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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 12
Inside
WWW.NSJONLINE.COM |
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2019
NC hosts US Senior Women’s Open, B1
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM HARRISON PHOTOGRAPHY
2019 Black Bear Festival Black Black bear cubs in a ripe wheat field near Plymouth stand up upon hearing the photographer. Read more about the 2019 Black Bear Festival on page C3.
the Wednesday
NEWS BRIEFING
Trump says US not ramping up for military conflict with Iran President Donald Trump is dismissing a report that the U.S. is planning for a military conflict with Iran. Trump was responding to a report that the White House is reviewing military plans against Iran that could result in sending 120,000 U.S. troops to the Middle East if Iran attacks American forces or steps up work on nuclear weapons. Trump said he would “absolutely” be willing to send troops, but that he’s not planned for that and hopefully won’t have to plan for that. He says if the U.S. was going to get into a military conflict with Iran, “we’d send a hell of a lot more” troops.
State budget surplus largest since Great Recession An updated examination of April tax collections by legislative staff and the state budget office, released Tuesday, forecasts a $643 million surplus for the fiscal year ending June 30. The new forecast represents the largest surplus since 2009.
Catholic Diocese of Charlotte to publish list of abusers The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte will publish a list of clergy members who have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse, following other U.S. dioceses. In Monday’s announcement, Bishop Peter Jugis said the 46-county diocese is committed to finishing investigations into clergy abuse and publishing names of the accused by year’s end.
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Barr opens second investigation of Russia probe By Michael Balsamo The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Attorney General William Barr has appointed a U.S. attorney to examine the origins of the Russia investigation and determine if intelligence collection involving the Trump campaign was “lawful and appropriate,” a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Monday. Barr appointed John Durham, the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, to conduct the inquiry, the person said. The person could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Durham’s appointment comes about a month after Barr told members of Congress he believed “spying did occur” on the Trump campaign in 2016. He later said he didn’t mean anything pejorative and was gathering a team to look into the origins of the special counsel’s investigation. Barr provided no details about what spying may have taken place but appeared to be alluding to a surveillance warrant the FBI obtained on a former Trump associate, Carter Page, and the FBI’s use of an informant while the bureau was investigating former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos. Trump and his supporters have seized on both to accuse the Justice Department and the FBI of unlawfully spying on his campaign. The inquiry, which will focus on whether the government’s methods to collect intelligence relating
to the Trump campaign were lawful and appropriate, is separate from an investigation by the Justice Department’s inspector general. The agency’s watchdog is also examining the Russia probe’s origins and Barr has said he expects the watchdog report to be done in May or June. Congressional Republicans have also indicated they intend to examine how the investigation that shadowed Trump’s presidency for nearly two years began and whether there are any legal concerns. The recently concluded investigation from special counsel Robert Mueller did not find a criminal conspiracy between the campaign and the Kremlin to tip the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Durham is a career prosecutor who was nominated for his post as U.S. attorney in Connecticut by Trump. He has previously investigated law enforcement corruption, the destruction of CIA videotapes and the Boston FBI office’s relationship with mobsters. In nominating him, the White House said Durham and other nominees for U.S. attorney jobs share Trump’s vision for “making America safe again.” Durham was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in 2018. At the time, Connecticut’s two Democratic senators, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, called Durham a “fierce, fair prosecutor” who knows how to try tough cases. In addition to conducting the inquiry, Durham will continue to serve as the chief federal prosecutor in Connecticut.
US, China increase tariffs as trade negotiations continue By Paul Wiseman The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. officials targeted $300 billion in additional goods from China for possible tariff hikes as the two countries continue to negotiate a contentious trade deal that same are calling a trade war. As the U.S. prepared to levy additional tariffs, Beijing vowed to “fight to the finish.” Beijing announced tariff hikes Monday on $60 billion of American goods in their spiraling dispute over Chinese technology ambitions and other irritants. China was reacting to President
Donald Trump’s surprise decision last week to impose punitive duties on $200 billion of imports from China. The move by Beijing startled global markets on Monday. The markets stabilized Tuesday but did not fully recover from a widespread sell-off that began the week as that market weighed risks to global economic growth and the U.S. economy. Beijing’s move came after the U.S. raised duties Friday on $200 billion of Chinese imports to 25 percent, up from 10 percent. In doing so, American officials acSee CHINA, page A2
Tucker will challenge Tillis in GOP primary Retired CEO says he would serve one term By David Larson North State Journal RALEIGH — Raleigh businessman Garland Tucker announced last week that he will challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis in the 2020 GOP primary. Tucker made his official announcement on “The Sean Hannity Show” and has since began airing radio and television ads. “The main reason I’m running is I’ve been disappointed in Sen. Tillis in particular, but also Congress in general,” Tucker said in an interview at his home in Raleigh. “And I think we need some more backbone in Congress to stand up on some important issues.” Tucker spent his career in finance and served as CEO of three different companies, including Triangle Capital Corporation. He also has written two books, one on Calvin Coolidge and the election of 1924 and another titled “Conservative Heroes: Fourteen Leaders Who Shaped America, from Jefferson to Reagan.” “I’ve never run for political office before, so I can legitimately say I’m not a politician. I’m not looking for another career,” Tucker said. “If I’m elected, I’m committing to one See TUCKER, page A2