North State Journal — Vol. 2 , Issue 28

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VOLUME 2 ISSUE 28

www.NSJONLINE.com |

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Inside Tour de France gets wild and crazy Sports

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

The sun sets over the Pamlico Sound as seen from Cedar Island, N.C.

the Wednesday

News BRIEFing

Record-breaking holiday travel in NC Raleigh A record-breaking 1.25 million North Carolinians traveled to the state’s beaches among other natural wonders during the week of Independence Day this year. According to AAA Carolinas, road travel increased 3 percent over last year and air travel grew 5 percent. AAA credits a drop in gas prices, currently a statewide average of $2.12 per gallon, down 8 cents over July 2016.

Test of missile defense system in Alaska hits target Washington, D.C. On Tuesday the U.S. Missile Defense Agency announced the successful test of its THAAD missile defense system against an intermediate-range ballistic missile in the Pacific Ocean. A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense near Kodiak, Alaska, intercepted the ballistic missile target that was launched north of Hawaii. The test comes after North Korea’s July 4 launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Three NC cities among “best run” Raleigh Raleigh, Durham and Greensboro made the top 25 “Best Run Cities” in the nation, according to WalletHub. The 150-city list was based on how well city officials manage and spend public funds by comparing the quality of services residents receive against the city’s total budget.

Durham is No. 11, Raleigh is No. 14 and Greensboro is No. 24. Charlotte came in at No. 100.

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

Politics unites, not divides, three generations of women For a grandmother, mom and daughter working at the General Assembly, political service is a family business

By Mollie Young North State Journal RALEIGH — For three women working at the North Carolina General Assembly, politics isn’t just the name of the trade — it’s a family business.

Judy Lowe, the legislative assistant for Republican state Rep. Ted Davis, has worked for the legislature for 18 years, serving the same New Hanover district for well over a decade — even predating Davis. And after finding purpose and fulfillment in the job that has her assisting the advancement of legislation and helping citizens navigate government resources, she sparked an interest in her daughter and then granddaughter.

It all began with Judy’s own aspirations many years ago. She had considered running for office in Worthington, Ohio — waiting for her family to be just the right age — when her husband’s job transferred their family to Raleigh. She didn’t know much about her new home state, but was still eaSee FAMILY, page A3

RALEIGH — Officials are investigating the cause of a military transport plane crash that killed 16 service members Monday evening, leaving a five-mile circle of wreckage in rural northern Mississippi.

Six of the Marines and the Navy corpsman killed were assigned to the Second Marine Raider Battalion, based at Camp Lejeune according to Maj. Nicholas Mannweiler, a spokesman for the Marine Corps

See CHERRY POINT, page A3

A KC-130 Hercules with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (Rein.), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to refuel a CH-53E Super Stallion.

Cooper backtracks on well water campaign promise

By Donna King North State Journal

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

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Special Operations Forces.

The KC-130 Hercules aircraft disappeared from air traffic control radar over Mississippi after taking off from Cherry Point in eastern N.C. near the small community of Havelock. It plunged into a soybean field at approximately 5 p.m. on Monday in Mississippi’s Leflore County, about 100 miles north of Jackson, the state capital.

A state trooper told reporters the refueling tanker was loaded with explosives, keeping emergency responders at bay because of small residual explosions. Initial investigations of the debris indicated the plane may have exploded in midair.

The names of the deceased were being withheld until family mem-

PHOTO BY CPL. JOHN ROBBART III VIA REUTERS | FILE

New DEQ water standard less stringent than those proposed by DHHS scientists last year

Jones & Blount

$2.00

By Donna King North State Journal

— Amanda Spence

Candidates eye District 34 seat

20177 52016

The military transport plane departed from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in eastern NC headed for California

“It’s probably the only time that it would ever be possible for my mom, grandma and I to work at the same place.”

INSIDE

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16 killed in crash of military plane from Cherry Point

Three generations of women in the legislature from left: Amanda Spence, junior in fall at UNC-Charlotte, interning for Sen. Tommy Tucker (R-Union); Judy Lowe, legislative assistant for 18 years currently working with Rep. Ted Davis (R-New Hanover); and Anita Spence, legislative assistant for Rep. John Bradford (R-Mecklenburg), all pose for a photograph outside of the Legislative Office Building in downtown Raleigh.

RALEIGH — This week the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality announced its new water purity standards for determining which homes near Duke Energy’s 14 coal ash plants across the state will get water filtration systems or new hookups to public water.

“We want every family in North Carolina to have access to safe, clean drinking water,” said

Michael Regan, DEQ secretary.

“We’ve set performance standards for coal ash contaminants to ensure that families who use these filtration systems will have water that meets or exceeds federal and state standards.”

On DEQ’s new list of standards is chromium VI, or hexavalent chromium, listing 10 parts per billion as the limit. That is significantly less stringent than the 0.07 limit recommended by scientists at the Department of Health and Human Services last fall under the Pat McCrory administration.

During the campaign for governor, then-Attorney General Roy Cooper openly chastised his oppoSee DEQ, page A3

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

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07.12.17 #84

Compassion Experience aims to educate Americans on children in poverty Bus tour comes to Durham for four days

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal

“Elevate the conversation” Visit North State Journal online! nsjonline.com jonesandblount.com nsjsports.com carolinabrewreview.com chickenbonealley.com

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North State Journal (USPS PP 166) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Donna King Managing Editor Drew Elliot Opinion Editor Will Brinson Sports Editor Published each Wednesday and Saturday by North State Media, LLC 819 W. Hargett Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27603 TO SUBSCRIBE: 866-458-7184 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

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DURHAM — Hundreds of millions of children worldwide live on less than $2 a day, and Compassion International is continuing to raise awareness to help break the generational cycle of abject poverty.

The group, which through donors sponsors about 1.8 million children, brings its traveling Compassion Experience to The City Church of Durham from July 14-17.

“Our goal is to invite people out to learn more about what it’s like to live on less than $2 a day,” said Steve Spriggs, who does community marketing for Compassion International. “So if we’ve done our job well, we hope that you’ve learned and leave with a deeper perspective on both poverty that goes on around the globe, but also the hope that’s going on when good people take action.”

The self-guided tour through the Compassion Experience tells the story of two children — one in the Philippines, one in the Dominican Republic — and the realities of living in abject poverty, but also how efforts to help the children through sponsorship have benefited them.

Compassion International, a Christian child development organization founded in 1952, uses the tour to educate people across the country on the realities of poverty.

While Spriggs said the number has been cut in half in the last 25 years, more than 400 million children still live on less than $2 a day.

“Inside, you follow the story of a child that used to be in a Compassion program and is now graduated and grown up, and you actually see schools where they were educated, go to markets where they would’ve interacted in their community,” Spriggs said.

“You see their homes and things like that,” he added. “And it’s all told through a narrative story when they were children, and kind of some of the bigger chapters of

PHOTO COURTESY OF COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL

A look inside Compassion International’s interactive tour through the life of a child living in a developing country. The Compassion Experience comes to Durham on July 14-17.

The Compassion Experience July 14-17 The City Church of Durham 800 Clayton Road, Durham Register at: cts.compassion.com/ events/752

their lives and how God worked them through those times where they thought, ‘I can’t even have a dream about being anywhere else but here.’ All the way to how they’ve been released from poverty.”

Compassion International started the traveling tour five years ago with one bus and about 30 events. Spriggs said it has since grown to include eight buses with nearly 300 stops annually.

“I can tell you that through the efforts of the Experience, there’s thousands of kids that have been sponsored,” he said. “And through this and a variety of other efforts to connect with people and invite them in to what Compassion does, it’s all going very well.”

The tour stops include Compassion International representatives who will assist visitors in understanding what supporting the group entails and how the sponsored children are aided.

“We have a partnership with about 6,600 churches in 26 countries, and these are the folks that are working with kids in a local context,” Spriggs said. “So in the best situation, a Compassion child will see the church in a local context and a sponsor through correspondence context — through letters and things like that. And over the course of a lifetime, our goal is to not just relieve them from poverty, but release these children

UWHARRIE PLAYERS PRESENT

Performances at the Stanly County Agri – Civic Center Albemarle, North Carolina

Tickets may be purchased prior to the show at:

July 28 and 29 @ 7:30 PM July 30@ 3:00PM and August 4 and 5 @ 7:30PM August 6 @3:00 PM

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.

from poverty.”

The children are provided food and medical care, put also “spiritual development” and social skills.

“In impoverished countries, there’s so many situations where children at very, very young ages are doing very adult things, like going out to make money, when they’re just in their adolescent stages,” Spriggs said. “So one of our goals is to keep them inside a program where they’re learning and they’re growing and they have friends and they can play and do things like that. … We have really, really great research that shows that kids that come to our program have very good results over a long period of time to kind of eliminate this poverty in their lives and become who God made them to be.”

People interested in Compassion International can visit the Compassion Experience in Durham or go to the group’s website at Compassion.com.

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

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NC treasurer tackling cost-drivers, redundancies in State Health Plan State Treasurer Dale Folwell is continuing his push to eliminate inefficiencies and save money in areas under his jurisdiction such as the State Health Plan and pension management

By Jeff Moore North State Journal

“We are finding in the State Health Plan that there are services that we provide that are being duplicated by other people that we’re also paying.”

— Dale Folwell, state treasurer

RALEIGH — North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell hosted his monthly “Ask Me Anything” teleconference on Tuesday to discuss ongoing eligibility audit initiatives for the State Health Plan, renegotiated administrator contracts, and how his office seeks to balance implications of a gradually rising interest rate environment for refinancing plans as well as pension performance.

Last week Folwell, a Republican, announced that the State Health Plan will save approximately $8.5 million starting in January 2018 after renegotiating a contract for administration of the NCHealthSmart program. The new terms limit the scope of covered services to focus on primary cost drivers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, diabetes and hypertension.

“A core component of that contract was something called a health management survey,” said Folwell Tuesday. “I think there’s 32 questions on the survey and on nine of the questions you can actually answer ‘I don’t know.’ So, not only did I not think that was a valuable use of resources, secondly people were just filling out the survey and just bubbling in things. ... A lot of people filled it out just because there was a credit associated with filling out that survey.”

Complexities in linking the survey to the open enrollment process actually hindered the treasurer himself from enrolling in the State Health Plan, and spurred an initiative to simplify the process for enrollment altogether. Folwell said it took 51 clicks to complete open enrollment, but a streamlining effort

DEQ from page A1 nent in televised debates saying he would have “listened to the scientists” and backed their figures.

The controversy over what standard to use erupted in 2014 after a coal ash spill into the Dan River. At the time scientists, policymakers and politicians intensely debated the health ramifications of the spill, how to clean it up and how to prevent another.

Scientists at DEQ and those at the Department of Health and Human Services disagreed on what was considered a “safe” level of chromium VI in drinking water. In one of the meetings, DHHS scientist Ken Rudo advocated for permissible chromium VI levels at 0.07 parts per billion, 1,400 times more stringent than the federal standard. DEQ at that time estimated that more than half of public water systems in the state would need to tell residents not to drink their tap water if Rudo’s standard was used.

Much to the dismay of DEQ, Rudo moved forward with sending “do not drink” notices to 400 homeowners, but later had to rescind them. The controversy played out in media across the state as residents tried to decipher whether their water was safe.

Cooper pulled the issue into a live campaign debate, saying he would have backed Rudo, supporting a chromium VI level that is much lower than that for bottled water.

“One of the things I’m going to do is listen to the scientists,” Cooper said during a televised gubernatorial debate in October 2016.

Environmental groups and Coo-

CHERRY POINT from page A1 bers were notified.

“Susan and I send our deepest condolences to the families of the Marines who lost their lives in service to our nation,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in a statement issued Tuesday morning. “Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and the Havelock community are in our thoughts and prayers. This is a tragic reminder of the dangers our servicemembers are confronted with on a daily basis, including the training missions that are

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

State Treasurer Dale Folwell, left, speaks during the Council of State’s first meeting with Gov. Roy Cooper at the helm. The Council of State is made up of popularly elected officials to share information across the executive branch as well as vote on certain items like state property changes.

is projected to reduce that number to less than 10 to complete registration.

While simplifying the enrollment process, Folwell also seeks to rid the system of inefficient redundancies, such as state employees being assigned as many as a half a dozen case managers by different parties for one medical procedure.

“We are finding in the SHP that there are services that we provide that are being duplicated by other people that we’re also paying,” said Folwell. “Many of the hospitals have case managers; then we have Blue Cross Blue Shield as our third party administrator who has case managers; we have Active Health, who is our population health management vendor, who has case managers; Medicare has case managers. We have a lot of case managers who are trying to serve the same patient for the same instances.”

Further, the State Treasurer’s Office has commissioned an audit to clean up State Health Plan rolls that may include a percentage that are not actually eligible to be covered for services.

per’s supporters were equally fired up at the McCrory administration over the standards.

Chromium is a naturally occurring mineral in everything from toothpaste to deodorant to bottled water. It is also in coal ash, a byproduct of coal-fired energy plants. Chromium VI, however, is a carcinogen in high concentrations. The Environmental Protection Agency sets a limit of 100 parts per billion for total chromium, but does not parse out chromium VI for a separate standard.

Recently, a California state court knocked back efforts to establish a chromium VI limit of 10 parts per billion. In that case, the court ruled that the chromium level established by the state’s Department of Public Health was not economically feasible and efforts to comply with it would raise household water prices between $64 and $5,000 annually, depending on the size of their water system.

Despite the interagency conflict under the McCrory administration, DHHS now seems in agreement with the DEQ standard of 10 parts per billion.

“Clean drinking water is essential to public health, and our department will continue to work with DEQ to provide accurate and timely information about drinking water safety,” said Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

For households near coal ash plants, state law requires that Duke Energy install filtration or provide for households to hook up to public water supply by October 2018 if their water testing results exceed the DEQ standard.

needed to help keep our nation safe at home and abroad.”

Further details on the crash were not released by military officials, but Gen. Robert Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps, pledged “a thorough investigation into the cause of this tragedy.”

The KC-130T aircraft was originally based out of New York’s Stewart Air National Guard Base and was from Marine Aerial Refueling and Transport Squadron (VMGR) 452, Marine Air Group-49, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, according to a

“The industry average is somewhere between 3 and 5 percent,” said Folwell. “We are very serious about following the law to make sure that we are only paying for health care for people who are eligible to receive it.”

Though not yet complete, Folwell said they are more than halfway through the eligibility audit of 193,015 enrollees or dependents in the State Health Plan. His goal is to complete the audit before open enrollment in the fall of 2017, so ineligible individuals are prevented from enrolling for another year of coverage.

Aside from managing the costs of programs like the State Health Plan, the state treasurer is also responsible for managing the investment portfolios of the state pension plan and oversees state and local government debt offerings and refinancing plans. The overall interest rate environment affects both of those functions in different ways.

While low rates make refinancing state and local debt less expensive, those same low rates mean lower returns for bond portfolios held in the

FAMILY from page A1 ger to serve when a neighbor told her about the legislative assistant positions at the General Assembly.

“It was a perfect opportunity to learn a lot about a state that I had traveled through, but never spent any time in,” said Judy, sitting at a roundtable in Davis’ office with her daughter and granddaughter.

“I think I have learned much more about the state than if I was doing anything else.”

She began encouraging her daughter Anita Spence — who holds a degree in political science — to apply for the same job in a different office. In 2015, Anita came to work for then-freshman Rep. John Bradford of Mecklenburg.

The role of a legislative assistant is not as partisan as one might think. Unlike other elected offices, state legislators often retain the “LA” that was in the job previously. Lowe has worked for three different members over the years and has remained with House District 19 for 14 years — allowing her to foster lasting relationships with the constituents she serves.

“It covers a lot of detail, maybe more than someone on the outside might realize,” said Judy about the job that also involves scheduling and clerking committees. “But I find the thing that really captures my interest is constituent issues. I like to find out what I can do to help.”

When people call their state-level representatives, they’ve often exhausted all of their other resources and are usually very thankful when they get

statement from Marine Corps officials on Tuesday.

It was en route to a Navy facility in El Centro, Calif., transporting equipment and people. Equipment on board included small arms ammunition and personal weapons.

President Donald Trump said on Twitter that the crash was heartbreaking. “Melania and I send our deepest condolences to all!” he wrote.

Images posted online by local media showed the plane’s crumpled wreckage engulfed in flames in a field surrounded by tall vege-

state pension plan.

“Obviously we want interest rates to stay low, especially for the next 48 hours,” said Folwell. “This is a competitively priced deal, which means it’s an auction and we have people bidding on it. North Carolina has always been, because the work of the taxpayers and previous treasurers has been recognized as a very desirable state to own debt from. We’re very interested in getting the lowest interest rate we possibly can.”

Alternatively, “higher interest rates help me on my $32 billion bond portfolio that’s sitting over in the state pension plan,” said Folwell.

Adding to the conundrum, “If you look at how [price-to-earnings] ratios are determined, interest rates are a big determinant for price-toearnings ratios in the stock market.”

Folwell said he hopes to take a deeper look later this year at how interest rates affect all sides of the Treasurer’s office; from inflationary pressures that drive up medical costs, to debt servicing costs associated with refinancing, to the overall performance of the state pension’s investment portfolios.

the help they need.

Recalling one constituent that she helped that now sends her and Bradford a Christmas card every year, Anita said constituent services is “kind of the softer side of things.”

Amanda Spence, Anita’s oldest daughter, joined the duo full time last summer as a paid intern for Sen. Tommy Tucker (R-Union).

“In high school, my grandma convinced me to do the Page programs. I did the House, Senate and Governor’s Page program, and that really sparked my interest in politics, and I decided to study political science at UNC Charlotte,” said Amanda who is a rising junior at the university.

“Then my grandma had talked about openings around the General Assembly for internships — I thought it would be neat to work in the Senate, to get a different perspective since my mom and grandma are on the House side,” she said.

But the women joke that for all the political enthusiasm they share, not everyone in the family is so keen on it.

Anita has two daughters that are younger than Amanda, and Anita said, “They don’t even like it when we talk about the GA, because we go off on our own trails.

They said, ‘You guys talk about it so much, I’m so over it.’”

“When I asked the 18-yearold to come down and page, she said, ‘No way,’” Judy chimed in.

“They’ll take a completely different course.”

But Amanda cherishes the political influence.

“Somehow it got passed on to me, and I’ve really enjoyed it,” she

tation, with a large plume of smoke in the sky.

The crash left a five-mile trail of debris, the local Clarion-Ledger newspaper reported.

Local authorities urged people who are not emergency responders to avoid the area because of fuel on the ground. The Marine Corps said it had sent an explosive disposal team to the scene as a precaution.

The KC-130 Hercules is used for air-to-air refueling, to carry cargo and perform tactical passenger missions. It is operated by three

said, “It’s sad going back to school and being out of the loop for seven or eight months.”

The ladies don’t pal around that much due to conflicting work obligations, but they have shared invaluable experiences.

“Last year, my mom and I stuck around for the last day of session and we stayed until 12:30 a.m. that night, but that was actually my favorite day,” recalled Amanda. “It was just a different atmosphere and [the senators and representatives] were having fun and cracking jokes instead of being super serious and they were willing to talk to interns and other people around the building.”

Anita also remembered, “We were comparing notes — she was on the floor, and I was up in the [gallery] — and we were going back and forth about where we were in the process, and how late we thought we’d be here.

“I mean, that’s fun to be able to share that,” she added.

But Judy laughed about that particular late-night adventure.

“You can tell who’s the oldest and goes home,” she said.

In a time when politics often divides those around the dinner table, the Lowe-Spence women have found it has brought them closer.

“It’s definitely special,” said Amanda, who is interested in lobbying on behalf of health care and disability issues after she graduates.

“It’s probably the only time that it would ever be possible for my mom, grandma and I to work at the same place. So I’m just trying to take it in every day, and enjoy it while it lasts.”

crew members and can carry 92 ground troops or 64 paratroopers, according to a U.S. Navy website.

The Greenwood Fire Department chief, Marcus Banks, told the Greenwood Commonwealth newspaper in Leflore County that 4,000 gallons of foam were used to extinguish the wreckage. Firefighters were at one point driven back, he added, by several “high-intensity explosions” that may have been caused by ammunition igniting.

Reuters News Service contributed to this report.

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

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Nation & WORLD

Condition worsens of top U.S. lawmaker shot last month

A black jihadist flag hangs from Mosul’s Al-Habda minaret at the Grand Mosque, where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared his caliphate back in 2014, as Iraqi forces battle to drive out Islamic state militants from the western part of Mosul, Iraq.

Steve Scalise, shot in hip, readmitted to intensive care unit

By Richard Cowan Reuters WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Steve Scalise, shot and wounded during a baseball practice last month, developed an infection and was readmitted to an intensive care unit, MedStar Washington Hospital Center said on Wednesday.

Scalise, the No. 3 Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, had been improving in recent weeks following surgeries to repair internal organs and broken bones.

A gunman opened fire on Scalise and other Republican lawmakers as they practiced on June 14 in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Alexandria for a charity baseball game. Scalise, from Louisiana, was shot in the hip. According to doctors, the bullet traveled through his pelvis causing significant damage.

Gunman James Hodgkinson, 66, had a history of posting angry messages against President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress. He died after being wounded by police at the ballpark.

YOUSSEF BOUDLAL | REUTERS

U.S. Army soldier arrested in Hawaii on terrorism charges

Syrian Observatory says ISIS chief killed

A U.S. Army sergeant stationed in Hawaii after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan was charged on Monday with attempting to provide material support to ISIS extremists, including a drone aircraft and combat training instructions. Ikaika Erik Kang, 34, an air traffic control specialist who also had extensive military training in hand-to-hand combat, was arrested by the FBI on Saturday following a yearlong undercover probe, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters on Tuesday that it had “confirmed information” that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed. Russia’s Defense Ministry said in June that it might have killed Baghdadi when one of its air strikes hit a gathering of ISIS commanders on the outskirts of the Syrian city of Raqqa, but Washington said it could not corroborate the death and Western and Iraqi officials have been skeptical.

Saudi Arabia to introduce physical education for schoolgirls Saudi public schools will begin offering physical education for girls in the coming academic year, the kingdom’s education ministry announced on Tuesday, a longawaited step toward social reform in the Islamic kingdom. Physical education for women is controversial in Saudi Arabia, where conservatives consider it immodest, and it is not mandatory.

It is not offered in most public schools, although some private schools include it in the curriculum.

Trump Jr. emails suggest he welcomed Russian help against Clinton

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) attends a news conference following party policy lunch meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

By Arshad Mohammed and Doina Chiacu Reuters

Carlos barria | reuters

“Once the Senate completes its work on health care reform, we will turn to other important issues.”

— Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Senate Republicans to unveil revised health care plan on Thursday August recess is already pushed back as leadership makes room for health care action

By Susan Cornwell and Yasmeen Abutaleb Reuters WASHINGTON, D.C. — The top Senate Republican said on Tuesday he would unveil a revised version of major health care legislation sought by President Donald Trump on Thursday but deep divisions within the party left the stalled bill’s prospects uncertain.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the Senate would take steps to begin debate and hold a vote on the reformulated plan next week, but did not disclose any of the changes to legislation that some Republican moderates and hard-line conservatives have opposed.

McConnell also pushed back the Senate’s planned August recess by two weeks to allow senators more time to tackle the measure that would repeal key parts of the Obamacare law as well as pursue other legislative priorities.

McConnell said the plan was to vote on the health care bill next week, and said he hoped to have a fresh analysis of the bill from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office at the start of the week.

“We’re going to do health care next week,” McConnell told reporters.

In addition to legislation to dismantle the 2010 Affordable Care Act, dubbed Obamacare, the postponement will allow more time to approve nominees to government posts and tend to other pressing matters, McConnell said in an earlier statement.

“Once the Senate completes its work on health care reform, we will turn to other important issues including the National Defense Authorization Act and the backlog of critical nominations that have been mindlessly stalled by Democrats,” McConnell said in the statement.

Republican senators returned to Washington on Monday following a 10-day holiday recess still at odds with one another over the health care legislation, with the Republican president warning Congress not to go on recess without passing the health care legislation.

The current version of the Senate Republican bill would phase out the Obamacare expansion of Medicaid health insurance for the poor and disabled, sharply cut federal Medicaid spending beginning in 2025, repeal most of Obamacare’s taxes, end a penalty on Americans who do not obtain insurance and overhaul Obamacare’s subsidies to help people buy insurance with tax credits.

The House of Representatives

passed its own version in May. Trump made repealing and replacing Obamacare a top campaign promise last year. Republicans have sought for seven years to gut the law, Democratic former President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement, which they describe as a costly government overreach.

Democrats call the Republican legislation a giveaway to the rich that would hurt millions of the most vulnerable Americans.

Since the start of 2017, when they took control of the White House, Republicans who also control Congress have been struggling over how to replace Obamacare.

For Trump, the health care overhaul marks his first major legislative initiative. Republican leaders had initially hoped to vote on legislation to roll back Obamacare before a recess last week, but postponed the planned vote once it became clear the bill did not have enough support for passage.

Prospects for passage are still uncertain, despite efforts to modify the legislation to bring aboard recalcitrant conservatives and moderates.

If Senate Republicans fall short of approving the health care overhaul, analysts say it could call into question Trump’s ability to get other key parts of his agenda, including tax cuts and an increase in infrastructure spending, through Congress.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump’s eldest son eagerly agreed last year to meet a woman he was told was a Russian government lawyer who might have information incriminating Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as part of Kremlin support for his father’s campaign, according to an email chain released on Tuesday.

The emails in the chain were between Donald Trump Jr., who posted it on Twitter, and Rob Goldstone, a publicist who helped to arrange the June 9, 2016, meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya, who says she is a private lawyer and denies having Kremlin ties.

The email chain’s disclosures could provide ammunition for U.S. investigators probing whether there was collusion beThe emails tween the Kremlin and Trump’s in the chain Republican presidential campaign. U.S. intelligence agencies were between have concluded that Moscow Donald Trump sought to hurt Clinton and help Jr., who posted Trump in the 2016 presidential election. it on Twitter, “The Crown prosecutor of and Rob Russia ... offered to provide the Trump campaign with some offiGoldstone, cial documents and information a publicist that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia who helped and would be very useful to your to arrange father,” said the June 3, 2016, the June 9, email to Trump Jr. from publicist 2016, meeting Rob Goldstone.

“This is obviously very high with Natalia level and sensitive information Veselnitskaya. but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump,” according to the email Trump Jr. posted on Twitter.

“If it’s what you say I love it especially later in the summer,” Trump Jr. partly replied in the exchange, which he said represented the entire chain of his emails about the meeting.

The exchange includes at least one error. Russia has a prosecutor general rather than a “crown prosecutor.” A spokesman for the prosecutor general declined to comment immediately.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters that the president applauded his son’s transparency in releasing the emails and viewed him as a “high-quality person,” referring all other questions to Trump’s and his son’s lawyers.

Trump Jr. and his younger brother, Eric Trump, run the Trump Organization, which their father headed before going to the White House.

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

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Spider-Man comes home in first at the box office

NEWS IN IMAGES

Sony and Marvel spin box office gold

By Seth Kelly Reuters

BRIAN SNYDER | REUTERS

Dancers take part in the Grand Entry on the opening night of the 32nd Annual Taos Pueblo Pow Wow, a Native American dance competition and social gathering, in Taos, N.M.

GLEB GARANICH | REUTERS

Dmitry Balandin uses a wooden external prosthesis as he plays with his wooden models Centurion, right, Amazon, second from right, and Kid in his flat in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine. It took Balandin, who works as a crane operator, 18 months to build models from 1,750 parts.

VASILY FEDOSENKO | REUTERS JOSHUA ROBERTS | REUTERS

People watch fireworks explode at the Lincoln Memorial in celebration of 241st anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Washington, D.C.

A couple carries a child over a campfire during the Ivan Kupala festival in the town of Turov, Belarus. The traditional festival celebrates the summer solstice with overnight festivities.

LOS ANGELES — “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is a domestic darling, and an international success.

The movie from Sony and Marvel made a reported $140 million at the international box office, as of Sunday morning. That, combined with the $117 million it’s expected to web from the domestic market, should give the film a $257 million global opening.

“Homecoming” is launching in about 60 percent of international territories this weekend. In Asia alone, the movie has earned $61.3 million. South Korea tallied a fiveday total of $25.8 million. Mexico and Brazil powered Latin American earnings with $12 million and $9 million, respectively. The U.K. accounted for $11.8 million of the international total. Other key markets included Russia ($7.8 million) and Australia ($7.6 million). It has yet to open in major territories such as France, Germany, Spain, Japan and China.

The latest Spider-Man movie offers a family-friendly take on the superhero genre. It stars Tom Holland, who got his start on the West End, as a 15-year-old Spider-Man struggling with the trials and tribulations of realizing the full potential of his super powers in addition to the day-to-day problems any other high schooler might face.

Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), who serves as an ever-present part of the movie’s promotional materials, plays Spider-Man’s begrudging mentor in the film. Michael Keaton is the big bad, Vulture, Jon Favreau plays Spidey’s guardian, Happy Hogan, and Zendaya stars as Michelle Jones (“MJ”), Parker’s brainy classmate. Jon Watts directed the film, and is one of six people with a writing credit on the script.

Meanwhile, “Despicable Me 3” posted $139 million from 60 territories overseas for grand total of $298.4 million internationally. In China, it scored $66 million, or the biggest opening weekend for an animated movie in China. It also set a record for the biggest animated IMAX opening weekend with $4 million. Other top territories included France, where the movie opened with $9.1 million, and Germany which pulled in $8.5 million.

For Paramount, “Transformers: The Last Knight” earned an additional $18.1 million. But the studio’s biggest bragging rights go to “Baywatch,” which crossed the $100 million mark overseas. Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” picked up $11.1 million at the international box office, while “Cars 3” earned an extra $8.7 million. And “Wonder Woman” posted $6.8 million for Warner Bros. at the overseas box office, raising its global total to $745.8 million.

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Palin is seeking in excess of $75,000 for compensatory, special and punitive damages.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

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North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Murphy to Manteo Forsyth Durham Guilford

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Jones & Blount jonesandblount.com @JonesandBlount

Wake

Stein puts NC on lawsuit against DeVos over student loan debt

Jackson

By Laura Ashley Lamm North State Journal WASHINGTON, D.C. — North Carolina has joined 16 other states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary Betsy DeVos over the recent suspension of rules that, among other things, fast-tracked student loan forgiveness for people defrauded

by Corinthian Colleges and other schools that go bankrupt or commit fraud.

In a filing in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., the states said the department broke federal law in announcing a delay of the new rules with limited public notice and opportunity to comment.

The department is also facing another suit from a group of for-profit schools that say the new rules needed to be narrowed because they could open the door for meritless lawsuits and force closure of some vocational schools.

Last month DeVos pressed pause on the rules, due to take effect on July 1, saying they needed to be reset. She established a committee to examine them and make recommendations.

Dare Burke Buncombe

Catawba Mecklenburg

Montgomery

Pitt

Moore

Lenior

DeVos has said accelerating the debt cancellation process would put taxpayers on the hook for significant costs, and a delay is needed while current litigation in California over the rules works through the legal system.

“With this ideologically driven suit, the state attorneys general are saying to regulate first, and ask the legal questions later,” said Education Department Press Secretary Liz Hill.

The rules were finalized in the last days of the administration of President Barack Obama, who overhauled federal student lending, specifically targeting for-profit, career colleges.

After Corinthian, a for-profit chain, collapsed in 2015 amid government investigations into its post-graduation employment rates, the administration began drafting rules to help students caught with outstanding loans they had taken out for Corinthian tuition.

The 18 attorneys general said the department and DeVos were using the pending litigation as “a mere pretext” to repeal the rules and replace them with one that “will remove or dilute student rights and protections.”

Graham to run for District 34 seat

By Laura Ashley Lamm North State Journal

WEST

Two bridges NAMES: in Western NC set COUNTY for improvements

TINT OF CORN: Warren Wilson College named C: 0 buy” list Benton Sans Bold, to “best Burke County Two Burke County bridges built in Buncombe M: 12County 12pt. the 1950s will receive improvements, Fiske Guide to Colleges named Warren the North Carolina Department of Wilson College in Asheville to its Y: 59.4 Transportation said in a release on annual “best buy” list, the 12th time July 7. The bridges — one eastbound the school has received the honor.

K: 6 and one westbound built in 1956 and The schools are ranked based on academics, quality of life and social life. “This guide helps students find the school that fits them,” Lynn Morton, president of Warren Wilson College, said in a statement. “With only 38 schools on the list this year, Warren Wilson College continues to shine among the most distinguished colleges and universities in the country.”

1958, respectively, over Berea Church Road on Interstate 40 — will be worked on by NHM Constructors of Asheville, which was awarded an $8.55 million contract to do the work. The project could begin before the end of the month and bridge work should be completed by Sept. 1, 2019.

NCDOT

PIEDMONT

BLACK RULE: Parking deck, Westin hotel Solid black, .5 pt weight headed to downtown Greensboro Guilford County A deal involving downtown Greensboro’s historic Dixie Building along with adjacent land will allow the construction of a $30 million parking deck $45 million hotel. Burlington developers David and Chantelle Stoughton paid more than $4 million for the Dixie Building and a small lot on South Davie Street. The Stoughtons sold the parking lot to the city of Greensboro for $1.1 million where the city will build a six-story parking deck with 850 spaces. Luxury hotel chain Westin is expected to build a hotel that will be incorporated into the new deck.

PiedmontWestern cities ranked for good region: driving conditions

Piedmont Green 10 rehabilitated sea turtles Piedmont region: NState released Red Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Mecklenburg and Wake counties Eastern region: NState Navy Dare County Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte were ranked in the top 25 of major U.S. cities for overall driving conditions according to a national survey by WalletHub. The survey compared the 100 largest cities across 25 key indicators of driverfriendliness. Greensboro ranked first for lowest annual hours spent in congestion per auto commuter and third for lowest auto maintenance costs. Winston-Salem ranked first for lowest parking rates, while Greensboro was fourth for parking.

GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD

Town of Robbins increases municipal water rates

20-by-30-foot Confederate flag raised on N.C. Highway 16

Enrollment up at Western Carolina University

North Carolina Peach Festival this week

Catawba County In response to Confederate monuments being taken down across the South, the Sons of Confederate Veterans and Capt.

C.F. Connor Camp raised a 20-by-30foot Confederate flag on an 85-foot pole on July 4 in Newton along N.C. Highway 16. Planned for six months, the flag was raised by more than 70 volunteers as part of a “Flags Across the Carolinas” project to raise Confederate “mega flags.” It is the second of several planned to be raised across the state.

Jackson County Western Carolina University, one of three state schools that lowered costs to $500 a semester for in-state students as part of a tuition reduction program called NC Promise, said it has 200 more freshman entering the school this fall compared to last year. The school is attributing the growth to the program, and said it has created a wait list for the first time because of demand. Elizabeth City State and UNC-Pembroke are also part of NC Promise’s $500-a-semester tuition program.

Montgomery County The 21st Annual North Carolina Peach Festival will take place in downtown Candor on July 14-15. The festival celebrates the peach-growing history of Montgomery County, which dates back more than 100 years when the Candor Fruit Company was formed by local businessmen. In 1902, H.R. Clark of Aberdeen purchased acreage below Candor and set out 30,000 young peach trees to start the first commercial peach orchard. The festival draws nearly 20,000 attendees.

Moore County The town of Robbins has announced changes to its water infrastructure programs, including a 20 percent increase in water rates. The increase is the result of the town relying exclusively on its “emergency line” from Montgomery County which is now its primary water source. The town currently sells water to 647 customers.

According to the town manager, the changes will allow the municipal system to become financially selfsustaining. The town is also launching a campaign to improve its billing, water quality and customer service.

ABC13 WLOS

NCPEACHFESTIVAL.COM

ASHEBORO COURIER-TRIBUNE

mayoral race will feature a **Kinston All counties have young candidates 1.5 pt. white stroke

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island has returned 10 sea turtles to the ocean. The release was held on Coquina Beach near the Bodie Island Lighthouse in Dare County. The turtles, which included a Kemp’s Ridley, a loggerhead and eight green turtles, were treated at the aquarium’s Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation Center in Manteo. They suffered from cold stunning, which occurs when sea turtles are exposed to cold water temperatures.

Lenoir County Incumbent BJ Murphy, who is seeking his third term, will face challenger Don Hardy, who is making his first attempt at public office, in the race to be Kinston’s mayor. Murphy, who runs his own media company, Magic Mile Media, was elected in 2009 as the first Republican mayor of Kinston in 140 years and the youngest mayor in the town’s history. Hardy, a Navy veteran, works as a police sergeant for UNC Lenoir Health Care and serves part time as a Lenoir County Sheriff’s deputy.

SAILSBURY — Salisbury attorney Bill Graham has notified the Rowan County Republican Party that he’s interested in filling the Senate District 34 seat. Formerly held by Andrew Brock, the seat was vacated last week when Brock resigned to take a spot on the state’s Board of Review. Brock served for more than 14 years in the N.C. Senate.

“I’m excited about the possibility of representing the district and providing input into the discussions of issues around our state with the goal of making a positive contribution,” said Graham.

Graham. a partner in the Wallace & Graham firm in Salisbury. ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2008. After the campaign, he worked with former Gov. Pat McCrory in different

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capacities, including the N.C. Economic Development Board.

Graham has since been working behind the scenes and said he looks at this opportunity as an extension of what he is currently doing.

Graham said he wants to contribute to the debate about curremt issues and also introduce new ideas of his own, including eliminating the tax on overtime, lowering the dropout rate in both rural and urban areas, creating new revenue streams for the state highway system, and increasing teacher pay. In addition, he wants to help North Carolina continue with economic development.

“We have a huge reservoir of untapped potential in North Carolina,” said Graham.

The Rowan County Republican Party will meet in August to begin the selection process for filling the seat.

KINSTON.COM

Shelly Island is North Carolina’s newest barrier island Dare County A new mile-long sandbar off of Cape Hatteras has sparked attention as North Carolina’s unique coastline has again changed due to shifting sands.

The new land mass belongs to the state of North Carolina so long as it is not connected to other land, according to Cape Hatteras National Seashore superintendent Dave Hallac. If the sand were to connect to the shoreline, the land could become part of the federally administered seashore.

Currently, the island is separated from Hatteras Island by a few hundred feet of water with a depth of about 5 feet at low tide.

WAVY.COM

Environmental commission to be sworn in USA Today names ECU Med School most affordable in U.S. Pitt County A recent report from USA Today ranks East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine as the most affordable medical school in the country. The report said in-state tuition across the country averages almost $40,000 annually and the average medical student leaves with $165,000 in student debt. Tuition at ECU is just over $18,000 and the average student leaves with $112,000 in debt. The Brody School is one of only 10 medical schools nationwide with annual tuition under $20,000.

WITN.COM

By Donna King North State Journal RALEIGH — New members of the Environmental Management Commission are expected to be sworn in for four-year terms on Thursday at the full commission’s July meeting. Gov. Roy Cooper appointed additional members last week who will join Mitch Gillespie, Speaker Tim Moore’s senior environmental and energy adviser, and Steve Keen of Goldsboro, who were appointed by the House. Charlie Carter, of Raleigh, was reappointed by the Senate before adjournment.

Cooper’s appointments include

Dr. Suzanne Lazorick, of Newport, who is an associate professor of pediatrics and public health at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University; Richard Whisnant, of Chapel Hill, who is a professor of public law and policy at the UNC School of Government; Dr. Albert Stanley “Stan” Meiburg, of WinstonSalem, who is currently the director of graduate studies at the Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability at Wake Forest University; and Marion Deerhake, a 34-year veteran of RTI International, a nonprofit global research organization headquartered in Research Triangle Park.

Farm Facts

#4

1,496

North Carolina ranks fourth in the nation for fresh-market tomato production.

In 2012, North Carolina counted 1,496 farms growing tomatoes.

$47M In 2015, North Carolina’s fresh-market tomatoes earned the state $47.05 million.

To learn more about North Carolina tomatoes visit www.ncfarmfresh.com

3,464 According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, N.C. harvested 3,464 acres of tomatoes for fresh market in 2012.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

BUSINESS

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FAST FACTS Sponsored by

The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Main Street & Rural Planning Center has announced that 39 North Carolina communities have achieved accreditation from the National Main Street Center® for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center, ® a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The North Carolina Main Street communities that have earned accreditation for their 2016 performance are Belmont, Boone, Brevard, Cherryville, Clinton, Concord, Eden, Edenton, Elkin, Garner, Goldsboro, Hendersonville, Hickory, Kings Mountain, Lenoir, Lexington, Lumberton, Marion, Monroe, Morganton, North Wilkesboro, Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount, Roxboro, Rutherfordton, Salisbury, Sanford, Shelby, Smithfield, Spruce Pine, Statesville, Sylva, Tryon, Valdese, Wake Forest, Waxhaw, Waynesville, Williamston, and Wilson.“Strong, thriving main streets are a key in ensuring strong communities, especially in rural parts of the state,” said Anthony M. Copeland, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Commerce.

“We’re proud that our Main Street communities have been recognized on a national level for their achievements. These local programs assist communities in bringing jobs and businesses to their downtowns, which helps overall communities enjoy a healthier, more robust economy.”

Infosys announces hub in RTP, netting 2,000 jobs for Wake County Emerging technologies firm chooses N.C. for one of four national innovation sites with nearly $3 billion estimated impact

Want to experience the arts at a higher level? Then head to the North Carolina mountains this month!

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PHOTOS BY EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Ravi Kumar, right, President and Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Infosys, hands North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper a gift during a press conference at the State Capitol.

Together, we can now accelerate and expand, to drive the digital transformation of vital U.S. industries including aerospace, banking, biotech, and energy.”

— Dr. Visha Sikka, Chief Executive Officer, Infosys

ogy professionals. Salaries for the new positions will vary, delivering a total payroll impact of more than $130 million each year to the community, once all positions are filled.

“We are proud to partner with North Carolina and Governor Roy Cooper in delivering one of the largest jobs commitment in North Carolina state history. Together, we will develop the next generation of North Carolina innovators through world-class education and training in the critical skills of the future, including Artificial Intelligence, data analytics, cloud and more, and bring scale to North Carolina’s already-thriving ecosystem of innovation to help our clients create their digital futures,” said Dr. Vishal Sikka, Chief Executive Officer, Infosys. “North Carolina is well-known for innovation — with a talented technology workforce focused on progressive fields like advanced manufactur-

er training and education.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. (EDPNC) led the state’s support for the company’s expansion.

Infosys will bring a variety of jobs to North Carolina, including software developers, analysts, digital architects and other technol- See JOBS, page A9

North Carolina maintains top “AAA” bond rating North Carolina one of only 12 states to obtain a unanimous top-tier evaluation

By Mollie Young North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell announced Thursday that the nation’s three top bond rating agencies – Fitch, Moody’s and S&P – have once again stamped the state with a “AAA” bond rating, making North Carolina one of only 12 states in the country to obtain a unanimous top-tier evaluation.

The fiscal scores, all of which forecast stable financial outlooks,

were in preparation for the upcoming sale of approximately $400 million in general and limited obligation bonds scheduled to be sold later this month.

“Since we are able to take advantage of historically low interest rates and our “AAA” bond ratings, we will save tens of millions of dollars,” said Folwell in a press release.

The ratings announcements included praise for North Carolina’s “conservative financial operations,” with “complete control” over state revenue and “financial flexibility.”

N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore said the unanimous rating was a “powerful endorsement of the Republican-led General Assembly’s smart spending strategies, record savings reserves and unyielding

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By Emily Roberson North State Journal RALEIGH - Global business consulting and information technology company Infosys has selected North Carolina’s Research Triangle region as the location for a new technology hub where it will create 2,000 jobs over five years.

The company plans to invest $8.73 million in Wake County as part of a project estimated to contribute $2.9 billion to North Carolina’s economy.

“North Carolina’s central role in technology innovation makes our state a perfect fit for Infosys,” said Governor Roy Cooper at a press conference announcing the news. “Our world-class universities and our high-tech workers drive growth and attract companies from around the world that are looking to innovate.”

Infosys recently announced that it would open four new Technology and Innovation Hubs across the country with a focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning, user experience, emerging digital technologies, cloud, and big data. The North Carolina facility is the second hub identified by the company, following the selection of Indianapolis in May. “North Carolina has a long history of investing in our people and their future,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “The state’s commitment to worker training is part of that legacy, and it’s a pleasure to partner with a company like Infosys that also sees the value of work-

n.c.

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

An American flag and the North Carolina state flag wave in the breeze outside of the General Assembly building following the final day of the long session.

commitment to our state’s financial security.”

“North Carolina can save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars

through lower interest rates, continue to attract rapid job growth and safeguard our citizens with one of the most fiscally sound gov-

Summer break at Appalachian State University in the public power town of Boone, North Carolina, doesn’t mean it’s quiet time. Far from it.

That’s when An Appalachian Summer Festival heats up the campus—and the town.

Here are a few things you need to know: • Held every July, the festival is a monthlong celebration of the performing and visual arts.

• In venues across campus, festivalgoers can experience a diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film through August 5.

• Along with performances, the festival offers loads of educational opportunities.

Learn more and view the full schedule at appsummer.org

ernments in the United States,” said Moore in a press release sent Friday.

While the Moody’s and S&P ratings were issued in copyrighted press releases, Fitch’s analysis was made public and said the rating reflects North Carolina’s “low liabilities, conservative financial operations and long-term prospects for continued economic expansion and diversification,” while also pointing out that “the state has rebuilt its rainy day fund, another source of financial flexibility.”

After a $363 million contribution in this year’s budget, North Carolina now boasts a $1.8 billion rainy day reserve — a fund that lawmakers say will help safeguard the state against future economic downturn and natural disasters.

Fitch went on to say that the state’s “broad-based revenues will continue to reflect the depth and breadth of the economy and its solid growth potential,” and that it has “complete control over its revenues.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

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the BRIEF Study deems N.C. best place to start a business

MARIO ANZUONI | REUTERS

A GE 1.6-100 wind turbine is pictured at a wind farm in Tehachapi, Calif.

America’s hungriest wind and solar power users: big companies

sources by 2050.

“It’s been primarily all driven off economics,” Threlkeld said.

“Wind and solar costs are coming down so fast that it made it feasible.”

President Donald Trump’s administration has made no moves to target federal tax incentives for renewable energy projects, thanks mainly to bipartisan support in Congress. Many Republican lawmakers hail from states that are major solar or wind energy producers, among them Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa.

U.S. companies, meanwhile, are pursuing their own clean-en-

ergy agendas independent of Washington politics. Over the past four years, corporations have contracted for about 7 gigawatts of renewable energy – enough to power more than 1 million homes.

That number is expected to rise to 60 GW by 2025, according to the Edison Foundation Institute for Electric Innovation, a utility-backed non-profit based in Washington D.C. Growth in renewables for years was driven by utilities laboring to meet tough state mandates to reduce carbon emissions, particularly in places such as California.

Early corporate adopters included Alphabet Inc and Amazon.com Inc, leading-edge companies with progressive company cultures, deep pockets and major power needs. Now mainstream industries are stepping in as costs have plummeted. Wind-power costs have dropped 66% since 2009, according to the American Wind Energy Association, while the cost to install solar has declined 70% since 2010, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association

trade group.

This year alone, home improvement retailer Home Depot Inc , wireless provider T-Mobile US Inc, banker Goldman Sachs and food producer General Mills announced major purchases of renewable energy.

Such deals can take many forms, but most are so-called power purchase agreements.

Known as PPAs, these are roughly 10-to-20-year contracts in which the owner of a large solar or wind project sells electricity to large customers, often at rates lower than those charged by utilities.

These agreements allow energy users to buy renewables at attractive prices with no upfront investment.

These agreements also help companies avoid outages if the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow. The massive wind farms and solar plants that support these contracts often supply electricity straight to the grid rather than feed it directly to corporate customers’ plants and offices. Companies get the benefit of clean energy without cutting themselves off from the security of the grid.

Furniture retailer IKEA is a notable exception to the PPA trend, preferring to own the renewable-energy assets that serve its U.S. business, including rooftop solar systems on most of its buildings and two wind farms in Texas and Illinois. The approach is part of the Swedish company’s long-term corporate strategy of owning all of its stores, factories and the land on which they’re built.

Demand from big corporations has benefited a host of wind and solar developers including Pattern Energy, First Solar and NextEra Energy. BNB Renewable Energy Holdings LLC, a privately held New York-based developer, said corporations now make up about half its business.

“There is a convergence right now where price is low and their sustainability commitments are high,” said Jos Nicholas, a managing partner with BNB.

$2.9 billion. Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $22.4 million, spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the N.C. departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.

Because Infosys chose to locate in Wake County, the company’s JDIG agreement also calls for moving as much as $7.5 million

into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account.

The Utility Account helps rural communities finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business. New tax revenue generated through JDIG grants helps communities across the state, not only in the county where the jobs are created.

“Infosys’ commitment to harnessing talent and strengthening the economic prosperity of all citizens within the Research Triangle Park community and Wake County is a great validation of the work we’ve done to strengthen our region,” said N.C. Senator Jay Chaudhuri. “We are attractive to such a multinational information technology company because we have a history of bringing together

universities, businesses and government to grow opportunities for our workforce. Tar Heels are ready for high-tech jobs today, and I am excited that Infosys is committed to the retraining and reskilling needed to keep North Carolinians working for decades to come.”

Partnering with N.C. Commerce and the EDPNC on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina State University, Wake Technical Community College, Capital Area Workforce Development Board, Wake County, the City of Raleigh, the Town of Cary, the Town of Morrisville, and Wake County Economic Development/Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

By Nichola Groom Reuters LOS ANGELES — Major U.S. corporations such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc and General Motors Co have become some of America’s biggest buyers of renewable energy, driving growth in an industry seen as key to helping the United States cut carbon emissions.

Last year nearly 40 percent of U.S. wind contracts were signed by corporate power users, along with university and military customers. That’s up from just 5 percent in 2013, according to the American Wind Energy Association trade group.

These users also accounted for an unprecedented 10% of the market for large-scale solar projects in 2016, figures from research firm GTM Research show. Just two years earlier there were none.

The big reason: lower energy bills.

Costs for solar and wind are plunging thanks to technological advances and increased global production of panels and turbines.

Coupled with tax breaks and other incentives, big energy users such as GM are finding renewables to be competitive with, and often cheaper than, conventional sources of electricity.

The automaker has struck deals with two Texas wind farms that will soon provide enough energy to power over a dozen GM facilities, including the U.S. sport utility vehicle assembly plant in Arlington, Texas that produces the Chevrolet Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon.

The company is already saving $5 million a year worldwide, according to Rob Threlkeld, GM’s global manager of renewable energy, and has committed to obtaining 100% of its power from clean

JOBS from page A8 ing and clean technology; a diverse economy from financial services and life sciences; a vibrant startup community across Wake County and Research Triangle; and top-tier universities and community colleges. Together, we can now accelerate and expand, to drive the digital transformation of vital U.S. industries including aerospace, banking, biotech, and energy.”

Infosys’ expansion in Wake County will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project will grow the state’s economy by an estimated

KIMBERLY WHITE | REUTERS

A man views solar panels on a roof at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

Last year nearly 40 percent of U.S. wind contracts were signed by corporate power users, along with university and military customers.

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New York Fit Small Business, a New Yorkbased business research firm, has ranked North Carolina the best place to start a small business in the country. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Kauffman Foundation and the Small Business Administration, the study also took corporate, individual income, unemployment insurance, property and sales taxes into account, ranking North Carolina 11th nationally for tax rates. At 3 percent, North Carolina’s corporate tax rate is the lowest of any state levying a corporate tax, according to the Tax Foundation, and is set to be reduced to 2.5 percent beginning in 2019. Raleigh’s educated population, its high-quality research facilities, and startup activity earned it the top spot among cities statewide for starting a business. More than 40 percent of Raleigh’s population over 25 held at least a four-year degree, compared to just over one-third of Americans nationally. However, the study noted that while the education and tax environment are optimum, N.C. struggles with both access to capital and a high cost of starting a business, based on per capita income and median commercial rent per square foot per year.

Microsoft to offer local version of Azure cloud service Seattle Microsoft Corp on Monday unveiled a new service that allows customers to use its cloud technology on their own servers, part of the company’s efforts to refocus its product line to compete more effectively with rivals Amazon.com Inc and Google.

“One of the key differentiations we have with Azure versus our two biggest competitors in the cloud platform space is our ability to support true hybrid solutions,” said Judson Althoff, Microsoft’s executive vice president of worldwide commercial business.

Microsoft is hoping to carve a niche among customers who cannot or do not want to have to move all their computing operations to the massive shared data centers that are collectively known as the cloud.

Azure Stack could serve companies in highly regulated industries or in parts of the world where using the cloud is not yet feasible, Althoff said. “We’ve seen a lot of pent-up demand from end-user customers as well as third-party providers who are anxious to deploy this solution,” said analyst Ed Anderson.

General Assembly renews support for small businesses group Raleigh Included in the final General Assembly budget, the Carolina Small Business Developement Fund (CSBDF) received $2.5 million continue their mission of providing small business loans, financial training for start-ups and existing businesses and lending services to communitybased organizations in North Carolina. Carolina Small Business Development Fund relies heavily on these funds to provide access to capital to both rural and urban regions in the state. “ As job creators, small businesses are generators of economic activity and play a key role in the state’s economic growth.

This appropriation allows us to continue the work we do to assist all small businesses across the state with capital and business services,” said Lenwood V. Long, Sr., President/CEO of CSBDF.

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

A10

north STATEment Neal Robbins, publisher | Drew Elliot, opinion editor | Ray Nothstine, deputy opinion editor

Visual Voices

EDITORIAL | Drew Elliot

Transatlantic bureaucracies

LETters

The amusing thing about bureaucracies is that, sooner or later, they make the argument against themselves for you.

Amusing, at least, when it is happening to someone else. Such was the case with the vote in the U.K. to exit the European Union.

In the runup to the June 2016 vote, the campaign raged between “remain” and “leave,” with the Leave side claiming Britain had given up too much sovereignty and would be forced to give up more. The Remain side claimed the Leave side was a gang of reactionary crackpots. At the same time, E.U. bureaucrats were — I am not making this up — writing “ecodesign” regulations for small Trump’s appliances that will outlaw “energy-inefficient” moves toaster and tea kettles. on overThe regulations, which the E.U. delayed revealing until after the vote, will apply regulation throughout the E.U. But no one on the Continent have been values toast and tea as much as the British do. promising, The Brexit vote was about much more than but the comestibles, of course. As Brexit negotiations are judiciary has underway in Brussels, it is clear that the E.U. will go down fighting to keep its continental tentacles also gotten far into Great Britain’s affairs. The issue du jour testy with is a British proposal that “offers EU nationals regulators who have lived in Britain for at least five years… ‘settled status,’” according to the Washington ruling by Post, “with the right to live, work and access fiat. benefits.”

The eurocentric media refers to the battle over legal status as “rights,” as if there is a universal human right to live and receive unemployment benefits in whatever country you wish. That’s rubbish, of course.

Beyond political semantics, the kerfuffle shows the prescience of those who have opposed the E.U. from the beginning. There’s always a way out if things go awry, the champions of joining the union said. Not an easy one, opponents said. The bureaucracy is proving the eurosceptics right again.

On this side of the Atlantic, we have seen some hopeful signs in the fight against the bureaucratic state lately. First, the Trump administration has moved to reconsider Obama-era rules that overstep Congressional authorization. The most high-profile of

Limit, don’t ban, social media for sex offenders

these is the Waters of the United States rule. Trump has started to undo Obama’s rule, which claimed ridiculously that everyone — regulators, lawyers, farmers, environmentalists, everybody — had been misreading the Clean Water Act for nearly half a century.

Trump’s moves on over-regulation have been promising, but the judiciary has also gotten testy with regulators ruling by fiat.

In May, a federal appeals court ruled that the Federal Aviation Administration cannot require recreational drone flyers to register and pay a $5 fee every three years. A 2012 law, the court said, prohibited the FAA from regulating drones.

Considering the capabilities of today’s drones, registration is probably a good idea. And the fee is just $5. But especially when we agree with unlawful regulations, we must insist the rule of law be followed.

The drone rule was not that consequential. But courts finally have begun to look askance at other federal agency actions that have a tenuous basis in law. Although there is a long way to go, what is known as “Chevron deference” may be on the way out.

Chevron deference, named for a 1984 Supreme Court case, means that the courts bow to any reasonable agency interpretation of an unclear law. This precedent turns the doctrine of separation of powers on its head, making the courts subordinate to the executive branch.

While constitutional originalists have been arguing against Chevron for decades, it is liberal judges who may push Chevron off the cliff. Conservatives have long held that one reason to oppose empowering the federal bureaucracy is that the law can change 180 degrees merely by a change of administration. That is happening now, and liberal judges will want to strike down any Trump rule they can. In the process, they may so weaken the Chevron precedent that it becomes meaningless, even absent a Supreme Court decision overturning it.

Once again, we see the bureaucracy making the argument against itself. That’s good for democracy. And toast.

Ben Burris Raleigh

EDITORIAL | Ray Nothstine

5 books college students should be reading At colleges and universities across North Carolina and the nation, many incoming freshmen have already attended their respective orientations. And for most students, it will be the first time they will be living on their own. They may already be prompted to get a few books for their summer reading list, often about diversity or other societal and cultural issues. UNC Chapel Hill recommends “How Does it Feel to be a Problem: Being Young and Arab in America”

by Moustafa Bayoumi. North Carolina State University recommends “Between the World and Colleges Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. When students report often make to school in August they may undergo dramatic headlines changes from their upbringing and might even now because come home lamenting the new-found “privilege” of new social of a middle-class background.

Colleges often make headlines now because justice of new social justice initiatives, campus initiatives, grievance culture, and victimhood. After campus racial protests wracked The University of Missouri in Columbia, enrollment has fallen grievance by over 35 percent in two years. Empty dorm culture, and rooms are now rented out for $120 a night victimhood. for home football games and solar eclipse viewing (economy sheets included). Still, higher education for many remains an invaluable experience, especially if they are equipped and trained to think critically.

While most students will be reading assigned texts and carefully controlled group-think is worsening on some campuses, broadening the mind beyond an increasingly stale liberalism and secularism is critical for today’s students. Below are a few books college students should be reading not only to get ahead, but might just help one thrive morally and economically.

“Common Sense Economics” by James Gwartney, Richard L. Stroup and Dwight R. Lee: Let’s face it, most adults, not just college students, have little understanding of economic truths.

However, a new college student will want to have a firm depth and understanding of the subject when their English or gender studies professor lectures them about the need for universal rent control

Regarding the June 21 article, “SCOTUS strikes NC ban on sex offenders using social media,” in which the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the 2008 N.C. law banning convicted sex offenders from using certain social media outlets.

I believe that convicted sex offenders should be banned from using social media sites for personal use, but could use them for career opportunities such as the site LinkedIn. If they were to use social media for personal interactions, I believe it would be too tempting to hide behind the veil of the Internet and could present a risk to unknowing victims. However, trying to legislate who uses which sites for which reasons seems very complicated.

The North Carolina General Assembly was clearly trying to do the right thing for its citizens, however, for those persons who may have been rehabilitated from the crime of sexual offenses against children, this law may have gone too far.

As a teenager who uses multiple social media sites for every day interactions with my friends, the idea that a convicted sex offender could be lurking to make contact with my friends and me is very concerning. It’s a complex issue with a no-size-fits-all approach.

or a guaranteed minimum income. This book makes economics accessible, and helps to explain common sense insights on wealth creation and the true cost of government.

“How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie: First published in 1936, Carnegie’s classic may seem outdated for some, but it has sold over 30 million copies and may be even more relevant with the rise of social media and narcissism. If one could take many of Carnegie’s timeless principles sincerely and to heart, it will reap friendships and rewards. Many top business leaders swear by Carnegie’s principles for success.

“Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis: This classic is essential reading for Christians of all traditions. Lewis specifically wrote the book with an ecumenical framework to tackle the basic questions and truth claims about Christianity. While the stereotypical professor attacking Christianity is often an overblown fear, “Mere Christianity” will provide plenty of logical insights into the nature and character of God and why the Christian faith should receive careful consideration.

“The American Cause” by Russell Kirk: Civics in this nation is abysmal. A study commissioned a decade ago by the University of Connecticut’s Department of Public Policy showed that colleges and universities completely fail at teaching civics. Out of 50 schools surveyed, they all scored below a D+, except for Harvard and Grove City College, which scored in the high 60s. It’s hard to imagine the situation has improved. While many college civic classes are hijacked by counterrevolutionary thought, Kirk explains the reasons for America’s founding and why its principles are worth preserving.

“What Color is your Parachute” by Richard N. Bolles: An exceptional book for college students facing graduation and looking to land a job. If new graduates don’t want to live with mom and dad after school, Bolles insightful advice will help put the best foot forward to secure employment.

No to The Better Care Reconciliation Act “The Better Care Reconciliation Act” is a cruel proposal. It guts Medicaid, an insurance program that 79 million Americans rely on, including many seniors living in nursing homes. Millions covered under the Affordable Care Act will be subject to new skyrocketing premiums, higher co-pays and reduced coverage, if they can afford insurance at all. Recent Congressional Budget Office estimates show that about 22 million Americans will lose insurance coverage if the bill passes.

Lawmakers claim that the current system is financially unsustainable. That can be seen for the naked lie it is by further reading the CBO report. The CBO estimates the pending bill will eventually transfer around $1 trillion out of the existing health care system to cover tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Indeed 40 percent of that money will go to households with incomes greater than $1 million per year.

So the money is clearly available to help Americans have access to health insurance. Yet, the authors of the bill would prefer that money go to the very well off instead.

The shocking cynicism and meanness of this bill calls for action. I ask anyone reading this to contact their senators and urge them to vote “no” on the “Better Care Reconciliation Act.” Do it today.

Mark Ross Lumberton, North Carolina

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

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Guest Opinion | Mohamad Bazzi Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service hold an Islamic State flag, which they pulled down in the Old City of Mosul, Iraq .

Walter Williams

Minimum wage cruelty here are political movements to push the federal minimum hourly T wage to $15. Raising the minimum wage

ALAA AL-MARJANI | REUTERS

Mosul’s fall won’t stop Islamic State spreading fear It’s clear that Islamic State is already adopting the methods of a “leaderless jihad,” a strategy that al Qaeda tried to use with less success.

Iraqi officials have declared that Islamic State’s caliphate is finished. On June 29, after months of urban warfare and U.S. air strikes, Iraqi forces say they are on the verge of expelling the militants from their last holdouts in Mosul. “Their fictitious state has fallen,” an Iraqi general told state TV after troops captured a symbolically important mosque in Mosul’s old city. In Syria, U.S.-backed rebels are moving quickly through the eastern city of Raqqa, another capital of the self-proclaimed caliphate.

With the imminent fall of the last two urban centers under Islamic State’s control in Syria and Iraq, the group has now lost much of its territory. On June 21, the militants destroyed the historic Grand Mosque of al-Nuri, where three years ago, as Islamic State swept across northern Iraq, the group’s leader, Abu Bakr alBaghdadi, declared a caliphate at Friday prayers.

The ruined mosque’s capture by Iraqi forces marks the most public symbol of the caliphate’s fall, but it does not mean the end of Islamic State or its reign of violence. The group still has the capability to attract recruits, secure weapons, raise funds through theft and extortion, and dispatch sympathizers to carry out attacks abroad. Islamic State also has less to lose by unleashing attacks outside of Syria and Iraq. In recent months, the jihadist group has quickly claimed responsibility for a spate of attacks on civilians in Europe, especially in Britain and France.

Islamic State has already adjusted to the imminent loss of its physical caliphate in Syria and Iraq, and to the potential loss of its top leaders. In mid-June, Russian officials said they believed that they had killed Baghdadi in an airstrike that targeted a gathering of senior jihadists outside Raqqa. The claim has not been confirmed, and Baghdadi was erroneously reported killed in the past. But continued fighting and new attacks underscore that the group must have contingency plans in place to deal with the loss of its senior leadership.

Indeed, it’s clear that Islamic State is already adopting the methods of a “leaderless jihad,” a strategy that al Qaeda tried to use with less success. For more than a year, Islamic State has inspired “lone wolf” attackers to act in its name, especially in the West.

These radicalized individuals are heeding the call of Islamic State leaders to use whatever methods they have at their disposal — trucks, cars, knives and axes — to carry out attacks that amplify the group’s reach. While Islamic State has organized assaults that required months of training and planning — such as the coordinated November 2015 attacks in central Paris, which killed 130 people — it has moved steadily toward inspiring loosely coordinated and sometimes haphazard attacks by self-radicalized perpetrators.

These attacks allow Islamic State’s leaders to create an illusion of strength to make up for their battlefield losses. They also signal that the group would revert to its roots as a jihadist insurgency, bent on large and small-scale attacks that instill fear but do little to help the militants keep control of territory in Syria and Iraq.

That’s not to say the loss of territory hasn’t weakened the group and caused some of its operations to fail.

During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in 2016, Islamic State urged its sympathizers to carry out a spate of bombings, mass shootings and stabbings across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. While the group called for a similar campaign during Ramadan this year, which ended on June 25, there were far fewer successful attacks.

Despite the amateurish nature of some recent attempts, cadres of militants who trained and fought with Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have returned to Europe and are now able to train and radicalize others.

Islamic State’s leaders realize that they are losing their “capitals” in Mosul and Raqqa. That means the group has squandered the caliphate that distinguished it from other jihadist movements, and helped it dominate headlines and attract new recruits. By relying on lone wolf attacks by individuals who are self-radicalized — and, in some cases, are mentally unstable — Islamic State is able to project a greater reach than it actually has. And it can continue to spread fear, even as its caliphate crumbles.

since 1973 (nearly 60 million and counting) and the assisted suicide laws passed in a number of states and the District of Columbia, mitigate that argument.

President Trump then got to his main point: “The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive. Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost?

Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?”

Good questions all. They will have to be answered by millennials and generations to follow.

Democracy is not the natural state of the world; otherwise all would be free. Dictatorships, religious fanatics seeking to impose a byzantine religion on others and economic systems that doom their people to poverty while enriching those at the top seem to be the norm.

Ronald Reagan, who the president mentioned to great applause, used to say freedom is “never more than one generation away from extinction.” President Trump reminded the West of that. With the mentioned caveats, it was a timely and necessary address.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist.

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.

President Trump’s vision

In comparison to Washington’s verbal thrift, Trump is a fire sale.

Moscow during the Cold War? It doesn’t help in this latest war that so many European countries, especially Germany, have taken in hordes of “refugees” from nations that export terrorism and have failed to assimilate them, much less convert them to “Western values.”

The president spoke of another threat, which he labeled “the steady creep of government bureaucracy that drains the vitality and wealth of the people.”

He added, “The West became great not because of paperwork and regulations but because people were allowed to chase and pursue their destinies.”

Right again. Proving his point that hated bureaucracy in Washington can’t come up with a fix to Obamacare, or reform the tax code, despite Republican majorities in both houses of Congress.

Not to be too picky, but when the president said, “And above all, we value the dignity of every human life, protect the rights of every person, and share the hope of every soul to live in freedom,” I question those sentiments. That last part channeled George W. Bush, who said much the same thing, except there are conflicting definitions of “freedom.” The Islamic world’s view of freedom is in stark contrast to that of the West, especially when it comes to the rights of women and tolerance for other faiths. As for valuing every human life, the number of abortions in America

A recent study calculated that for every $1 hike in the minimum wage, there is a 14 percent increase in the likelihood that a restaurant rated 3 ½ stars on Yelp will go out of business.

San Francisco might give us some evidence for what a $15 minimum wage does. According to the East Bay Times, about 60 restaurants around the Bay Area closed between September and January. A recent study by Michael Luca of Harvard Business School and Dara Lee Luca of Mathematica Policy Research calculated that for every $1 hike in the minimum hourly wage, there is a 14 percent increase in the likelihood that a restaurant rated 3 1/2 stars on Yelp will go out of business.

Fresno Bee reporter Jeremy Bagott says that even some of San Francisco’s best restaurants fall prey to higher minimum wages. One saw its profit margins fall from 8.5 percent in 2012 to 1.5 percent by 2015. Most restaurants are thought to require profit margins between 3 and 5 percent to survive.

Some think that it’s greed that motivates businessmen to seek substitutes for labor, such as kiosks, as wages rise.

But don’t blame businessmen; just look in the mirror. Suppose both McDonald’s and Burger King are faced with higher labor costs as a result of higher minimum wages. McDonald’s lowers its labor costs by installing kiosks and laying off workers, but Burger King decides to not automate but instead keep the same amount of labor. To cover its higher labor costs, Burger King must charge higher prices for its meals, whereas McDonald’s gets by while charging lower prices.

Which restaurant do you think people will patronize? I’m guessing McDonald’s.

What customers want is an important part of a company’s decision-making.

But there are other actors to whom companies are beholden. They are the companies’ investors, who are looking for returns on their investments. If one company responds appropriately to higher labor costs, it will produce a higher investor return than one that does not.

That means “buy” signals for the stock of a company that responds properly and “sell” signals for the stock of one that does not, as well as possible outside takeover attempts for the latter.

The best way to help low-wage workers earn higher wages is to make them more productive, and that’s not accomplished simply by saying they are more productive by mandating higher wages.

Mohamad Bazzi is a journalism professor at New York University and former Middle East bureau chief at Newsday.

column | CAl Thomas

“Where there is no vision, the people perish...” (Proverbs 29:18) In 1987 when he was contemplating a run for president, Vice President George H.W. Bush was criticized for his inability to articulate an agenda for the country. A friend suggested he spend a weekend alone at Camp David to figure out where he would take the nation.

“Oh, the vision thing,” Bush replied disparagingly. Though he won the 1988 election, the quote would haunt him.

In Poland last week, President Trump declared his vision for America that in content and tone rivaled Ronald Reagan’s promise to defeat communism.

In a speech to thousands of enthusiastic listeners, who chanted his name and “USA,” Trump laid out in unambiguous tones his view that the West is engaged in a clash of civilizations with “radical Islamic terrorism” that seeks to destroy us and replace our values with theirs.

Playing off the history of Nazi and Soviet occupation of Poland (and the Holocaust), the president said, “We are confronted by another oppressive ideology — one that seeks to export terrorism and extremism all around the globe. ... We’re going to get it to stop.”

It is a worthy goal, but how do you stop an ideology based on religious zeal and with no fixed address, as was the case with Berlin during WWII and

has popular support among Americans.

Their reasons include fighting poverty, preventing worker exploitation and providing a living wage. For the most part, the intentions behind the support for raising the minimum wage are decent.

But when we evaluate public policy, the effect of the policy is far more important than intentions. So let’s examine the effects of increases in minimum wages.

The average wage for a cashier is around $10 an hour, about $21,000 a year. That’s no great shakes, but it’s an honest job for full- or part-time workers and retirees wanting to earn some extra cash. In anticipation of a $15-an-hour wage becoming federal law, many firms are beginning the automation process to economize on their labor usage.

Panera Bread, a counter-serve cafe chain, anticipates replacing most of its cashiers with kiosks. McDonald’s is rolling out self-service kiosks that allow customers to order and pay for their food without ever having to interact with a human. Momentum Machines has developed a meat-flipping robot, which can turn out 360 hamburgers an hour. These and other measures are direct responses to rising labor costs and expectations of higher minimum wages.

Here’s my question to supporters of higher minimum wages: How compassionate is it to create legislation that destroys an earning opportunity?

Again, making $21,000 a year as a cashier is no great shakes, but it’s better than going on welfare, needing unemployment compensation or idleness. Why would anybody work for $21,000 a year if he had a higher-paying alternative? Obviously, the $21,000-a-year job is his best known opportunity. How compassionate is it to call for a government policy that destroys a person’s best opportunity? I say it’s cruel.

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Across North Carolina, UnitedHealth Group is partnering to improve health care. By working with employers to offer better care at a lower cost. Helping rural families access affordable care through technology. Improving care for seniors by providing convenient, innovative in-home services. And, partnering with nonprofits that serve the children of our military families. To all those with a passion to improve health care, our question is: How can we help?

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

It’s gonna be Maye Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) cuts the nets after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum in Memphis on March 26.

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT

SPORTS

MILB

Zebulon to host 2018 Carolina All-Star Classic The city of Zebulon will shine the lights on some of baseball’s brightest young stars next season, as the Carolina Mudcats were chosen to host the 2018 Carolina League All-Star Classic at Five County Stadium. “It is our honor to bring the Carolina League’s future Major League stars to Zebulon for next year’s AllStar Classic,” said Mudcats GM Joe Kremer. Five County Stadium last hosted an AllStar event back in 2008 when the Southern League All-Star Game was held in Zebulon.

Trout set to rejoin Angels after All-Star Break

MLB

Manfred says Charlotte an MLB expansion option MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred stirred the proverbial pot while speaking at the 2017 MLB All-Star Game in Miami on Monday, pointing out that the league is considering the possiblity of expansion from 30 teams to 32 teams.

Manfred went on to mention several specific locations for the potential new franchises and included Charlotte in the list as well. “I think we have some great candidates,” Manfred said before mentioning Montreal as a likely spot.

“Charlotte is a possibility,” the commissioner added. Any possible expansion would have to occur after both Oakland and Tampa Bay finalized their stadium issues however.

BOXING

Mayweather asks IRS for tax reprieve until fight Boxer Floyd Mayweather asked the IRS in a court petition to give him reprieve on paying his 2015 taxes until after he fights Conor McGregor on August 26.

Mayweather said he is unable to pay his 2015 bill until he receives the check from fighting the UFC star. Mayweather, who made $220 million in his fight against Manny Pacquiao, posted pictures of $26 million in checks he wrote to the IRS on Instagram Monday night.

National titles becoming a part of the Maye family tradition

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal

MLB

The Los Angeles Angels confirmed the return Friday of two-time MVP winner Mike Trout following the All-Star Break. Trout, who suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb on May 28 and underwent surgery three days later, has played in just 47 games so far this season but has a .337 average and a .461 on-base percentage along with 16 HR.

NELSON CHENAULT | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

JASEN VINLOVE | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

USA pitcher Brent Honeywell (21) throws a pitch in the first inning during the 2017 MLB Futures Game at Marlins Park in Miami on July 9.

Bulls pitcher Brent Honeywell wins Futures Game MVP First pitcher, second Bulls player to win MVP at All-Star showcase

By Shawn Krest North State Journal FOR THE 19th straight time, MLB opened the All-Star Break with a game showcasing the best prospects in minor league baseball.

For the first time, a pitcher won the game’s MVP award.

Bulls starter Brent Honeywell pitched two shutout innings to start Team USA’s 7-6 win over the World Team in the MLB Futures Game at Miami’s Marlins Park on Sunday. With four strikeouts and just one hit allowed, Honeywell won the Larry Doby Award as the game’s best player.

“This is actually the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” Honeywell said in a postgame press conference. “I’ve been in All Star Games before, but I don’t think I’ve ever won a real MVP.” Honeywell becomes the second player to win the award as a member of the Durham Bulls. Catcher Toby Hall represented the team at the 2001 game and took home the MVP. Sean Burroughs, who

won MVP in the 2000 game and Hank Conger, who won in 2010, both played for the Bulls after their MVP performances — Burroughs in 2006 and Conger last season.

Honeywell also joins a list of winners that includes five players who went on to make MLB AllStar teams: Alfonso Soriano, Jose Reyes, Grady Sizemore, Aaron Hill and Billy Butler.

Heading into the weekend, Honeywell was just looking for a chance to start the game. He had the pedigree. Voted the second-best prospect in the Tampa organization

by MLB, Honeywell is second in the International League with 99 strikeouts and tied for third with eight wins.

In his last start before the break, on July 4, he struck out nine batters in six shutout innings, leading Durham to a 1-0 win and showing that he was hitting another level.

“It’s about time,” Honeywell said after the game.

The performance, and the four days rest before the Futures Game gave him hope that he’d be given the ball to start. “I’d like to have the chance,” he said before leaving Durham. “The timing works out.”

See HONEYWELL, page B6

THE THING about younger brothers is that they’re always having to follow in the footsteps of their older siblings.

That’s not the reason Cole Maye decided to concentrate on baseball instead of playing college basketball like his family’s firstborn son.

It just happened that way.

And yet, even as Cole began forging his own athletic identity as a hard-throwing freshman left-handed pitcher at Florida, the kid brother still ended up following in big brother Luke’s footsteps.

As a national champion.

Three months after Luke won his title in Phoenix as a member of the North Carolina basketball team, Cole earned a ring of his own when his Gators swept LSU in the College World Series championship series in Omaha on June 27.

It’s a run of family success so improbable even those living through it are having a hard time comprehending it all.

“What are the chances of that happening to the same family in the same year?” said the Mayes’ father Mark, himself a top-flight athlete who played quarterback for UNC in the mid-1980s. “We’re just so happy and blessed. It’s been a lot of fun.”

The excitement began in late March when Luke burst onto the national spotlight by hitting what will likely go down as one of the most famous shots in UNC basketball history.

With the score tied and time running out in the NCAA South Region final against Kentucky, the sophomore forward took a pass from teammate Theo Pinson and calmly sank an open jumper from just inside the 3-point line to give the Tar Heels a 75-73 victory.

The winning basket capped an unexpected performance in which Maye, who averaged only 5.5 points per game in a reserve role, scored a career-high 17 points to help send his team to the Final Four.

Three months after Luke won his title as a member of the UNC’s basketball team, younger brother Cole earned a ring of his own when Florida’s baseball team swept LSU in the College World Series.

See MAYE, page B7

INSIDE

SAM GREENE | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Even though he found victory lane for the third time this season, Martin Truex, Jr. is still helping his girlfriend Shelley Pollex battle off the track. Pollex was back in the hospital continuing her fight against ovarian cancer after a previous recurrence required surgery. Truex was by her side quickly, just as he has been previously when finding a win on the track. R. Cory Smith looks at the season Truex is putting together and storylines from NASCAR. Page B6

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

B2 WEDNESDAY

07.12.17

TRENDING

Fargo: North Dakota city is hosting the Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers as they spend part of the offseason training with Eagles quarterback and Fargo native Carson Wentz. Alshon Jeffery is excited to try the bison.

Mookie Betts: Boston Red Sox outfielder beat up on the Tampa Rays and pitcher Chris Archer, but the two made up quickly, with Archer hopping in a plane flown by Betts for the short flight from St. Petersburg to Miami for the All-Star Game.

Josh Jackson: Phoenix Suns rookie recorded a very unfortunate missed dunk against the Mavericks in the early going of the summer league, following a trend of whiffed dunks from the athletic former Kansas star.

C.J. Miles: Toronto Raptors engaging in a sign-andtrade deal for the veteran guard, according to a report from ESPN. The Pacers will also receive backup point guard Cory Joseph in exchange.

De’Aaron Fox: Sacramento Kings rookie drew scrutiny when he tweeted a facepalm emoji after hearing that Lonzo Ball, who he was drafted ahead of him despite Fox dominating their college matchups, would not play Monday night for the Lakers. Fox later deleted the tweet and said he does not believe the Lakers purposely sat Ball.

Austin Rivers: Los Angeles Clippers guard called his exteammate Chris Paul and cleared the air after a report from ESPN said Paul wanted to leave the Clippers because of nepotism concerns with Doc’s son.

beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

MLB

All rise for the new Home Run Derby king: emerging Yankees superstar Aaron Judge put on a show in Miami on Monday night, clobbering his way to the 2017 Home Run Derby championship, an event that has been revitalized with Giancarlo Stanton and Judge putting on shows the last two seasons. Even when Judge hit pop ups they seemed to fly 450 feet.

MARK J. REBILAS | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

“I hope he gets the deal he deserves.

I hope it’s going to be the type of deal that cornerbacks and quarterbacks get.”

Cardinals RB David Johnson on Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell wanting a new contract and hoping Bell gets it.

KIM KLEMENT | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

SOCCER

NBA

LANCE IVERSEN | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

“I’m ready to contribute like I should have been doing this whole time. ... It sucks. I put myself in this spot.”

Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner, who is returning after the All-Star Break.

TENNIS

37 Years old Venus Williams was when she advanced to the 2017 Wimbledon semifinals this week, making her the oldest woman to do so since Martina Navratilova did so in 1994. Navratilova was the same age, 37, as Williams and would eventually make the Wimbledon finals before falling in three sets to Conchita Martinez.

@MANUTD | VIA TWITTER

CARY EDMONDSON | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Kevin Durant received the highest of praise from his coach Steve Kerr this week, as the Warriors coach compared Durant taking less money on his contract with Golden State to Tim Duncan doing the same for the Spurs.

Kerr called it a “remarkable gesture.”

Manchester United officially announced a splashy move during the EPL transfer period, signing 24-yearold Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku from Everton on a five-year contract.

The deal was reportedly worth nearly $100 million and has an option year.

MLB

The Miami Marlins hosted the 2017 MLB All-Star Game this week and a big focus was on the future of the franchise and ownership in Miami.

Rumors circulated during the events about a few more celebrities joining forces with Derek Jeter to try and purchase the team from Jeffrey Loria, including Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan and singer Pitbull.

The latter actuallyy appeared during the Home Run Derby in a Marlins jersey to perform on the field.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

B3

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Duke students cheer before the game against Florida State on Feb. 25, 2016 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke beat Florida State, 80-65.

David Shumate

the new voice of the Blue Devils

By Shawn Krest North State Journal AVID SHUMATE earned the highly-coveted opportunity to D take over for Bob Harris as the

radio play-by-play voice of the Duke Blue Devils football and men’s basketball teams. Shumate was introduced earlier this summer, after a year-long search to replace Harris, who retired after 41 years in the role.

Shumate took some time to speak to the North State Journal about the hiring process, his announcing style and how someone prepares to be interviewed by Mike Krzyzewski.

Congratulations on the new job. What have the last few weeks been like for you?

David Shumate: It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. You hear from so many people that you’ve known through the years. It’s so great to hear from everybody. I’ve worked for IMG (the company that handles Duke’s radio network) for 10 years, and so now to be able to start working with the guys from Duke — [IMG general manager Patrick Streko, Dr. (Kevin) White, Coach Krzyzewski and Coach Cutcliffe — it’s been good.

It’s been great to meet so many people and tell them my story a little bit, but it’s also great to kind of turn the corner and start to get ready for the season.

A job like this was going to attract hundreds of applicants. What were your expectations when you started the process?

I’m fortunate I’ve worked for IMG for a long time, and I’ve had the chance to do some national programming. I certainly looked for what would be a good fit and a good opportunity for me. Duke basketball is a program I’ve always felt highly of, especially with what Coach Krzyzewski has accomplished. But also getting to know those guys in the fall, when Bob missed a couple of games for football. I filled in with them on the basketball side and got to know some of the people behind the scenes. They’re just really high quality people to work with. So you apply, and you’re hopeful you get the opportunity, but it would be naïve to not be aware that hundreds of people are applying. You

keeping him involved in everything I’m doing, because this is his seat. I’m happy to pick the ball up where he left it.

just put your name in, and you know some people, so you hope it goes well.

As the process goes on, you start to get some interviews and talk to the coaches and people on campus. It starts to become more real. Still when they call and tell you they’d love to have you, it’s exciting. It’s awesome. Surreal.

The job involves dealing with two successful coaches with big personalities. How involved were they in the process?

You called Duke’s two games in Uncasville. Did you consider that a trial run?

I mean, you’re never going to take it as a trial run, right? I mean, they did a national search and a process. But I knew it was an opportunity to show them what I could do, and to show the fanbase, as much as the administration, what my skill set is and how I call a game — the prep and the energy I bring to it. And hopefully they’ll like it.

Especially while I was doing that, I was not thinking strategically about the job down the road.

I was staying in the moment and thinking about what I needed to do to cover the team at the time.

I just wanted to do the best job I could do, and that other stuff would take care of itself.”

For fans that didn’t hear those games, how would you describe your style?

I definitely call it as I see it. That’s the best way I can describe my style. I bring energy. I’m definitely going to bring the Duke perspective. I know people use the term homer — I probably fall more in that camp. I’ll tell the stories our fans want to hear from our student athletes, but also, I have the passion and energy to where you’re living through my call. You’re listening to the ebbs and flows and the energy of the game. I do the best I can to paint the picture of what’s going on in the stadium and with the crowd, how they’re reacting to things. Also making sure I’m delivering on things like the score but also being right on top of the plays, so that you can feel the energy in my voice when something happens. Just like people did when they listened to Bob for 41 years. It’s something I always enjoyed listening to Bob is there wasn’t anything terribly scripted out of him. He was purely reacting to what he saw. I think that’s what drew people to him, and that’s certainly something I’ll try to emulate.

David Shumate College: Appalachian State Class of: 2006 Title: Director of Broadcasting, Blue Devils IMG Sports Network Role: Play-by-play for Duke men’s basketball and Duke football Twitter: @DavidShumate

Any concerns over replacing a legend or over whether fans will accept the change, when you’re not Bob? They’ve been great. People have been welcoming me to the family.

It’s been awesome. To me, there’s no concerns in following Bob, because there’s no replacing Bob. He did this for 41 years, and he’ll always be the voice of Duke. I’m just humbled and excited to be able to follow in his footsteps and get the opportunity to share some of those moments like the ones he’s shared with fans over the years.

I have had a chance to visit with him and talk through the process. I got to talk to him several times in the fall, when I was filling in, and he was nothing short of gracious, helping me through the process and just talking, sharing stories from his time over the years. I look forward to keeping that relationship with him and

I interviewed with both of them.

When Coach Cutcliffe and I visited, it was an awesome three-tofour hours. We were talking about family — my dad who served in the army and moved around the country quite a bit. We talked about where he was stationed and places that Coach Cutcliffe knew and some similar experiences we’ve had in our pasts. We talked a little bit about broadcasters that he’s appreciated over the years. It was great. We just fell into a conversation more than an interview, which was awesome.

And with Coach Krzyzewski, we had worked together in the fall. So when I interviewed with him, it was definitely kind of just catching up — where have you been? We talked about things we can do moving forward with the role and the opportunities that broadcasting in all sorts of new media presents to help expand the brand but also get the word out about the broadcast in so many different forms: Ways we can get highlights out there and different types of short-form content. It was great visiting with those guys.

It was more of a conversation and catching up with them both than an interview. When I found out I got the job, I heard from both of them right away. They were great and I can’t say enough high things for all the folks over at Duke.

Everyone’s been very kind the whole way through. It’s just felt like a good fit. It just always felt like more of a conversation about what the role is than an interview process, if that makes sense.

Lots of people have interviewed Coach K. Far fewer have been interviewed by him. What’s it like going to bed knowing that tomorrow, you’re getting interviewed by him?

It certainly helped that I got to work with him in the fall. When you go into it, you have to be respectful of Coach Krzyzewski as a person. I think he’s the best coach in the history of college

basketball, so there’s certainly a reverence and respect that comes with that. But what I’ve learned from dealing with a lot of coaches is they’re just people. It’s great to go in and be able to share stories and listen. What you tend to find with Coach Cutcliffe and Coach Krzyzewski—guys that have been extremely successful—is they’re also great teachers, not just in terms of their sport but in terms of life. When they were asking me questions, learning things about my background and sharing their perspective, I felt them falling into that teacher mode and giving me tips on what I should do.

There’s certainly a level of respect there, but I don’t think nervous would be the way to put it. But it was certainly respectful the way I approached it.

What will you be doing this summer to prepare for the job?

I’ve already been on campus, having brainstorming sessions on some content we can do with practice leading up to the start of the football season and looking at different new social media that we can integrate. We’re also working on how we want to lay out the broadcast this fall. Obviously, there’s some changes with Dave Harding coming into the booth and John Roth going on the sideline, so we’re doing a lot of planning and working through that.

Then it’s immersing myself in the team and getting to know — obviously you can read stats, and I’ve learned all that about the guys, and I know the names and things like that — but getting to know them as people. That’s going to be a cool thing over the summer, just to get to know the players & the coaches.

Do you have any catchphrases we can expect?

[Laughs] You know, it’s funny.

I’ve been asked that a couple of times, and I really don’t. At some point, I may say some things more than others, but I can tell you now it’s not by design. I’m pretty reactionary to what I see on the field or court. I’m going bring it. If it’s a crazy dunk, you’re going to hear me lose my mind. It it’s a crazy touchdown, you’ll hear me scream my head off. To me, that’s what makes it cool. That’s what makes it fun. But I have no specific word choices I’m going to go with.

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Chaos reigns as 104th Tour de France rolls on

B5 Far left, Astana rider Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark starts the 14km individual time-trial Stage 1 in Duesseldorf, Germany on July 1.

Left, Quick-Step Floors rider Marcel Kittel of Germany reacts after winning the 216-km Stage 6 from Vesoul to Troyes, France stage on July 6.

Changes in the race setup for the 2017 version of the Tour de France resulted in wild crowds watching a wild race and even wilder crashes as the world’s best cyclists battled it out to earn the yellow jersey. We fly through the photos below as the race wears on.

BENOIT TESSIER | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

BENOIT TESSIER | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Team Sky rider and yellow jersey winner Chris Froome, of Britain, gets cheered on by fans as he races in the 181.5 km long Stage 9 from Nantua to Chambery, France during the 104th Tour de France, on July 9.

Bottom far left, A woman rides a horse as the pack of riders passes during the 216-km Stage 6 from Vesoul to Troyes, France on July 6.

Bottom left, Astana rider Fabio Aru of Italy on his way to win the 160.5 Stage 5 from Vittel to La Planche des Belles, Franc stage on July 5.

Bottom right, Dimension Data rider Mark Cavendish of Britain gets medical assistance after his crash next to the finish line at the 207.5-km Stage 4 from Mondorfles-Bains, Luxembourg to Vittel, France on July 4.

BENOIT TESSIER | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

CHRISTIAN HARTMANN | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

BENOIT TESSIER | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

STEPHANE MANTEY | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Bottom far right, A man is dressed as Napoleon at the start of the 203.5-km Stage 2 from Duesseldorf, Germany to Liege, Belgium on July 2.

CHRISTIAN HARTMANN | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

B6

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Splitter to Spoiler

Golf Notebook

U.S. Open women not boycotting Trump course, Bones joins NBC/Golf Channel

By Tom LaMarre The Sports XChange Players won’t boycott U.S. Women’s Open at Trump course

Christopher Hanewinckel | USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) celebrates with his team after winning the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway at Sparta on July 8.

Truex driving for more than shot at NASCAR championship New King of Kentucky crowned, Larson ups the excitement level after repave and Wallace (possibly) finishes on high note s Martin Truex Jr. was celebrating his third win of the season and first A triumph in Kentucky, his girlfriend, Sherry

Pollex, was nowhere to be found. Truex partied with his crew in Victory Lane, but didn’t get the ceremonial kiss from Pollex after jumping out of his No. 78 machine.

That’s because she was in a hospital recovering from a cancer recurrence she found out about the week prior. It’s an alltoo-common reality for Pollex, who said has said in the past that 80 percent of people with Stage 3 ovarian cancer have a recurrence and die within five years.

“We found out a while ago about it,” Truex said. “She went in this weekend to have some surgery done. ... Everything went perfectly good, went as planned. I’m going to bring her home tomorrow. I’m excited to get home and see her, and everything is going great.”

What Truex is doing on a personal level is remarkable. Saturday marked the second time this season that Truex has swept the first two stages and came away with the win — no other driver has accomplished that feat. He also leads NASCAR with 1,115 laps led, 257 more than Kyle Busch in nearly identical equipment.

What he’s doing for Furniture Row Racing is unheard of. Prior to his arrival, FRR had just one win and one playoff appearance. In the last three years, Truex has amassed eight wins, 22 top fives and an absurd 3,491 laps led. Before coming to the Denver-based team, Truex had two victories, 31 top fives and 1,888 laps led in his previous eight full-time seasons.

“I think he’s peaking right now, and I think he’s — I’ve always thought — for the last year I’ve thought he was as good as anyone in the garage,” FRR owner Barney Visser said. “Now I think he’s better than anyone in the garage. You saw what he did on that last restart, putting it down in Turn 1. He’s just that good.”

All of those numbers also came after another crucial life event: Learning Pollex was battling cancer. Since that point, both have been winning every battle that comes their way.

Following his victory on Saturday, Truex headed straight to Pollex’s side and burned even more rubber when he pushed her out of the hospital in her wheelchair. And after leading 46 laps and finishing in the top 10 last year at Kentucky, the whole weekend could be summed up in one word: Redemption.

“It’s just completely unbelievable,” Truex said. “I thought we had a shot last year and it got away from us on fuel mileage. I wanted to win here so bad, so this is sweet redemption.”

Larson is still passing cars Out of 274 laps on Saturday night, Kyle Larson led zero. But in a race where Truex blistered the competition, leading 152 laps, the driver in the No. 42 was clearly the most entertaining car to watch all night.

Larson made a race-high 90 green flag passes after starting from the back of the field when the initial green flag dropped.

Of those, 51 were “quality passes” from Larson, which meant he passed a car inside the top 15 under green.

The only driver Larson couldn’t flag down? Truex, of course.

“Wish we could have competed with Martin, but he was obviously extremely fast today,” Larson said. “We all have some work to do to keep up with him. ... Martin was super-fast and been really, really fast all year long. I think we’ve been second best to him, but he’s in a whole other league right now.”

Outside of Larson’s multiple surges from

R. Cory Smith

the back to the top five, there wasn’t much action on the track. The Kentucky repave after last year’s race left only one lane for drivers to run and single-file racing for much of the night. Only Larson, Truex and Chase Elliott — who came away with 66 green-flag passes — were able to find any success in more than one lane.

“I mean, my car was good, so I had fun,” Larson said. “I could see how it was probably frustrating for other people, but I thought the racing was okay. For sure it was hard to pass at times. ... So yeah, repaves are just always tough to pass on.”

Larson charging near the front all night is just another example of why the racing at the track is always better than on television. Much of the focus on NBC Sports Network was on Truex and his ridiculous run up front as opposed to how Larson was actually finding passing lanes in the middle of the pack.

Then again, it could also just be the car, as Brad Keselowski noted after he wrecked on Saturday night.

“It is a poorly designed race car and it makes racing on tracks like this very difficult to put on the show we want to put on for our fans,” Keselowski said. ”... It is time for the sport to design a new car that is worthy of where this sport deserves to be and the show it deserves to put on for its fans.”

Tell us how you really feel, Brad.

Wallace shows vast improvement with RPM If this was it for Bubba Wallace in NASCAR’s top series, he certainly went out on a high note.

Making possibly his last start for Richard Petty Motorsports, Wallace once again kept his car clean and put together a career-high 11th-place result in Kentucky.

But with Aric Almirola testing in Charlotte on Tuesday and possibly healthy enough to return, Wallace could be without a ride at New Hampshire.

With his Xfinity Series team folding prior to him making the jump to the Monster Energy Cup Series, Wallace might be sitting on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Even if he’s out of a ride, Wallace said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

“It was time for me to get in the Cup series and make my splash. We did that,” Wallace said. “We didn’t bring home any torn up race cars; didn’t bring out a backup car once; didn’t smack the fence on my own at all the races; and the car looks pretty clean tonight. I think I did my job.”

In his four races with Petty, Wallace completed 795 of 797 laps and improved in each event. After finishing 26th at Pocono in his first Cup race, Wallace wheeled the No. 43 to 19th at Michigan, 15th at Daytona and 11th in Kentucky.

The next step for Wallace is finding a team with an open seat and sponsors to help him get into the top 10 on a consistent basis. While his career could possibly be put on hold, his showing with RPM should be enough to convince any team or sponsor to take a chance on one of the most marketable drivers in the sport.

“I’ve got a lot of people in my corner,” Wallace said. “It’s just a matter of what comes at us at the right time. The best opportunity will present itself when the time is right. … We’ll go have some fun, enjoy the week off — maybe, I might be back at Loudon, who knows? I might be back for the next handful of races, who knows?”

The U.S. Women’s Open will be played this week at Trump National Bedminster in Bedminster, N.J., despite earlier protests and calls from some to move the event from a course owned by President Donald Trump because of comments he has made about women.

Most LPGA Tour players have been reluctant to speak out on the issue, but not two-time major champion Brittany Lincicome.

“Hopefully, maybe he doesn’t show up and it won’t be a big debacle and it will be about us and not him,” Lincicome told the Chicago Tribune. “I don’t know him. I have met him probably once. I think it will be fine. We’re going to play an amazing golf course and let our clubs do the talking. ...

“It would be so impossible, even if we wanted to boycott it. I mean, the purse is so big, I don’t think anybody would. ... We don’t get to play for that much money that often.”

Lincicome also said that moving the tournament to another course wasn’t a logical option.

“It’s a fine line because the USGA picked that golf course years ago,” Lincicome said.

Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer refused to comment when asked about Trump, while Cristie Kerr said she tries “not to be political,” although she added: “I happen to believe that he is going to do some great things for this country.”

McIlroy takes break from social media Rory McIlroy temporarily took a break from Twitter after having a negative backand-forth with 1995 PGA champion Steve Elkington of Australia.

Elkington started it after watching the fourth-ranked player in the world from Northern Ireland miss the cut recently in the U.S. Open at Erin Hills.

“Rory is so bored playing golf...without Tiger the threshold is prolly 4 majors with 100mill in bank,” the 54-year-old Elkington wrote on Twitter.

Responded McIlroy: “More like 200mil... not bad for a ‘bored’ 28 year old... plenty more where that came from.”

McIlroy spoke to reporters about the incident before defending his title last week in the Irish Open at Portstewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

“I must have wrote that tweet and deleted it about five times before I actually sent it,” McIlroy said during a press conference.

“I sort of regretted sending it at the end. I actually gave my wife Erica my phone and said: ‘Change my Twitter password and don’t tell me what it is.’”

Nothing appeared on McIlroy’s Twitter feed from July 1-8, but a congratulatory message to Jon Rahm was posted Sunday after the Spaniard won the Irish Open.

McIlroy missed the cut in his title defense at the event for which he is the host.

R&A to pay out Open Championship in US dollars The R&A announced the prize money pool for the 146th Open Championship, which will be played from next week at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, and

for the first time, the payout will come in the form of U.S. dollars.

The actual dollar payout has been a bit of an inexact science in recent years because of exchange rate complications.

“We are operating in an increasingly global marketplace and have made the decision to award the prize fund in U.S. dollars in recognition of the fact that it is the most widely adopted currency for prize money in golf,” R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said.

The total purse for the Open Championship will be $10.25 million, which is more than the purse at this year’s Masters ($10 million) but below that of last month’s U.S. Open ($12 million).

It is a notable increase from last year’s Open purse, which equated to $8.45 million when converted from pounds to dollars.

The winner this year will receive $1,845,000, and the runner-up will make $1,067,000. Last year at Royal Troon, winner Henrik Stenson of Sweden received $1,551,000, and runner-up Phil Mickelson got $891,000.

Bones joins Golf Channel, NBC Sports as analyst Jim “Bones” Mackay recently parted ways with Phil Mickelson after 25 memorable years as his caddie, but he soon will be back on PGA Tour golf courses.

It was assumed that Mackay would sign on to caddie for another top player, but instead he will join Golf Channel and NBC Sports as an on-course reporter, beginning with the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale next week.

“During my years as a caddie, I had the opportunity to watch Tommy Roy work his magic in the production truck and walk the fairways with Notah Begay, Roger Maltbie and Mark Rolfing,” said Mackay, who was on the bag for 41 of Mickelson’s 42 PGA Tour victories, including five majors.

“To join them and be a part of the coverage of some of golf’s biggest events, starting with The Open, is an opportunity I’m very grateful for. I’m eager to add my take to help illustrate the strategic decisions golfers face inside the ropes.”

Mackay, 52, got his first taste of broadcasting at the 2015 RSM Classic, when he and John Wood, Matt Kuchar’s caddie, were on-course reporters during Golf Channel’s coverage.

According to NBC, Mackay signed a multiyear deal to become the first former full-time caddie to join to a network’s broadcasting team.

“I was a golf rat as a kid,” said Mackay, who was an NCAA Division II All-American at Columbus State in 1988. “I would watch everything from start to finish. I would read golf magazines from beginning to end. I’ve always been fascinated by the game at this level.”

Said Roy, lead golf producer for NBC: “The player-caddie dynamic in golf is often one of the most compelling and unique narratives being captured during our coverage.

Bones has a career’s worth of experience being immersed in the most pressure-packed situations on golf’s biggest stages working alongside Phil, one of the most cerebral champions in the sport.”

Mackay also will work the FedExCup playoffs and the Presidents Cup in his new role.

Rory McIlroy greets Jim Mackay known as “Bones” as the caddie for Phil Mickelson (not pictured) on the 12th tee box during a practice round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Erin Hills on June 14.

Rob Schumacher | Usa Today Sports Images

HoneyWell from page B1 Former Marlins catcher Charles Johnson was the manager of the U.S. team — Bulls manager Jared Sandberg was one of Johnson’s coaches — and made the decision that Honeywell would get the start.

“I thank them for letting me do this,” Honeywell said afterward. “I appreciate C.J. letting me start the game.”

Honeywell retired Charlotte’s Yoan Moncada — the top overall minor league prospect — to open the contest, then struck out Dodgers’ prospect Alex Verdugo on a screwball.

Honeywell is one of the few pitchers in the minors to throw a screwball, and he used it for the only time in the game to finish off the dangerous Verdugo. Honeywell had already thrown a 97 mph fastball and a changeup, both of which Verdugo fouled

off, when he went to the screwball.

“With the fastball, he kind of looked like he squared it up, and I’d already thrown him everything,” Honeywell said. “So I thought, if I’m going to throw one, it’s going to be right here. If it’s good, it’s going to be the only one I throw, and it was a really good one. It was a banger.”

Honeywell then struck out the Mets Amed Rosario, the No. 3 prospect in the minor leagues, to end a 1-2-3 first.

After surrendering a single in the second inning, Honeywell finished off the World team with back-to-back strikeouts.

In the meantime, the U.S. team put up three runs to earn Honeywell the win, as well as the trophy.

“I got this huge paperweight thing,” Honeywell joked. “My parents are going to have to play rock-paper-scissors for it. I don’t know who I’m going to give it to.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 12, 2017

B7

NBA SUMMER LEAGUE

DSJ’s debut worth the wait, Heels featured in Clippers-Jazz Wake’s Collins posts doubledouble, Tatum streak ends

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal

Collins, the Atlanta Hawks’ first round draft choice, flexed his muscle by making nine of his 11 field goal attempts in a double-double that included 22 points and 10 rebounds in an 84-82 win against New Orleans. Cook stood out for the Pelicans by going 12 of 18 from the floor and scoring 25 points with five rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Also Sunday, Duke’s Jayson Tatum saw his summer double-double streak end at three while scoring 11 points and pulling down seven rebounds for Boston in the Celtics’ 70-64 win against Portland. And NC State’s C.J. Williams had nine points, Duke’s Amile Jefferson six and Davidson’s Jack Gibbs four for Minnesota in its win against Denver.

Smith’s debut worth the wait The Dallas Mavericks held their top draft pick, Dennis Smith Jr., out of the NBA’s Orlando Summer League last week so that he could concentrate on the more competitive, higher profile Las Vegas Summer League tournament.

His professional debut Saturday was worth the wait.

The one-and-done former NC State point guard lived up to his hype by posting 14 points, seven rebounds six assists and only one turnover in leading the Mavs to a 91-75 blowout of the Chicago Bulls.

Smith had some trouble shooting from distance, going just 1-of -6 from 3-point range, but he was on top of his game otherwise in a successful introduction to the professional game.

In contrast to Smith, Duke’s Jayson Tatum did get his feet wet by playing in an earlier tournament.

The third player taken in last month’s draft picked up in Las Vegas right where he left off in last week’s Salt Lake City event by posting his third straight double-double for the Boston Celtics in their 86-81 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Although Tatum’s performance will undoubtedly be overshadowed by the triple double posted by the Lakers’ Lonzo Ball, his effort was impressive nonetheless with 27 points, 11 rebounds and a blocked shot.

Heels galore in Clippers-Jazz matchup No fewer than five ex-Tar Heels

Meeks motivated by draft snub

STEPHEN R. SYLVANIE | USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kendall Marshall (17) shoots between Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball (2) and forward Travis Wear (21) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on July 7.

were in uniform when the Los Angeles Clippers took on the Utah Jazz in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League tournament.

The Clippers beat the Jazz 3-2 when it came to Carolina blue.

They also won the game 86-67 as Brice Johnson, Isaiah Hicks and Kendall Marshall got the best of newly-minted national champions Tony Bradley and J.P. Tokoto.

Johnson had 14 points and six rebounds for LA while undrafted free agent rookie Hicks had the

most promising performance by making all four of his field goal attempts, scoring 10 points and blocking three shots in 14 minutes of action.

And while Marshall didn’t score in 13 minutes, he did hand out five assists.

Recent first-round pick Tony Bradley led Utah in both scoring and rebounding with 16 points and nine boards while Tokoto started and finished with five points.

It was a busy day for UNC

A 40-year-old grand slam champion is real possibility Ken Rosewell has been the oldest grand slam champion since 1972

By Pritha Sarkar The Sports XChange LONDON — When a super-fit, 37-year-old Ken Rosewall hoisted the Australian Open trophy in 1972, chances are he did not spend too much time dwelling on how long he would stay as the oldest men’s grand slam champion.

After all he came close to eclipsing his own mark at the 1974 Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals, only to be denied by a brash 22-year-old American upstart called Jimmy Connors.

Yet for all the astonishing feats of excellence shown by champions of the caliber of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi or Connors, that record has been out of reach for 45 years.

But according to Bill Norris, the ATP’s former Director of Medical Services who spent 35 years patching up the broken and sore bodies of players from Rosewall to Roger Federer, advances in sports science mean it is not inconceivable that a 40-year-old could soon be triumphing at the majors.

“I don’t think (a 40-year-old winning a major) is far fetched. It is very possible,” Norris told Reuters in a telephone interview from his home in Boca Raton, Florida.

“Ken Rosewall was way into his years when he played in the 74 (Australian and Wimbledon) finals, he was incredible.

“With today’s players, they have the advantage of sports sciences, we know more about the body than ever before. Players know how to prepare better.”

That has certainly proved to be true over the past year. For the first time since Australian great Rod Laver swept the majors in 1969, Wimbledon could become the fourth successive grand slam title to fall into the lap of a player over 30.

Stan Wawrinka started the run at last year’s U.S. Open, followed by a 35-year-old Federer at Melbourne Park and Rafa Nadal in Paris.

Wimbledon marked the first time in the professional era that the top five seeds - Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Wawrinka - at a slam were all over 30.

With a record seven over-30s into the second week at Wimbledon, where Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray have been joined by fellow 30-somethings Kevin Anderson, Gilles Muller and Tomas Berdych, it is very possible that the semi-finals could see a complete lockout of players yet to celebrate

ANDREW COULDRIDGE | REUTERS

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action during his third round match against Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis at Wimbledon in London on July 8.

their 30th birthday.

“The players in their 30s are the beneficiaries of good sports science, good conditioning and good nutrition and all the different disciplines that make up what I call tennis medicine,” said the 74-year-old Norris who has been around professional athletes since the age of 12 after being mentored by the medical team of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.

“We are producing players that are faster, stronger than ever before. They know how to do some balance and they know when to take time off.

“Players from this generation, they are more investigative, they are constantly seeking that edge to make them better. And we have tools now that can help them to withstand a lot of different pressures.”

When Nadal withdrew from defending his Wimbledon title in 2009 with tendonitis in his knees, fans feared it could be a career-ending injury. Those concerns resurfaced in 2012 when he pulled out of the Olympics and U.S. Open. A wrist injury also played havoc with the Spaniard’s 2016 season as he cut short his French Open campaign before skipping Wimbledon.

The 31-year-old’s greatest rival, Federer, has also not been immune to health issues after being forced to spend the last six months of 2016 on the sidelines recuperating from a knee injury that had required surgery earlier in the season.

Yet the duo defied logic when they contested a five-set thriller in January’s Australian Open final, where the Swiss eventually snatched victory to capture a record 18th grand slam trophy.

For those who are privy to what goes on behind-the-scenes, such astonishing feats of endurance are not surprising.

“Players today are incorporating massive amounts of off-court and injury prevention training in their programs as compared to training programs in the 80’s, 90’s and before,” Todd Ellenbecker, the ATP’s Vice President of Medical Services, told Reuters.

“These programs are meant to not only enhance performance and improve overall fitness and athleticism, but also to decrease injury risk. As such, we are seeing players excelling in age ranges beyond those previously encountered and at a far greater frequency.

“Forty three of the top 100 players are 30 years or older, showing that enhanced training and injury prevention programming can have a positive effect on optimal tennis play and longevity.”

In an attempt to prolong careers, the ATP World Tour has a framework in place where long-serving players are allowed to decrease the number of mandatory tournaments they compete in without being penalized in the rankings.

“In tennis we say there is no off weeks but you really have to get some balance in your life to recover mentally as well as physically,” said Norris.

“The players that schedules themselves right, don’t burn themselves out and can have a long and prosperous career.”

It is a sentiment shared by former player Brad Gilbert.

“It used to be you turned 30, you were on the other side of your career, you were on the downside.

Now... age is just a number.

“Look at (Cristiano) Ronaldo at 32. The best soccer player in the world. Tom Brady’s... going to be 40 soon, he’s the best quarterback ever.

Roger is almost 36.

“Athletes are starting to believe that you can do things longer, you can continue to improve.”

alumni in Vegas, with two others in a action Sunday.

Marcus Paige posted his second straight strong game for the Minnesota Timberwolves — who are short on point guards — by hitting for 12 points and six assists in a win against Denver. Justin Jackson, meanwhile, failed to follow up on Friday’s eye-popping debut for the Sacramento Kings by missing all eight of his 3-point attempts while scoring only four points in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

MAYE from page B1 A week later, he and his teammates cut down the nets after beating Gonzaga for the national title. As he did, his brother Cole watched from the stands at University of Phoenix with the rest of his family and began dreaming a championship dream of his own.

“The stage Luke was playing on was amazing and I started thinking that Omaha is going to be about the same thing in terms of the hype and how exciting it would be to be in the finals,” Cole said. “It just got me amped up to try to make it to the finals in baseball.”

As a freshman who graduated a semester early from Hough High School in Charlotte to begin his college career this spring, Cole’s contribution to Florida’s championship season wasn’t nearly as prominent as Luke’s with UNC. He worked three and twothirds innings over five relief appearances, striking out four while allowing five runs.

Although he didn’t pitch in a game after a May 27 loss to Arkansas, Maye remained a vocal supporter of his teammates throughout Florida’s run to the first baseball title in school history.

He also had a loyal supporter of his own, at least until Luke had to return to Chapel Hill for the start of summer school.

“I went out there Monday night and got to eat with some of the guys and then Thursday we just kind of hung out during the day,” Luke said. “I had to come back to school on Sunday so I did not get a chance to be there for the championship series, but I was watching both Monday and Tuesday night.

“When they won it, I called Cole. It was definitely a great feeling to talk to him and say we’re both national champions in the

Kennedy Meeks, who signed a partially guaranteed free agent contract with the Toronto Raptors, picked up where he left off in UNC’s recent national championship run by scoring 15 points in his professional debut.

The 6-foot-10 center made seven of his 13 field goal attempts and pulled down nine rebounds in just 17 minutes of action to help the Raptors to a 96-93 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Duke’s Quinn Cook hit for 16 points, three assists and three steals in the game for New Orleans.

“I think (the pro game) is a better fitting for me as a player than the college setup,” Meeks told Raptors.com. “But I went undrafted, so I’ve got a lot to work on.”

same year.”

That success has brought about an unexpected celebrity to the brothers, especially Luke, who became an overnight social media sensation after video of him attending an early morning class just 12 hours after his game-winner beat Kentucky went viral.

But other than the added attention, including headlines when Luke was involved in a car accident last month, life hasn’t changed much for the downto-earth family from suburban Charlotte.

“I take a lot more pictures, a lot more autographs, but I still go to class, workout and just look forward to this coming year,” Luke said. “I definitely look back some days and feel the joy that we felt on that last Monday night and after I hit the shot against Kentucky.

“It’s something you dream about.”

Truth be told, it’s more than family patriarch Mark Maye could ever have imagined.

A former star in his own right who once held the UNC single game record by throwing for 406 yards against Georgia Tech in 1987, Mark can hardly contain his pride when it comes to the accomplishments of his sons.

Not matter how much more difficult their rapid fire national championships have made it for his two youngest boys — high school sophomore Beau and rising ninth grader Drake — to follow in the footsteps of their older brothers.

“We just want them to keep working hard and we’ll see what happens,” Mark said. “We’ve been fortunate in that both Luke and Cole had the opportunity to play for great programs, North Carolina in basketball and Florida in baseball,” he said. “They’re in the top five programs almost every year. That kind of increases your chances, I guess.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF UF ATHLETICS

Florida pitcher Cole Maye, the brother of North Carolina basketball player Luke Maye, pitches in the 2017 College World Series for the Gators.

B8

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