NC Sen Hagan on Domestic Violence Bill

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC) applauded the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 (VAWA 2011). The Act included Hagan’s Initiative intended to raise awareness of domestic violence and to better treat survivors of domestic violence.  Hagan said, “As a mother of two daughters, I was proud to include my Violence Against Women Health Initiative to streamline efforts to prevent and respond to domestic partner violence, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to take swift action on this very important bill.”  Hagan’s provision in the bill consolidates the existing three health programs into one.  Hagan worked with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) on her portion of the bill. Nearly one in four women in the US has reported experiencing domestic violence at some point in her life.  Young women experience the highest rates of sexual assault and stalking.  Domestic violence has a significant impact on our country’s health.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), intimate partner violence costs the health care system over $8.3 billion annually. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act will now move for consideration by the full Senate.  

Gov's Report on NC's Offshore Energy

Gov. Bev Perdue this week released the final report of the Governor’s Scientific Advisory Panel on Offshore Energy-- addressing North Carolina’s offshore potential energy resources – oil, natural gas, wind, thermal and hydrokinetic technologies.  The report found these resources will most likely be developed outside North Carolina’s jurisdictional waters. This means critical decisions concerning oil and gas exploration will be made at the federal level. “Under current law, North Carolina would not receive a share of lease payments or royalties from development of offshore oil and gas,” according to the report.  Gov. Perdue has called on Congress to enact legislation ensuring revenue sharing with the state.  The report also said there is much more exploration necessary to determine if there is a significant oil and natural gas resource off the state’s coast.  “Previous geophysical exploration for oil and gas in offshore North Carolina suggests limited resources…,” the report found.  The panel also found that North Carolina has the largest offshore wind resource on the east coast.  “The offshore-wind industry may offer significant opportunities for renewable energy generation and for economic development and job creation,” the panel said.  Research and development on other forms of ocean renewable energy, such as thermal and hydrokinetic technologies is promising.  North Carolina is poised to be a leader in the research and development of these potential energy resources due to the state’s unique geographic position between two major ocean currents which meet off Cape Hatteras.  The full report is available online at:  http://www.nccommerce.com

Another Mobile Meth Lab In Wilkes

According to an article online, reading through the list of ingredients that make up crystal meth seems more like the inventory of a toxic waste dump.   The article also states that it’s difficult to understand who in their right mind would try putting all of these things together and then ingesting them into their body.  The drug, which is quickly reaching epidemic proportions in the United States, causes people to have similar symptoms to that of schizophrenics. While it induces a false sense of euphoria for the new user, over time, meth destroys the body's ability to create feelings of happiness and well-being, leaving them in a perpetual state of dark depression.  In addition, law enforcement officers have to be specially trained to handle and dispose of the toxic mess.  Thus, it is dangerous to drive around with meth products in your car.  However, there have been a number of mobile meth labs discovered in Wilkes.  Most recently at a traffic stop at the Intersection of Hwy 18 and Cartpath Road, Officers stopped a car in which the driver had marijuana, prescription meds, and meth making products.  The female driver, Laura Lee Ward age 42, was arrested and charged with one count of possession of marijuana.  Additional charges are pending for the prescription drugs and the meth material found in the car.

Stolen Money While at Work

She says the money was stolen from her wallet while she was at work.  In a report filed with the Wilkesboro Police, a North Wilkesboro woman stated that she had 600 dollars in cash in her pocketbook.  While working at Wendy’s in Wilkesboro, the victim said she kept her purse in the back room of the restaurant with other employees’ personal items.  The report doesn’t indicate if the pocketbook was locked up in any way at the time of the theft.  The victim noticed the money missing Tuesday afternoon and called police.  There is a possible suspect in this theft and charges are pending

Assault Witnessed

An assault was witnessed by store employees and customers, but both people involved were gone before police arrived.  The local Kohl’s store assistant manager called Wilkesboro Police about an incident they witnessed in the parking lot involving an employee and her boyfriend.  Police obtained a copy of the store surveillance video which showed the female employee walking across the parking lot to her car.  Her boyfriend was crouched down between cars and when the woman approached he ran toward her and grabbed her arm.  The employee tried to return inside the store, but the man blocked her way.  She was able to get back to her car, but the man followed her and jumped in the back seat before the car sped off.  Management told police the man had caused disturbances at the store before and they wanted him banned from returning.  Police have names of both the employee and the man.  Charges could be pending when police are able to question them about the altercation in the parking lot.

FAFSA Day at WCC

Wilkes Community College financial aid officers will join college financial aid specialists across the state in offering financial aid assistance on Saturday, February 18, to help high school seniors and families complete and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms online. At Wilkes Community College, assistance will be offered in Lowe’s Hall rooms 1705 and 1706. There will be free FAFSA Day programs in all 100 counties with most sites open from 9 a.m. until noon.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. To pre-register at Wilkes Community College, contact Vickie Call, director of Financial Aid, at 336-838-6146.  More than 300 sites will be available, including campus sites and State Employees’ Credit Union branches.  A list of all locations and registration is available atwww.CFNC.org/FAFSAday or by calling 866-866-CFNC toll-free.

Those For & Against Pipeline

A few weeks President Obama denied a license for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. As Congresswoman Virginia Foxx from the 5th District here in North Carolina explains that the construction phase of that pipeline alone holds the potential of producing an estimated 20,000 jobs in a suffering economy and significantly decreasing our dependence on OPEC oil.  In December, the President deferred a decision on the pipeline’s future until 2013.  In response, Congress acted on behalf of constituents and in the interest of job creation, requiring the President to make a decision. He rejected Keystone and now many believe the United States is compromising the potential jobs, and energy resources, to China and other competing nations.  Last week we spoke with Congresswoman Foxx about some Democrats including Harry Reid and Steny Hoyer changing their minds on the pipeline.  My complete interview with Congresswoman Foxx can be heard as a 3WC Focus on the Foothills podcast.

IRS Tax Tools for Free Assistance

For those locally needing free assistance with filing taxes, the Internal Revenue Service has a new online tool to help people find a location for volunteer tax preparation assistance.  The new tool is available 24 hours a day on IRS.gov and is for qualified individuals with incomes of $50,000 dollars or less to find free help through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.  Taxpayers can search the word “VITA” in IRS.gov and click on the option “Free Tax Return Preparation For You by Volunteers,” to access the tool.  Also, the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program provides free tax service for all taxpayers with priority assistance to taxpayers 60 and older.  A TCE locator is available at www.AARP.org.  In addition to these resources, the IRS website has a wealth of free information and tax support. The official IRS website is www.irs.gov. Taxpayers are urged not to be confused by Internet sites that end in .com, .net, .org or anything other than .gov.

NC Film Debuting in US & Europe

North Carolina filmmakers have a movie debuting in the US and Europe.  One man, Mike Wiley, performs all 36 roles in the feature film "Dar He: The Lynching of Emmett Till."  Wiley and the North Carolina filmmakers deliver the story, trial, and unbelievable confessions of those accused of 14-year-old Emmett Till's murder in this 1955 tragedy which changed the course of history in the United States.  "Dar He" was created by acclaimed North Carolina filmmakers who are winners of fifteen festival awards, eight nominations, dozens of official selections, special screenings, and other honors.  The NC made movie debuts in LA later this month and in Germany in May.              

Tuesday Morning House Fire

An early Tuesday morning fire has been ruled accidental due to electrical problems with an outlet.  Assistant Fire Marshal Nikki Hamby told 3WC News that Broadway Fire Department was called to a house fire just after 6 Tuesday morning.  The home is owned by Ernest and Betty Barnette, and both were able to safely escape the fire.  Hamby says they traced the fire back to an electrical outlet in the laundry room.  The fire did extend into the entire attic space, so there is significant damage throughout the home.  No one was injured in the fire.  Boomer, Moravian Falls, and Wilkesboro firefighters also assisted Broadway in fighting that fire.