Politicker.com -- North Carolina News

[Greensboro Politics] Status of GreensboroPolitics.com

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:29:00 -0400

I just wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten about this site. My personal endeavors have made reporting on this site a bit complicated and I’ve decided that it’s best that I not report on this site until after November 3, 2009 (at best). That being said, I am doing daily updates on [...]

[The News & Observer: Under the Dome] Dems offer Burr a break from Senate

bniolet — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:43:00 -0400

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr says things are tough in Washington right now.

Democrats fell all over themselves Wednesday to offer the senior senator from North Carolina a respite.

Burr recently answered some questions for The Herald, a Johnston County weekly newspaper affiliated with The News & Observer.

"Listen, it’s much more contentious and partisan today than it’s ever been," said Burr, who also represented North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives for 10 years. "It doesn’t matter whether you’re Republican or Democrat, it’s tough to deal with day in and out."

...

Burr said life in Washington isn’t easy right now. “When people ask me if I enjoy what I’m doing, now is the time that I try not to answer the question,” he said.

[The News & Observer: Under the Dome] Two states slower than N.C.

bkrueger — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:51:00 -0400

North Carolina's new budget may be late - more than a month after the new fiscal year began - but at least it's not last.

In voting this week to approve the budget, North Carolina lawmakers managed to finish their budget work before their counterparts in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, according to a spokeswoman for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

As a result, Connecticut is facing the prospect of having its bond rating downgraded, and Pennsylvania is resorting to a partial budget so that state employees can be paid.

Comments (0)

[The News & Observer: Bullseye] Falls bill up for Senate vote today

jaydub — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:23:00 -0400

H 1099, the bill setting a Jan. 15, 2011 deadline for Falls Lake's cleanup plan, is scheduled for a vote in the state Senate this afternoon.

If it passes, the bill will go into a Senate-House conference to reconcile the Senate's version with an earlier version the House passed in May.

The house bill set the deadline at July 1, 2010 for the state Division of Water Quality to prepare a "nutrient management strategy" to curb nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the lake. DWQ had asked for a November 2011 deadline to allow more time for the complex research, modeling and rule-making process.

Once those regulations are written, they must be approved by the state Environmental Management Commission and Rules Review Commission and, possibly, the legislature.

[The News & Observer: Under the Dome] Pension fund value drops

bniolet — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:22:00 -0400

The economy battered the state's pension fund, which saw $10 billion in investment losses in the last fiscal year.

Treasurer Janet Cowell said her investment staff expected the loss because of difficult market conditions. She pointed out in a news release that the state pension fund, which pays retirement benefits to public employees, outperformed California's pension fund, which had investment losses of 23.4 percent. North Carolina's fund lost 14 percent and is currently valued at $60.1 billion.

"These returns will not have any effect on state retiree’s benefit payments," Cowell said in a statement. "There is a commitment to pay these benefits and the system has more than enough to meet its obligations."

More after the jump.

Comments (0)

[The News & Observer: Bullseye] Durham's crime problem: Part 1

mschultz — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:15:00 -0400

Quick. Which city has a higher rate of property crime? Durham or Salt Lake City, Utah?

If you picked the Bull City, pick again. A new survey comparing similar cities in the Southeast and across the United States found Durham in the middle of the pack. Durham was just below average on property crime across the SE and just above on violent crime. Durham was well below average on both violent and property crime when compared nationally.

Still the misperception lingers. Reyn Bowman of the Convention & Visitors Bureau says we bring it on ourselves and it's time to stop. "Durham bashing gives the entire region a black eye," he says.

[Greensboro Politics] Anderson Groat’s Speach at “Getting Things Done” & Perkins Question

mschultz — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:52:00 -0400

During last night’s “Getting Things Done in Greensboro” forum hosted by Action Greensboro, At-Large Councilwoman Sandra Anderson Groat had a brief opportunity to speak to the crowd. I’ve transcribed her portion just in case you don’t have time to watch the previously posted video.
“Good evening and I want to thank Action Greensboro for doing this; [...]

[Greensboro Politics] Video: “Getting Things Done in Greensboro”

mschultz — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:52:00 -0400

If you couldn’t make last night’s “Getting Things Done in Greensboro” forum put on by Action Greensboro you can watch the video below.

Tweet This Post

[Greensboro Politics] Bill Knight Follows Up on Recycling Question

mschultz — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:52:00 -0400

Bill Knight, a candidate for Mayor, has sent a follow up response to a question I asked a couple days ago about recycling. The original question asked if he (I asked others as well) would support an ordinance that would require recycling to be offered at all apartment complexes in Greensboro.
“Ryan, the question you emailed [...]

[Greensboro Politics] National Night Out Information

mschultz — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:52:00 -0400

From the City of Greensboro,
The 2009 National Night Out (NNO) city-wide kick-off will be held at 6 pm on Tuesday, June 30, at the First Baptist Church, 1000 W. Friendly Ave. Residents interested in participating should contact their Greensboro Police Department’s (GPD) Community Resource Officers:
Eastern Division:     Sgt. Allen     373-2135
Central Division:      Sgt. Blaylock    373-2570
Southern Division:   Sgt. Pell           [...]