North State Journal — Vol. 2., Issue 31

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VOLUME 2 ISSUE 31

www.NSJONLINE.com |

Wednesday, august 2, 2017

Inside Panthers put 2016 in past Sports

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The N.C. Department of Transportation Ferry Division today loaded two 90,000-pound electrical generators bound for Ocracoke Island aboard the Motor Vessel Sea Level. The Tideland Electrical Membership Corporation is hoping to use the generators to restore temporary power to much of the island.

the Wednesday

News BRIEFing

President of NC Community Colleges steps down Raleigh The State Board of the N.C. Community College System announced Monday evening that Dr. James “Jimmie” C. Williamson has resigned as system president, effective Sept. 30. The board will begin a search for the next system leader.

Chief of Staff Jennifer Haygood will serve as acting president upon Williamson’s departure until a new president is named.

The state’s community college system has 58 schools and more than 710,000 students. It is the third-largest institution of higher education in the U.S.

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

Butterfield bill would rename Durham courthouse Washington, D.C. Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) introduced legislation this week to name the federal courthouse in downtown Durham for John Hervey Wheeler, a lawyer, civil rights leader and bank president. A community leader in Durham for decades, Wheeler successfully litigated several school integration cases in the late 1940s. Ten U.S. Reps. from North Carolina — Walter Jones (R-2nd District), David Price (D04), Virginia Foxx (R-05), Mark Walker (R-06), David Rouzer (R-07), Richard Hudson (R-08), Patrick McHenry (R-10), Mark Meadows (R-11), Alma Adams (D-12), and Ted Budd (R-13) — are co-sponsors.

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Officials say Tuesday electricity could be restored in six to 10 days

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal RALEIGH — Last week’s power outage on the southern Outer Banks that led to the evacuation of about 50,000 people and brought parts of the coastal region’s tourism industry to a screeching halt is still being repaired, officials said in a press release Tuesday.

“Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative (CHEC) continues its execution of two simultaneous solutions to restore transmission service to Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands,” CHEC said in the statement.

The outage occurred last Thursday when PCL Civil Constructors

Rough surf and riptides at NC beaches Coastal North Carolina This weekend will bring rough waters as Tropical Depression Emily passes the North Carolina coast on Thursday. Emily was downgraded Tuesday from a tropical storm but not before dumping 8 inches of rain over much of Florida on Monday and triggering a state of emergency in 31 of the state’s 67 counties.

Emily is the fifth named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season which the National Weather Service projects will have more named storms and hurricanes than normal. The 2016 hurricane season was the most active since 2012.

OBX power outage has businesses, visitors anxiously waiting severed two underwater power cables while working on the new 2.5-mile Bonner Bridge over the Oregon Inlet that connects Bodie Island and Pea Island.

The mistake cut power to the southern Outer Banks, leading to the mandatory evacuation of all visitors to the seven villages on Hatteras Island (Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras) and Okracoke Island. The evacuation cut short the vacation of several travelers and put at risk the plans of upcoming visitors as repairs continue during the peak tourism season.

“It’s tough. Tourism is a huge business in the state — a $23 billion business that employs more than 200,000 people,” Wit Tuttell, executive director of the state See POWER OUTAGE, page A3

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Board member Steven Long, center, is interviewed after a meeting of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Committee on Educational Planning, Policies and Programs at the UNC Center for School Leadership Development in Chapel Hill.

UNC Board of Governors to consider news limits on litigation from law centers that get state money UNC Center for Civil Rights draws ire for political engagement while using taxpayer-paid resources

By Donna King North State Journal CHAPEL HILL — A subcommittee of the UNC Board of Governors voted on Tuesday 5 to 1 to move forward a new policy that would remove the UNC Center for Civil Rights’ ability to represent parties in litigation outside of a law school clinical program.

The debate will now move to the full UNC Board of Governors.

The public comment session was one of several on this issue. In May, the director of the UNC Center for Civil Rights, Theodore M. Shaw, spoke to the committee outlining the mission of the center which he says is to provide law students with real-world litigation experience and to continue the legal battles over civil rights.

“It represents an embodiment the reconciliation with African-Americans in N.C,” said Shaw.

“It trains new generations of civil rights lawyers to continue the work of eliminating the legacy of racial See UNC, page A3

“Law firms have clients.

Schools have students.

Schools and students do one thing, law firms and clients do another.”

— Joe Knott, lawyer and member of the UNC Board of Governors.

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) looks over maps during the first joint meeting of the Select Committee on Redistricting at the Legislative Office Building in Raleigh.

Lawmakers lay out mapdrawing plan as federal judges consider arguments Lawmakers met Wednesday to plan the structure for public hearings and criteria selection, while judges ask why more progress has not been made

By Jeff Moore North State Journal GREENSBORO — A U.S. federal court has ruled that North Carolina will not need to hold special elections prior to November 2018 for legislative voting districts that the court deemed were unconstitutionally gerrymandered

just one year ago.

However, the same three-judge panel that struck down the Republican drawn 2011 legislative districts last year, also ordered state lawmakers to redraw the maps by September 1, 2017, albeit with a little wiggle room. The order read that if the Republican-led General Assembly is transparent in drawing the remedial districts on or before August 21, the court will extend the deadline to September 15, 2017.

Members of the joint Redistricting Committee convened last week for “organizational and inSee REDISTRICTING, page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

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Bob Hall, center, executive director of Democracy North Carolina, speaks to the media as Dallas Woodhouse, background center, executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party, listens in before a public hearing on changes to the state’s elections administration code at the State Board of Elections in Raleigh. The general public was allowed to comment on proposed rules.

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REDISTRICTING from page A1 formational purposes” as they described a crude framework for how they envisioned the map-drawing effort would proceed while anticipating further guidance from the court.

“If the court allows us ample time to do so, we intend to include as much public input as possible and as much input from the committees and ultimately the full General Assembly will deliberate together regarding these new districts,” said Redistricting Committee Chairman Rep. David Lewis (R-Harnett). “Our attorneys will advocate on behalf of the General Assembly for a timeline that will allow for a redistricting session to occur in early November.”

Elections rule would make false voter fraud reports a felony

RALEIGH — The North Carolina State Board of Elections held a public comment hearing Monday, soliciting input on a proposed rule that will make falsely reporting voter fraud a felony. The new rule would also require protesters to describe facts, reveal if a lawyer helped them make their claims, and say whether they have

any witnesses to the alleged voter fraud.

“We all know laws are written by human beings, and sometimes they’re not very clear.” said Executive Director of the N.C. Republican Party Dallas Woodhouse, who opposes the rule change. “This issue of protest is amazingly clear in the statute. It is written specifically how to do it and what is required of the voter. [The State Board of Elections] does not have the power to rewrite the statute.”

The legislature can overrule any rules the board adopts if they find they do not comply with existing statutes.

During the extended and contentious gubernatorial election of 2016 between then-incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, and his Democratic challenger, now-Gov. Roy Cooper, more than 600 complaints were filed in 50

counties alleging voter fraud.

Bob Hall, executive director of the left-leaning voting rights group Democracy North Carolina, contends that the vast majority of those alleged fraud complaints were wrong. Hall said at the Monday hearing that Republican actors were using fraud charges for personal political gain.

On the other hand, Woodhouse argued that the changes, beyond being outside of the board’s legal jurisdiction, would having a cooling affect on voters’ ability to contest fraud. Hundreds of cases of voter fraud were ultimately confirmed during the 2016 elections, most being votes cast by felons.

“We have a constitutional, legally set up system that is import-

ant to make sure that people aren’t registered twice, to make sure they’re registered correct, they’re not voting as felons when they’re not supposed to,” said Woodhouse.

“The citizens, and the citizens putting in protests, are the only check on this kind of thing. There is no other check. If you remove the citizens’ ability to do this, there is nobody else who can provide a check on the process. I am concerned that advocates on the other side ... are doing everything they can to shut common, everyday citizens out of the process.”

The board also heard suggestions from voters on rule changes that would address curbside voting, election observers and the return of absentee ballots.

While staff will compile the thousands of public comments for the new elections board to weigh, the members of that board have yet to be named by Cooper. The new board, a combination of the elections and ethics boards enacted by the General Assembly in late 2016, is the subject of one of the many lawsuits brought by Cooper upon taking office to push back against Republican supermajorities in the legislature.

While the court denied the legislature's proposed timeline, it also ruled that the plaintiffs suggested deadline of August 11 was too little time for the General Assembly to "conduct public hearings and engage in robust deliberations."

Now that the court has mandated a September 1 deadline, it is unclear how much and when public input will be incorporated into the process. Prior to the ruling, the Redistricting Committee announced plans for public hearings in August, September, and October.

Despite the tighter deadline, political insiders say that the maps will be complete ahead of that contingency deadline. Lawmakers return to Raleigh this week with the Joint Redistricting Committee scheduled to convene

on Thursday.

Of note, during the meeting last Wednesday it was announced that consultant Thomas Hofeller, the mapmaker who consulted the Republican leaders on the 2011 maps, some of which are now ruled unconstitutional, will again be consulting legislative leadership for the special redistricting session.

The three-judge panel heard arguments last week from attorneys on both sides of the issue.

Having issued court orders to redraw the gerrymandered maps nearly a year ago, the judges questioned attorneys for the legislative leadership on why more had not been accomplished to comply with the court’s decision and rectify the maps. The federal judicial panel ruled last year that 28 of the

170 legislative districts in the state must be redrawn, finding they illegally used race to gerrymander certain districts.

During the hearing, attorneys for the legislative leadership argued for more time to construct a thorough and transparent process for redrawing maps, allowing for public input hearings, but ultimately failed to convince the judges of their preferred drafting schedule.

"Legislative defendants have offered no evidence to support their contention that they need 3½ more months to remedy the constitutional violations identified by this court almost a year ago, nor have they offered any evidence that they have not begun to evaluate what the revised districts might look like," the order said.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys had argued for special elections to be held after new maps are drawn and before the regularly scheduled 2018 elections, but the request was denied. The court said the reasoning for the denial of special elections will be more fully explained in a forthcoming memorandum.

Lewis previously chided calls for special elections, arguing that they would do a disservice to voters.

The next steps for the Redistricting Committee, meeting August 4, will be to discuss and select the criteria to be used in redrawing the final maps. It was announced that public terminals would also be available for interested parties to draw maps that could be offered as input during the public hearings.

The rule is in response to a torrent of vote challenges during the 2016 gubernatorial election, but opponents argue it goes beyond the Board of Elections powers and usurps legislative authority

By Jeff Moore North State Journal

“If you remove the citizens’ ability to do this, there is nobody else who can provide a check on the process.”

— Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of N.C. Republican Party

Want to learn more about North Carolina Agriculture?

The First Furrow www.FirstFurrow.com

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

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Trump awards Medal of Valor to NC Central grad David Bailey

By Mollie Young North State Journal

CLIFF HOLLIS | REUTERS

ECU Chancellor Cecil Staton, left, and Michael Waldrum, CEO of Vidant Health, right, watch Dr. Nick Benson, interim dean of the Brody School of Medicine, sign paperwork about the clinical practice integration.

Vidant Health, ECU sign agreement to integrate physician practices Partnership hopes to strengthen care to rural areas of eastern N.C.

By Laura Ashley Lamm North State Journal GREENVILLE — For people living in eastern North Carolina, a region vast with land and pockets of lower-income families, access to health care is at the forefront of their concerns.

As the result of a partnership between East Carolina University (ECU) and Vidant Health, more residents will have access to needed health care and specialized physicians, and medical students will train in areas with crucial need.

ECU and Vidant Health signed a formal agreement to integrate ECU Physicians, the clinical practice of The Brody School of Medicine at ECU, with Vidant Medical Group, Vidant’s multispecialty physician group subsidiary into the new entity created last year.

“The hard work and commitment of generations of leaders, combined with the visionary thinking and persistence of so many who serve this area today has borne fruit,” said ECU Chancellor Cecil Staton.

“This is an agreement forged from one idea: that together we can create a better way to deliver

POWER OUTAGE from page A1 Commerce Department’s N.C. Tourism, said. “So the impact has a ripple across most of the coast because these visitors, while they may stay on the Outer Banks, they’ll stop at other places along the way, too. So we hate to see anything like that happen and we hope it will be resolved as quick as possible.”

Crews have worked around the clock since the incident and already repaired one of the two severed cables, plus began setting poles to run an overhead transmission line on the east side of Highway 12, officials said during a Monday press conference, adding that whichever solution was completed and tested first would be used to restore power as soon as possible. CHEC estimated Tuesday morning it would take six to 10 more days to turns power back on.

“I think clearly the Outer Banks have faced storms before that have knocked out power, so this is not anything that’s unfamiliar. … But this is a little bit different in that this is man-made accident that has occurred here and it’s a different situation,” Gov. Roy Cooper said during Monday’s press conference near the bridge construction.

The sooner power is restored the faster Hatteras and Okracoke islands can reopen to visitors. In the meantime, it’s a waiting game for those who have reserved homes in those areas and the businesses who count on the summer months to turn a profit.

“It is hitting at a very, very bad time,” said Lynn Minges, president and CEO of the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association.

“This is the very peak of the visitor season, so it is hitting them pretty hard.”

Further complicating matters is vacationers who opted out of paying for travel insurance — and even some who did pay — on their rental

health care to even the most rural areas of eastern North Carolina,” he added. “The combination of skills from both organizations into one new entity flows naturally from a longstanding partnership. It also mirrors similar developments at other health care institutions across the country in response to significant changes in the health care landscape.”

The Brody School of Medicine enrolled its 40th four-year class in the fall of 2016, bringing the total enrollment to 320 students.

Brody has graduated more than 2,300 physicians since its establishment, with approximately 1,400 of those currently in active practice across the state — in 83 of NC’s 100 counties — including many underserved and rural areas. In addition, 70 percent of Brody graduates who complete residency training at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville remain in North Carolina to practice.

The partnership is poised to be a win-win for the organizations and the people of North Carolina.

The new organization developed with the integration of ECU Physicians and Vidant Medical Group will focus on creating innovative systems and processes that reduce the cost for patients, increase access to new therapies and technologies, reduce the impact of chronic disease in the area, and expand the training sites available for medical

students. In addition, a goal has been set to increase the opportunity for clinical trials that benefit rural areas.

Vidant Health serves more than 1.4 million people in eastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit system is made up of 12,000 employees, eight hospitals, home health, hospice, wellness centers, and Vidant Medical Group, a multispecialty physician and provider group with more than 420 providers in more than 80 practice sites in eastern North Carolina.

The combined expertise from ECU and Vidant Health brings the medical research capabilities and faculty expertise unique to ECU together with specialized clinical expertise and operational capabilities at Vidant Health in the 29 eastern North Carolina counties it serves.

“We have set ambitious goals to coordinate access, education, research and clinical trials that further enhance the missions of these two acclaimed organizations,” said Vidant CEO Dr. Michael Waldrum.

“Our shared vision is to be the national model for rural health and wellness by creating a premier, trusted academic delivery system for the benefit of the people of eastern North Carolina.”

Both ECU and Vidant believe the new clinically integrated entity will be better able — through its combined expertise — to respond to the changing health care environment.

“Health care across the country is experiencing incredible change, and with that change comes a lot of uncertainty,” said Waldrum.

“Regardless of what happens on the national landscape, we are

homes are at the mercy of leasing companies when it comes to refunds.

Midgett Realty, one of the companies that rents home on Hatteras Island, posted a “moving forward after mandatory evacuation” page on its website that outlines what renters can do if they were forced to evacuate or are at risk of missing their upcoming vacations.

On the page, Midgett gives three scenarios: those who purchased insurance; those who purchased insurance but the carrier is denying coverage because the incident is not a covered event (the page mentions Berkshire Hathaway as claiming the event is a man-made, not natural, disaster and thus not covered); and those who did not purchase insurance.

Midgett says on its site it will approach refund claims of those who did not purchase travel insurance on a case-by-case basis.

“Travel is about having a good time and having fun, so anything that doesn’t work out the way the visitor anticipates is a negative, and you hate to see that,” Tuttell said.

“But it’s also a business, and like any other business there are contracts and details, and people stick to those details. It’s unfortunate when that happens, you never want to see that.”

Cooper said he would discuss options with state Attorney General Josh Stein to “find solutions for that problem.” Calls to Midgett Realty and Sun Realty, another Outer Banks vacation home rental company, were not returned.

Lee Nettles, executive director of Outer Banks Visitors Bureau that serves Dare County, said 75 percent of its tourism is “chugging along” but he is hopeful for a quick fix for the affected areas.

“It’s something else,” Nettles said.

“We contend with hurricane season every year, but you really don’t expect something like this.”

better positioned to care for patients, their families and the communities we serve if we do this important work together.

“The mission of both organizations, and the mission of the newly formed integrated physician entity, is about rural health care leadership, and we believe today’s announcement is a major step forward in ensuring we provide the very best care at the most affordable price.”

The new company’s board, chaired by the dean of the medical school, includes six members appointed by Vidant and five by ECU. While financial risk and responsibility for the new entity rest with Vidant, the new entity is legally structured to operate in support of the mission of Brody School of Medicine. The medical school’s relationship with the UNC System and the state of North Carolina remains unchanged.

As part of the agreement, Vidant will make an initial $35 million payment to ECU and an annual $14.25 million mission support payment to Brody School of Medicine for the next 30 years.

The new organization is expected to begin operations in 2018.

Among N.C.’s medical schools, Brody consistently has the highest retention rate of grads who stay in North Carolina to practice. The most recent study (2015) conducted by the NC AHEC Program with Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research reported that 62 percent of the Brody School of Medicine class of 2010 was practicing in-state, as compared to 35 percent from UNC Chapel Hill and even lower percentages from Duke and Wake Forest.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During his first award presentation at the White House, President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Valor to U.S. Capitol Police officer David Bailey, the North Carolina Central University graduate who held back a gunman who opened fire on a group of Republicans as they practiced for a charity baseball game in Alexandria, Va., on June 14.

Bailey — along with his colleague Crystal Griner, who also received the medal — were among the five individuals who were injured during the shooting.

“Despite their injuries, both officers heroically continued to face down the gunman until they brought him down,” Trump said during the ceremony on Thursday.

The Medal of Valor is America’s highest military decoration given to military service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of bravery.

The shooting left House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) severely wounded. Scalise, who was shot in the hip and suffered damage to blood vessels and some internal organs, was discharged from the hospital last Tuesday, six weeks after the shooting. According to MedStar Washington Hospital, he will now begin “a period of intensive inpatient rehabilitation.”

Bailey was at the field guarding Scalise, who was practicing with colleagues, staff, lobbyists and children, when James Hodgkinson opened fire on the group around 7 a.m. on June 14.

Law enforcement officers were notified that Hodgkinson asked a group of lawmakers that were leaving the practice if they were Republicans or Democrats; minutes later shots rang out.

Americans, including the president, praised Bailey and Griner for quickly returning fire on Hodgkinson and preventing any casualties.

Hodgkinson, who was shot, later died from his injuries.

Bailey graduated from N.C. Central in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and was active in campus student government and fraternity life.

“The motto of this university is ‘Truth and Service,’” NCCU Associate Vice Chancellor Ayana Hernandez said when reached by phone the day after the shooting. “And I think as the whole world saw, Mr. Bailey truly exemplified truth and service today with his bravery.”

UNC from page A1 discrimination.”

Shaw also told committee members that the dean of UNC Law School, Martin Brinkley, approves any cases that the center files. Among the most recent is an amicus brief the Center filed in the lawsuit over the Voting Rights Act in N.C. The center staff includes a director, two civil rights attorneys and administrative support. It operates on grants and donations but uses state university resources and tuition for things like payroll and benefits.

Supporters of the proposed policy say the center has veered away from its stated clinical and educational purpose. Under accreditation standards set by the American Bar Association, six hours of “experiential education” must either have research or student education as its primary purpose. UNC System Board of Governors member Steve Long, a Raleigh lawyer, proposed the policy change, saying that the UNC Center for Civil Rights has used its resources not for primarily educational purposes but instead has full-time lawyers conducting litigation. He amended the policy to exclude educational law clinics that operate within American Bar Association standards, like the ones serving low-income taxpayers and veterans at N.C. Central Law School.

“Permitting academic centers to engage in litigation opens the door to center personnel using the litigation to further their own personal agendas. This has happened here,” said Long in a memo earlier this month, providing examples of conflict within the center to his fellow board members. “The managing attorney for the UNC-CH Center has used the Center and its ligation activities to further his support of the Moral Monday

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Committee members listen as Steven Long, center right, voices his opposition to the UNC Center for Civil Rights continuing to litigate during a meeting of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Committee.

protest movement. The 2013-2014 UNC Law School report said that one student ‘worked with the UNC Center for Civil Rights to help the legal needs of Moral Monday Protestors.’”

Emily Slusser, a rising junior at Meredith College and member of the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans, was among the students who showed up to demonstrate outside the meeting in support of ending the center’s authority to litigate or ending its use of public resources.

“They say they are privately funded and they say they’re giving experience to law students, but they’re not,” said Slusser. “They’re using outside counsel and hiring these other lawyers with taxpayer resources to go litigate and not giving the law students the experience they need to go into the fields they want to.”

Administrators at UNC Law School and N.C. Central Law School also argued to board members that the policy limiting law school clinics’ authority to litigate against the government to pri-

vate law schools like Duke, Elon, Campbell and Wake Forest puts public law schools at a professional disadvantage as they try to attract and train law students.

The UNC Board of Governors is scheduled to meet in September where they may take up the recommendation of the committee.

In the meantime, UNC System President Margaret Spellings has issued a moratorium on the center directing that they not take on any new cases until the issue is decided by the Board of Governors.

“This is a critical time in American higher education as institutions and systems across the country are tackling the issues of student success, accountability and effectiveness,” Spellings said in a statement. “Here in North Carolina we need to educate more of our citizens on meeting the needs of our growing dynamic economy and the responsibilities of civic life and the University will remain focused on our most urgent imperatives of greater educational access and opportunity for all North Carolinians.”

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Nation & WORLD

Wasserman Shultz aide arrested for fraud after trying to flee Former DNC chair kept Imran Awan employed as an IT staffer for U.S. House while he was under FBI investigation

By Mollie Young North State Journal WASHINGTON, D.C. — Imran Awan, an information technology staffer for former Democratic National Committee Chair and current U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-Fla.) was arrested late last Monday at Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia while attempting to board a flight to Qatar.

Law enforcement authorities say they had been investigating Awan for close to six months for deliberately overbilling the federal government for IT hardware such as computers, iPads and routers, when the 37-year-old attempted to flee the country to his native born country of Pakistan.

On July 25, Awan pleaded not guilt on one count of bank fraud for “knowingly engaging in a scheme to defraud the Wright Patman Congressional Federal Credit Union” on a home loan.

The criminal complaint and affidavit revealed that Awan and his wife, Hina Alvi, also transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to Pakistan.

Alvi left the country with their three children on March 5 on a similar flight to Doha, Qatar, on her way to Lahore, Pakistan. The FBI and U.S. Capitol Police approached Alvi, who was carrying “numerous pieces of luggage” and $12,400 in U.S. cash, and later learned that the children were abruptly taken out of school without notifying the Fairfax County Public School System.

SCOTT AUDETTE | REUTERS

Former DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz speaks at a rally in Miami on July 23, 2016.

Law enforcement says that Alvi has a return flight booked for September, but have reason to believe she will not return to the U.S. Awan, who was arrested before he could board his July 24 flight, had purchased a return ticket for January 2018.

FBI Special Agent Brandon Merriman, who drafted the criminal complaint against Awan, said his investigation included both physical surveillance and interviews.

Christopher Gowen, Imran Awan’s lawyer and longtime ally of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hil-

“She’s not cooperating ...

She’s obstructing every chance she can.”

— Ronna McDoniel, RNC Chairwoman

lary Clinton, described Awan’s arrest as “a right-wing media-driven prosecution by a United States Attorney’s Office that wants to prosecute people for working while

Muslim.”

Gowen told Fox News that federal authorities have no evidence of misconduct by Awan relating to his IT duties.

The day of Awan’s court hearing, Wasserman Schultz announced that she had terminated him.

“Mr. Awan previously served as a part-time employee but his services have been terminated,” spokesman David Damron said in a statement. “No charges, evidence or findings from the investigation have been formally shared with our office, so we cannot comment on them,”

The Florida Democrat had been aware of the investigation into Awan and Alvi for several months but kept him employed at the U.S. House of Representatives.

In a strange encounter during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on May 18 that was examining the Capitol Police budget, Wasserman Shultz grilled Chief Matthew Verderosa about not returning a laptop belonging to her office.

When Verderosa said that the laptop was an important part of a “criminal investigation” and could not be returned at that time, Wasserman appeared agitated and put pressure on the Capitol Police chief.

“Under my understanding, the Capitol Police are not allowed to confiscate members’ equipment when the member is not under investigation — it is their equipment and it is supposed to be returned,” she said.

“Well, I think there are extenuating circumstances in this case,” Verderosa told the congresswoman.

“I think you’re violating the rules when you conduct your business that way and you should expect that there will be consequences,” Wasserman Schultz said.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel called the case a “huge national security issue.”

“He had access to Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s computer, he had her password, he had access to all her files, everything having to do with Congress — as well as, potentially, all of her DNC files, and guess what? She’s not cooperating,” McDaniel told a D.C. radio program the week of Awan’s arrest. “She’s obstructing every chance she can.”

Awan is scheduled to be back in court on Aug. 21.

U.S. appeals court blocks D.C. law restricting gun rights Opinion cites guidance from SCOTUS

By Daniel Trotta Reuters WASHINGTON, D.C. — A U.S. appeals court has blocked a local D.C. regulation that limited the right to carry a handgun in public to people with a good reason for self-defense, handing a victory to gun rights advocates.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’s 2-1 ruling struck down the local government’s third major attempt in 40 years to limit handgun rights in the U.S capital. The decision cited what it said was scant but clear guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court on the right to bear arms.

The District of Columbia may appeal the three-judge panel’s ruling to the full appeals court, potentially a more favorable audience as seven of its 11 members were appointed by Democratic presidents. The three judges in the July 25 ruling are Republican appointees.

Mayor Muriel Bowser did not say whether the city would appeal but noted in a statement that similar laws with concealed-carry requirements were in effect in some states.

Judge Thomas Griffith, writing the majority opinion, said constitutional challenges to gun laws “create peculiar puzzles for the courts,” noting that the Supreme

Court’s first in-depth review “is younger than the first iPhone.”

That 2008 ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller struck down a D.C. law that banned all handgun possession in the city. It was a major victory for supporters of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects gun ownership rights.

The city tried again to ban carrying weapons, a law also struck down by the courts in 2014, and is now trying a third time.

Griffith said the Heller ruling made it clear that “the Second Amendment erects some absolute barriers that no gun law may breach.”

Some ambiguity exists because of the first 13 words of the Second Amendment, which reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Writing in dissent, Judge Karen Henderson cited case law finding the “core” right to bear arms was for self-defense inside the home.

“Regulations restricting public carrying are all the more compelling in a geographically small but heavily populated urban area like the District,” Henderson said.

The National Rifle Association praised the decision.

“Today’s ruling is an important step toward protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” Chris Cox, executive director of the gun rights group’s Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE National Rifle Association

Chris Cox, NRA’s principal political strategist, oversees eight NRA-ILA divisions.

JOSHUA ROBERTS | REUTERS

White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci speaks during an on-air interview at the White House on July 26. Scaramucci left his post Monday after just over a week in the position.

Anthony Scaramucci out as communications director in latest White House unheaval Interview with The New Yorker Magazine reportedly led to ousting

By Ayesha Rascoe and Roberta Rampton Reuters WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump fired his communications director, Anthony Scaramucci, on Monday after little over a week in the job because of an obscene tirade, sources familiar with the decision said, in the latest staff upheaval to hit the Republican’s sixmonth-old presidency.

Scaramucci’s departure follows one of the rockiest weeks of Trump’s presidency in which a major Republican effort to overhaul the U.S. health care system failed in Congress and both his spokesman and previous chief of staff left their jobs.

The sources said Scaramucci had been damaged by comments he made to The New Yorker mag-

azine last week in which he attacked then-White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and Trump’s chief strategist, Steve Bannon, in profanity-laden terms.

Trump removed Scaramucci on the same day he swore in a new White House chief of staff John Kelly, a retired Marine general who is expected to bring more discipline to running what has become a chaotic White House.

“There’s going to be new leadership and I’m not sure the new leadership thought he was up to the task of being a team player,” one of the sources told Reuters.

The New York Times and Politico reported that Kelly had asked Trump to remove Scaramucci, a New York financier.

“Anthony Scaramucci will be leaving his role as White House communications director,” the White House said in a statement.

“Mr. Scaramucci felt it was best to give Chief of Staff John Kelly a clean slate and the ability to build his own team. We wish him all the best.”

Scaramucci was named to the role only 10 days prior.

Tensions in Trump’s inner circle erupted last week when Scaramucci assailed Priebus and Bannon, two of the West Wing’s most senior figures. He accused Priebus of leaking information to the media. Priebus later resigned.

Trump appeared on Monday with Kelly in the Oval Office and in a Cabinet meeting where he predicted the new chief of staff would do a “spectacular job.” He praised Kelly for averting controversy during his tenure overseeing border security issues at the Department of Homeland Security.

“With a very controversial situation, there’s been very little controversy, which is really amazing by itself,” Trump said.

Republicans fear that staff chaos at the White House could derail any attempt to revive efforts to repeal and replace the Obamacare health care law and a plan to overhaul the U.S. tax system.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

NEWS IN IMAGES

A5 Nine hurt as vehicle plows into L.A. crowd in what police describe as accident Los Angeles Nine people were injured, one critically, in Los Angeles on Sunday when a van that collided with a pickup truck jumped the curb and slammed into an outdoor dining area, authorities said, calling it a “complete accident.” Eight people were transported to hospitals after the incident on West Pico Boulevard, the Los Angeles Fire Department said on Twitter. A ninth person, an off-duty Los Angeles firefighter, was hurt but did not need to be taken to a hospital, it said.

Solid-gold model of lunar module stolen from Neil Armstrong museum

jean-paul pelissier | reuters

Wapakoneta, Ohio Police in Ohio are searching for a solid-gold model of the module that carried Neil Armstrong to the lunar surface in 1969 that was reported stolen from a museum in the hometown of the first astronaut to set foot on the moon, authorities said on Sunday. Police discovered the miniature replica was missing from the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta after responding to a burglary alarm just before midnight on Friday, according to a statement released on Saturday.

U.S. flies bombers over Korean peninsula after North Korea missile test

ANDREW YATES | reuters

Main, smoke fills the sky above a burning hillside as tourists relax on the beach in Bormes-les-Mimosas, in the Var department, France.

Left, the Soyuz MS-05 spacecraft carrying the crew of Paolo Nespoli of Italy, Sergey Ryazanskiy of Russia and Randy Bresnik of the U.S. blasts off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.

shamil zhumatov | reuters

Right, Andrew Roussos puts a hand around his son Xander as he carries his daughter Saffie Rose Roussos’ coffin, the youngest victim of the bombing of the Manchester Arena, at her funeral at Manchester Cathedral, Britain.

PRESENTS THE UWHARRIE

Performances at the Stanly County Agri – Civic Center Albemarle, North Carolina July 28 and 29 @ 7:30 PM July 30@ 3:00PM and August 4 and 5 @ 7:30PM August 6 @3:00 PM

PLAYERS IN

Tickets may be purchased prior to the show at: UWharrie Players.org Starnes Jewelers B & D Bookstore Or at the Box Office

Kids 12 and under, come dressed as your favorite Mary Poppins character.

Prizes will be awarded for winners.

This project was supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Seoul, South Korea The U.S. flew two supersonic B-1B bombers over the Korean peninsula in a show of force on Sunday and the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said China, Japan and South Korea needed to do more after Pyongyang’s latest missile tests. North Korea said it conducted another successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) on Friday that proved its ability to strike America’s mainland, drawing a sharp warning from President Donald Trump.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

A6

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Murphy to Manteo

Jones & Blount jonesandblount.com @JonesandBlount

August and after

Lawmakers head back to Raleigh for August legislative session

August is here and with it many summer crops will start to dwindle while fall fruits and vegetables will begin to be harvested. This month brings the beginning of apple season, which will stretch into the fall and beyond. Also arriving at stands and farmers markets are muscadine grapes and perhaps even N.C.-grown pears. Meanwhile, melonlovers should enjoy watermelons and honeydews while they can as the season winds down for cucurbits, and backyard gardens should stop yielding cucumbers soon.

By Donna King North State Journal

Did you know?

According the USDA, North Carolina’s most productive commercial apple season since 1934 was in 1983 (415 million pounds), while record lows came in 1955 (1.68 million pounds).

west McHenry hosts Town Hall Buncombe County Tenth District U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) held his annual town hall meeting for Buncombe County on Tuesday afternoon. The crowd had a lot to say, particularly about Obamacare and Congress’ failure so far to repeal it. McHenry’s district includes most of Asheville plus eastern and southern parts of Buncombe County. Eleventh District U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), whose district includes the remainder of the county, has said he will also hold town hall meetings this month but has yet to announce dates or locations.

Asheville Citizen Times

Blaze destroys former textile mill-turned community workshop Caldwell County The Foothills Community Workshop in Granite Falls burned over the weekend, drawing firefighters from 16 counties to battle the blaze. The remnants of the 75,000-square-foot former Shuford Mills textile factory were still smoking this week as the county fire marshal launched an investigation. There were no fatalities reported as a result of the fire but several firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. Opened in 2012, the reborn facility housed several businesses, apartments, storage units and art space. FCW vows to rebuild and has started a crowdfunding campaign to help with costs. morganton news Herald

PIEDMONT

Father of fugitive arrested Henderson County The father of a man who led law enforcement officers on a six-day manhunt before being captured in Brevard last week has been arrested and charged with helping his son avoid police. WLOS-TV reports that 65-year-old Phillip Stroupe, father of 38-year-old Phillip Michael Stroupe II, has been arrested and charged with accessory. Frederick Badgero, Jennifer Hawkins and Larry Hawkins were also charged Saturday for helping Stroupe.

Police say that the younger Stoupe was spotted driving the truck of a man who had been reported missing the day before. The body of Thomas Bryson, 68, was discovered in a corn field in Arden on Sunday night. Henderson County authorities have not released the cause of Bryson’s death but say they believe he was kidnapped and Stoupe will likely face murder charges.

Mystery chemical found in Greensboro drinking water Guilford County Water supply managers are battling a chemical contaminant from the same family of man-made compounds as the GenX substance that made headlines recently by infiltrating the drinking water in North Carolina’s southeastern region. During the last three years, hydrologists have found water from Greensboro’s Mitchell Water Treatment Plant with relatively high levels of an industrial chemical (PFOS) which is suspected of causing human health problems and damage to developing fetuses when consumed over time in large enough doses. City officials and two private consultants have been looking for the local source of PFOS without success.

News & Record

WLOS-TV

Laurinburg’s annual Night Out fills the streets

Trees for sale Buncombe County The N.C. Forest Service is taking orders for its yearly seedling sale. For 2017, the state is producing 16 million seedlings as part of its Nursery & Tree Improvement Program. The program is intended to help property owners reforest or restore their land. The seedlings are grown to be diseaseresistant and can be bought in 50 seedling packs starting at $25 on www. buynctrees.com. When the seedlings are ready, they will be distributed to a center in Asheville.

Mountain Xpress

A7

Scotland County Scotland County’s law enforcement officers teamed up with community leaders to provide a night of entertainment to the town of Laurinburg on Tuesday. The free block party at the Old Pope’s building parking lot featured face painting, a DJ and bounce houses to unite the community and head off crime. The Scotland High School “Fighting Scots” were also there for a meet-and-greet during the event.

Drones new no-fly zone over prisons and jails Wake County It’s now a crime in North Carolina to fly a drone near prisons and jails. The new law signed by Gov. Roy Cooper prohibits anyone but law enforcement officials from flying drones within 250 feet above or 500 feet around prisons and jails. Using a drone to deliver weapons or other contraband can result in felony charge. People who just fly drones near prisons can face a misdemeanor.

Charlotte Observer

N.C. Railroad to connect new Egger facility Davidson County On Monday, N.C. Railroad Co. announced it would invest $3.5 million to connect the proposed Egger facility to Norfolk Southern’s Linwood yard with a lead track and switches. Last week, Austria-based Egger Wood Products announced that it will invest $700 million in a new state-of-theart particleboard manufacturing facility in Davidson County, which is ultimately projected to create 770 jobs.

The new facility will create 400 of these jobs with an initial $300 million investment in the first phase of the development.

Laurinburg Exchange

The Best of Summer

Winston-Salem Journal

EAST

Two World War II-era munitions wash ashore at Hatteras

Teens remembered after drowning in Cape Fear River Harnett County Memorial services have been scheduled for two Erwin teenagers who drowned in the Cape Fear River over the weekend while swimming with friends. Donovan Sutton, 15, and Steven McNeill, 16, reportedly began to struggle while attempting to swim across the river Sunday evening. Two friends who were swimming with them turned back to shore to find help. Authorities say they are investigating the deaths and report that the popular swimming area has calm water and is approximately 6- to 10-feet deep at the point where the best friends drowned.

WRAL-TV

Dare County A Navy bomb disposal team drove down from Norfolk, Va., recently to dispose of two munitions that washed ashore July 14 and July 18. A spokesperson for the detachment, which covers all of N.C. and Virginia, says they get about five calls a year for such discoveries, but none in the Outer Banks since the 1990s. The ordinances are left over from a time when the U.S. Navy used once-empty N.C. shores for aerial target practice.

Scientists also say the area’s quickly shifting sea floor makes it more likely to collect debris. Shells from the 1861 bombardment of Hatteras Inlet still come to the surface occasionally and in 1942, during World War II, more than 60 merchant ships were sunk by German submarines off the Hatteras coast.

THE OUTER BANKS VOICE

Contracts awarded for bridge replacement Bladen, Columbus and Harnett Counties The North Carolina department of transportation awarded key bridge replacement contracts this week. S&C Construction in Wilmington will replace a bridge over Crawley Swamp in Bladen County. The Tara Group in Lumberton will replace a bridge over Cedar Creek in Columbus County, and T.A. Loving of Goldsboro was selected to replace three bridges over East Buies Creek and Black River in Harnett County. The bridges were built in the 1950s and officials say they are safe, but need to be updated and may have limits on vehicle weights or low clearances.

NC DOT

Skylight Inn celebrates 70 years Pitt County An eastern N.C. staple is celebrating 70 years in business. The Skylight Inn in Ayden has been dishing out some of N.C.’s best barbeque since 1947 and it is consistently rated as one of the best in the nation. Their unassuming one-story brick building houses the business started by Sam Jones’ grandfather, Pete Jones, when Pete was just 17 years old. Sam Jones runs the restaurant now and in 2003, was awarded the prestigious James Beard “America’s Classics” Award.

The Daily Reflector

RALEIGH — On Thursday the N.C. General Assembly returns to the state capital for an August legislative session scheduled in the June 30 adjournment resolution. Since then, Gov. Roy Cooper has signed 105 bills into law and vetoed four. Four additional bills became law without his signature on July 31 because his time to act on them expired. According to the state constitution, a three-fifths majority vote is required for the legislature to override a gubernatorial veto. The August session could also include consideration of conference reports on various bills.

The four bills that became law without Cooper’s signature include Restore Campus Free Speech which details the role of the University of North Carolina campuses in free speech protection. The measure establishes student free speech as a fundamental right and says that institutions may not shield students from speech nor require expression of a particular social policy. It directs information about free expression to be included in freshmen orientation and formation of an 11-member Free Speech Committee within the university system to set policy and handle conflicts.

Among the bills signed into law by the governor is one that makes N.C. the 22nd state to bar state agencies from doing business with companies that boycott Israel. The bill passed the state House by a vote of 96-19 and the state Senate by a vote of 45-3.

“It is important for us to protect Israel as a friend, ally and trading partner of the United States. I am honored to be a lead sponsor of this legislation,” said Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Guilford) who is a lead sponsor of the bill with Rep. Stephen Ross (R-Alamance) and Rep. John Szoka (R-Cumberland).

Cooper also signed two criminal justice bills, one that makes it easier for people convicted of a crime in N.C. to have it expunged from their record by reducing the wait time from 15 to five years for a first-time nonviolent misdemeanor or felony conviction, and 10 years for other

felony conviction. Cooper also signed legislation that raises the age limit for being charged as an adult from 16 years old to 18.

“We don’t want young people to be held back for life because of one bad decision,” said Cooper. “We want them and their families to work with our juvenile justice system so we can get them on the right path.”

Legislation that offers reform on solar energy policy (H.B. 589) also got the governor’s signature in spite of his objection to a moratorium imposed by the legislature on wind farm permits until 2020. The moratorium was intended to allow time to create maps of the growing number of wind farms in order to minimize impact on the military and defense missions in eastern N.C. Defense is N.C.‘s second largest industry and Sen. Harry Borwn (R-Onslow) told a Senate subcommittee that the maps are critical to ensuring service member safety and industry protection as the federal government examines base realignment.

“Taking a step back to make sure that there’s a balance between the military and wind — making sure that they can co-exist — is important,” Brown told the committee. “To not protect that (military) resource, I think, would be a huge mistake.”

Cooper disagreed and called the moratorium “politically motivated.”

“As I signed the bill into law today, I also signed Executive Order No. 11 that will mitigate the effects of the moratorium,” said Cooper. “This executive order directs DEQ to continue recruiting wind energy investments and to move forward with all of the behindthe-scenes work involved with bringing wind energy projects online, including reviewing permits and conducting preapplication review for prospective sites.”

Cooper also vetoed four bills since June, including one that allowed charities to hold casino night fundraisers and one that would have allowed landfills to collect liquid runoff and vaporize it into the air around the landfill.

After the August session, the legislature is expected to return for another session beginning Sept. 6 to focus on congressional, legislative and judicial redistricting.

As session reconvenes Democrats target cuts to DOJ

By Donna King North State Journal RALEIGH — As lawmakers return to Raleigh, legislative Democrats say the state’s Department of Justice is considering laying off 100 staffers, mostly lawyers, after the state budget cut the department by $10 million.

The Department of Justice has an $88 million dollar budget and employs more than 400 lawyers and others in the legal services department.

Democrats say the millions in personal income tax cuts included in the budget have taken money from the justice system and puts public safety at risk. In a press release Monday, Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue (D-Wake) said denying the state income tax cuts to households earning more than $200,000 would pay to restore the DOJ funding and prevent the layoffs in the administrative sections of the department.

“This move by Republicans goes beyond

retaliation against our attorney general,” said Blue. “This blocks access to the largest consumer advocacy group available to families. This puts people’s safety and wellbeing at risk as more criminals slip through another underfunded system,” said Blue.

However, Republicans say the cut was part of a multiyear strategy to shrink the size of government and reduce overall state spending. They say the state budget was careful to direct the cuts into administration, not the crime lab, training or other services, and that the budget included funds for more deputy clerks of court and assistant district attorneys to help with workload downstream in the judiciary.

Republicans also pointed out the budget provides more than $4 million for law enforcement training for N.C. officers and funds across-the-board raises for all state employees, including DOJ, and experienced-based step increases for highway patrol officers.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017

BUSINESS

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

n.c.

FAST FACTS Sponsored by

The N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center selected Asheboro, Dunn and Henderson for the Center’s Downtown Associate Community program, Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced last week.

The towns will receive up to three years of downtown technical assistance services from the Center, beginning in September. These communities may have the opportunity to receive official Main Street designation if they successfully complete the program and demonstrate that they have met the requirements of the N.C. Main Street program within the three-year time frame. “All North Carolina communities depend on a healthy and vibrant downtown to attract businesses small and large,” said Secretary Copeland. “This program will help Asheboro, Dunn and Henderson become even stronger candidates for new jobs and expansion.”

The Downtown Associate Community program launched in May 2015 and provides communities interested in downtown revitalization with the tools to build a sustainable organizational foundation.

North Carolina communities must start with this program to become a designated N.C. Main Street community. The competitive selection process takes place every other year.

Approved Logos

The market is booming for buying and selling homes in N.C. Housing market recovery has been a long time coming for many N.C. towns, but industry experts are bullish about prospects in a strong seller’s market

By Laura Ashley Lamm North State Journal TARBORO — The economy can often dictate the success of buying and selling a home. In 2017, it’s a booming business as more new people are arriving in N.C. daily.

“This is a great time in the real estate industry. It’s a seller’s market and we just need to educate the buyers on obtaining the best deal for them,” said Donna Dew, broker since 1981 and an agent with Century 21 The Combs Company since 2001.

Dew reports 2016 was the busiest housing year since 2008.

Even interest rates were lower in 2016 than 2008. Dew sold 106

It’s no secret, home sales are up all over North Carolina. The N.C. Association of Realtors, a non-profit trade association with a membership of 39,000 real estate professionals, reports June 2017 home sales by their members stand at 15,976 units compared to 15,284 units in June 2016, a five percent increase. Year-to-date totals brings units sold through June 2017 to 73,548 compared to 67,878 in June 2016.

Why are most people moving?

Senior citizens are transitioning to rest homes and growing families need more space. New families are moving into the state.

According to U.S. Census Bureau reports, some of the state’s largest areas, such as Wake County and Charlotte, are growing daily on average of 64 and 109 people, respectively.

If you are looking to sell or buy, the market is ready. But there are several pointers sellers and buyers should follow.

“This is a great time in the real estate industry. It’s a seller’s market and we just need to educate the buyers on obtaining the best deal for them.”

— Donna Dew, Tarboro real estate agent houses between the counties of Martin, Halifax, Edgecombe, Nash and Pitt. In fact, she ranked No. 2 in North Carolina for the Century 21 Company.

According to the N.C. Real Estate Commission, which oversees the licensing and regulating of real estate agents, there are more than 87,000 real estate agents serving as brokers in North Carolina during the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

See REAL ESTATE, page A9

STATEWIDE spotlight Sponsored by

1

OUT OF EVERY

8

Boeing’s new avionics group aims to cut costs

By Alwyn Scott Reuters NEW YORK — Boeing Co said on Monday it has set up an avionics group to make flight controls and other electronics currently made by outside suppliers for its commercial and military aircraft, aiming to bring the products into service after 2020.

The move by the world’s largest plane maker appeared to be a direct attack on suppliers such as Rockwell Collins Inc, United Technologies Corp and Honeywell International Inc .

The three companies, which

n.c.

Randall Hill | REUTERS

make electronics used on current Boeing jets, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In recent years, Boeing has brought propulsion, carbon fiber manufacturing and other key capabilities in-house to better control both technology and intellectual property. That strategy

followed outsourcing of major systems to suppliers for the 787 Dreamliner that led to billions of dollars in cost overruns.

Boeing said it has already started developing systems that would be lower cost, higher See BOEING, page A9

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NORTH CAROLINIANS GETS THEIR ENERGY FROM A PUBLIC POWER COMMUNITY.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

A9

Consumers, businesses likely spurred U.S. economic pickup in Q2 New GDP data has economists raising growth forecasts

By Lucia Mutikani Reuters WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy likely accelerated in the second quarter as consumers ramped up spending and businesses invested more on equipment, which would confirm that the sluggish performance early in the year was temporary.

Gross domestic product probably increased at a 2.6 percent annual rate in the April-June period, according to a Reuters survey of economists. The poll, however, was conducted before the release of data on Thursday that showed a sharp drop in the goods trade deficit in June and strong gains in wholesale and retail inventories.

That data prompted economists to raise their GDP growth forecasts to as high as a 3.5 percent rate, which would be more than double the first quarter’s 1.4 percent growth pace. The Commerce Department will release its advance second-quarter GDP estimate on Friday at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT).

A rebound in growth, together with a tightening labor market, would leave the Federal Reserve on course to announce a plan to start reducing its $4.2 trillion portfolio of Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities in September as well as raise interest rates for a third time this year.

“The Fed is certainly looking for a rebound in the strength of GDP growth that maintains the moderate economic expansion we have seen during this current economic cycle,” said Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“That would allow plans for further monetary policy tightening.”

The U.S. central bank left rates unchanged on Wednesday and said it expected to start winding down its portfolio “relatively soon.”

Even if GDP growth regains momentum in the second quarter, it will probably not exceed 2.5 percent for the full year. President Donald Trump had set an ambitious 3.0 percent growth target for 2017.

While the Trump administra-

REAL ESTATE from page A8 “The goal is to have a fresh and clean home,” said Dew. “Make your home generic in color,” she advised. “If the walls need painting, select a neutral color. If the carpet is worn, replace it. If there are hard woods underneath, refinish the floor as most people like hardwoods.”

Other tasks include cleaning out the closets, removing the junk, cutting the grass and trimming the bushes. A house needs curb appeal as much as it needs appeal on the inside. Also, pet owners love their furry friends, but unfortunately, they affect the sale of a house.

“Make arrangements for your pets when your home is being shown,” said Dew. “Take the bowls of food off the kitchen floor.

KEVIN LAMARQUE | REUTERS

A police officer keeps watch in front of the U.S. Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C.

terly increase. Investment on nonresidential structures like oil and gas wells likely provided another boost to GDP growth in the second quarter.

While businesses probably continued to carefully manage their inventories, they appeared to spend more in some places. Inventory investment is expected to have been neutral or made a modest contribution to growth after slicing off 1.1 percent percentage points in the first quarter.

If you have a man cave with deer heads on the wall, I suggest taking those down as well as that can be offensive to some buyers.”

Realtors will visit your house and complete a market analysis.

Be sure to talk with your realtor about the difference between the appraisal value and the market value. For example, the granite countertops in a kitchen and hardwood floors in the dining room contribute to the market value as it’s considered buyer appeal.

“When pricing a house, always be willing to negotiate,” said Dew. “Today, everyone looks for homes online. They will ride by a home, see the sign, and then look it up online,” said Dew. Online sites such as Trulia and Zillow are booming. Sites like these provide city and coun-

ty demographics, pricing and tax information, home listings and photographs of the home for sell. This is often the first stop for buyers. Buyers will search homes here before calling a realtor.

Buyers should know what type of home they are looking to purchase. A few questions buyers may ask themselves include: How many bedrooms and bathrooms are needed? Is the home large enough for the size of your family? Do you prefer an open floor concept? Should the location be in a particular school district?

Would you like to be within the county or city limits?

“If a new homebuyer is shopping, they are often intimidated by ‘sell by owner’ homes as they aren’t sure of the home buying process,” said Dew. Realtors can help the buyers

with the pre-qualification process through their local bank to determine how much they can spend on a house and mortgage estimates.

“You may qualify for purchasing a $100,000 home, but decided you don’t want the monthly mortgage payment that goes along with it. Therefore, you may decide you prefer to spend at most $80,000 on a home,” said Dew. Realtors follow a code of ethics and will work together, so it’s unnecessary to go realtor-to-realtor when shopping for a home. One realtor can tour a buyer through the various houses he or she is interested in.

In the end, no matter where one lives in North Carolina, buying and selling a home doesn’t need to be an overwhelming process.

said in an internal statement to employees that was seen by Reuters.

While Boeing owns some intellectual property on electronic systems in its jet cockpits, current contracts with suppliers likely would not let Boeing take aftermarket business away on those planes, said analyst Robert Stallard.

However, suppliers could lose

significant business on future aircraft, Stallard said.

Boeing is talking about creating a new mid-sized aircraft that would enter service around 2025, and would need to create a successor to its best-selling 737 model after that.

Boeing shares were up 1 percent at $243.72 in midday trading on Monday after the announcement.

BOEING from page A8 quality alternatives to existing products made by suppliers, and would deliver more services revenue to Boeing after a plane is sold.

Boeing aims to “further drive cost down and value up for our customers, in all phases of a product’s life cycle,” Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg

Similarly, trade is forecast making little or no contribution to output after adding two-tenths of a percentage point in the first three months of 2017.

Housing was likely a drag on growth in the last quarter. That would follow two straight quarters when investment in homebuilding supported GDP growth. Auto production is expected to have rebounded after slumping in the first quarter.

Alongside the second-quarter GDP report, the government will publish revisions to data going back to 2014, including the first-quarter GDP estimate. Economists expect little change in the growth picture. They believe that a seasonal quirk tends to exert a weak bias on first-quarter GDP. The government has undertaken to fully address the so-called residual seasonality when it publishes a comprehensive revision of the GDP series in 2018.

“Our rough estimate is that the revision will be close to zero on net,” said Daniel Silver, an economist at JPMorgan in New York.

“The issue of ‘residual seasonality’ is likely to persist through the upcoming revision.”

tion has vowed to cut corporate and individual taxes as part of its business-friendly agenda, Republicans’ struggles in Congress to pass a healthcare restructuring have left analysts skeptical on the prospects of fiscal stimulus. So far, the impasse in Washington has not hurt either business and consumer confidence.

A resurgence in consumer spending likely accounted for the bulk of the pickup in economic growth in the second quarter. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the U.S. economy, grew at a 1.1 percent rate in the first quarter, the weakest performance in a year.

“I am a little worried about the consumer in the second half of this year because of the lack of wage growth,” said Ryan Sweet, senior economist at Moody’s Analytics in Westchester, Pennsylvania. “For consumers to continue to lead the economy we need wage growth to accelerate.”

Annual wage growth has struggled to break above 2.5 percent.

Business spending on equipment is expected to have picked up from the first quarter’s 7.8 percent rate, marking a third straight quar-

Boeing aims to “further drive cost down and value up for our customers, in all phases of a product’s life cycle.”

— Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing Chief Executive

“The Fed is certainly looking for a rebound in the strength of GDP growth that maintains the moderate economic expansion we have seen during this current economic cycle.”

— Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina

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duplinwinery.com • 800.774.9634 505 n. sycamore street • rose hill, nc 28458

the BRIEF Wal-Mart shuffles U.S. leadership teams in food, merchandising Chicago Wal-Mart Stores Inc has announced changes to its food leadership team in an internal memo, as it prepares for increased competition with grocery rivals and remains caught in a price war. Charles Redfield, executive vice-president for food at WalMart U.S., unveiled the changes in the memo dated Friday and seen

by Reuters. He said Wal-Mart is positioning leaders from the company in new roles so it can deliver and win at a time when retail is constantly changing. A Wal-Mart spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The changes come at a time when the world’s largest retailer has been conducting price tests across several U.S. states and pushing vendors to undercut rivals. The recent entry of German grocery chain Lidl and expansion by another German rival, Aldi , has raised the stakes for American grocery chain operators.

Outside adviser to Trump calls for firing of CFPB head Cordray Washington, D.C. An outside adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump called on Sunday for the firing of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Richard Cordray. Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager who still speaks regularly to the president, criticized a CFPB rule that would make it easier for consumers to sue financial companies. Currently, many consumers are required to settle disputes related to credit cards and other banking products through mandatory arbitration.

“It’s my recommendation to the president of the United States to fire Richard Cordray,” Lewandowski told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” The CFPB is the brainchild of Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. Created by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law, the bureau is charged with protecting consumers from predatory lending practices that were commonplace during the financial crisis. Under current law, the president can only fire Cordray for cause. The legal burden to show cause is high, and Cordray’s term does not expire until July 2018.

Cordray is widely expected to run for governor in Ohio, though he has not announced any plans to do so.

A Wireless expands with 250 new jobs in North Carolina Raleigh A Wireless, Verizon’s largest exclusive independent agent by store count, has selected Wake County as its new headquarters and home of its support operations, creating 250 jobs over five years.

The company plans to invest $4.95 million in North Carolina.

“A Wireless will join a growing number of technology leaders who call North Carolina home,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland.

“Our state’s university and community college system, talent, quality of life, and community of IT powerhouses allow companies like A Wireless to thrive.” A Wireless was founded in 1996 in Wilson, N.C. and now employs more than 5,500 people and serves customers in more than 1,150 retail locations across 46 states. The North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) led the state’s support for the company’s expansion. The 250 new positions expected at the A Wireless headquarters are critical to the company’s continued growth and will support an expected $23 million in annual wages.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

A10

north STATEment Neal Robbins, publisher | Ray Nothstine, opinion editor

Visual Voices

EDITORIAL | RAY NOTHSTINE

Can Gen. John Kelly save the Trump presidency?

Clinton’s low approval point in his first term is still below most of Trump’s current polling.

There are many variants of the adage to “send in the Marines” when swift and immediate action is needed. For the Trump presidency, that time is now.

After six months, there is little doubt that a major shakeup is desperately needed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And outside of changing the president, the White House chief of staff is the best place to start. That position is often called the toughest job in government, especially considering the average tenure is a little less than two years.

After Iran Contra and mumblings about a disengaged Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office, former Sen. Howard Baker stepped in to help refocus the ship in the late 1980s. Likewise, Leon Panetta and North Carolina’s Erskine Bowles brought discipline to a Bill Clinton presidency after one of the most disastrous starts in modern history. Clinton’s low approval point in his first term is still below most of Trump’s current polling.

Retired Marine Gen. John F. Kelly, has quickly been tagged as a rising star in Trump’s White House, especially for speaking truth on border security and working fervently to bring some normalcy to Trump’s signature and often most contentious campaign issue. Kelly wisely has chided Congress too for trying to cede law through the executive branch on immigration, telling lawmakers to change the law if they want enforcement of Deferred Action for Immigrant Arrivals programs (DACA). Kelly’s impeccable military record is nearly unmatched and has bipartisan support given his long stint outside of politics as a Marine officer.

Kelly replaces the former popular Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus as chief of staff and might be off to a good start. He quickly canned White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci, (a.k.a.

“The Mooch”) for basically being a blowhard and a giant distraction. “The Mooch,” who sounds more like a character from the film “Goodfellas,” did not even make it to his official start date of August 15 before imploding on the job.

Scarammuci’s profanity laced rant to a reporter was a major embarrassment even for what many are convinced is a White House more akin to a circus.

Trump, of course, is aggressive in his pushback that his administration is not in chaos, but the revolving doors highlight an inability for the White House to stay on message and show restraint. Kelly is known as a no-nonsense leader and it’s hard to believe he would have accepted the job without having enforcement authority over employees in the West Wing. It’s nearly impossible to imagine Trump altering his brashness or combative leadership style too.

However, clearly the two have bonded in what is fair to call a tumultuous environment.

The addition of Kelly and loss of Priebus may spell challenges for Trump’s legislative agenda. Priebus was widely popular with Republicans on Capitol Hill, especially House Speaker Paul Ryan, while Kelly has few deep relationships with federal lawmakers. It’s less apparent if Kelly has a commitment to limited government and the kind of conservatism that many Republicans in Washington are sorely lacking now.

The chief of staff positon has broken some of America’s greatest leaders. Donald T. Regan, a Marine officer during some of the fiercest island hopping campaigns in the Pacific Theater in World War II, did not survive the Reagan White House. H.R. Haldeman, the first modern White House chief of staff, served 18 months in prison after Watergate. Donald Rumsfield who was Gerald Ford’s chief of staff described his job this way: “It was like climbing into a cockpit of a crippled plane in flight and trying to land it safely.”

Trump has tremendous flaws and lacks discipline which can be contagious for those who serve at the pleasure of the president. It’s Kelly’s job to bring order to the seeming chaos.

Republicans should be rooting for Kelly’s success in the new position, but so should all those who still love this nation.

GUEST EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

‘Son, in the US Senate, there are no rules!’

Now that health care reform has collapsed in the Senate, what does that mean for tax reform?

So said former Senate parliamentarian Bob Dove at the completion of a two day seminar on Senate rules in 2003 when asked to sum it all up for new Senate staffers.

Now that health care reform has been torpedoed in the U.S. Senate in dramatic fashion by Senator John McCain’s deciding ‘no’ vote last week and by Republican Senators who are not up for re-election in 2018, where does that leave health care reform efforts?

For now, nowhere. The Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land whether you like it or not. Until Congress passes a bill that gets signed by President Trump, Obamacare remains the law of the land with all of its attendant promise and problems.

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 Act ushered in a decade of spending restraint, PAYGO budget discipline led to four surplus budgets from 1998 to 2001.

The strategy all along from the Republican side was to pass health care reform first under reconciliation rules in order to free up enough spending savings over 10 years to allow a massive tax cut—reform bill to be passed afterwards.

Budget reconciliation measures cannot increase the deficit; they can rearrange

the deck chairs of tax and spending policy but cannot add to the baseline debt.

Those are the rules. We didn’t make them up. Budget reconciliation was a tool passed in 1974 to allow for expedited consideration of bills relating to spending, revenue and budget matters with only a 50 percent +1 majority in the Senate instead of the 60-vote threshold to close debate and proceed to a vote.

Now that health care reform has collapsed in the Senate, what does that mean for tax reform?

It probably means a scaled-down version of tax reform, perhaps by as much as 50 percent less. Health care repeal and replace was expected to save anywhere from $1 trillion to $2 trillion in spending over the next decade, most of which would ‘pay for’ the majority of a massive tax reform package some estimated to be close to $3 trillion over 10 years. On top of that, budget savings in the rest of the federal budget amounting to close to $1 trillion over 10 years were going to be folded into this budget reconciliation package to form what might have been called “MOBRA 2017,” or the Massive Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2017.

Tax reform will now take center stage for consideration and regular order

appropriations bills will be passed to incorporate the majority of budget savings.

Will we see health care reform again this year? Many conservatives now believe Obamacare exchanges will collapse under its own weight without taxpayer bailout of the insurance companies. So why try again?

States that have expanded Medicaid under the 100 percent match for five years are now beginning to feel the pinch of having to pay for 10 percent of the expansion cost since ACA called for a reduction to 90 percent match after five years. Budget pressures will start to force match rates back down to the historical average of 63 percent federal and 37 percent state-funded further weakening Medicaid expansion.

Could the Senate take up health care again under budget reconciliation rules?

Yes, if both houses pass another budget resolution and sends out a second set of reconciliation instructions. They could do that 100 times if they so choose.

As Bob Dove said, though, ‘there are no rules’ in the US Senate which means we could see health care again before the end of the year. Don’t hold your breath but stranger things have happened.

This year as a matter of fact.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

A11

Guest Opinion | ERIK ROOT

A just legal victory for Superintendent Johnson

The SBE appealed this ruling in hopes a partisan ruling in their favor will result.

A Wake County Superior Court three judge panel justly pronounced in July that the State Board of Education (SBE), a body of parttime volunteer appointees, is subservient on policy matters to the people’s elected General Assembly.

SBE brought suit after the Assembly passed several changes to the general statutes streamlining responsibility and granting more authority to Mark Johnson, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), an elected executive officer who is also the chief administrative officer of that body.

Despite their counsel’s bewilderment over the meaning of the Superior Court Order when he said, “We’re trying to parse out what all that [decision] means,” the SBE has nevertheless voted to appeal this decision. It is not that difficult to understand. According to the ruling, the appointed SBE still maintains its constitutional authority to “supervise and administer the free public school system,” and the elected chief executive of the board gets to execute policy, with all being subject to the General Assembly.

Many members of the SBE have held that they are essentially a co-equal branch with legislative powers that the other branches cannot rescind.

However, much of SBE’s powers are delineated in the general statutes, principally the 500-page General Statute 115C for the K-12 school system.

This fact did not prevent SBE’s counsel to declare that they had “broad, and sweeping powers and duties.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, those broad and sweeping powers belong with the people and their elected representatives.

The state constitution since 1868 has always noted the plenary power of the General Assembly over the SBE. Though the SBE has constitutional status, the powers and authority of the board are limited and subject to review, change, or revocation by the Assembly. In fact, in each constitutional convention, it was the intent to clarify the language from the 1868 version affirming the subjugation, not expansion, of the

SBE’s constitutional powers.

There is plenty of historical evidence confirming the reasoning of the three judge panel. For example, the 1920 State Educational Commission noted that, “accordingly, the general assembly has never hesitated to add to or subtract from the powers actually exercised by the” SBE. The 1931 Constitutional Revision Commission also noted the assembly’s constitutional oversight of the SBE while also contending that the SBE was subject to the constraints of the state constitution and the will of the people. SBE’s legal argument in their lawsuit maintained that it should be above both.

The 1969 Constitutional Revision Commission provided the framework for understanding our present state constitution. They noted that the individual citizen had the right and the authority through their representatives to change the direction of policy in the state. It is this natural provision that also subjects the SBE to the will of the legislature.

The three judge panel noted this very fact when they wrote, “the clear intent of the Constitution that the State Board shall have the primary authority…subject to laws passed by the General Assembly.” The reasoning of the court could not be more clear. It reflects the clear meaning of the 1868 Constitution which states that “all acts, regulations of said Board may be altered, amended, or repealed by the General Assembly, and when so altered, amended or repealed…shall not be reenacted by the Board.”

The SBE appealed this ruling in hopes a partisan ruling in their favor will result. In other words, the SBE voted to appeal the order hoping for a lawless reversal. The only ones to suffer should that happen are the sovereign people of the state and the students, not to mention the rule of law.

Erik Root is Senior Policy Analyst with The Roger Bacon Academy in Leland, North Carolina.

Mark Johnson, left, Superintendent of Public Instruction, speaks during the North Carolina Education Cabinet’s first meeting of the year at the Department of Administration building in downtown Raleigh.

Building on our legacy of innovation nfrastructure has been the lynchpin of the American economy over the last century.

IUnder President Eisenhower, the United States

made unprecedented investments in our roads, rails and ports, which accelerated America’s growth and influence in the world. A couple of decades later, President Reagan showed us that the best thing government can do is get out of the way and allow the private sector to invest and create jobs.

Since the turn of the 21st century, technology has fundamentally changed the way we work, live and play. It has opened doors of opportunity for people from Murphy to Manteo. As we move towards 2020, the opportunities before us are incredible. To get there, though, we must have robust and ubiquitous broadband infrastructure. Next-generation wireless networks offer the promise and potential to revolutionize internet connectivity.

Upgrading wireless networks to 5g technology will fundamentally change the way we use the internet. The ability to connect billions of devices will drive new innovation and efficiencies, transforming entire industry sectors, such as energy, health and public safety. Wireless powered autonomous vehicles could reduce travel times by nearly 40 percent and save an estimated 21,700 lives due to reduced accidents. Entirely new businesses and industries will be created based on the power and capabilities of next-generation wireless technology.

Entirely new businesses and industries will be created based on the power and capabilities of nextgeneration wireless technology.

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

column | CAL THOMAS

The president is not the enemy Better build up this president and the good he can do, as he is the only president we have.

JASON SAINE

The Establishment, a construct of Democrats and Republicans that rules in Washington no matter which party controls government, appears to be over its fainting spell following Donald Trump’s election. It is now throwing everything at him from a daily — make that hourly, even minute by minute— onslaught of investigations to big media’s equivalent of Molotov cocktails.

Washington, D.C., recently made assisted suicide legal.

The president isn’t helping his cause by committing unassisted political suicide. Changing his chief of staff may help, but significant change must come from the president, himself.

Name-calling by the president and his critics accomplishes nothing, other than to make the name-caller feel good. In my experience, name-calling changes few minds.

Winning an argument is better than disparaging someone who holds a different view. The way to defeat your opponent is to present a better idea. In the case of the Establishment, the president should not only talk specifically about its many failures — from health insurance to winning wars, or invading countries where we don’t belong, but also present a list of alternatives he believes will work.

How’s this for a slogan, borrowed out of context from former president Obama: “If you

like your Establishment, you can keep your Establishment”?

The problem today is that we have exchanged what was once common sense for nonsense.

Look at what consumes our attention — transgender soldiers in the military, celebrities, leaks from the administration and gossip. It is junk food for the mind.

Here’s a positive suggestion.

Let the new White House chief of staff, Gen. John Kelly, meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan. Give them a list of programs and policies the president would like to pass (or repeal) and ask the two leaders to poll their members to see what they could vote for. Then let Gen. Kelly receive from the leaders what congressional Republicans could support and vote for. Somewhere in between is enough common ground to repeal legislation and programs that aren’t working and create new ones that will work, based on experience, not ideology.

The president can then hit the road and sell an agenda he and his party, and maybe some Democrats, can agree on.

The president deserves credit for eliminating regulations that have been choking the economy.

It is a major reason why the economy is growing again and the stock market keeps hitting record highs. He should continue doing things his executive power

allows him to do.

Calling President Trump a narcissist and “childish” changes nothing. What is the goal of such language? Do the name-callers think he will become something other than what he is, absent a miraculous conversion?

“Face the Nation” host John Dickerson editorialized on his show last Sunday about a video that purports to show President Trump ignoring an 11-yearold boy in a wheelchair while greeting others who attended his health care speech last week.

Trump haters claim the video proves how insensitive he is.

Dickerson said the first thing the president did when entering the room was to bend down and speak to the child. About the mischaracterized video, Dickerson said: “We’re so ready for evidence to confirm the absolute worst about an opponent it snuffs out our charity.”

He’s right and when it suits them both left and right engage in this shameful practice.

Better build up this president and the good he can do, as he is the only president we have. North Korea and Iraq are becoming imminent threats. Throwing rhetorical “bombs” at our fellow citizens is not helpful. We are not each other’s enemy. There are many who wish to destroy us.

Why are we helping them?

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist.

Unlike today’s wireless networks that connect people and devices through large cell towers, 5g networks require a massive deployment of small cell technology designed for speeds up to 100 times faster than today’s internet connections while supporting exponentially more devices. More than 250,000 small cells are expected to be installed over the next few years in the United States, nearly the number of traditional “macro” cell sites built over the last 30 years. The wireless industry has committed to funding billions of dollars in new investment to upgrade these networks. Unfortunately, these investments are being slowed by outdated regulations and rules, delays that we simply cannot afford as we face stiff overseas competition for investment and jobs.

According to a recent Accenture report, 5g wireless networks could create as many as three million jobs and boost U.S. GDP by nearly $500 billion over the next seven years. More specifically, North Carolina communities — from small towns to big cities — will realize significant economic benefits from investment in 5g networks.

States across the country are moving quickly to ready themselves for the investment influx that 5G will bring. In fact, just within the past twelve months, ten states have passed legislation that will streamline and expedite the deployment of next generation wireless networks. I sponsored House Bill 310 to ensure that North Carolina remains a leader in the technology sector, helping to make certain we are ready to capitalize on the opportunities presented by next generation technologies.

House Bill 310 helps to remove barriers to efficient deployment of small wireless facilities by streamlining processes and imposing reasonable rates and fees. House Bill 310 allows providers the opportunity to deploy small cells responsibly by having reasonable access to existing local infrastructure within and outside of the public rights-of-way (ROW). The legislation clarifies that small wireless facilities on existing infrastructure is a ”permitted use” and not subject to the type of review larger “macro” towers receive.

Finally, it is important to note that House Bill 310 places no limitations on localities’ ability to deny permits based on building, safety or electrical codes or standards. There is no removal of localities’ jurisdiction in these areas.

As we strive to maintain our leadership position in a highly competitive global economy, it is helpful to remember the lessons that the aforementioned two great leaders taught us; investment in infrastructure is critical to excelling in a global economy and often the best course of action is for government to get out of the way so that those who have the capital and expertise can invest and help move the country (and our state) forward.

I’m proud to have sponsored House Bill 310, which as of last week became law. This law helps us build on the legacy of innovation in North Carolina and positions us to be leaders in the next technological revolution; without spending any taxpayer money. Capital tends to flow to places that are ready for investment and House Bill 310 sends the signal that North Carolina is ready for that investment.

Represenative Jason Saine represents the 97th North Carolina House District which encompasses Lincoln County.

Great Value.

Greater Good.

North Carolinians who earn their medical degrees at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine graduate, on average, with far less debt than students at other U.S. medical schools. A recent report featured by USA Today College on a study from Student Loan Hero recognized Brody as the most affordable medical school in the United States.

That accolade is one of many examples of how ECU is committed to making high-quality medical education more accessible to future physicians.

The tremendous value we provide for our students serves an even greater good for our state—making high-quality health care more accessible to all of North Carolina.

ECU doctors are transforming health care in North Carolina.

90%+

No. 1

Brody consistently ranks better than 90% of U.S. medical schools for graduating primary care physicians who practice in their home state and who work in rural and underserved areas.

Brody leads North Carolina and is among the top 5 in the nation for the percentage of graduates who choose careers in family medicine.

80%+ Brody graduates practice in more than 80 of North Carolina’s 100 counties.

$54,480 less

Brody students graduate with an average of 33% less debt than the national average.

High-quality, nationally ranked programs. Lower-than-average tuition.

Opportunities that prepare professionals who have real connections to the people they serve. These are hallmarks of a great university.

These are hallmarks of ECU.

www.ecu.edu C.S. 18-52

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017

Raleigh holds high hopes A wealth of weapons on the offensive side of the ball has folks in Raleigh expecting big things from an offense that is expected to be diverse, versatile and explosive during the 2017 season.

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT

SPORTS

NFL

Rivera admits Cam still not 100 percent With Panthers training camp opening in Spartanburg, S.C., all eyes are on Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Newton had not been seen throwing at Wofford College during the early stretch of training camp, and Panthers coach Ron Rivera admitted to WFNZ that Newton was still not 100 percent recovered from his surgery. Rivera said Newton “started warming up this morning and said he felt a little sore. So we figured why push it, why have him throw with a sore arm and make it even sorer. We thought it would be better not to have him throw.”

Bartman receives Cubs World Series ring

NHL

Hurricanes ink Pesce to six-year extension The Carolina Hurricanes locked up another core young player, signing defenseman Brett Pesce to a six-year extension that will pay him $24.15 million over the full life of the deal. Pesce, who was selected as a third-round pick in the 2013 draft, has six goals and 30 assists in 151 career games. The contract will not kick in until the 2018 season. It sets the Hurricanes blue line up well with Carolina also having inked Jaccob Slavin to a sevenyear extension this offseason.

NFL

Cardinals starters will not play in HOF game Cardinals coach Bruce Arians confirmed Arizona’s starters will not play any snaps during Thursday night’s Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, when Arizona kick off the 2017 NFL preseason against Dallas.

Wealth of weapons plays perfectly into NC State’s strengths

By R. Cory Smith North State Journal

MLB

Chicago Cubs fan Steve Bartman, who famously interfered with a potential out during the 2003 National League Championship Series and was ostracized by other Cubs fans afterwards, received a personalized 2016 World Series ring from the Cubs organization this week.

Bartman, who has not spoken publicly since his incident, released a statement, saying he is “relieved and hopeful that the saga of the 2003 foul ball incident surrounding my family and me is finally over.”

The Cubs admitted “no gesture can fully lift the public burden” Bartman faced, but wanted to recognize his fandom.

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

JEREMY BREVARD | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) runs the ball during training camp held at Wofford College Spartanburg, S.C. on July 26.

Panthers eager to put 2016 season behind them

CHARLOTTE — Jaylen Samuels is a different kind of animal, so much so the ACC was forced to ad an entirely new position to the preaseason all-conference ballot — “all-purpose back” — in order to accommodate his unique set of skills.

But he’s not the only player expected to play a versatile role in the Wolfpack’s offense. Nyheim Hines, a former do-it-all Garner product, will also move into a more prominent role with Matt Dayes now on the Cleveland Browns’ NFL roster.

So just how dynamic can this year’s offense be for NC State? Dave Doeren isn’t bothering to play coy about it.

“We’re about to find out,” Doeren said with a smile. “I’m excited for that. I think that’s one thing that coach [Eliah] Drinkwitz and his staff, that’ll be what fall camp is — how do you use the pieces the right way?”

Over the last two seasons, Samuels has been the team’s leader in overall touchdowns with the departed Dayes just behind him. But questions about Samuels’ usage, or lack thereof, persisted thanks to his eye-popping average of one touchdown per 7.2 touches.

With Dayes leaving for the NFL Draft, Samuels should see a substantial bump in touches. While he wouldn’t go too in depth about his role — can’t give away too much with the opener less than two months away — he did see a large uptick in the spring.

“We’ll see what happens, I can’t call the call,” Samuels said. “I did see a little difference in the spring, I was more featured in the offense. … Matt Dayes was a heck of a player and that’s a huge role that somebody has to fill. Of course, that’s the main reason — us losing Matt, now we have to find somebody that can do what he did. I feel like we’ve really got the pieces for it.”

Likely on the opposite end of the always mobile

Despite the loss of Matt Dayes in the backfield, NC State believes it’s in a perfect position to have a more dynamic offense.

See NC STATE, page B4

A look at the Panthers training camp as it opens in Spartanburg, South Carolina

By The Sports XChange SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Perhaps no team was more anxious to begin training camp for the 2017 season than the Carolina Panthers.

The miserable 2016 season became just the initial seed of what became significant upheaval across the offseason.

It hit a climax with last week’s firing of general manager Dave Gettleman and the return of former GM Marty Hurney in an interim role.

So with the Panthers gathering for training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., it’s a chance for a return to normal. The team began its on-field work with a night session Wednesday.

“I think everything is in place,” head coach Ron Rivera said. “We have everybody here.”

That was one of the concerns with contract issues involving linebacker Thomas Davis and tight end Greg Olsen unresolved.

But they reported anyway, in part, because Rivera said they are lead-

ers intent on setting the right example.

“This part is about business.

They’re professionals,” Rivera said.

“There was no doubt in my mind (they’d be here). I really believe in those guys. Despite what has gone on, these guys are here and they’re professionals.”

Davis has seen the chatter about the team making front-office moves so close to the start for training camp. To him, it shouldn’t matter.

“You have to realize we are the ones who go out and play the games,” Davis said. “We will determine how our season goes.”

There has been enough upheaval within the organization in the past week or so that eliminating drama at the start of training camp is probably a good thing.

“I didn’t want to add fuel to the fire,” Olsen said.

Otherwise, the fire could be burning stronger for the Panthers in this training camp as they strive to rekindle the good feelings they had two seasons ago.

Rivera said having quarterback Cam Newton back in action is going to be good for the team’s psyche after his injury-riddled 2016 See PANTHERS, page B4

INSIDE

BRAD PENNER | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

The MLB trade deadline was late developing, but just as things were sputtering to a close on Monday, a flurry of big-time pitching moves helped some contenders push their way to newer heights. The Yankees continued going all in on 2017 by adding Sonny Gray to the front of the rotation, while the Dodgers stunned the world with a Yu Darvish acquisition. Bucky Dent of the Sports Xchange examines winners and losers from the late action. B3

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

B2 WEDNESDAY

08.02.17

TRENDING

Marshawn Lynch: Raiders running back appeared on an interview with NFL Network during Oakland training camp and promptly swore multiple times within 10 seconds of being on the air. He also briefly attempted to ask one of the female hosts on a date before spotting her wedding ring.

Carmelo Anthony: Knicks forward, who remains heavily involved in trade rumors, reportedly only wants to be sent to the Rockets if he is dealt from New York, and is reportedly not interested in being traded to the Cavaliers.

According to the New York Post, Melo is refusing to waive his notrade clause in a potential deal that could pair him with LeBron James.

Guy Fieri: Celebrity chef of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” fame busted in on NFL insider territory when he tweeted that Marcell Reese would be joining the Seahawks at training camp a full 24 hours before the Seahawks announced they signed Reese.

Kevin Durant: Golden State Warriors forward, NBA champion and apparent YouTube commenter was online discussing basketball with fans in a YouTube comment section when someone pointed out that LeBron is better than Durant. Durant replied very simply, “Nah.” Rory McIlrory: PGA Golfer reportedly split ways with longtime caddie J.P. Fitzgerald ahead of the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, according to a report from Reuters. McIrory has been with Fitzgerald since the 2008 season.

beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

NFL

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie once again found himself in the news during a less-than-positive, snack-filled moment at a sporting event.

Christie attended a Brewers-Cubs game, where a fan in a Cubs jersey decided to give the Gov. some lip. He turned back around and, cradling his nachos like a HOF running back, gave the fan a little talk back.

BOB DECHIARA | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

“I just felt like it was the time in my career where I needed to devote myself at all levels.”

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski explaining why he’s trying Tom Brady’s diet.

WISN-TV/ABC | HANDOUT VIA REUTERS

MLB

NFL

CHRIS KEANE | REUTERS

“I don’t think he could beat me if I was one-legged.”

Hornets owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan addressing the claims of LaVar Ball, who averaged 2.2 points per game in college, could beat Jordan if the two squared off in a game of one-on-one.

MLB

31 Numbers of players in Major League Baseball history with 3,000 hits or more now that Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre has joined the club. Beltre also became one of the 10 youngest players to do so, joining Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Derek Jeter, Stan Musial, Pete Rose, Tris Speaker and Robin Yount.

MATT MARTON| USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

BOB DECHIARA | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Things got testy at New England Patriots training camp practice this week, as Pats receiver Julian Edelman and first-year cornerback Stephon Gilmore scrapped after Gilmore broke up a pass intended for Edelman. Both were asked to leave the practice.

One of the biggest young stars in the White Sox organization suffered a scary injury this week, as top prospect Yoan Moncada, recently called up to the big leagues, was taken off the field on a stretcher after colliding with teammate Willy Garcia.

CFB

Things are cutthroat on the recruiting trail in college football and in modern times, teams will try anything to gain an edge. East Carolina is going really modern by taking things back to more ancient times, sending high school seniors and potential recruits their offer letters from the football program on old pirate scrolls. The offer letters also included burnt edges, caligraphy and some purple wax giving them a ... seal of authenticity.

VIA TWITTER | @ECUPIRATESFB

Always Dry. Always Comfortable.

introducing the NEW 29 Express

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North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Dodgers, Yankees among winners at baseball’s trade deadline

SPLITTER TO SPOILER

Looking at the best and worst from the Major League Baseball trade deadline

By Bucky Dent The Sports XChange

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, Ariz. on Sunday.

Toyota passes the century mark as Busch ends 36-race drought T WAS GOING to happen eventually, NASCAR fans just Ididn’t know when exactly. And the

best guesses were wrong, because Kyle Busch’s first win of the season — and first in 36 races — came at Pocono, a track where he was winless in 25 previous attempts.

“Never thought this day would happen,” Busch said after performing a series of burnouts at the start/ finish line. “We had such an awesome race car. We’ve been fighting all year but something always seemed to go wrong — just wasn’t sure why or what was next.

After winning the pole, Busch made it clear who the best driver on the track was throughout Sunday’s race. He led a total of 74 laps, but most of the laps led by other drivers were due to pit cycles being different and Busch setting up for the win rather than stage victories.

Busch’s victory also marked a historic one for Toyota Racing, clinching the 100th win for the manufacturer. Of those wins, Busch has claimed 35 of them and now only lacks an elusive win at Charlotte in order to claim victory at every track on the circuit.

Reminder: Charlotte moves to a “Roval” for the fall race next year.

Busch is really successful at road courses.

Though his spot was likely locked up before claiming the win, Busch now has officially secured a playoff berth and heads to Watkins Glen eyeing another victory. And while he hasn’t put together the wins he normally has since making the move to Joe Gibbs Racing 10 seasons ago, he certainly doesn’t lack any confidence.

“We’re not all that flashy,” Busch explained, “But when our backs are against the wall — we haven’t necessarily had that situation thankfully, had to go out there and win in those playoff instances like some of these other teams have. "(Kevin Harvick) has been able to do it, (Truex) has been able to do it, a couple other guys. But we just methodically go about our races, and that’s our mentality. And when it works for us, we go to victory lane, and that’s how we get to Homestead.”

Kenseth escapes disaster for top-10 finish Matt Kenseth lost control of his car on Lap 1, sparking a massive pileup that ended the afternoon for two cars and damaged several others. Somehow, Kenseth survived unscathed and went on to finish inside the top 10.

Had he bowed out on that opening lap, he would have almost certainly been outside of the playoff bubble. Thanks to that save, however, he now sits in 16th place still, just 17 points ahead of Clint Bowyer.

Already out of a seat for next season — Erik Jones will be taking over the No. 20 in 2018 — these next five races are especially crucial for Kenseth’s career. When asked whether or not he’ll drive with a competitive team next season, Kenseth couldn’t give a clear

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R. CORY SMITH

answer.

“I don’t feel like that’s going to be an opportunity I’m going to have,” Kenseth said. “I really I don’t know. I really honestly don’t have anything lined up for sure. I will say that I’m not really that worried about it. I’m not really losing sleep over it. I’m not that concerned about next season.”

If Kenseth can hold onto that final spot, he can keep his name on the radar for several weeks in the playoffs. Racing meaningful races and putting up results like he has recently — three straight top-10 results and two top fives — Kenseth might have a chance to serve as a bridge for a team hoping to build a young driver.

Logano still firmly outside of playoff bubble Since making the switch to Team Penske back in 2013, Joey Logano has never missed the cut for the playoffs. In fact, he’s never finished worse than eighth in the points standings since the switch, finishing in the final round of the playoffs twice with a second-place result last year.

After Pocono, the Penske standout sits 69 points outside of the final playoff spot currently in 18th position. That’s not a good spot to be in after finishing 27th place at Pocono and only having five races before the postseason begins.

While Logano didn’t speak after the race, his crew chief Todd Gordon explained why the team isn’t concerned heading into Watkins Glen.

“We finished first and second the last two years at Watkins Glen,’’ Gordon said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “We get to go to Michigan after that, which we’ve won twice, been a really strong track for us. Bristol, we won the night race twice. I think Bristol night race is a better race for us than the Bristol spring race. Look forward to that.

“We won Richmond in the spring. Let’s not leave that one out.”

That last part is especially important given the fact that Logano is being shoved outside of the playoffs due to that encumbered win.

Ironically enough, Logano was also penalized on Sunday on pit road, which led him to finish outside of the top 20 again.

Given his insane amount of talent behind the wheel of a Penske Ford, there is no doubt that he can collect a legal checkered flag to make the playoffs. And with 14 wins over the last three years, Logano not finishing the season with multiple wins seems unlikely — but he needs to do so in the next five races.

The rich didn’t exactly get poorer at Major League Baseball’s trading deadline Monday, clearing a path for the first Los Angeles Dodgers-New York Yankees World Series since 1981.

A stunning last-minute deal for Yu Darvish should make Los Angeles, a big league-best 7431, a prohibitive favorite in the National League. Darvish will team with Clayton Kershaw to form the top 1-2 punch in anyone’s rotation, and the Dodgers’ overall roster depth is unmatched.

Snagging Sonny Gray from Oakland gives New York the front-line starter it needed for its middling starting rotation.

Already equipped with the best bullpen of any playoff contender, the Yankees are now a real threat for a 29th World Series title.

Other teams, such as Arizona and the Chicago White Sox, aced the deadline in different directions.

The Diamondbacks added a power bat two weeks ago in J.D. Martinez and didn’t have to pay much for him.

The White Sox further stocked a loaded farm system through the Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals.

Meanwhile, there are likely regrets in outposts like Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee and Texas.

The Tigers and Rangers either didn’t get enough in the seller’s role or, in Texas’ case, might have bailed on its playoff chances prematurely.

As for the Astros and Brewers, both swung and missed in regard to beefing up their pitching staffs. It won’t hurt Houston until October, as it owns a 16-game lead in the American League West, but Milwaukee might have seen its long-shot chances of beating the Cubs in the NL Central take a major hit.

Below, the four teams that should pat themselves on the back tonight and the four whose general managers might be in for some second-guessing: Winners Arizona Diamondbacks Acquiring J.D. Martinez from Detroit two weeks ago gave the Diamondbacks the top hitter on the market. Martinez has already popped five homers in his first two weeks with the team and gives Paul Goldschmidt the protection he needed. The top five hitters in the Arizona lineup, especially against right-handed pitching, are as good as anyone’s top five.

Minor trades for Adam Rosales and David Hernandez will help fortify middle infield depth and the bullpen, respectively.

The Diamondbacks certain-

ly could be questioned for not adding a late-inning reliever, however. The Fernando Rodney Experience has been rocky in late innings this year. His ERA is 5.08, but the D-backs are apparently sticking with him for now. Good luck with that in the playoffs.

Chicago White Sox Additions is the wrong word as this team won’t be in the playoffs this year, or the year after, and maybe the year after that.

But set your clocks to 2020, the year general manager Rick Hahn’s trading comes to fruition.

In dealing the likes of Jose Quintana, Todd Frazier, David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle and Melky Cabrera, Hahn piled on more prospects. Adding Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease to the likes of Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez means a South Side vs. North Side World Series could happen next decade.

The present will be painful.

The future could be a lot of fun.

Los Angeles Dodgers What do you give the team that’s already 43 games above .500 and is 62-19 in its last 81 games? How about perhaps the best available starter on the market? In acquiring Yu Darvish from Texas just before the 4 p.m. ET deadline, the Dodgers can now roll out Clayton Kershaw and Darvish for the first two games of any playoff series.

Picking up lefties Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani are two sneaky good moves that will aid the bullpen.

Even with the Darvish addition, this team has question marks in the rotation. Kershaw’s back injury has lingered over the last two seasons, while Rich Hill is constantly a threat to break out in blisters. Otherwise, what’s not to like? This team may have the best depth 1-through-25 on its roster.

New York Yankees Taking a page from the Cubs’ and Indians’ playbooks last October, general manager Brian Cashman loaded up on pitching.

Robertson and Kahnle only beef up an already deep bullpen.

The big move was acquiring Sonny Gray from Oakland, giving the Yankees a sorely needed front-line starter. The move comes with one caveat, though: Gray’s numbers throughout his career are worse against AL East opposition. Guess where he’s pitching now?

The back end of the Yankees rotation is a bit underwhelming — hello, Jaime Garcia, nabbed from Minnesota on Sunday — and also subject to injuries.

However, if New York makes the postseason and can take a lead to the sixth inning, look out.

Losers Detroit Tigers The Tigers finally dipped their toes into the water of an overdue rebuild. But the Martinez trade didn’t net enough

return, a bad way to start what could be a hard process.

Detroit did better with Sunday night’s shipping of reliever Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila to the Chicago Cubs.

Jeimer Candelario could give the team a better option at third base than Nick Castellanos next year, and 18-year-old shortstop Isaac Paredes has held his own in the Midwest League.

Justin Verlander’s contract meant there was no real chance he would be dealt. It also means trading him over the winter won’t be easy, not with that average salary or the diminishing returns. The organization has to commit more than what it did this July to properly restock the organization.

Houston Astros It didn’t matter what they did or didn’t do at the deadline.

The Astros are going to win the AL West. But there is a growing sentiment that their pitching staff might come up short in October.

Which means only coming up with Francisco Liriano at the deadline, with the Toronto starter having another rough year and Gray/Darvish on the market, is a disappointment.

The plan is to have him come out of the bullpen to give them a second lefty, but can he adjust to bullpen life after a career of starting?

Word was they tried hard to pry Zack Britton from Baltimore, which would have given them the lockdown closer they needed in October. But the price of poker was apparently too high and Houston opted to hold the hand it has.

Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee was at one time tied closely to Sonny Gray, who would have loved a reunion with his college pitching coach, Derek Johnson. But general manager David Stearns drew the line at top outfield prospect Lewis Brinson, and wasn’t willing to cross it. So the Brewers settled for beefing up the bullpen with Jeremy Jeffress and Anthony Swarzak.

Beating the Cubs probably wouldn’t happen with or without Gray, but not adding him lessened their chances. That puts even more pressure on a bullpen that has been up and down.

Texas Rangers General manager Jon Daniels decided this team wasn’t going anywhere as currently constituted, so they backed up the truck. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy departed for Colorado, followed

by Jeffress and the last-minute stunner involving Darvish.

The return for Darvish was OK, with second baseman Willie Calhoun the prize of the bunch, but it wasn’t a dollar-for-dollar swap, either.

It’s hard to see the Rangers going to an all-out rebuild, but it’s all right to wonder what their next step is going to be in the offseason.

RAYMOND CARLIN III | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish (11) looks on from the dugout late in the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas on July 30.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Firestone attracts big names, produces notable champs World No. 1 golfer Dustin Johnson will defend his title in Ohio this weekend

By Tom LaMarre The Sports XChange The South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, is undoubtedly an all-world layout.

The course opened in 1929, but the first big event was not played there until the 1960 PGA Championship, which was won by Jay Hebert after Robert Trent Jones retooled the course.

The PGA Tour was so impressed that Firestone has been on the schedule since 1962 (except for 2002), starting with the World Series of Golf, which gave way to a World Golf Championships event in 1999.

Top-ranked Dustin Johnson defends his title this week in what is now the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which he won by a single stroke over Scott Piercy last year in his first event since claiming his only major title in the U.S. Open.

“Around this golf course, it’s very important to drive it well,” said Johnson, who played Firestone in 66-66 on the weekend.

“You know, the fairways are narrow, rough is deep. It’s like this every year.

“This golf course plays so tough, it’s not like I need to go out and shoot 63. You just try to hit it in the fairway and get it on the

ERIC BOLTE | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Dustin Johnson reacts on the sixteenth hole during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario on July 29.

green and try to make some putts.

I knew if I shot 4 or 5 under I’d have a chance.”

The Bridgestone was played earlier in the summer last year because the schedule was altered due to golf returning to the Olympic Games.

The tournament is back in its traditional August slot, and for the second consecutive year, a player will come to Firestone for his first event since winning a major title.

Jordan Spieth claimed a third leg of the career Grand Slam by

NC STATE from page B1 H-Back — Samuels has a new position on the State depth chart, too — is Hines.

The active wide receiver from a year ago now moves to running back, a position he finds more suiting to his abilities after running roughshod over defenses in high school. He’s had to change some during the offseason to take on the new role, bulking up to spend more time in the backfield after receiving just 13 carries last year.

He’ll also likely take over a duty that Samuels had last season: The “Decoy.” Samuels said he believed he played the decoy role around 40 percent of the snaps he played. So is Samuels OK still being utilized in the decoy role?

“I’m not really like a ball hog,” Samuels explained. “If somebody’s eating on the other side, let ‘em eat. I don’t really get into getting the ball a lot. … I take like three defenders with me just running the jet [sweep].

“When we had Matt Dayes, it was about 40 percent. I don’t know what it’ll be this year.”

NC State’s offense is not just Samuels and Hines, though.

The emergence of Kelvin Har-

PANTHERS from page B1 season.

Newton’s role will be significant on an offense that’s undergoing some retooling along the offensive front plus in several other positions.

First-round draft pick Christian McCaffrey adds versatility to the offense as a running back.

Plus, there’s a crop of receivers that will undergo careful scrutiny during training camp.

The more time they can spend with Newton figures to benefit the Panthers.

“I’m really excited to see how the guys mesh together (on offense),” Rivera said.

The football part is what interests the players and coaches the most. That’s why getting back out on the field after the stunning off-field news is probably best for this team.

Rivera said he can focus on the issues that are important, and that’s grooming a team and witnessing improvement during these critical weeks leading to the season.

“For the young guys, it’s going to be really about their development, he said. “What steps have they taken and what’s their retention.”

ROOKIE TO WATCH --RB Christian McCaffrey.

The Panthers haven’t been shy about the desire to use McCaffrey in key roles right away. He wasn’t available for much of minicamp because of NFL rules in place that related to him coming out of Stanford, which has an academic calendar extending into June. Now it should be fullspeed ahead for McCaffrey, with the specific roles he’ll be used in generating plenty of preseason

winning the 146th Open Championship two weeks ago at Royal Birkdale. Next week, he will try to complete the Career Slam at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. Spieth finished two strokes behind Johnson last year in a tie for third with Jason Day of Australia in the Bridgestone Invitational. "(Firestone is) an incredible place, as well-manicured a course as there is in the world, and it has some of the fastest greens we play on all year,” Spieth said at Royal Birkdale.

Johnson, Spieth and Day all are major champions and have been ranked No. 1 in the world in the last few years, but that has always been the story at Firestone.

Since the WGC event came to the South Course in 1999, the only non-major winners to take the title were Shane Lowry of Ireland in 2015 and Hunter Mahan in 2010.

The winners have been Johnson, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Adam Scott of Australia, Vijay Singh of Fiji, Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, Stewart Cink and Keegan Bradley.

The only time the WGC event was not played at Firestone, Craig Parry of Australia won at Sahalee in 2002.

“It feels great to come here and win on this golf course because it’s one of my favorite courses of the year,” McIlroy said after finishing two strokes ahead of Sergio Garcia in 2014 on the South Course.

“It’s my dad’s favorite place on tour. He loves it here, and he loves the golf course. It’s actually he’s just as happy, if not happier, than me right now that I’ve won here.

“So it’s cool to be able to win it with him here.”

Of course, perhaps nobody loves Firestone more than Woods, who won there a record seven times.

Tiger won the inaugural WGC event on the South Course in 1999, the first of his three in a row, claimed three more in a row from 2005-07 and took the last in 2013

by a whopping seven strokes.

“This is a fantastic golf course ... 60 years of PGA Tour golf here,” Woods said after the 2013 victory.

“The first time I ever saw it was (on TV) when ‘The Big Three’ (Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player) were playing, and they had their challenge matches here. I got a big kick out of watching that because ... Gary hits wood into 7, Arnold hits 1-iron and Jack hits 2-iron into 7.

“Hell, we’re hitting 6-irons and 7-irons now. The ball is so different and the game is so different.

But it’s the same golf course, (and) it’s really neat to see the routing hasn’t changed one bit. We’ve added some length on some of the tees, but it’s virtually the same golf course, and it’s neat to kind of dip back in time like that.”

From 1962-75, Firestone hosted the World Series of Golf, featuring the winners of the four majors.

From 1976-98, the tournament had a 72-hole, full-field format.

The impressive winners list at Firestone includes Nicklaus, Player, Palmer, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman of Australia, Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain, David Duval, Lanny Wadkins, Craig Stadler, Curtis Strange, Nick Price of Zimbabwe, Tony Lema, Orville Moody, Gene Littler, Charles Coody and Bill Rogers.

So the Firestone event is not a major, it simply plays like one.

NFL NOTEBOOK

“I’m not ... a ball hog. If somebody’s eating on the other side, let ‘em eat.”

— NCSU RB Jaylen Samuels mon and Stephen Louis at wide receiver along with Reggie Gallaspy likely seeing added carries and Ryan Finley more comfortable in the starting quarterback role has helped earn the Pack the “dark horse” moniker in the ACC. Much of those players’ success is thanks, in large part, to attention being drawn to Samuels last year and likely Hines this fall.

But calling them decoys? Doeren laughed when he was asked about Samuels being a decoy in Eliah Drinkwitz’s offense, simply calling having both of them on the field a strength for the Pack.

“Ha, ‘decoy’ is funny,” Doeren said. “Because when he lines up, people point at him. What that does is create opportunities for other players.

“The biggest thing you always try to do is play to your strengths.

Obviously two of them are those players.”

speculation.

--Quarterback Cam Newton arrived at camp noticeably trimmer than in the past. He weighed in at close to his listed weight of 245 pounds. What this means is difficult to know at this point.

Head coach Ron Rivera said he was pleased with Newton’s arrival and said he sensed that the quarterback appears in good shape.

The bigger question might be the condition of his throwing arm after offseason shoulder surgery. Rivera said Newton has been on target in his rehabilitation and should be ready to throw at the outset of camp. His durability might be the bigger question.

“There’s a plan,” Rivera said of Newton’s workload dictated in part by the medical experts.

“They’ll see how he is every day.”

Newton threw during the opening practice, but they were short passes. It appears he’ll work his way up to longer throws.

--Linebacker Thomas Davis says there’s no sense in making a big issue about his desire for a renegotiated contract. He’s where he wants to be and he said he’s confident things will work out.

“Carolina is my home and it always will be,” Davis said.

Davis, 34, has been a staple not only for the defense but for the franchise in recent years. He says he’s not interested in pondering the winding down of his playing career.

“I feel like I have a lot of years left in me,” he said. “Maybe not a lot of years, but a few good years to play.”

Davis said there should be no concerns about his motivation.

“I’m chasing that ring,” he said. “That’s still the goal.”

EVAN HABEEB | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh addresses the media after training camp at Under Armour Performance Center in Ownings Mills, Md. on July 27.

Goodell claims NFL teams don’t tank, Ravens weigh Kaepernick signing

By NSJ Staff Goodell: ‘I don’t think any team tanks’ Commissioner Roger Goodell does not believe any NFL team tanks to enhance its draft position.

Goodell made a visit to the New York Jets’ training camp in Florham Park, N.J., and strongly stated teams would not deliberately lose games.

“I don’t think any team tanks, I really don’t,” Goodell told reporters when questioned about the Jets, who parted ways with 11 veteran players during the offseason.

“I think teams, depending on where you are, go through transitions. They are looking to sort of say, ‘We need to build more talent here, we’ll do it through the draft.

Let’s let some of our veteran players go and develop some of our younger players.’”

The Jets, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2010, have been accused of sacrificing this season for a high draft pick in 2018.

Ravens asking fans, sponsors about possible Kap deal Before moving forward with free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the Baltimore Ravens are going all out to weigh the potential cost of bringing him on board.

Team president Dick Cass confirmed the franchise is reaching out to former players, anchor sponsors and advertisers and others to gauge the potential for a negative reaction to signing Kaepernick.

“We want to get a sense of what

the attitude is out there and how Colin would handle it if he were to come, how he’d handle it and how that would change people’s views,” Cass said.

According to Cass, owner Steve Bisciotti discussed Kaepernick with former linebacker Ray Lewis and several fans in addition to corporate sponsors. Bisciotti also asked Ravens fans to “pray for us” when it came to the decision on inking the quarterback.

The Ravens are still waiting for final word on how much time Joe Flacco will miss, although it is expected to be several weeks at minimum.

Seahawks ink Chancellor to extension Kam Chancellor agreed on Tuesday to sign a three-year, $36 million extension to remain with the Seattle Seahawks, ESPN reports.

The 29-year-old and four-time Pro Bowl strong safety will receive $25 million in guaranteed money in the deal, per ESPN. “I love this team,” Chancellor told reporters Monday. “They gave me the first opportunity and the only opportunity, and I would love to retire here.”

The former fifth-round pick in the 2010 draft added that he hopes to keep playing “until the wheels fall off.”

Chancellor is entering his eighth NFL season, all with Seattle. He has amassed 557 tackles, 12 interceptions, 42 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and two sacks over 100 career games.

Last season, Chancellor had 85 stops, two interceptions, eight

passes defensed and a forced fumble in 12 games. He recorded 16 tackles in two playoff games after helping Seattle to a 10-5 regular-season record en route to an NFC West championship.

Big Ben talks post-2017 retirement Ben Roethlisberger teased the idea of walking away from football after last season but never truly seemed serious.

However, the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback said during an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday that retirement at the end of the 2017 season is a serious consideration.

Roethlisberger, 35, will tie Terry Bradshaw for the longest tenure as a Steelers quarterback as he heads into his 14th NFL season.

Big Ben told Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette that retirement remains an option for him after this season and that his wife, Ashley, would like to see him give up football.

“It’s just, it’s 14 years; that’s a long time,” Roethlisberger told the newspaper. “I think the average life expectancy in the NFL is three years, maybe 3 1/2 now.

“I’ve been blessed to do this a long time. I think it’s just seeing my kids growing up, and in the offseason I love getting to spend time with them, and then I come here and football season just has to take up so much of your time.

Even when you get home, I try my best to turn it off when I walk in the front door. I think I do a pretty good job of that, but it still consumes you in a way.”

WEDNESDAY

08.02.17

NORTH

Seed-spitting fun, National Watermelon Day is around the corner, Page 6

STATE

JOURNaL

the good life IN A NORTH STATE OF MIND

perspective | Smoky Mountains Railroad

play list

August 2-5 N.C. Watermelon Festival Murfreesboro Enjoy North Carolina watermelon, festival food, rides, games, a 5K run and helicopter rides. Bands include Band of Oz, Steve Owens and the Summertime Band, Backyard Groove, and the Pizazz Band.

August 3-5 62nd Annual Robbins Farmers Day Robbins Thursday night there is a 5K run/walk and gospel music on the railroad stage. Friday evening events include street dances, a country music show, clogging, square dancing and a carnival-type atmosphere where 10,000-plus people can enjoy all of the activities.

Entertainment, special demonstrations, arts/crafts and the parade begins Saturday at 11 a.m.

August 4-5 4th Annual Downtown Asheboro Pigs & Pedals Asheboro

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS RAILROAD

Whitewater rafters paddle down stream from the Nantahala Outdoor Center while looking at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad train on July 24.

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad brings steam to Bryson City

By Mollie Young North State Journal BRYSON CITY — Deep in the foothills of the Smokies, where the Tuckasegee River meets Route 19, an Appalachian town is thriving on a few basic principles: good people, the great outdoors and the railroad.

Bryson City, once Cherokee territory, first came on the map when the Western North Carolina Railroad laid tracks in 1884, connecting the remote mountain town to the outside world — first to nearby Asheville and Murphy, and later to the entire Southeast when the sprawling Southern Railway System purchased the route.

But eventually the birth of the automobile took a toll on passenger train travel, and in July 1948 the railroad ended its Murphy Branch service, isolating Bryson once again.

Rollon and Sherry Smith grew up here and remember the days when only freight trains rain through the depot on Everett and Fry Street, and even that stopped for a few years. But in 1988, the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad was born, ushering in visitors from near and far for scenic rides through the gorges and bridges that the Smiths knew and loved.

“I can easily remember when the railroad came and changed everything,” said Rollon, whose family has been in the area for more an six generations. “And when the railroad started offering scenic tours, that was a real turning point for the area.”

The train started with inhouse specialty tours like dinner and mystery murder trains, and

“It gave visitors something to do. Before, people might have stayed one night or just passed through. Now they’re going to come and maybe do whitewater rafting or go hiking in the Smokies and ride the train. They’re staying three times as long as they did before.”

Keil Smith, musician for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, plays guitar for passengers as they board after their layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center on July 24.

it eventually progressed to licensed events like Day Out With Thomas, the Peanuts Pumpkin Patch Express and the Polar Express.

“It gave visitors something to do,” said Rollon. “Before, people might have stayed one night or just passed through. Now they’re going to come and maybe do whitewater rafting or go hiking in the Smokies and ride the train. They’re staying three times as long as they did before.”

The Smiths themselves are big investors in Bryson City. They own six buildings in town, including the popular Loose Moose souvenir shop and McClanahan’s, both of which are located just a few steps away from where the GSMR loads passengers onto its diesel and steam trains.

They know firsthand how much the train has changed the economy in their hometown.

“Sherry and I, one snowy December night, were looking out our balcony, and we saw all these adults and kids walking around in pajamas, and then we realized they were there to ride the Polar Express,” said Rollon, who also rents out cabin-style vacation lofts above McClanahan’s, a mountain-style clothing and home goods shop. “I was thinking, ‘Jeez, we used to be lucky if we had five decent months to even operate a little business.

Now, we have almost year-round because they are always doing something with the train.’”

The GSMR started offering the Polar Express in 2005, and it now sells around 85,000 tickets for the November and December Christmas event.

Their Peanuts Pumpkin Patch Express runs through the fall, encouraging children to wear their Halloween costumes on

— Rollon Smith, Bryson City resident

board, and just last year the train added a Wizard of Oz-themed excursion through the summer months.

“We see growth in these events almost every year,” said Sarah Pressley, a spokesperson for the GSMR. Lisa Whitus, a train attendant on the Nantahala Gorge train that runs daily, moved back from Atlanta this summer to return to the area where her family has lived since the Civil War. Whitus, who previously worked in property management, said the railroad was a natural place to look for employment in an area where jobs are hard to come by.

“You got to look outside of the box to try to find some way to survive out here,” she said with a smile. “But I love talking to the people, telling them about the area — I love the history. I’m real See RAILROAD, page B6

The 4th Annual Pigs & Pedals event in downtown Asheboro includes a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS)-sanctioned barbecue cooking competition, the Zooland AACA Region 27th Annual Antique Car Show, a beer garden and local bands throughout the event.

61st Annual Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair Burnsville The Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair is the oldest and largest crafts fair in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Skilled artists market quilts, jewelry from local gemstones, handturned wooden bowls and pottery at this unique event.

Heritage Hollow tent offers a walk back in time.

August 4-6 National Lighthouse Weekend Celebration Bald Head Island Celebrate “Two Centuries of Light” during National Lighthouse Weekend on Bald Head Island, in honor of Old Baldy’s 200th birthday.

Friday activities include a sand sculpture contest and the Old Baldy Buzz.

Saturday begins with the popular rubber duck race and closes with a five-course meal at the Bald Head Island Club inspired by colonial fare and live music after dinner. On Sunday there will be a National Lighthouse Reenactment with a tribute to the Coast Guard. Run for the Light 10K, 5K and fun run starts Sunday at 7 p.m.

B6

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

NeCessities! history marked July 31, 1970 A possum is pardoned

by Gov. Scott On July 31, 1970, Slow Poke the Possum was granted executive clemency by Gov. Bob Scott in a ceremony at the State Capitol. Slow Poke was an ordinary opossum who won a “prettiest possum” competition at the Spivey’s Corner Hollerin’ Contest in 1970. The winning possum was to be given to the governor, and on July 16, 1970, Slow Poke, his owner, hollerin’ champ H. H. Oliver, and beauty contest winner Margaret Ann Wilkes visited Scott. When Wilkes confided to the governor that she had

never eaten possum, Scott immediately invited her to a possum banquet in the Executive Mansion with Slow Poke as the main course. Hundreds of calls and letters from an indignant public protested the governor’s proposed possum feast, leading to Scott granting the possum clemency. Slow Poke was turned over to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission and later was released at the Raven Rock State Park.

Scott, however, was unrepentant. “I shall not be thwarted in my appetite for possum,” he said. The governor was true to his word. A few years later, Scott served possum at a black tie affair at the Executive Mansion.

July 31, 1924 Civil War historian, NC State professor D.H. Hill died

August 1, 1952 Lowe’s Home Improvement was incorporated

August 2, 1781 British forces under Major Craig defeat N.C. militia

Born in Davidson in January 1859, Daniel Harvey Hill Jr. earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Davidson College and spent time teaching at Georgia Military College before joining the first faculty at what is now NC State University as an English professor in 1889. He would stay on at the Raleigh university for 29 years. At NC State, Hill was instrumental in helping the budding college grow. In addition to his duties on the English faculty, Hill worked as the college’s bursar, bookkeeper and secretary of the faculty. He helped begin the library at NC State and served as the school’s first librarian on a parttime basis for 10 years. Hill was elected NC State’s vice president in 1905 and served as its president from 1908 to 1916. An active writer and historian, Hill penned the North Carolina volume for the 1899 series Confederate Military History. He went on to write history books for young people, a textbook on agriculture and a two-volume history of North Carolina during the Civil War. The D. H. Hill Library, the main library on the N.C. State campus, is named in his honor.

The chain can trace its roots to 1921 when I.S. Lowe founded a hardware store in North Wilkesboro. His son, Jim Lowe, and son-in-law, Carl Buchanan, took over the store after his death, but the two disagreed on whether or not to expand the business, and Buchanan ultimately bought out Lowe. Buchanan recognized the post-World War II building boom that was coming to the county and narrowed the store’s focus to selling only hardware, appliances and building materials. He quickly tied the company’s reputation to low prices, buying products directly from manufacturers and operating on very slim profit margins to keep costs. The model took off and the company grew quickly in the 1960s and ‘70s selling primarily to contractors. In 1978, Lowe’s began marketing directly to the general public. Still based in North Carolina, Lowe’s is one of the nation’s 50 largest companies, according to Fortune. It operates nearly 2,000 stores across the United States and Canada, and had revenues of more than $52 billion in 2014.

British forces clashed with the North Carolina Militia near Wilmington in a skirmish now known as the Battle of Rockfish. In the months following his January 1781 capture of Wilmington, British Major James Craig issued a proclamation threatening the loss of life and property to all who would not swear loyalty to English King George III. When the period for taking the oath expired largely unheeded, Craig began to devastate the territory around Wilmington. On Aug. 2, his troops found their path through Duplin County blocked by a Militia force under the command of former state Gov. Richard Caswell and Thomas Kenan. A skirmish ensued, ending when the militiamen ran out of ammunition and were forced to withdraw under a barrage from the British artillery. Casualties were slight, with perhaps 60 militiamen killed and another 30 captured. Craig continued his marauding and recruited 300 Tories.

His local success was negated by the surrender of the main British force in the South under Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va., on Oct. 19. Craig evacuated Wilmington on Nov. 19.

SOURCE: NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Aug. 3 is National Watermelon Day

Paul and Pam Riester of Buffalo, N.Y. look out from the Royal Palm car of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad at rafters battling whitewater downstream from the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City on July 24.

Aug. 3 is National Watermelon Day and the Old North State has plenty to celebrate.

North Carolina has more than 6,000 acres of watermelon crops yielding more than $21 million to the state’s agriculture economy. There is good news for N.C. growers — watermelon consumption and production in the United States has been on the rise in the last few decades. U.S. annual per capita consumption of watermelon is now at approximately 14 pounds per person. North Carolina ranks seventh in watermelon production where Texas, Florida and Georgia dominate in production.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS RAILROAD

RAILROAD from page B5

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL | FILE

Harper Brooke Williams, 2, right, of Bailey, eats watermelon with North Carolina Watermelon Queen Sarah Lemons, 20, left, during Watermelon Day at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh on July 28, 2016.

proud of this area.”

Whitus, with an infectious laughter, tells her passengers about everything: from how the Fontana Dam was built during World War II to bring power to Oak Ridge to the fragrant flowers on kudzu vines.

Good people invest time and love into Bryson, and the railroad keeps them thriving.

“Our combined efforts with Bryson City have really put us as a community on the map,” said Pressley. “You can definitely feel that, each year, more and more visitors are discovering Bryson City and all it has to offer — including the train.”

And while the railroad is Bryson’s MVP, nature is the game. As you drive into Bryson from the east, you are elevated into the clouds, and you un-

derstand immediately how the Smokies earned their name.

For Rollon Smith, who has made a commitment to invest in his slice of Carolina heaven, he loves to watch his city grow — but also likes that it hasn’t changed that much.

“It’s almost like really stepping back in time,” he said, gleaming, “because although things are really changing, the people haven’t really changed.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

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ENTERTAINMENT HBO urges critics of slavery drama to hold fire after Twitter outcry

Actor and playwright Sam Shepard dies from ALS complications

Angelina Jolie ‘upset’ over backlash to Cambodia film casting process

Cable channel HBO urged critics of its planned slaverythemed drama ”Confederate” to reserve judgment until the show develops further in response to an intense social media campaign demanding that the project be axed. The hashtag #NoConfederate was a top-trending Twitter topic worldwide Sunday after April Reign, the woman behind the #OscarsSoWhite campaign two years ago, urged people to send a message to HBO objecting to the show. David Benioff and Dan Weiss, who adapted “Game of Thrones” from George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” books, will write and direct original series.

Actor and Pulitzer-winning playwright Sam Shepard has died from complications related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a representative for his family said Monday. Shepard, 73, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1979 for his play “Buried Child,” died last Thursday surrounded by his family at his home in Kentucky, spokesman Chris Boneau said in a statement to Reuters.

Angelina Jolie responded to growing backlash over the casting process for her latest film, saying she was “upset” that an improvised scene during auditions had been misconstrued as taking real money away from impoverished children. In a Vanity Fair interview published last week about her film “First They Killed My Father,” Jolie described a game played by the casting directors with the young Cambodian children auditioning for the lead role of Loung Ung.

French actress Jeanne Moreau dies at 89 Jeanne Moreau, the quintessential French actress whose mother was an English cabaret club dancer, has died at 89. Moreau was a petite chainsmoker who worked with most of the world’s top directors of the first few decades after World War II, Orson Welles, Jean-Luc Godard and Wim Wenders among them.

Dunkirk, The Emoji Movie and Atomic Blonde top weekend box office Dunkirk holding audiences in second week as R-rated Atomic Blonde scores better with critics than audiences so far

By Dave McNary Reuters LOS ANGELES — An unlikely battle emerged at the box office this weekend between “The Emoji Movie” and “Dunkirk.” “Dunkirk” was once again the top weekend box office draw.

Christopher Nolan’s latest from Warner Bros. over-performed last weekend when it opened to over $50 million, showing that the director, combined with positive critical reception, still has a strong draw – even for a movie lacking movie star power, and at risk of being written off as yet another World War II movie. This time around it looks to take in $28.1 million from 3,748 locations for a strong hold.

It’s the first time that a movie has been first place two weekends in a row since the same studio’s “Wonder Woman” in early June.

Patty Jenkins’ movie has had a phenomenal run since, and is currently closing in on $400 million domestic – right now it’s at $395.4 million.

Sony’s “Emoji Movie” is in second for the weekend with $25.7 million from 4,075 locations. The animated adventure took a lot of heat from critics. Reactions ranged from meh to horrible, earning its current Rotten Tomatoes score of 8 percent. Its “B” CinemaScore is also quite low for an animated movie, meaning audiences aren’t particularly enjoying the movie either.

T.J. Miller plays the central character, a “Meh” emoji who has “no filter,” meaning his expression can change. The same cannot be said for the rest of the cast, which includes James Corden, Anna Faris, Maya Rudolph, Christina Aguilera, and Sofia Vergara.

This week’s other major release, “Atomic Blonde” finished in third place with $18.5 million from 3,304 locations. Focus Features and Sierra/Affinity is looking at a decent, but slightly below expectations launch for the movie starring Charlize Theron. Critics have supported the R-rated “Atomic Blonde,” which has a 73 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Toma-

toes. Early audience surveys by PostTrak showed 33 percent of the audience gave “Atomic Blonde” an “excellent” rating and another 38 percent rated it “very good.”

The thriller has been compared to a female “Bond” or “John Wick.”

After all, it shares DNA with the latter in stuntman-turned-director David Leitch, who will next helm the “Deadpool” sequel.

“Blonde’s” launch is bigger than the first “Wick,” which opened in Fall 2014 to $14.4 million, but less than its sequel ($30.4 million).

In “Blonde,” Theron plays a hardcore action star – the type of character that knocked out audiences in “Mad Max: Fury Road” – named Lorraine Broughton. The rest of the cast includes James McAvoy, John Goodman, and Sofia Boutella.

“We’re very happy with the opening. I feel this movie is going to have legs to it,” said Lisa Bunnell, distribution chief at Focus Features.

“Blonde” will land just below the summer comedy event that “Girls Trip” has become. Universal’s release is posting $20.1 million during its second weekend from 2,648 theaters, for only a 36 percent drop from last weekend. Conversely, EuropaCorp and STX’s “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” flopped last weekend, and is falling off fast.

This weekend, Luc Besson’s epic domestic dud should make $6.8 million from 3,553 locations. Sony’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is hanging in the top five with an additional $13.5 million this weekend.

To treat the bigger picture, this weekend is not good news for the summer box office overall, which is now 8.1 percent behind last year.

“We have been in a major struggle to compare favorably with last year’s summer season week after week and with yet another ‘down’ weekend on the books, the summer deficit just added another percentage point in the wrong direction,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at ComScore, who pointed out that this weekend’s crop could not compete with 2016’s “Jason Bourne” and “Bad Moms.” Looking ahead, the first weekend in August seems to signal even more gloom and doom, as several films will be measured up against “Suicide Squad’s” record-breaking August 2016 tally.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MELINDA SUE GORDON

Clooneys to help 3,000 Syrian refugees go to school in Lebanon George and Amal Clooney said Monday they would help 3,000 Syrian refugee children go to school this year in Lebanon, where the United Nations says 200,000 children are not receiving an education after fleeing the war in neighboring Syria. The Clooney Foundation for Justice said it has teamed up with Google and HP Inc. to help the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF and the Lebanese Ministry of Education open seven “second shift” schools for Syrian refugee children.

Katie Couric is leaving Yahoo Former network anchor will continue to contribute projects

By Todd Spangler Reuters

ROBERT GALBRAITH | REUTERS

Steve Jobs speaks on stage with images of the iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano projected in 2010.

Apple discontinues last music-only iPod models Company cites waning of downloaded music due to streaming

By Stephen Nellis Reuters NEW YORK — Apple Inc. said Thursday that it will discontinue the iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano, the last two music players in the company’s lineup that cannot play songs from Apple Music, its streaming service that competes with Spotify and Pandora Media Inc. The two devices are the direct descendants of the original iPod introduced by then-CEO Steve Jobs in 2001, putting Ap-

ple on the eventual path toward the iPhone. They can only play songs that have been downloaded from iTunes or from physical media such as CD. Apple said the new iPod line will consist of two models of the iPod Touch ranging from $199 to $299 depending on storage capacity. The iPod Touch is essentially an iPhone without mobile data service, and it runs iOS, the same operating system as iPhones and iPads.

It is capable of streaming music from Apple Music and running the same apps as iPhones. Apple does not reveal sales figures for iPods but says the iPod Touch is the most popular model.

Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston team up to star in TV series Witherspoon played Aniston’s sister on Friends

By Joe Otterson Variety LOS ANGELES — Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are teaming up for a new TV series that will focus on a New York morning show, Variety has confirmed.

“House of Cards” producer Jay Carson is attached to write the script, with Steve Kloves executive producing. Witherspoon and Aniston will also executive produce, with Witherspoon producing through her Hello Sunshine production banner along with her film and television head Lauren Levy Neustadter.

The project hails from HBO alum Michael Ellenberg’s newly launched Media Res banner.

The series is expected to be shipped to networks and streaming services in the coming weeks, industry sources say.

Aniston and Witherspoon previously worked togeth-

er when Witherspoon guest starred on “Friends” as Aniston’s sister.

Witherspoon recently made the jump to TV with the HBO drama “Big Little Lies,” which earned her an Emmy nomination. For Aniston, it would mark her first regular TV role since the end of “Friends” in 2004.

Speaking to Variety in January, Aniston expressed a desire to return to TV. “I’ve thought about it a lot,” she said. “That’s where the work is. That’s where the quality is. At this point in my career, I want to be part of wonderful stories, exciting characters and also just having a good time.”

On the film front, Witherspoon is in post-production on Ava DuVernay’s “A Wrinkle in Time” for Disney and has romantic comedy “Home Again” coming this September. Aniston will star in independent teen comedy “Dumplin’,” and was most recently seen in Sundance drama “The Yellow Birds” and comedy “Office Christmas Party.”

LOS ANGELES — Katie Couric is departing from Yahoo as its global news anchor and will end her regular interview segments, a move that comes after Verizon completed its $4.5 billion takeover of the internet company last month.

Couric, hired with great fanfare in 2013 by then-Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, will continue to work with Oath – the new Verizon division that consolidates AOL and Yahoo – on a project basis. Some of the Yahoo series she was a part of, such as “Cities Rising” and “Now I Get It,” will continue on Yahoo News.

“Over the last four years, Katie has created a vast portfolio of work that has been equal parts inspiring, thought-provoking and fun to watch,” an Oath representative said in an emailed statement. “We’re proud of everything she has accomplished and look forward to exploring ways to work together in the future.”

The news that Couric was leaving Yahoo was first reported by Recode’s Kara Swisher. According to the report, Couric’s contract expired in March and was renewed through June, whereupon she decided to shift to a project-based relationship with Oath.

When Couric re-upped with Yahoo in 2015, she reportedly received $10 million per year in cash and stock, up from $6 million when she first signed in 2013.

Mayer’s big bet on hiring of Couric was supposed to jump-start Yahoo’s bigger foray into video, which included the company picking up and funding several bigger-budget original series.

But the strategy never gained traction, and Mayer pulled the plug on the video effort to focus on bulking up Yahoo’s search business.

Couric previously had a long career in TV, having anchored the CBS Evening News and NBC’s “Today.”

Her jump to Yahoo was viewed by some observers as a reflection of the growing importance of internet video in the media landscape.

But Couric never seemed to break back into the zeitgeist while at Yahoo News, where she interviewed newsmakers and celebs ranging from Edward Snowden to Sen. Lindsey Graham and from Gal Gadot to Sherry Lansing.

While at Yahoo, Couric remained a special contributor to ABC News.

With Verizon’s closing of the Yahoo acquisition last month, Mayer — as expected — left the company. Oath is run by Tim Armstrong, former CEO of AOL.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

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