VOLUME 2 ISSUE 48
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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM |
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017
inside Wake Forest extends Danny Manning, Sports
EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Troopers clap in a standing ovation as retired First Sergeant Harry Latta receives the Purple Heart Award during the North Carolina State Highway Patrol Fall 2017 Awards Ceremony at the SHP Training Academy in Raleigh, on Nov. 28. Latta was injured after being shot twice in an altercation with a suspect in the 1980s. Troopers from around the state were acknowledged for going the extra mile both on and off duty. See page 2.
the Wednesday
NEWS BRIEFING
NC named Best State for Business 2017 Raleigh Forbes Magazine has tapped North Carolina as the Best State for Business in 2017. Studying data like taxes, infrastructure and education, the magazine made it the only state to place among the top 20 in all six categories of its economic climate rankings. N.C. has also earned top honors for job and wage growth this year from the Tax Foundation, CNBC and Site Selection Magazine. The state unemployment rate remains at a 17-year low at 4.1 percent.
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Data leak from NC DHHS affects 6,000 people Raleigh The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services notified the federal DHHS on Monday the private information of 6,000 people was accidentally compromised. A spreadsheet containing the drug screening information of people who sought employment or volunteer work with the state agency was sent to a vendor through an unencrypted email on Sept. 27. N.C. DHHS sent letters to affected people and is investigating. Those who think they might have been affected can call 1-800-662-7030.
Rep. Hudson’s concealed carry bill set to move Washington, D.C. The U.S. House Judiciary Committee announced it will consider a bill offered by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC8) titled Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. The bill would allow concealed carry permit holders from one state to have that permit recognized in other states that allow concealed carry. Permit holders would have to follow the laws where they are carrying concealed and the bill would allow concealed carry on certain federal lands.
INSIDE N.C. DHHS takes over Cardinal Innovations. Jones & Blount
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ERIC THAYER | REUTERS | FILE
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) spoke in a press conference Tuesday calling it “imperative” to move N.C.-style tax reform nationwide.
N.C.’s senators to vote for tax reform plan The U.S. Senate Budget Committee passed the historic tax reform bill out of Committee Tuesday, setting the state for a floor vote in the coming days By Donna King North State Journal
ate leaders say they are still committed to getting a bill to President Trump’s desk by Christmas. Trump was on Capitol Hill Tuesday, to meet with lawmakers but Democrats abruptly pulled out of the meeting. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement, "We believe the best path forward is to continue negotiating with our Republican counterparts in Congress instead.” "The president’s invitation to the Democratic leaders still stands and he encourages them to put aside their pettiness, stop the political grandstanding, show up and get to work," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. Among the measures in the Senate tax reform bill are the repeal of the Obamacare mandate, property, state and local taxes no longer being eligible as tax writeoffs, the doubling of the child tax credit to $2,000 per child, and the elimination of personal exemptions. However, teachers can deduct $500 a year in school sup-
WASHINGTON ,D.C. — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters on Tuesday that securing 50 Senate votes for their tax reform bill was like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube. "Big complicated bills like this are challenging. You all watched us wrestle with this thing in the past. It's always difficult. But everybody has an opportunity to weigh in. And some members are still weighing in," McConnell said. It is a high stakes week on Capitol Hill for lawmakers working to get the first substantive tax reform in thirty years through Congress. With a 52-48 Republican majority, McConnell can only afford to lose two votes when the measure hits the Senate floor. Aiming for a vote by Friday, Sen- See TAX REFORM, page A2
Holiday shopping kicks off at record pace Americans spent a record $5 billion in the 24 hours after Thanksgiving this year
sharp drop in sales, so far statistics are showing only a slight 1 percent decrease, which is good news for them. Analysts credit retailers’ new strategies to rein in inventory and boost shopper traffic with By Donna King giveaways, special deals and smart North State Journal social media. The period between the ThanksRALEIGH — As N.C. shoppers were packing up the leftovers and giving holiday and Christmas can decorating Christmas trees, shop- make or a break a retailer, accountping moved to the top of their to-do ing for as much as 40 percent of list. Analysts say the holiday week- annual revenue and leading many end broke retail records, bringing businesses to go the extra mile in more than $10 billion to online to stoke shoppers’ interest. Godiva gave out free chocolates, while and brick-and-mortar retailers. “Anecdotally, we are hearing Sephora offered face masks and that people had their best Black perfumes. Dancers entertained Friday shopping weekend that Bergdorf Goodman shoppers. While 81 million they’ve had in a long, long shopped online for Cytime,” said Andy Ellen, ber Monday, 77 million president of the N.C. Repeople took advantage of tail Merchants Associa- The average brick-and-mortar Black American tion. Friday sales and 55 mil“We have N.C. with the spent lion shopped Small Busilowest unemployment rate ness Saturday across the in a long time, they see a $335.47 and country. tax reform package com- the biggest “Retailers worked reing, the stock market is do- spenders ally hard in getting out ing well and I think there in front — 10 days, two is a general optimism as were weeks ahead to really people go out and shop,” shoppers he added. 25-34 years promote the things that they were doing over the Nationwide, 174 million people shopped in old, spending weekend and on small business Saturday,” said stores or online over the $419.52. Ellen, whose organizaholiday weekend, beating tions helps small busiearly predictions by more ness-owners learn how than 10 million, accord- — National to use social media effecing to retail research firm Retail tively. “That’s one of the ShopperTrak. The national Federation things that is somewhat Retail Federation said the leveling the playing field shopping season will likely break records before Christmas for small retailers, using technoloEve, buoyed by growing consumer gy and social media to push things confidence and a robust stock mar- out to their customers and get them into their stores.” ket. Cyber Monday became the big“From good weather across the country to low unemployment and gest-ever internet shopping day strong consumer confidence, the in the U.S., generating more than climate was right, literally and fig- $6.9 billion in sales, up from $5.6 uratively, for consumers to tackle billion a year ago, according to their holiday shopping lists online Adobe Analytics, which measured and in stores,” NRF President and 80 percent of all online transactions from the top 100 U.S. web CEO Matthew Shay said. Despite predictions that brickand-mortar stores would see a See RETAIL, page A2
EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL
A shopper and her dog walk past a holiday display inside of Great Outdoor Provision Co. at Cameron Village in Raleigh, on Nov. 28. Retail establishments are ramping up for the big holiday season.