s going to be a lot of hard work,” Abu said. “He went and said we’re going to be the best-conditioned team in the country. Sounds good to y’all. Sounds good to us, too. But it’s gonna be some hard work. [Laughs] It’s a good fear, you know?

“It’s a motivation. It’s like, you know what, what do you have to lose? We won four games in the ACC last year. I don’t think it’s time to get more relaxed.”

So has the conditioning program started at this point?

“A little bit. I gave them a little taste,” Keatts said with a laugh. “We could only work with them up until the week before exams, so I haven’t had a chance to really implement it. We’ll take this summer to work on academics and conditioning.

We’ll get there.”

When Keatts brings a player into the program, he doesn’t expect them to be at the top of their game yet. His expectations are to build players in his system, which includes the players already currently in the program like Abu. It was something Keatts had to harp on at UNCW given that the talent pool to choose from for a CAA school wasn’t exactly as large as the ACC. But now that he’s with NC State, Keatts still sees player development as the most important factor in building his program.

“As a coach, recruiting is obviously the lifeline of your program,” Keatts said.

“But once you get ‘em, you’ve got to coach ‘em. You have to be able to mold them into the system and play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back. … Fans see the finished product. I want to develop the player and also create that bond between teammates to be able to compete on the floor together.”

That commitment to building his players rather than simply seeking the most talented recruits has built a reputation for Keatts in the coaching community. After surveying more than 200 collegiate coaches, he was named the third most respected/feared assistant coach in July of 2013 by ESPN.com’s Jeff Goodman.

Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall explained why Keatts has earned that distinction.

“Kevin not only knows players and where they are,” Marshall said, “but once he has them in his program, he has the unique ability to pull the most out of them while maintaining a special relationship with them at the same time.”

Sure, Keatts is known as a coach who loves to open the floor, shoot threes and play full-court press like it’s going out of style. But Keatts is so much more than that.

He’s groomed UNCW players into stars and coached future NBA players like Marreese Speights, David West, Jordan Crawford and Lorenzo Brown during his time at Hargrave. Regardless of the player he’s working with, Keatts draws from every player he’s coached in the past to find success.

“Every kid has a different personality and a different approach and all come from different walks of life,” Keatts said.

“I’m a big comparison guy, so when I meet a guy I’ll say, ‘His personality reminds me of so-and-so,’ or ‘His game reminds me of so-and-so.’ Seeing all types of personalities and games has helped me grow as a coach.”

Given his 21 years of coaching, myriad future professional players and aspirations of one day making it to the ACC, Keatts is more than ready for this moment.

PHOTOS BY EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

NC State men’s basketball head coach Kevin Keatts poses for a photograph at the Dail Basketball Complex in Raleigh, May 11. This year is Keatts first year as head coach at NC State after leading UNC Wilmington’s program to two NCAA Tournament appearances and three consecutive CAA regular season titles.

Keatts’ course to Raleigh 1996 Keatts hired as assistant for Southwestern Michigan, his first coaching gig.

1999 Keatts takes over as head coach for Hargrave Military Academy, his first head coaching position.

2008

2013

Hargrave goes undefeated under Keatts for first time in school history.

With Keatts as an assistant, Louisville wins first national title since 1986.

2011 Keatts leaves Hargrave with a record of 262-17 to join Rick Pitino's staff at Louisville.

2014 Keatts accepts first Division I head coaching position with UNCW.

2015 UNCW wins first CAA regular season title in nine years under Keatts.

2016 Seahawks make first NCAA Tournament in 10 years with CAA Tournament title.

2016 Keatts becomes first person to win CAA Coach of the Year in consecutive seasons

2017 After a second NCAA berth for UNCW, Keatts named NC State’s head coach.

Chancellor Randy Woodson, right, leads NC State’s new men’s basketball coach Kevin Keatts, center, into Reynolds Coliseum during an introduction event in Raleigh, March 19.

UNC Wilmington head coach Kevin Keatts reacts in the first half of the NCAA Basketball Championship first round game against Duke at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, March 17, 2016.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

B6

Duke and UNC both show up big in lax Duke is the state’s only remaining hope in the men’s bracket after an upset of Johns Hopkins while High Point’s women fall to topseeded Maryland

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal ORTH CAROLINA got hot at just the right time last year on N its way to the men’s lacrosse nation-

al championship. This year, the Tar Heels’ postseason run ended almost before it had a chance to get started.

Coach Joe Breschi’s defending champions were ousted in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday with a 15-12 loss at eighth-seeded Albany, ending UNC’s hopes for a second straight title sweep. The Tar Heel women held up their end of the bargain, looking strong as they began defense of their 2016 national crown with a 23-12 rout of ACC rival Virginia on Sunday.

In other NCAA lacrosse action this weekend, Duke advanced to the quarterfinals of the men’s tournament with a 19-6 upset of sixth-seeded Johns Hopkins while the High Point women, who won the first ever tournament game in any sport in school history two days earlier against Towson, were eliminated with a 21-6 thumping at the hands of top-ranked Maryland.

UNC’s men, which had to win last week’s ACC tournament just to sneak into the NCAA field, spent nearly the entire game at Albany on Saturday trying to dig out of the early hole it dug for itself. After last year’s Final Four MVP Chris Cloutier opened the scoring with a one-handed behind-the-back goal

five minutes in, the Great Danes responded by reeling off the next six goals and built a 14-3 lead by halftime.

Although the Tar Heels battled back gamely, outscoring Albany 6-0 in the third quarter and 9-1 in the second half, their rally ran out of gas when they were unable to score over the final 5:49.

Cloutier led UNC (8-8) with five goals while Jack Rowlett and Luke Goldstock added two each.

Duke, which was also unseeded, put on an overwhelming performance handing perennial power Johns Hopkins 19-6 its first home postseason loss since 1991, ending a streak of 17 straight NCAA tourney wins at Homewood Field.

The Blue Devils (12-4) fell behind early, but after surrendering the game’s first two goals came roaring back to score seven of the next eight to open up a lead they would never relinquish.

Junior Justin Guterding led Duke’s offensive onslaught with four goals and four assists. Teammate Joey Manown also scored four times and Sean Lowrie added three goals while goalkeeper Danny Fowler added eight saves, limiting Hopkins to only a single goal in the second half.

The Blue Devils, who earned their first NCAA tournament victory since winning the national title in 2014, will advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals where they will play third-seeded Ohio State at noon in

Hempstead, N.Y. As potent as Duke’s offense was on the men’s side, the UNC women’s attack was even more powerful as the second-seeded Tar Heels (17-2) set a school record for goals in an NCAA tournament game.

Playing its first tournament game following an opening-round bye, UNC got six goals from Carly Reed and five from Marie McCool to overwhelm the Cavaliers and surpass its old record of 22 goals scored against UMBC in 2012. The Tar Heels also got three goals and an assist each from Sammy Jo Tracy and Molly Hendrick while Ela Hazar picked up her 37th assist, breaking the single season school record.

The victory sends the Tar Heels into a quarterfinal matchup against Navy in Chapel Hill on Saturday at 1 p.m.

High Point, meanwhile, saw its 16-game winning streak come to an end Sunday with its loss to Maryland. The Panthers surrendered the game’s first seven goals on the way to a 12-2 halftime deficit from which they never recovered. Emory Gaeng and Erica Perrotta scored two goals each for High Point, which finished the best season in school history at 16-4.

In the Division II men’s bracket, Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne both suffered opening round losses with Wingate dropping a 14-5 decision to Limestone and Lenoir-Rhyne suffering an 11-8 defeat at the hands of Tampa.

Sydney Holman sprints down the field cradling the ball, in a North Carolina women’s lacrosse match against Virginia Tech.

JEFFREY A. CAMARATI | UNC ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

GETTING THE GREEN

Baseball’s new approach toward 3-0 counts Bulls join several teams breaking one of baseball’s oldest rules

By Shawn Krest North State Journal IN AN APRIL GAME against Charlotte, the Durham Bulls were clinging to a 1-0 lead when Mike Marjama led off the fifth inning.

Knights starter Lucas Giolito was struggling with his control. He’d walked three batters already and would finish with just 43 of his 90 pitches being strikes.

Giolito quickly fell behind Marjama as Charlotte got a reliever up in the bullpen.

The count went three balls and no strikes on Marjama, and Giolito was in a jam.

He took a little off of his fastball and threw it down the middle of the plate.Marjama swung and crushed a deep fly ball for a home run that doubled Durham’s lead.

Two batters later, Giolito was gone and the Bulls were on their way to a 6-0 win.

The play demonstrates a change in approach for the Bulls — and many other teams — this season, one that requires violating one of baseball’s most sacred commandments: Don’t swing on 3-0.

It’s easy to see why batters have long been instructed to leave the bat on their shoulder in that situation. A pitcher that has thrown three straight balls is clearly struggling. Make him throw a strike.

Swinging the bat often takes the pitcher off the hook, giving him a much needed strike or an out when he’s on the ropes.

Bulls hitting coach Ozzie Timmons is a longtime proponent of taking in that situation. “There’s nothing you can do at 3-0 that you can’t also do at 3-1,” he said.

Still, the Bulls have shown a willingness to roll the dice and break that rule this season. Through the first 35 games, Bulls batters have swung on a 3-0 count 18 times, about once every other day.

To put that in perspective, Durham had just 18 swings in that situation in the first three months of last season. The Tampa Bay Rays, Durham’s MLB parent club has just one swing at 3-0 this year and had four all of last season.

It’s not a question of batters being less disciplined. The vast majority of the time, the decision to swing is made from the bench. Coaches have a “green light” sign — essentially a permission slip to swing on 3-0 — they flash from the bench, the same as the signs to steal or bunt. Until they see that sign, hitters assume the light is red.

When asked about his approach on

Home run rate on 3-0 counts

Home run rate 3-0 swings

Home run rate, all other counts

MLB

9.1 percent

3.2 percent

Durham Bulls

11.1 percent

2.2 percent

Swing frequency on 3-0 counts

3-0 swings

3-0 counts

Swing frequency

2008-2010 MLB

748

28,506

2.6%

2015-2017 MLB

683

18,545

3.7%

3-0 counts, Bulls infielder Willy Adames, one of the top prospects in the Tampa Bay system, responded immediately, “Wait for the green light. There’s no approach unless you have the green light.”

“At this level?” Timmons asked with a laugh. “No one has a green light all the time. In the Major Leagues, maybe Mike Trout or Miguel Cabrera.”

A look at the results shows why Bulls batters are getting the green light from coaches on 3-0 so often. Eleven percent of Durham’s swings on 3-0 have resulted in home runs. That compares to two percent of all other swings.

“It’s usually the best pitch you’re going to see,” Timmons explained. A pitcher who needs to throw a strike, especially when he thinks there’s no danger of the batter swinging, is going to serve up a straight, slow, hittable pitch that hitters usually see in batting practice.

Getting the green from the bench isn’t a guarantee the batter will swing. It would probably be more accurately described as a yellow light: Proceed, with caution.

“If you’re going to swing, it’s got to be in your spot, in the very heart of your hitting zone,” Timmons explained, holding his hands in a circle about the size of a softball to demonstrate the sweet spot. “You need to hit it hard. You shouldn’t be looking to go opposite field or anything. I want to see either a home run or a deep foul ball that you pulled hard.”

“You need to see your pitch,” said Durham’s Jake Bauers. One of Bauers’ three home runs on the season came on a 3-0 count.

“It needs to be over the fence,” said Adames. “Either a home run or …” Adames made a whooshing noise and followed an imaginary deep foul ball over his shoulder.

Adames and Bauers have combined for eight of the Bulls 18 swings on 3-0 this

year.

A 3-0 count can represent a batter’s best chance for a home run, something that more and more teams are realizing.

“It depends on the pitcher and the situation in the game, but there are times when we’ll give them the green light,” Timmons said. In a recent game against Columbus, Bulls batters twice pulled the trigger on 3-0 counts. “In that case, we were struggling a little bit. We’d lost three in a row and needed a spark against a good pitcher.”

While the Rays don’t take many shots on 3-0, other Major League teams are giving it a try. Over the last three seasons, MLB batters swing about once every 27 times they have a 3-0 count. As recently as 2010, it was once every 40 times.

MLB batters are doing damage in that situation. Over the last three years, the combined MLB batting average on a 3-0 pitch is .390 with a 1.722 OPS, compared to .254 and .721 on all other counts. Batters have also hit 62 home runs on 3-0 in 683 at bats, a nine percent home run rate that is more than triple the rate on all other counts.

Of course, it doesn’t always work out.

In the Columbus game where Timmons thought the Bulls needed a spark, the two swings produced four outs.

“That’s okay,” Timmons said. “He hit it hard. We usually see him get a good swing on it in those situations, and he has power.”

The other swing came from Johnny Field, a light-hitting center fielder. Field got under the ball, popped it into the infield and a runner was doubled off of second base to end an inning.

Timmons took Field aside the next day for a talking to. “I told him, ‘You’re not a home run hitter. You don’t need to be doing that.’”

In other words, wait for the green light.

ADAM HUNGER | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the game against the Houston Astros Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York on May 14.

Potential purchase of Marlins could make Jeter change his (pin)stripes The Captain may end up having to switch allegiances if he buys the Marlins

By Roger Rubin The Sports XChange NEW YORK — Steeped in history, legendary ballplayers and championships, the New York Yankees really have it down when it comes to pomp.

The fete they gave Derek Jeter on Sunday night as they retired his No. 2 was tremendous. His plaque in Monument Park was unveiled, and others who have gone there before him — Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Bernie Williams — were there to take a packed house back in time to one of the franchise’s greatest eras.

Jeter did in this moment exactly what he did in his majestic playing career: delivered a great performance with humility and thankfulness.

He said that there was no player in history that he would have changed places with. He said, “I’m eternally grateful to be part of the Yankee family.”

And he added how thankful he was to have played in front of the “best fans in all of sports.”

There is a reasonably good chance this was the last time to see Derek Jeter as a Yankee at Yankee Stadium. We know he will be a Yankee one more day: the day he is enshrined at the Hall of Fame in five years, perhaps as the player who receives the highest percentage of the ballots in history.

But Jeter is now part of a group that also includes Jeb Bush that has been tabbed as “the preferred bidder” to buy the Miami Marlins for more than $1.3 billion. Hard as it is to envision him ever being a part of a Yankees Old-Timers’ Day under any circumstances — probably not, but maybe in street clothes like Joe DiMaggio did the final few times — it would be even more difficult to do that if he owned a competing franchise.

Let’s remember that Jeter was always about the competition. It would be difficult to envision that softening if he owned the Marlins. Rather, it would be much more likely to see him spreading that attitude throughout the Miami organization.

Jeter did not want to get sidetracked on that subject on his night at the Stadium. He insisted people are getting carried away, and prematurely at that.

Not so much his former teammates.

“Owning a team, for him it’s a challenge and brings out that competitive spirit again, of trying to win a championship,” Tino Martinez said. “I think that’s really what he wants to get involved in, is getting to his next level of his life in baseball where he can still do something to achieve a World Series and be the best team, best at what you do.”

Posada said, “People are asking, ‘Is it going to happen? That would be great.’ He brings that winning mentality. The people in Miami want it. They want change.”

Baseball players, by and large, live charmed lives. They are big business, but in actuality, they are being handsomely paid to play a kid’s game.

Among them, Jeter tells a rare story. When he was an 8-year-old, he decided he wanted to be the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees.

And with singular focus and a little bit of luck, he became just that. One of the greatest to play the game, too.

About a decade ago, he was asked what he thought his next act might be. In a radio interview, he said he would like to become an owner because it would be “cool” to “call the shots.” He underscored it by saying: “I will do it one day.”

So, in a sense, we’ve seen this before from The Captain.

There were news reports last week that the Jeter-Bush group might be looking at too much debt to buy a money-losing franchise like the Marlins. Another bidder vying for the Marlins was Tagg Romney (Mitt’s son) and Hall of Famer Tom Glavine in the ownership group.

And you thought real-life and politics don’t mirror one another.

Success in a sport does not necessarily predict success as part of a front office. Michael Jordan has spent years with the Charlotte Hornets without success. Nolan Ryan had some success with an ownership stake and the presidency of the Texas Rangers, but he ultimately was out of power a few years ago. Then again, John Elway was part of the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl success a couple of years ago, and Mario Lemieux is part of the ownership group of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are aiming for their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship.

Only time and banking acumen will determine whether Jeter becomes part of another franchise.

And if he and his group succeed in buying the Marlins, he will be invited back to the Stadium and will have a decision to make.

The Yankees’ doubleheader with the Houston Astros on Sunday was the hottest ticket in New York in some time. The place was packed, and rightfully so. It may have been Derek Jeter’s penultimate day as a Yankee.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

B7

Nelson event set for farewell goround at Las Colinas in Dallas

NFL NOTEBOOK

For the final year, the Byron Nelson PGA Tour event will take place at Las Colinas

By Tom LaMarre The Sports XChange

LUCAS JACKSON | REUTERS

Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bundchen attend the 2017 Met Gala.

Mixon attends NFLPA event, Brady humble about G.O.A.T. status

By NSJ Staff Bengals RB Mixon to attend NFLPA’s rookie event Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon is among the 40 players who will attend the NFLPA’s Rookie Premiere event this week.

The NFL Players Association announced Monday that the 23rd annual event will take place Thursday through Saturday in Los Angeles to help rookies “learn the business of football.” The event also is designed to help rookies secure endorsement deals.

The Bengals received criticism for using the 48th overall draft pick on Mixon, who punched a female student in the face and fractured her jaw during his freshman year at Oklahoma in 2014. Mixon recently settled his civil suit with the woman.

The players’ union released the list of rookie participants, including Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette and Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer.

Brady humble about G.O.A.T. status New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, selected last week as the cover star of “MaddenNFL 18,” dubbed the G.O.A.T. edition, is uncomfortable being called the greatest of all time.

Brady, in a wide-ranging interview with ESPN’s Ian O’Connor, disagreed with the talk he has surpassed his boyhood hero, former San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana, as the GOAT of quarterbacks in the game’s history.

Montana won four Super Bowl rings and Brady collected his fifth in February when the Patriots overcame a 25-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime of Super Bowl LI. “I don’t agree with that,” Brady told O’Connor of the GOAT talk, “and I’ll tell you why. I know myself as a player.

I’m really a product of what I’ve been around, who I was coached by, what I played against, in the era I played in. I really believe if a lot of people were in my shoes they could accomplish the same kinds of things. So I’ve been very fortunate. ... I don’t ever want to be the weak link.

“I was the backup quarterback on an 0-8 team in my freshman year of high school. I got to Michigan, I was seventh (string), and I had a hard time getting to be No. 2, and when I finally got to No. 1 there was someone else (Drew Henson) they wanted to be No. 1. I got to be a sixth-round pick behind a great player, Drew Bledsoe, and then I got an opportunity, and I’m still trying to take advantage of it. Part of who I am now is very much who I was, and that was cultivated growing up.”

Kessler in lead for Browns QB job Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson said the quarterback competition is open, but Cody Kessler will begin offseason practices as the starter.

Jackson indicated Kessler has earned the chance to open organized team activities as the starter ahead of Brock Oswei-

ler, Kevin Hogan and rookie DeShone Kizer.

“This thing’s open. It really is,” Jackson told reporters Saturday at rookie minicamp.

“But Cody’s done a great job.

That’s the reason I brought his name up first. He’s really improved. He’s worked his tail off, and he deserves the right and the opportunity to walk in this building and walk out there first. And they’ve got to take it from him.”

Kessler started eight games last season for the Browns, passing for 1,380 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions as a rookie.

The Browns acquired Osweiler from the Houston Texans in March, even though he was not expected to be in the team’s long-term plans.

“He’s competing,” Jackson said of Osweiler. “He’s here. And I said from the beginning, if a guy is in our locker room we’re going to treat him like any of our other players.”

Broncos won’t treat Charles like workhorse Jamaal Charles wasn’t brought in to start at running back. But he wasn’t brought in to twiddle his thumbs, either.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ alltime leading rusher signed an incentive-heavy contract with the Denver Broncos right after the draft. His lengthy history of knee problems, especially in the last two seasons, put a cap on his potential effectiveness as he heads into his 10th season.

But in a group that includes 2015 Pro Bowler C.J. Anderson, 2016 draft pick Devontae Booker and 2017 sixth-round choice De’Angelo Henderson, the Broncos aren’t counting on Charles to take the position and carry the team’s hopes of an improved ground game on his back.

In fact, they’re not counting on any one back to do all of the heavy lifting.

“The running back position, you need two or three guys that can carry the load,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “It is no longer a one-guy position.

“I’m excited to have Jamaal, C.J., Book, even De’Angelo in the mix there. It’s a good group.

It’s going to be competitive, and that’s the way it should be.”

Saints expect Unger back in preseason The New Orleans Saints now expect center Max Unger, who recently underwent foot surgery, to be ready to play in Week 3 of the preseason.

There were reports speculating that Unger would miss the start of the regular season, but Saints coach Sean Payton said otherwise on Saturday.

“We anticipate probably early August,” Payton told reporters on day two of rookie minicamp when asked about Unger’s return. “I see him possibly being able to get into the preseason.

Our goal would be Week 3 (of the preseason), so that’s where he’s at.”

The 31-year-old Unger has been dealing with the same foot injury that caused him to miss one game last season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14.

Payton said Saturday that Unger decided to have surgery about a week ago to insert a screw into the foot after not seeing positive results following the initial plan of resting the Lisfranc injury.

THE AT&T Byron Nelson is playing out the string at TPC Four Seasons Resort at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas, this week and will head for the greener pastures of Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas next year.

The move was first announced in 2013, before the Trinity Forest course designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore even existed, and it wasn’t supposed to happen until 2019, but tournament officials simply couldn’t wait.

Perhaps they never got over what was then called TPC Las Colinas being voted by players as the worst course on the PGA Tour in an anonymous Sports Illustrated poll several years ago.

Things got better after architect Steve Wolfard, with help from PGA Tour pros D.A. Weibring, Harrison Frazar and J.J. Henry, reworked the course several years ago, but the stigma never really left.

“We are forever grateful to Four Seasons and the City of Irving for a long, prosperous partnership that has enabled us to raise over $150 million for Momentous Institute, impacting over 100,000 lives,” David Watson, AT&T Byron Nelson board chair, said when the early move was announced last year.

“We look forward to our tournament’s future and continuing to change the odds for kids.”

The tournament, which dates to 1944 when Byron Nelson captured what was then the Victory Open at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas, has been held at the Four Seasons since 1983.

Perhaps defending champion Sergio Garcia, who also won the tournament in 2004, is the only player who might miss the old course when the move is made.

Surprisingly, the Spaniard didn’t sound so convincing last year.

“I don’t know,” Garcia said when asked where TPC Four Sea-

OLYNYK from page B1 player to put up those numbers in a Game 7 since 2007 — hit two 3-pointers and Smart one in a 1:13 span to put the home team ahead to stay.

“Kelly was MVP tonight,” Thomas said. “He did it all.”

The Celtics then opened the fourth quarter on a 9-2 spurt, but Bradley Beal kept the Wizards alive until Olynyk buried them.

Olynyk shot 10 of 14 from the floor and also had five rebounds and four assists, leaving the game to a huge ovation with 1:37 left (he returned briefly in the final seconds).

There were even chants of “Kelly” from the boisterous crowd.

“I did hear that, in between the MVP chants for Isaiah,” Olynyk said.

Olynyk’s heroics helped the Boston bench outscore the Washington reserves 48-5.

“We needed to help the starters, help with Isaiah,” he said. “He’s been putting us in really good positions, and the type of attention that they were drawing to him, he was getting rid of it (and) putting us in great positions and we had to make plays, and that’s what we tried to do.”

Olynyk was the victim of a Kelly Oubre Jr. shove in Game 3 that got the Wizards forward suspended for Game 4. Oubre played just six seconds in Game 7, the crowd

RAYMOND CARLIN III | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Brooks Koepka (left) and Jordan Spieth (right) shake hands before teeing off on the first hole during the final round of the 2016 AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament at TPC Four Seasons Resort - Las Colinas in Irving, Texas on May 22, 2016.

sons ranks on his list of favorites.

“It depends. I guess it all depends on how you’re feeling that week at the end of the day.

“It is definitely a course that I enjoy playing.”

Garcia won with a par on the first hole of a playoff last year after Brooks Koepka hit his drive into the water, and he equaled the record for most victories on the PGA Tour by a Spaniard — nine — set by his idol, Seve Ballesteros.

Garcia, who broke that mark when he claimed his first major title last month in the Masters, also won the 2004 Byron Nelson with a par on the first extra hole to turn back Robert Damron and Dudley Hart.

In 1999, Garcia made his first start on the PGA Tour in Irving at the age of 19 and tied for third.

When he won the event the first time, he was greeted by the great man himself, Byron Nelson, as the winners were until Nelson died in 2006.

Last year, Byron’s wife, Peggy, brought Garcia to tears when she told him behind the final green that her husband was looking down “with a big smile and is very happy.”

Said Garcia: “It’s been a very emotional week. Obviously, Peggy finished it off by making me cry, which I didn’t think I was going to do. But it was nice to have that

problem.”

Despite any complaints about the course, Garcia is on an impressive list of champions in the tournament, with Tom Watson winning four times, Nelson rival Sam Snead taking three titles and Jack Nicklaus plus Texan Bruce Lietzke winning twice along with Garcia.

Other winners include Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Peter Thomson, Julius Boros, Miller Barber, Lanny Wadkins, Don January, Raymond Floyd, Ben Crenshaw, Craig Stadler, Fred Couples, Payne Stewart, Nick Price, Scott Simpson, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Roberto De Vicenzo and Adam Scott.

Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings has said having the AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest will put his city “back on the golf map,” and Jordan Spieth and Hunter Mahan have become members of the new club.

Spieth’s swing coach, Cameron McCormick, is director of instruction, and the Southern Methodist men’s and women’s golf teams call the new course home as well.

However, it will take awhile for Trinity Forest to match that list of champions, from Nelson to Garcia with many other greats in between.

The initial 10-year contract won’t be nearly enough time.

chanting his name in the final seconds.

Al Horford had 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, Jae Crowder 14 points and five boards, and Smart 13 points, six rebounds and four assists in the win.

Beal led the Wizards, who have not reached the conference finals since 1979, with 38 points, 18 in the final 16:06. Otto Porter scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Markieff Morris contributed 18 points and nine rebounds.

“I hate losing, especially (because) we felt like we were the better team,” Beal said. “You credit them because they played their tails off.”

Washington guard John Wall had 18 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, but he shot just 8 of 23 from the floor, 1 of 8 from 3-point range. He missed his last 11 shots, seven of them from behind the arc, after flexing his muscle following a basket with 7:03 left in the third quarter.

“I love him. I love how he plays,” Washington coach Scott Brooks said. “That guy is a true winner. ... He’s exactly what you need to lead your team. He’s exactly what I need for being my point guard.

“The future is bright because he’s leading us.”

Said Wall: “We (were) one game short tonight, so it’s not a satisfying season to me.”

All 11 games between these teams in the regular season and postseason — all physical affairs — were won by the home team.

The Celtics have beaten the Wizards nine straight times at TD Garden dating back to 2014.

The Celtics hit 11 3-pointers for the eighth straight game, leaving them one game shy of matching the all-time playoff streak.

NOTES: Celtics coach Brad Stevens, who borrowed a Bill Belichick line pregame by telling his players to “do your job,” on his team’s mindset coming in. “Our guys’ vibe doesn’t ever change. ...

That’s one of the things I’ve really appreciated about this team.” ...

The Celtics played in their NBA-record 30th Game 7, improving to 21-9, 19-4 at home. ... The Wizards were 7-0 in the playoffs when allowing under 110 points, but they fell to 0-6 when giving up more than 110. ... The Celtics are assured of no worse than the fourth pick in Tuesday night’s draft lottery as they still reap the benefits of the Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce trade to Brooklyn. ... The Wizards are 6-4 in Game 7s, 2-4 on the road. ...

The Celtics played a Garnett video urging the fans during the first timeout. ... Belichick was spotted in one of the boxes. ... Washington coach Scott Brooks fell to 2-1 coaching in seventh games. He was 2-0 with Oklahoma City, both wins over Memphis.

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) shoots the ball over Washington Wizards guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) during the second half in game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 15.

BOB DECHIARA | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

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North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Bears try to prevent QB controversy between Glennon, Trubisky Chicago looking to find enough practice reps for Glennon and Trubisky

By The Sports XChange LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Fitting both Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky in with the Chicago Bears might be a problem, but not in the sense popularized by post draft reports.

The narrative — accurate or not — for Bears quarterbacks is Glennon resents the selection of Trubisky, or at least the inability of the team to tell him they were spending the second pick of the draft for his potential replacement.

When Trubisky came in for Bears rookie camp on Friday, it seemed more of a time and motion problem for the Bears coaching staff than one of personalities, egos or hurt feelings.

“It’s just my job to come in and be a great teammate and continue to make the quarterback room better, make those guys better and get them ready to play,” Trubisky said.

“And in my own game, just continue to strive and get better every single day. It’s my job to come in here and be a good teammate. And when I’m out here with the rookies in rookie camp, be the starter and run the show.”

Finding the time to groom Trubisky, while also getting Glennon up to starting levels in the offense is a problem coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains must address. Having backups Mark Sanchez and Connor Shaw on board only adds to the problem.

Simply, there aren’t enough reps available when full squad practices begin with OTAs. “We have to be really smart with our plan and how we practice, because it’s not just one guy, it’s two guys and there’s Mark and there’s Connor,” Loggains said. “So we need to make sure that we’re getting everyone ready to play.”

One possibility might be longer practices, but the CBA limits practice time.

“We’re going to look at every different avenue,” Loggains said.

“Those are things that we’re going to have to look at and look into.

We’re still playing with a couple ideas.

“I feel like we have a good grasp of those things and we’re going to look at every different option, every different avenue and be flexible. Some things may be different

day-to-day that way.”

Loggains had to go through quarterback development issues in the past with Cleveland and Tennessee. He pointed to Vince Young and Kerry Collins, Jake Locker and Matt Hasselbeck as examples.

He called it all an issue of ”... just making sure we do what’s right by Mike and giving him enough opportunities to get ready, and develop Mitch, as we give Connor and Mark Sanchez reps, as well.”

At least from what the Bears saw initially, Trubisky isn’t overwhelmed by the task of learning a pro offense or standing under center rather than in the shotgun.

His initial reaction to seeing the offense and its concepts was positive.

“It’s all about allowing the quarterback to make great decisions, getting the ball out, being accurate and getting it to the playmakers,” Trubisky said. “It just seems like it fits my abilities so far.”

Trubisky has immersed himself in the offense.

“I pretty much don’t stop studying until I feel comfortable,” he said. “And then I go to bed, wake up and do it again. I just keep going over it. I like flash cards. That works for me for formations and stuff like that. Pairing things together because, I mean, there’s a reason why within the playbook and why we do things, and it matches up.

“It’s been going smooth. I love the offense so far. I’m just trying to master it one day at a time.”

After the first day of practice, Fox wasn’t about to confirm anything more than Trubisky’s talent.

“I don’t know that we’re quite ready after one practice to define his career, but obviously I think we put a lot of work into the evaluation and again saw a lot of the reasons why we decided to pick him where we did today,” Fox said.

“He’s very accurate, very smart, he’s got good football character, as far as transferring things from the meeting room to the field. And I think we saw that today.”

Harmony in the quarterback room will be an issue to be addressed at a later date. Fox sees bringing in a starter and an heir apparent all at once as normal NFL job competition.

“I don’t know that it’s a new concept,” he said. “I’d rather not make a big deal out of something I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

Trubisky said he hadn’t even met the other quarterbacks as of the start of rookie camp.

“But we’ve been texting — that’s the day and age,” he said. “So I’m looking forward to meeting him.

But I’ve been talking to him, and he says it’s a great time to be in because we’re all learning the playbook together.”

And that could be the real problem, rather than pride or hurt feelings.

--A question almost as big as quarterback for the Bears is wide receiver, where there is complete inexperience.

They’ve changed Kevin White’s jersey number from 13 to 11, perhaps to chase away bad luck that put him on the shelf with broken legs his first two NFL seasons.

But White is being counted on to be the big play threat with only unproven players and castoffs comprising the rest of the crew.

“I hate being generic, but Kevin needs to get better every day,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “Obviously he hadn’t played as much football as we would’ve liked him to play. He’s done a good job out here in the offseason program right now and it really is as simple as getting comfortable and getting healthy and learning the offense and learning the new wrinkles we’ve put in and doing a good job with that stuff.”

Loggains said so far so good with White, but the rest of the group is an issue, as well.

“It really is a process for us, and we had a bunch of guys that had an opportunity to play because of injury last year, and they needed that experience because there’s a lot of guys in there that some people — they’re not big names.

“And people don’t know who they are at times. Other opponents do, I think that those guys did a good job filling in. Cam Meredith, Josh Bellamy, DT (Deonte Thompson), they got to play more than they ever got to play at wide receiver. So that’s the biggest thing and we have to continue to grow off that.”

Kendall Wright and Markus Wheaton are veteran acquisitions who have to prove themselves again.

“And Kevin White being back in the mix, Markus Wheaton, Kendall Wright, we got some vets in there that have played in the NFL and create great competition that should make everyone better,” Loggains said.

--As someone who worked closely with Jay Cutler, offensive coordinator Loggains believes the former Bears quarterback can make the transition to the broadcast booth -- even if it means he’s

AARON DOSTER | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon (8) against the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on Nov. 13, 2016.

MATT MARTON | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky addresses the media after the Bears’ Rookie Minicamp workout at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill. on May 12.

doing a Bears game.

“I’m perfectly ready for Jay to criticize our offense,” Loggains said. “I’ll hear it before you (media) guys do through text message.

I think he’s gonna be wonderful.

“Jay’s an extremely talented person. He’s a smart person. Jay will be successful in whatever he chooses to do and I think he’s going to do a wonderful job.”

--Rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky was able to throw in practice to second-round pick Adam Shaheen, the 6-foot-6, 278-pound tight end from Division II Ashland.

“I’ve never thrown to a guy that big,” Trubisky said. “He has huge range to catch the ball, so it makes it a lot easier for me.”

Fox acknowledged there will be questions over whether a Division II player can contribute immediately.

“Yeah, you know the whole level of competition is something you look at and evaluate in our league, but I think with Adam I saw the same thing here today -- still the size and the quickness and the

length that he has regardless of what school he played at,” coach John Fox said. “You know that transfers here and I thought it did today.”

--Safety Eddie Jackson of Alabama, the fourth-round pick, wasn’t ready to participate in full because he’s still rehabbing from a broken leg.

“I think he’s feeling better,” coach John Fox said. “He’s still in part of his rehab as far as timeline. We did some things with him but we’re going to make sure he’s healed and ready before we put him out there.”

--Fourth-round draft pick Tarik Cohen immediately displayed some of the speed and moves the Bears saw from him leading up to his selection. He did a 180-degree spin out of a crowd and then burst up the middle on a running play.

“You know again he’s quick, he’s explosive, he’s an outstanding athlete,” Fox said. “I think he is short in stature but there’s been some shorter guys have great careers here in the National Football League.”

The Mudcats’ Corey Ray (2) swings at a pitch during the game against the Down East Wood Ducks at the Five County Stadium on April 27.

RAY from page B1 inner city before attending Simeon Career Academy. While there was plenty of professional baseball with the White Sox and Cubs both close to home, there weren’t many players outside of Cliff Floyd and Rickey Henderson — who retired in 2003 — to idolize from the city.

When Ray was drafted fifth overall by the Brewers in 2016, he became the first top-five pick from Chicago since Jeff Jackson in 1989. Jackson, who also attended Simeon, never made it to the big leagues after hitting just .234 in 666 minor league games over nine seasons.

Ray knows the history of Chicago players and he wants to be an ambassador.

“I don’t feel like I have to carry the banner for Chicago players, but I want to,” Ray said. “I want to bring heed to the talent in Chicago, especially in the inner city.

Give those guys an opportunity to know someone’s there for them and have a great role model.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from. It doesn’t matter what you’re up against. If you work hard enough and you’re driven enough, you can get anywhere you need to be.”

His talent on the field is undeniable with his combination of speed, awareness and athletic ability. But Michael Lananna of Baseball America said what makes Corey Ray special isn’t entirely based on his on-the-field attributes.

“There are a lot of things that make Corey special,” Lananna explained, “but what I keep going back to isn’t even on the field. It’s just the kind of person he is and the makeup he has. You talk to him and you can tell he has star potential. He’s polished. He’s a hard worker. He’s determined.

“He’s someone who can impact the game in a lot of ways, but it’s who he is that makes him special.”

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

As a young player, Ray himself idolized multiple players in the big leagues. After rattling off a list of myriad players from Scott Podsednik to Jacoby Ellsbury, Ray recounted one of his first baseball memories of Ichiro Suzuki from his days with the Seattle Mariners.

“I remember having seats in right field at U.S. Cellular Field and seeing Ichiro get a hit, steal a base then throw a guy out the next inning,” Ray recounted. “I was like, ‘You know what, that’s the player I want to be.’ That’s who I wanted to be in the big leagues.”

Ray had figured out who he wanted to be, but several coaches tried to tweak his approach. Rather than swinging for the fences, several coaches and instructors

tried to turn Ray into a slap hitter to utilize his speed on the basepaths.

That didn’t sit well with Ray, who knew he could hit for power with even the best sluggers. Mudcats manager Joey Ayrault is happy he didn’t listen to that advice.

“He’s got an unreal combination of power and speed, why would you ever want to change that?” Ayrault said with a laugh.

“When you see the guy’s got it, I’m not sure why you’d ever question it.

He’s got the full package to hit for average and power. I just tell him to square it up like anyone else, don’t change anything.”

But at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Ray doesn’t have the frame of a typical home run hitter. So how

does he make up for the perceived lack of height and body weight?

With forearms that look like he’s smuggling grapefruits and bat speed compared to Trea Turner of the Washington Nationals.

“Corey doesn’t have the prototypical size for a power hitter, but he has insane bat speed,” Lananna said. “That’s really where he generates all of his power. The comparison a lot of people make is Curtis Granderson, but I’m not sure he has that much power. … I can also see the Trea Turner comparison too, which works perfectly for baseball. It’s not a knock to be that size, there’s just a lot more to prove.

“He’s someone who can surprise you, though. He’s much more than

just a speedy outfielder.”

With eight stolen bases already this season, 10 doubles and a triple, Ray is still waiting to hit his first home run in his first full season of minor league baseball. But after a walkoff RBI double last Sunday adding to multiple clutch hits already this season, Ray is proving to be a star for the Mudcats early on.

“On the field, I don’t think size matters,” Ray said with a smile. “I knew from a young age I could hit.

I’ve worked my entire life to prove it and I think I’ve convinced people at every level.

“Speed is a big part of my game, but it’s not the only part. Hitting for power is never not going to be a part of my game.”

A “Simple” sneak peek, Page 3

wednesday

05.17.17

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL

play list

May 19-20 Beaufort Music Festival Beaufort

the good life

The event draws artists from all around the county, providing music from various genres like R&B, folk, blues, punk, bluegrass and more. Also, you’ll enjoy great food, a beer garden and children’s activities! Artists include Caroline Dare, Muddy Magnolias, 4Everall, Blue Cactus and many more.

May 19-21 Got to be NC Festival Raleigh The annual Got to be NC Festival is a community celebration complete with livestock, fried food and family-friendly attractions.

The three-day event features a homegrown food fair, carnival rides, live musical performances, pig races, hands-on farm activities for kids, barbecue from the region’s top pitmasters, lumberjacks, car shows, displays of antique farming equipment and a fireworks spectacle.

IN A NORTH STATE OF MIND

dig in | Kinston’s home plate

North Carolina Potato Festival Elizabeth City A fun-filled, family festival that celebrates one of northeast North Carolina’s largest crops — potatoes!

May 20 Race City Festival Mooresville Mooresville’s annual celebration coincides with Charlotte Race Week and features family fun areas, hundreds of vendors, food, antiques, arts and crafts, kids areas, dancing, live entertainment and more!

Photos by eamon queeney | North State Journal

Fans line up for barbecue before the Down East Wood Ducks’ game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Grainger Stadium in Kinston on April 21.

Take me out to the food trucks

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal KINSTON — There’s just something about a baseball game that makes a hot dog taste better.

So imagine, then, the effect America’s Pastime might have on a burrito or a sandwich piled high with wood-smoked Eastern North Carolina barbecue.

Actually, there’s no need to imagine.

All it takes is one look at the lines snaking 20 to 30 people deep behind the first base stands at Kinston’s Grainger Stadium on a Food Truck Friday to realize how well even the most nontraditional ballpark foods can mix with baseball.

You could say the combination is as natural as a duck in water.

Or in this case, a whole flock of Down East Wood Ducks looking to make an impression on fans in their new home.

“I hope we’re kind of bringing the tailgating mentality here,” said Wade Howell, general manager of the Wood Ducks, which began its first season as a Carolina League expansion franchise in Kinston last month.

“It’s a little bit of that cross-demographic where you get people that aren’t necessarily baseball fans that just come out for some

“I hope we’re kind of bringing the tailgating mentality here.”

Down East Wood Ducks GM Wade Howell

A look at the pulled pork sandwich from the Sam Jones BBQ food truck during the Down East Wood Ducks’ game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Grainger Stadium in Kinston on April 21.

food and a good time. They stick around and watch fireworks after the game and maybe they come back for the baseball at some point. You can see from the lines, the response has been pretty positive so far.”

While there are still concession stands serving the standard ballpark fare of hot dogs, chicken fingers, pizza and popcorn for traditionalists and those not patient enough to wait a few extra minutes — or innings — for their

orders, the most popular dining options are the food trucks that have quickly become a fixture at every Friday night home date.

At a recent game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the cuisine du jour was served up by Dank Burrito, a Morehead Citybased operation serving chef-inspired Tex-Mex offerings, and Sam Jones Wood Fired Whole Hog BBQ of Ayden. There was also a cart selling craft beers from Kinston’s own Mother

Earth Brewing. Dank Burrito was filling in for another regular, local favorite Chef & the Farmer.

But it was clear from the steady stream of customers that began an hour before the first pitch and didn’t let up until the third inning, the lure of jerk chicken tacos garnished with pineapple mango salsa and Asian pulled pork burritos with soy ginger slaw was strong — even for those who’d never tried them before.

“The line is the only reason we’re going,” said Nathan Bridge, who waited with his friend Sarah Price for nearly 20 minutes in line before placing their orders.

“I figure if it’s this long it must be good.”

His hunch was confirmed by Leanna Tyson, a regular patron standing just in front of him. “It’s amazing,” she said. “It has a twist See kinston, page C3

Cheerwine’s 100th Anniversary Salisbury Cheerwine is 100 years old and throwing a birthday party in downtown Salisbury! This outdoor festival is to thank customers and fans for their support of the Southern soda for the past century. The party will feature free Cheerwine, live bands, a barbecue cook-off (12-2 p.m.) and more!

Atlantic Beach Music Festival Atlantic Beach You don’t want to miss the 4th Annual Atlantic Beach Music Festival at the boardwalk at the Circle. The lineup consists of Coastline, Band of Oz, Fantastic Shakers and Mighty Saints of Soul.

in business Farm worker protections top Sec. Troxler’s White House meeting, an interview with Bank of America’s Katherine Lockheart, and our market wrapup.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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NeCessities! history marked May 13, 1913 Winston and Salem merge The election of a new unified city board brought the town Salem and the city Winston together as one to create Winston-Salem. Both respective places had completely different backgrounds.

Salem’s roots were traceable to 1753 and established by Moravian Bishop August Spangenberg. Winston was created in 1849 as the county seat for Forsyth County. In 1879, the first attempt to merge the cities failed when Winston residents didn’t want their city to be called Salem. The local post office was renamed “Winston-Salem” to show the closeness of the cities. By 1913, the second attempt proved successful.

May 14, 1932 First concert for North Carolina Symphony

May 18, 1947 North Wilkesboro Speedway, the roots of NASCAR, opens

The North Carolina Symphony gave its first performance at Hill Hall on the UNC campus. The concert featured 48 musicians from around the state and included the music of Wagner, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and others.

The symphony was the first state to receive financial aid with the passage of what later would be known as the “Horn Tootin’ Bill” in 1943. Today, the North Carolina Symphony is a highly regarded professional orchestra known as the “people’s orchestra” with a strong legacy of music education.

North Wilkesboro Speedway opened the track to a crowd of more than 10,000 spectators. The 5/8-mile oval dirt track was best known for challenging drivers, and the speedway was among the first tracks recognized by NASCAR during its inaugural year of 1949. North Wilkesboro Speedway is often known as “The House that Junior Built” in regards to NASCAR legend Junior Johnson. It was there Johnson began his career there at age 16 and won four of his 50 NASCAR victories. The last Cup race held at North Wilkesboro was on Sept.

29, 1996, with more than 60,000 fans in attendance and won by Jeff Gordon.

May 21, 2007 Chimney Rock purchased by the state The state bought Chimney Rock State Park from the Morse family who had owned it for more than a century. Located in west Rutherford County, two months later the General Assembly merged the park with neighboring Hickory Nut Gorge and renamed the entire 5,942 acres to Chimney Rock State Park. The first stairway to the mountaintop opened in 1885 while the Morse family constructed the 252-foot elevator shaft inside the mountain, along with a gift shop and snack bar at the top and included nature center and hiking trails. Today Chimney Rock is managed by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

Source: North Carolina Department of Cultural and Natural Resources

photo courtesy of Mark Turner

stir it up

Adding some cheer to your cherry cobbler As Cheerwine celebrates 100 years, we celebrate National Cherry Cobbler Day with a Carolina twist

Each year on May 17 we celebrate a traditional fruit pie — the cherry cobbler.

The cobbler name comes from the biscuit dough topping that is rough looking, or “cobbled,” and is often topped with vanilla ice cream to complement the warm fruit filling. In North Carolina, National Cherry Cobbler Day coincides with the 100th Anniversary of a bubbly cherry concoction known as Cheerwine. In honor of two Southern traditions, we present to you a recipe from Steven Gordon of the blog Taste of Southern (tasteofsouthern. com) who recommends that Cheerwine Cherry Cobbler be served warm, topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Photos courtesy of Steve gordon

Cheerwine Cherry Cobbler served with ice cream.

Cheerwine Cherry Cobbler

By Steve Gordon | tasteofsouthern.com Prep Time: 45 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes Servings: 6 Ingredient: Filling

1 to 2 lb. fresh cherries, pits and stems removed.

2 12 oz. Cheerwine sodas (regular, not diet) ½ teaspoon cocoa ½ teaspoon almond extract

Ingredients: Topping

1 cup self-rising flour ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup granulated gugar 1 egg, slightly beaten 1 Tbsp cornstarch ½ stick unsalted butter, melted

Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place cherries in a colander, rinse under cold running water.

Remove stems and pits. Split the cherries for best results.

Place cherries in a small sauce pot over medium heat.

Pour the cooked cherry mixture into the casserole dish.

Spread the topping evenly over the cherries.

Place flour and cornstarch in a sifter, sift together into a large mixing bowl.

Melt the butter and drizzle over the topping.

Add brown sugar.

Add granulated sugar.

Add 2 bottles of Cheerwine soda.

Whisk dry ingredients together.

Add cocoa and stir well.

Add one whole egg to center of dry ingredients.

Let simmer until syrup has reduced to about one cup liquid.

Remove from heat and stir in almond extract.

Generously butter a two-quart casserole baking dish.

Break egg with a fork and continue to stir until ingredients are mixed well and crumbly.

Use your fingers and break apart any large lumps that may have formed.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until crust tests done with a toothpick.

Remove from oven, place on wire rack to cool.

Serve warm, topped with ice cream or whipped topping if desired, and Enjoy.

Note: This recipe will work using either one or two pounds of fresh cherries. No adjustments are needed otherwise. It just depends on how much fruit you prefer in your cobbler.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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turn the page | ‘Slightly South of Simple’

An exclusive look into Kristy Woodson Harvey’s newest novel

By Laura Ashley Lamm | North State Journal

Salisbury native and Southern fiction author Kristy Woodson Harvey brings us an exclusive deleted scene from her newest book, “Slightly South of Simple.”

The first in an all-new series, “Slightly South of Simple,” journals the lives of three sisters and their mother in the small Southern town of Peachtree Bluff. This must-read in your summer book collection introduces you to Ansley and her three daughters — Caroline, Sloane and Emerson.

Take a sneak peek at her chapter, “Ansley: Thin Air” from the novel that uncovers secrets from the past, reshapes the meaning of family, and reminds you there is plenty of love to go around.

Slightly South of Simple Available on Amazon in paperback ($11.32) and for Kindle ($11.99) 400 pages Published by Gallery Books Series: The Peachtree Bluff series, Book 1

My grandmother was always sitting on the porch waiting for us when we arrived in Peachtree Bluff. It didn’t matter if it was the dead of winter or the dead of night. She was going to be there, ready with open arms, the absolute second we arrived.

I never gave much thought to it, but looking back, it makes me feel incredibly loved.

That was trickier to do with my girls because the children never tell me anything. They just show up. So, as much as I wanted to be there the moment Sloane and my grandsons arrived, I decided to get some work done for a couple of hours before they (potentially) got into town.

Two down, one to go, I thought as I was walking to the store that morning. After their knockdown, drag-out the day before, Emerson and Caroline seemed to have made up, thank goodness.

There is truth in saying that, once your adult kids come home, they become children once again.

Emerson and Caroline were certainly arguing like it. And leaving me to pick up their dirty socks.

They stayed up until all hours of the night, Caroline munching the cookies that Vivi and I had made earlier and Emerson sipping herbal tea.

I would let this lack of food go for one more week, until filming began. But believe you me, I would be on that set soon, and I would ask that director if he really told her to be this thin for this role. On the one hand, it scared me. On the other, I was impressed by her will power. I never could have stayed on a cleanse for that long or maintained that little body weight. Impossible. But I guess if you want something badly enough you figure out a way.

Jack crossed my mind, of course. But, in all honesty, I wasn’t completely confident that he wanted anything more from me than to decorate his boat. The thought that these feelings I had harbored for all these years were one sided horrified me. And made me realize that I needed to reel it in a little bit.

Besides, this was far from convenient timing. Caroline,

kinston from page C1

and a twang that isn’t traditional.

It has a little spice and a lot of flair.

It’s definitely worth the wait.”

The same could be said for the adjacent barbecue truck, whose line was slightly shorter only because it’s faster to construct a pulled pork sandwich than it is a more elaborate burrito or taco.

One of the more popular items on owner Sam Jones’ menu is the loaded mac and cheese — a generous serving of barbecue piled on a bed of macaroni and cheese and topped with a drizzle of sweet red sauce.

“It’s an interesting dish,” Jones said. “We make everything from scratch. “It’s whole hog, cooked over wood, lightly seasoned with vinegar. Unadulterated is the way I like to describe it.”

Though his mobile kitchen is well known at festivals and other events Down East, Jones’ asso-

Photo courtesy of scott taylor photography

Kristy Woodson Harvey sits in her living room in Beaufort where she does much of her writing.

Emerson and Vivi were already at my house and not only was a new baby on the way but Sloane was also. Every time I remembered that, I relaxed. So, yes, Sloane would bring a threeyear-old and a one-year-old.

But she would also bring that air of calm, that peacemaking, soothing personality that seemed to balance out my other girls. She was just so normal. In the best possible way.

I slid my key into the lock on the front door of the store, the delicious smell of the L’Objet candles wafting by. They looked as beautiful as they smelled.

I walked immediately to the back of the store, happy butterflies rumbling in my stomach. Giant boxes were stacked all the way across the back wall, meaning I had some serious goodies to go through. But the bell tinkled before I could.

Emily and Sandra, my two best girlfriends, walked through the door.

“Hey, Ans,” Sandra said. Her short, dark hair was pulled back from her face and she and Emily were both wearing shorts, t-shirts and walking shoes. Emily didn’t work and Sandra’s job was very flexible — as most “jobs” around Peachtree Bluff were, mine included.

“We were going to see if you wanted to go for a walk,” Emily said. She stopped to pick up a small tray I had on display. “I love this,” she said. “Can we put this in the new house?”

I was walking around the store, moving a stack of cocktail napkins an inch here, wiping a dust speck off of a champagne flute there. “Emily, sweetheart. I don’t know how to say this, but if you’ll recall, the purpose of this move is to downsize. You can’t move from 5,000 square feet to 2,200 and still keep all of your

ciation with the Wood Ducks is his first venture into the arena of sports.

“The management here reached out to us a few months ago,” Jones said. “We came out and did the unveiling of their team name and it’s just been a good relationship.

We’re great friends with Vivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer and it’s worked out well.”

Howell said the Food Truck Fridays are only part of a concerted effort the team has made to enhance the ballpark experience from past incarnations of minor league baseball at Grainger Stadium.

“The concession stand on the third base side was a big improvement, because it was just like a little one window shack that you could only get beer at,” Howell said. “Between that and adding some carts and trying to do things like (the food trucks), those are amenities people will like.

“They’ve always had in-seat

stuff and try to add more. That isn’t going to work.”

She put her hands on her hips. “I told you I’d get rid of the wingbacks, okay?”

I loved decorating for my friends, but sometimes it could be a little tricky. Emily and her husband Greg had bought this beautiful historic home right on the water and were about to put their larger house on the market, but bless her heart, the woman could not part with her things. It took me nearly a week to convince her to get rid of these hideous floral wingback chairs that she had complained about how much she hated since probably 1991.

“Do you have any idea how much that Brunschwig & Fils fabric cost me?” Emily had asked me for the millionth time the day we were scouring her house, tagging the things we knew we wanted to donate.

“Yeah, Em. I do. But it was twenty-five years ago. Styles change.”

She shook her head. “Not really.

I hated them almost as much twenty-five years ago as I do now.”

This is what I have to deal with.

The box of knickknacks from her mother-in-law had at least been an easy thing to convince her to part with. She kept the box in the attic and, three times a year when her mother-in-law came to visit, put them out. “Also,” she had whispered, “if we could have a small accident that, sadly, ruins dear Uncle Edward’s portrait I would be grateful.”

I had shuddered. Poor Uncle Edward had this unfortunate lazy eye that followed you around the room. But Uncle Edward had a penchant for portraits and most of the family had at least one likeness. They dutifully hung them because, in addition to his love of art, Uncle Edward loved money and his family and since

services for the box seats, but they never had vendors walking through the stands hawking beer and other concessions, and we’re doing that. We’re trying to speed up people’s service a little bit and not have them wait two or three innings to get what they want.”

That is, of course, unless they have their taste buds up for something more than a hot dog — no matter how much better they taste while in the stands watching a game.

“Just the atmosphere, the goodness of it, it all goes together,” said Tracy Rose, a fan waiting in line for some of Jones’ barbecue. “We decided to come tonight because it’s food truck night and we heard they’d be here. I’ve eaten at their restaurant, but it just seems better out here at the ballpark.

“There’s something about barbecue and baseball. They just go together. It’s even right up there with apple pie and baseball.”

he was childless, (if you saw the portrait, you’d understand why) had left quite the trust for his nieces and nephews.

I had realized that this was my moment. “I will off Uncle Edward if you get rid of Molly’s Madame Alexander dolls.”

She had gasped. “Ansley, I couldn’t possibly. They are treasures.”

“Em, there are forty-two of them. Only six have all four limbs and both eyes. I think ‘treasures’ is an overstatement.”

Plus, they were creepy. Like Uncle Edward, they watched me as I walked around the room. It was no wonder poor Molly had night terrors.

“I’ll let you keep two,” I said.

“Two?” she whined.

“Two,” I repeated firmly. I had planted my feet and gestured to the grand piano that Emily insisted I fit into this house where there was absolutely no room.

“And, if you can play chopsticks right now, I’ll figure out how to use the piano. If you can’t, I get to buy that living room furniture I showed you.”

Emily walked confidently to the piano and sat down on the bench. For a minute, I was nervous. Maybe I was wrong; maybe Emily could play this old thing. She began to play and sing, “Here we go, up a road, to a birthday par-ty,” and we both burst out laughing.

I sat down beside her on the bench and said, “It’s going to be okay, you know. You’re going to feel so clean and fresh and sparse in this new place you won’t miss anything.”

That day in the store, Sandra chimed in and said, “Ansley, Emily is trying to bribe me to sneak stuff to a rental storage and not tell you.”

“Oh you’ll never get that by me,” I said.

Eamon queeney | North State Journal

A detail look at nachos from the Dank Burrito food truck during the Down East Wood Ducks’ game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Grainger Stadium in Kinston on April 21.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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ENTERTAINMENT Don’t mess with Marvel at the box office

By Seth Kelley Reuters LOS ANGELES — “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” continued its box office reign this weekend, while “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” is the summer season’s first major flop.

Disney and Marvel’s superhero sequel followed up its $145 million opening weekend domestically with an additional $66 million from 4,347 locations. That’s a 55 percent drop, which is in line with expectations. The film’s domestic total is now just shy of $250 million.

“King Arthur,” meanwhile, may just want to put that sword back where he found it and pretend this never happened. The release from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow made only $14.7 million from 3,702 locations — a paltry sum considering its $175 million production budget.

The mythical epic starring Charlie Hunnam in the titular role was critically drubbed (it currently has 27 percent approval on Rotten Tomatoes), but has a relatively high B+ CinemaScore. Director Guy Ritchie had success with a similar reimagining of longstanding franchise with 2009’s “Sherlock Holmes” and its sequel “A Game of Shadows” which both grossed more than $500 million worldwide. More recently, though, his spin on “Man From U.N.C.L.E.” saw a disappointing take ($110 million globally) despite achieving a bit of a cult and critical following.

This weekend’s other major release is neither a box office heavyweight like “Guardians” nor a bust like “Arthur.” Fox’s “Snatched,” starring Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn as a mother and daughter, grabbed $17.5 million from 3,501 theaters, landing it in second overall. The Mother’s Day release has been less than adored by critics (from whom it has collectively earned a 36 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), but audiences have earned it a more positive B CinemaScore. The midbudget, R-rated comedy was produced by Chernin Entertainment and Feigco Entertainment.

Universal’s “The Fate of the Furious” and Fox’s “Boss Baby” round out the top five. The former tacked on an additional $5.3 million from 3,067 locations this weekend, raising its domestic total to $215 million. The latter earned $4.6 million from 2,911 locations for grand total of $162.7 million after seven frames.

One limited release managed to break into the top 10 as Blumhouse’s Tilt label put out “Lowrider” in 295 locations. The film, toplined by Demian Bichir, Gabriel Chavarria and Theo Rossi, overperformed with $2.4 million, putting it in the eighth slot overall.

Networks cancel shows ahead of new fall titles Reuters LOS ANGELES — As the major networks prepare for annual upfront presentations in New York next week, they’re sharpening their axes, canceling shows left and right to make room for new titles in the fall.

The house-cleaning includes both freshmen series like Fox’s trio of newcomers — “Son of Zorn,” “Making History,” and “APB” — and bubble shows like “Sleepy Hollow.” The cancellation of veteran Tim Allen’s “Last Man Standing” on ABC has drawn criticism in conservative circles.

Allen, an outspoken conservative in liberal Hollywood, recently told Jimmy Kimmel, “You gotta be real careful around here [Hollywood], you get beat up if you don’t believe what everybody believes. ... It’s like [1930s] Germany.” The cancellation of Allen’s six-year-old comedy elicited Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to tweet: “Looks like @ABC is playing politics with your show despite decent ratings.” “Last Man Standing” was ABC’s second highest rated comedy this season, averaging 8.1 million viewers, behind “Modern Family,” with an average of 8.7 million viewers. Modern Family was renewed for two more seasons recently.

Here is a look at more of the shows that will not be back next season:

ABC Conviction – The series starring Hayley Atwell as a former first daughter blackmailed into heading a New York unit dedicated to examining suspected wrongful convictions wasn’t re-elected after its first season.

s. buckley | Image collect

“Last Man Standing” cast members Kaitlyn Dever, Nancy Travis, Tim Allen and Amanda Fuller at the 2013 Midnight Mission’s “Golden Heart Awards.”

viewers this season.

CBS 2 Broke Girls – The comedy, starring Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs as waitresses, has been canceled after six seasons at CBS. The series posted solid ratings throughout its run. Season 6 averaged a 1.3 rating in adults 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers per episode, airing mostly on Monday nights.

The Great Indoors – The Joel McHale and Christopher Mintz-Plasse sitcom averaged a 1.4 rating and 6.9 million viewers per episode, but was still pulled despite being one of the network’s highestrated comedies.

American Crime – John Ridley’s prestige drama starring Felicity Huffman and Regina King had three critically acclaimed seasons, but the response from viewers didn’t hold sway. The Season 3 finale drew a mere 0.4 in the adults 18-49 demo.

Doubt – In possibly the most ruthless cancellation of the season, “Doubt,” a courtroom drama starring Katherine Heigl and Dule Hill, was booted after only two episodes aired. The second episode of the drama shed almost half of the total viewership of its lead-in, “Criminal Minds.”

Imaginary Mary – After just one season on the air, Jenna Elfman’s sitcom was canceled after its ratings couldn’t compete with other ABC comedy series.

Pure Genius – The medical drama starring Dermot Mulroney was forced to end its run after one season. The series averaged only a 0.9 Nielsen live-plus-same-day rating among adults 18-49 over four episodes.

Dr. Ken – ABC pulled the plug on “Dr. Ken,” the sitcom from “The Hangover” and “Community” actor Ken Jeong, after two seasons and declining ratings. Jeong also served as creator, writer and executive producer/director.

The Catch – Like “Dr. Ken,” ABC dropped the Peter Krause and Mireille Enos-starrer after two seasons. The Shondaland caper averaged 4.6 million

Fox Sleepy Hollow – After developing a loyal fanbase, “Sleepy Hollow,” starring Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane, was canceled after four seasons. The supernatural drama saw its ratings drop sharply in Season 4, averaging a 0.5 rating in the 18-49 demo and 1.9 million total viewers — down 40 percent in the demo and and 37 percent in

viewers from the previous season.

Rosewood – The police procedural drama, centered around a Miami pathologist played

by Morris Chestnut, was axed after two seasons. The show originally aired on Wednesdays as the lead-in to “Empire.” The ratings quickly plummeted when it moved to Thursdays and then Fridays this season. It closed out Season 2 down more than 50 percent in the key demo and nearly 40 percent in total viewers compared to its first season.

Pitch – The baseball drama about the fictional first female MLB player failed to find an audience and struck out after a single season. Despite early buzz, the show averaged a 0.8 liveplus-same-day Nielsen rating in the 18-49 demo and 3 million total viewers per episode. The cancellation, however, offers good news for “Riverdale” — Mark Consuelos will be able to resume his role as Veronica Lodge’s father, Hiram.

APB – By the time freshman drama “APB” wrapped Season 1, the series averaged only a 0.8 rating in adults 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers.

NBC Emerald City – The Oz-based show starring Adria Arjona as Dorothy Gale reached the end of the yellow brick road after one season. Its ratings slowly plummeted with each additional episode.

Powerless – The DC Comics Universe show exploring the lives of citizens attempting to protect themselves from superheroinduced catastrophes had its

last three episodes pulled after consistently low ratings.

The Blacklist: Redemption – The crime thriller spinoff of “The Blacklist,” starring Famke Janssen, was canceled after just one season. The show drew middling ratings, averaging a 0.8 in the 18-49 demo, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day numbers.

WGN America Outsiders – Marking WGN America’s third attempt as original programming, “Outsiders” was canceled after two seasons, just one season less than the network’s longest-running original program.

USA Network Eyewitness – Based on a Norwegian television series, the show centered around the relationship between two boys after they witness a triple homicide. Despite the presence of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” veteran Julianne Nicholson, the series couldn’t find an audience over its first 10 episodes.

The Disney Channel Girl Meets World – The spinoff of the hit Disney channel show “Boy Meets World” got the hammer after three seasons.

Syfy Incorporated – The Ben Affleck and Matt Damon-backed dystopian drama, which depicted a world controlled be multinational corporations, was axed after one season. It averaged a live-plussame-day audience of just under 500,000 and a 0.16 in the 18-49 demographic.

the BRIEF

WEDNESDAY, May 17, 2017

Small business organization awarded significant federal grant

Yuri Gripas | reuters

James Lamb (L), of Lamb Farms and Prestage Farms from Clinton, North Carolina, and Steve Troxler (center L), Republican Commissioner of Agriculture for North Carolina and a Browns Summit farmer, leave after U.S. President Donald Trump’s a roundtable discussion with farmers at the White House in Washington, D.C. on April 25.

BUSINESS business insider Katherine Lockhart is the Bank of America’s Business Banking Market Executive for Western Carolinas.

courtesy of bank of america

An international perspective with Bank of America’s Katherine Lockhart “You can now go to a pub in London and see sweet potatoes on the menu that came from North Carolina.”

— Katherine Lockhart, Bank of America

By Emory Rakestraw For the North State Journal Katherine Lockhart, Bank of America Business Banking Market Executive for Western Carolinas, answers a few questions about small to mid-size international business growth in the Triad.

North State Journal: Tell us a bit about yourself, how you got involved in this sector and what you do now?

Lockhart: I’ve been in commercial banking for 25 years.

I came here six years ago from Detroit. During my time in Detroit, I was heavily involved with international business. Working with importers, exporters and all the logistics that came with that, you really got into some niche imports.

My team works with companies with $5-50 million in annual revenue. We help them with everything from A to Z. We do make loans for working capital, real estate and machinery and we also help them with trade lines for exporting.

It’s really interesting how we take electronic payments. We can make cross-border currency ACH payments in 29 currencies.

The big deal is — a client is buying

parts from China, we can make that payment in the local currency and that trade is done in the U.S. wiring foreign currency opposed to sending American dollars. This has really changed the landscape for some of our clients. We had a client last year who did custom golf carts. We put her on crossborder payments to China, and

by October she shared with us we had saved her over $100,000.

We help clients with commodity hedging. If you’re thinking about importing from overseas, mainly with lumber-related, anything commodities-related (copper, etc.), you’re at the mercy of what the currency is worth the day you entered the contract vs. the day you make payment. We can help clients with F/X hedging in more than 140 currencies in 200 countries. If we don’t have the answer, somebody does; we have extensive global partners that we can tap into.

What is Bank of America’s involvement in this? From a corporate perspective, what are you witnessing?

We’re active participants in helping make connections for our clients and introducing them to people in countries that help build foreign presence. It could be See Lockhart, page C7

fighting for farms

Troxler says Trump ‘gets it’ N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler among 14 who met with president last month

By Kristina Cooke and Mica Rosenberg Reuters WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump said he would seek to keep his tough immigration enforcement policies from harming the U.S. farm industry and its largely immigrant workforce, according to farmers and officials who met with him.

Roundtable participants said that many farmers have worried about the effect of the stepped up enforcement on their workforce, but Trump told them his administration was focused on deporting criminals, not farmworkers.

“He has a much better understanding about this than some of the rhetoric we have seen,” said meeting attendee Steve Troxler, North Carolina’s agriculture commissioner and a farmer himself.

They said they were worried about stricter immigration enforcement and described frustrations with the H-2A visa program, the one legal way to bring in temporary seasonal agricultural workers.

During the roundtable, Luke Brubaker, a dairy farmer from Pennsylvania, described how immigration agents had recently picked up half a dozen chicken catchers working for a poultry transportation company in his county.

The employer tried to replace them with local hires, but within three hours all but one had quit, Brubaker told the gathering at the White House.

While use of the H-2A guestworker program has steadily increased over the past decade, it still accounts for only about 10 percent of the estimated 1.3 million farmworkers in the country.

Of U.S. crop workers, about half are in the country illegally and more than two-thirds are foreign born, according to according to government data. In 2016, the government granted 134,000 H-2A visas.

Employers who import workers with H-2A visas must provide free transportation to and from the United States as well as housing and food for workers once they arrive. Wage minimums are set by the government and are often higher than farmers are used to paying.

The farmers at the meeting said they stressed to the president the need for both short-term and permanent workers. They said there should be a program to help long-time farmworkers without criminal records, but who are in the country illegally, to become legal residents.

Trump said he wanted to help and asked Perdue to look into the issues and come back with recommendations, according to the accounts.

On Monday, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Angus King (I-ME) and Congressmen Andy Harris (R-MD-01) and Bill Keating (D-MA-09) announced that a bipartisan, bicameral group of 87 Members of Congress sent a letter to the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Labor urging them to take immediate action to ensure that small and seasonal businesses across the nation are able to get the workers they need to operate during the busy summer months.

Raleigh The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $750,000 grant to Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF) to provide capital to small businesses in underserved communities across the southeastern North Carolina region. The EDA funds will provide access to capital to small businesses in the 14-county region of Southeast North Carolina. “Ensuring that local businesses have the capital they need to grow is of valuable importance to our communities and workers,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs Dennis Alvord. “Projects such as this can provide capital to businesses in southeastern North Carolina that would otherwise not qualify for traditional lending.” EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

With eye on millennials, Coach buys Kate Spade for $2.4 billion New York Handbag maker Coach said it would buy Kate Spade for $2.4 billion as it looks to tap the popularity of its smaller rival’s quirky satchels and totes among millennials.

The $18.50 per share offer in cash represents a premium of 9 percent to Kate Spade’s Friday close. Kate Spade’s stock was trading at $18.35 before the opening bell on Monday. The shares have risen 17 percent since Dec. 27, a day before the first report that the company was looking to sell itself. Kate Spade said in February it was exploring strategic options, after hedge fund Caerus Investors urged the company to sell itself citing the management’s inability to achieve profit margins comparable to industry peers.

Kate Spade’s handbags have been a hit with millennials due to their subtle logos and their quirky and colorful designs, including bags shaped like cats and cars.

U.S. top court rules in favor of debt collector in bankruptcy dispute Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday handed a victory to debt collectors, ruling that people who have filed for bankruptcy cannot sue companies that try to recoup old debt that is not required to be paid back under state statutes of limitations. The justices, in a 5-3 decision, ruled in favor of Midland Funding, a subsidiary of Encore Capital Group Inc, which was sued by an Alabama debtor named Aleida Johnson who entered bankruptcy in 2014. Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer joined four of the court’s conservatives in the majority. Writing for the court, Breyer said Midland’s action was not “false, deceptive or misleading” under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the federal law under which Johnson brought her lawsuit. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, joined by fellow liberals Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan, and excoriated the business practices of debt collectors.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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n.c.

FAST FACTS Sponsored by

Top commercial real estate projects and developers in the state were recognized at NAIOP North Carolina’s annual conference recently at Pinehurst Resort. The trade association for developers, owners and investors in industrial, office and related commercial real estate has chapters in Charlotte, Triad and Triangle.

Congratulations to this year’s winners, recognized for achievements and contributions in a rapidly growing North Carolina: • Large Project of the Year The Center for Technology and Innovation (CTI), Raleigh, NC • Small Project of the Year The Shevell Building, Greensboro, NC • Developer of the Year Highwoods Properties Developing Leader of the Year – Jenny Fowler, Childress Klein • Member of the Year (Charlotte) Chris Thomas, Childress Klein

It’s not what you say, it’s how quickly you trademark it

By Barbara Goldberg Reuters WILMINGTON — Ideas were flying at a brainstorming session to create a slogan for North Carolina county Democrats when Catherine Cloud blurted out a phrase that made a colleague’s eyes light up: “Because this is America.”

The words were quickly scrawled on a notepad and the New Hanover County Democratic Party in Wilmington, North Carolina, began its scramble to own the phrase — applying just days later for a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

From President Donald Trump’s dash to own “Keep America Great” for his 2020 re-election campaign even before he took office to a rush by a foundation for the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to claim “Let’s Roll” just days after New York’s Twin Towers were reduced to rubble, Americans rushing to trademark catchy phrases.

There were 391,837 trademark applications filed last year, with the number growing an average of 5 percent annually, government reports show. The USPTO does not break out how many of those applications were for phrases.

The upsurge is the result of headline-grabbing cases like socialite Paris Hilton’s winning settlement of a lawsuit over her trademarked catch-phrase “That’s Hot” from her former television reality show, said trademark attorney

• Member of the Year (Piedmont Triad) Reggie Beeson, Highwoods Properties

Stocks go high, VIX goes low

• Member of the Year (Raleigh-Durham) Paul Meyers, Fifth Third Bank

Markets have been in a tight trading range for months, bringing volatility to its knees

Photo illustration by Shannon Stapleton | reuters

Prototypes for bumper stickers with the phrase “ Because this is America” sponsored by the New Hanover County Democratic Party.

Howard Hogan of Washington.

“It can’t help but inspire others,” Hogan said. “It feels good to get recognition of something you feel you have created.”

Own a powerful message Trademarks can mean cash from everything from bumper stickers to thongs printed with the protected phrase. More importantly for some, however, is claiming ownership of a powerful message. "‘Because this is America’ is a rallying cry that focuses on what

By Jeff Moore North State Journal RALEIGH — U.S. equity markets are hovering near all-time highs as investors this week have shrugged off a steady flow of potential volatility risks, from the French election to credit squeezes in China.

The record closes in the S&P 500 grab headlines and provide comfort to those invested in a 401(k), but despite the steady charge higher in

we have in common, rather than what divides us,” Cloud said.

The phrase is the tagline in a commercial set for online release on Thursday about the New Hanover Democrats’ key issues: “Clean water. Because this is America,” “Quality education for every child.

Because this is America,” “No matter your ethnicity, you are welcome here. Because this is America.”

Mindful that the slogan that could easily be employed by rival Republicans, the county Democratic committee filed to trademark it just 18 days after Cloud’s saying it.

stocks since the election of President Donald Trump the high prints now serve to obscure the fact that stock markets have gone virtually nowhere for the better part of three months.

The stalling of the post-election Trump bump may have any number of culprits, from policy uncertainty emanating from Washington, D.C. to anemic GDP growth during the first quarter of 2017. A rising U.S. Dollar, rising Treasury yields — two

Rush to trademark Two days before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, Donald J. Trump for President Inc applied to trademark the phrase he said he intends to use for his 2020 re-election campaign: “Keep America Great,” both with and without an exclamation point. The campaign committee already owns the trademark for Trump’s 2016 slogan: “Make America Great Again.”

Just 15 days after Todd Beamer inspired fellow airline passengers to overwhelm hijackers above a Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11, 2001, the Todd M. Beamer Memorial Foundation applied to trademark his rallying cry “Let’s Roll.”

Three days after “Nasty Woman” grabbed headlines when Trump used it to describe his opponent Hilary Clinton in an Oct. 19, 2016 debate, entrepreneurs across America started filing trademark applications for the phrase. There are at least 11 applications pending to trademark “Nasty Woman” for the sale of products as wide-ranging as pillows, wine, firearms, scented body spray, mugs, backpacks and jewelry.

Typically it takes about 18 months for the Patent Office to grant a trademark.

But it can take much longer, as cartoonist Bob Mankoff of The New Yorker learned when he tried to trademark the caption to a 1993 cartoon. Two decades passed before he was allowed to register it on Jan. 19, 2016.

Ironically, the phrase aptly describes Mankoff’s anticipated payday from the sale of merchandise bearing the words that first appeared under his cartoon of a businessman trying to schedule a meeting: “How about never — is never good for you?”

of the three pillars of the storied reflation trade — have been fading for months, creating a growing disconnect with the third pillar: equities.

Despite uncertainties lurking around every corner and a long in the tooth bull market, the Chicago Board Options Exchange volatility index, or so-called VIX, a popular measure of risk, has been plumbing historical lows not seen in more than 23 years and is trading at half of its historical average.

From a stormy day to the everyday Stay safe with tips and information from North Carolina’s electric cooperatives. Follow us on Facebook all month long as we recognize May as National Electrical Safety Month.

Powering and empowering the people and communities we serve.

CEC CR 26323 (10.25x10) North State Jrnl May.indd 1

5/9/17 4:39 PM

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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federal reserve vacancies

lockhart from page C5

White House weeks away from naming anyone to Fed

trade specialists, translators … if there’s a service that you need an expert from an international perspective, we have access to that expertise.

We’re also seeing an increase in logistics: how do you move products from port to rail to truck? International logistics is a robust and complex business.

What do you do if your product gets held up in customs? What’s changed as far as regulations?

By Jeff Mason and Olivia Oran Reuters WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is weeks away from naming anyone to the board of the Federal Reserve, a White House official said, meaning it could be fall before three currently empty seats are filled.

The vacancies on the Fed’s seven-member Board of Governors include the position of vice chair in charge of banking oversight, a critical role in Trump’s plan to revamp financial rules.

The White House wants to get all nominees vetted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Government Ethics before they name them publicly and that process can take months, according to people familiar with the matter.

If the vetting drags on, it runs the risk of delaying those people from taking their jobs until sometime this fall, complicating Trump’s plan to reshape regulation of Wall Street.

The Fed positions require confirmation by the Senate and could be delayed further by a five-week congressional recess from the end of July to the beginning of September.

Randal Quarles, a veteran of the George W. Bush administration, is expected to be Trump’s pick for the Fed’s top bank regulator, Reuters has previously reported. Trump met him late last month, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Quarles, who worked as a partner at private equity firm the Carlyle Group, currently runs a private investment firm, the Cynosure Group, from Salt Lake City. He also served in the Treasury Department under Bush and was the U.S. executive director of the International Monetary Fund.

Quarles did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. A spokesman for the Federal Reserve declined to comment.

The vice chair for supervision and regulation and another seat

Alessandro Bianchi | REUTERS

U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, center, arrives at the Petruzzelli Theatre during a G7 for Financial ministers in the southern Italian city of Bari on May 11.

that governs community banking were created as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law but were never filled by former President Barack Obama. Former Fed governor Daniel Tarullo had stepped in to fill the supervision void before leaving the central bank in April.

The White House would like to name all three regulatory positions at the Fed at the same time, according to people familiar with the matter. But Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin dismissed that idea

publicly last month, saying, “I don’t think we’re going to do that.”

In addition to the three current vacancies, one of which must be filled by someone with community banking experience, Chair Janet Yellen and Stanley Fischer, the vice chairman, could step down when their terms expire next year.

Trump could therefore fill as many as five of the board’s seven seats within the next year, giving him the opportunity to nominate a block of people who will have a big say in the direction of interest rates.

Tesla’s electric car, Powerwall and solar roof are all part of Tesla Motor Company’s growing energy product empire.

calculator. Tesla estimates such a roof could generate $76,700 of electricity over 30 years.

But Jim Petersen, chief executive of PetersenDean, which installs about 30,000 new roofs plus solar a year, estimated that a 1,700-square-foot roof with new solar panels, including the tax credit, would cost about $22,000, well below the Tesla website’s estimate. Costs vary depending on roof type.

The company said its solar roofs would cost between 10 and 15 percent less than an ordinary new roof plus traditional solar panels.

The glass tiles are to be manufactured in Buffalo, N.Y., and will be available in the United States later this year, beginning with gray smooth glass and black textured glass versions, Tesla said.

Slate and Tuscan styles will be introduced in 2018. Overseas markets will receive the products next year.

TECH BEAT

Tesla starts taking orders for solar roofs

By Nichola Groom Reuters Tesla on Wednesday began taking orders for its solar roof tiles, a cornerstone of Elon Musk’s strategy to sell a fossil-fuel-free lifestyle under the brand name of its luxury electric vehicles.

Tesla said the product, which generates solar energy without the need for traditional rooftop panels, will be pricier than a conventional roof but will look better and ultimately pay for itself through reduced electricity costs.

reuters file photo

The solar roof tiles were unveiled in October as Musk sought to convince shareholders of the benefits of combining his electric vehicle maker with SolarCity.

Musk went on to acquire SolarCity in November, and has been working to remake a money-losing company that was selling traditional solar systems into a premium energy brand.

To get in line for a solar roof, homeowners must put down a $1,000 deposit via Tesla’s website.

There, they can also calculate the estimated upfront cost of a solar roof.

A 1,700-square-foot roof in Southern California, with half the roof covered in “active” solar tiles, would cost about $34,300 after a federal tax credit, according to the

Can you talk a bit about the rise in small to midsize companies doing business globally?

In the Triad, Bank of America held a conference ‘Going Globally,’ we work with large textile companies. What they’re manufacturing isn’t just distributed throughout the U.S. but exported as well. We were seeing a large percentage of containers coming into the Triad from oversees and then going back empty. The greater Triad became a huge exporter, and eastern Carolina is now a big exporter of sweet potatoes. You can now go to a pub in London and see sweet potatoes on the menu that came from North Carolina.

When you look at top countries with ties to the Triad, it’s Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, France and Italy. Most importantly, it’s Guilford and Forsyth counties. Guilford County has 250 foreign-owned and Forsyth County around 350 foreign-owned companies.

Why North Carolina for international business?

There are so many reasons.

North Carolina has been positioning itself, and the state has done such a great job for this growth. There’s a long history here. You have access to five ports, as well as a great inland port, strong infrastructure, and connectivity to resources including financial and higher education. ... You also have the international airport, and then a rail system that supports the ports and the inland port.

There’s a continued collaboration between government, transportation and industry.

2017

FEATURED SPEAKERS FOR CLC JUNE 16-17, 2017

Marriott Crabtree Valley Raleigh, NC

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: CIVITASCLC.COM

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 17, 2017

C8

pen & Paper pursuits Janric classic sudoku

5. Color your state!

The North Carolina state mammal: gray squirrel

Solutions from 5.10.17