North State Journal - Vol. 1 Issue 7

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 7

WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

AZALEA FESTIVAL

PHOTOS BY WILL PAGE | FOR THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Left, Kaitlyn Rylee Gore celebrates after being crowned. Center, Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers sings and plays banjo at the Azalea Festival Thursday night. Right, two women pose for a photo as another looks on by the Wells Fargo & Company carriage.

the Sunday NEWS BRIEFING Springsteen cancels N.C. show in protest of H.B. 2 Greensboro Legendary rock star Bruce Springsteen announced Friday he was canceling his Sunday show in Greensboro with the E Street Band due to N.C. House Bill 2. In a statement released on his website, Springsteen said, “Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.”

Tax day is April 18 Washington, D.C. Rather than the 15th, tax day will actually fall on April 18 this year. According to IRS.gov, the extra three days accommodate Emancipation Day, a holiday in the District of Columbia.

Federal law prohibits tax filing day from falling on a holiday. April 18 has its own place in history. It’s the anniversary of Paul Revere’s midnight ride.

S.C. Senator introduces bill similar to N.C.’s HB2 Columbia, S.C. South Carolina Senator Lee Bright (R- Spartanburg) introduced a bill in his state legislature this week that would bar local governments from requiring businesses to let transgender people use the bathroom of their choice. It would also require multistall bathrooms on public property to be designated based on biological sex.

NORTH

COPING WITH ADDICTION

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Mike Cannon, of Wilson, holds a photo of his son Jonathan.

Jonathan passed away last year after overdosing on heroin. Since then Mike and his wife Becky Cannon have worked to increase awareness about opioid addiction and create outreach programs.

EXCLUSIVE NSJ POLL

GOP and Dems have top-of-ticket hopes in new NSJ poll

A family’s quest to turn tragedy into hope

By Laura Ashley Lamm North State Journal

44.48

By Donna King North State Journal RALEIGH — In an exclusive poll conducted by the North State Journal, the presidential race is a dead heat in North Carolina with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton showing a slim lead over two of the potential Republican candidates, but well within the poll’s margin of error. Gov. Pat McCrory also expanded his lead over his challenger, Attorney General Roy Cooper, by nearly 10 points, after months of a neck-and-neck polling battle. The challenger for lieutenant governor, Democrat Linda Coleman, showed to be leading incumbent Dan Forest.

The poll also asked about the Charlotte ordinance that House Bill 2, the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, overturned. H.B. 2 has sparked nationwide controversy in recent weeks as it sets a statewide anti-discrimination policy for public institutions that does not include gender identity among other factors.

percent of respondents were Democrat

33.06 percent of respondents were Republican

22.29 percent of respondents were unaffiliated

Dig into the numbers on page A2.

WILSON, N.C. — Jonathan Cannon was athletic; a lover of music and the arts; a chef by trade; and a prankster who was always laughing.

But Jonathan also struggled.

He struggled combating the euphoria he felt from shooting heroin. He struggled with the addiction that evolved and eventually, at the young age of 26, it would be a heroin overdose that would consume

Step inside the virtual reality learning experience in Durham.

See OPIOIDS, page A8

UNC system schools to implement H.B. 2

By Donna King North State Journal

INSIDE

him.

“There’s no pain like it — losing a child — it consumes you. The emptiness never leaves,” said his father, Mike Cannon.

Jonathan is part of a growing epidemic in North Carolina. Opioids, which are primarily prescription pain relievers and heroin, are the main driver of overdose deaths.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioids were involved in 28,647

CHAPEL HILL — UNC President Margaret Spellings advised the university system Thursday to implement the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, or H.B. 2, on the 17 campuses statewide. The UNC system is named in a lawsuit that alleges the act violates constitutional rights to equal protection, due process, and privacy, and dis-

criminates on the basis of sex in violation of Title IX. In the memo, Spellings advises all schools to ensure that signage on multiple occupancy restrooms and changing rooms indicate they are for single-sex use and schools consider compiling a map of single-occupancy facilities for those who might need them.

“Institutions may provide acSee HB 2, page A8

the good life, C1 Countdown to short session begins, projected budget surplus funds education priorities.

Jones & Blount, A5

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Get to know Dennis Smith Jr., the future of NC State.

Sports, B3

5

20177 52016 $2.00

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

8

NC State students line the hallway outside of the restrooms on the third floor of the Talley Student Union. Organizer Chloe Holland said that this was just the first of many peaceful protest events they hope to hold in the coming weeks.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

A2

NS J datebook

6pm-8pm April 12

Building Your Business Website Craven County Community College New Bern, NC

10am April 13

Joint Oversight Committee on Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee on BodyWorn Cameras Legislative Office Building Raleigh, NC

9:30am -12:30pm April 13

If the general election for U.S. Spring Homeschool Day Senate were held today would you Chimney Rock State Park vote for Richard Burr, Deborah Asheville, RossNC or are you undecided?

THE BACKSTORY IN BETWEEN THE PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton and North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory each lead in their respective general election races in North Carolina, this month’s exclusive North State Journal poll shows.

McCrory, facing passionate criticism and praise from different groups over the past few weeks for signing House Bill 2, showed strong numbers against Democratic challenger Attorney General Roy Cooper, while Clinton’s slight leads over the two Republican primary favorites, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, are within the poll’s margin of error.

When age and sex are factored in, a more in-depth snapshot of the campaign emerges.

In the poll of likely voters, conducted April 4, women chose McCrory 40 percent of the time,with 37 percent for Cooper and 25

In a contest between Hillary If the election for N.C. governor Clinton and Donald Trump, In a contest between a contest between Hillary wereHillary heldIntoday, would you vote Clinton Donald Trump, Clinton who and Donald who who and would vote for? foryou Pat McCrory, Roy CooperTrump, or would you vote for? would you vote for? are you undecided?

undecided undecided 15.94%22.09%

24.05% Charlotte delegation discusses upcoming legislative session Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center Charlotte, NC

Richard Burr ary ClintonWE STAND 39.57% 3.39% CORRECTED

To report an error or a suspected error email corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

North State Journal ISSN: 2471-1365

In a contest between Hillary If the election for N.C. governor If the election for N.C. governor If the election for N.C. governor Clinton and Ted Cruz, who were held today, would you vote youwere voteheld passed today, would you votethat would allow If the general election for U.S. If the general election for U.S. were held Thetoday, city ofwould Charlotte recently an ordinance In a contest In a contest between Hillary would vote for?

Pat McCrory, Roy Cooper or between H for Patpeople McCrory, Roythe Cooper foror Pat McCrory, Cooper orof their choice Senate were heldyou today would Senate you were held today would you to for use public bathroom orRoy locker room Clinton and Ted Cruz, Clinton and Ted Cruz, who would undecided? arethey you undecided? vote for Richard Burr, Deborah vote for Richard Burr, Deborah are youregardless of whether are male or female. Would you support a are you undecided? you vote for? you vote for?

Ross or are you undecided?

Ross or are you undecided?

Deborah Ross18 8am April

undecided 15.94%

captured 49 percent of both those groups.

When she’s put against Cruz in the poll, the former secretary of state walks away with 50 percent of the young vote, compared to 47 percent for Cruz; she’s the choice of only 34 percent of independents, with 46 percent choosing the Texas senator.

North Carolina went to Barack Obama in 2008, but then Republican Mitt Romney in 2012. Obama’s win in both general elections was helped by a big turnout among young voters, a group the Clinton campaign has struggled with. Her competitor, selfproclaimed democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, has been drawing college-aged audiences across the country, but analysts say that getting them to turn out to the polls to the degree they turn out for rallies is a big hurdle.

percent undecided. Meanwhile, 50 percent of men picked McCrory and 34 percent went for Cooper, with 19 percent undecided.

“Not only does Pat McCrory not have a gender gap, he’s winning among female voters, demonstrating that N.C. women are more focused on economic development,” said Republican strategist Jonathan Felts.

However, even after 15 years as a statewide official Cooper still faces a name ID challenge, meaning his ample fundraising and the political eternity between now and November gives him the resources to attempt to woo undecided voters into his camp.

In polling for the presidential race, when respondents were given a choice between Clinton or Trump, 28 percent of independents go with Clinton and 30 percent of those age 18-24 choose her. Trump

Deborah Ross undecided 24.05% 13.57%

Deborah Ross 24.05%

similar ordinance in your community?

undecided 22.09%

undecided 13.57%

undecided undecided 16.05% 22.09%

undec 13.5

RALEIGH - In an exclusive poll cond candidate Hillary Clinton is leadi Carolina. Governor Pat McCrory a nearly ten points. Lt. Governor ch undecided Donald Trump Roy Cooper 36.38% 40.67% 34.58%

Ted Cruz Richard Burr Pat McCrory Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton Donald Trump 42.46% 39.57% 43.39% 40.67% 43.39% 43.33%

Ted Cruz Ted Richard Burr undecidedHillaryRoy Pat McCrory Clinton Cooperundecidedsupport Roy Cooper Pat McCrory oppose The poll also asked about the Char 42.46%43.33% 42.4 36.38% 43.97% 39.57% 43.33% 34.58% 36.38%20.46% 34.58% 63.49%

Security Act, overturned. HB 2 has a statewide anti-discrimination p ide

If the general election for lieutenant governor were held today, would you vote for Dan Forest, Linda Coleman or are you undecided?

If the general election for U.S. Senate were held today, would you vote for Richard Burr, Deborah Ross or are you undecided?

In a contest between Hillary C The city of Charlotte recently passed an ordinance that would allow people to use the public bathroom or locker room of their choice regardless of whether they are male or The city of Charlotte recently The city of Charlotte recently passed an ordinance that would allo female.

Would you support In a contest between Hillary In alocker contest between Hilla to use of thetheir public bath people to use the public bathroom orpeople room choice Clinton and Ted Cruz, who would a similar ordinance in your regardless of whether they a regardless of whether they are male or female. Would you suppor you vote for? community? similar ordinance in your com similar ordinance in your community?

If the election for N.C. governor If the election for N.C. governor In a contest between Hillary the general were held today, wouldIf you vote election for were held that today, would you vote the general election for U.S. If the general election for U.S. The city of CharlotteIf recently passed an ordinance would allow In a contest between Hillary a contest between HillaryTrump, Neal Publisher Clinton andRobbins Donald who were held people Lieutenant for Pat McCrory, Roy Cooper or Governor were held forwould Pat McCrory, Cooper or Senate were held you Senate today would to useyou the public bathroom ortoday locker room of their Roy choice Clinton and you Ted vote Cruz,for who would intonwould andDonna Ted who youCruz, vote for?would King Managing today, would Dan are you undecided? are you undecided? vote for Richard Burr, Deborah vote forEditor Richard Burr, Deborah regardless of whether they are male or female. Would you support a you vote for?Coleman or are you u vote for?

Forest, Linda Drew Elliot Opinion Editor are you undecided?

Ross or are you undecided? similar ordinance inRoss youror community? undecided?

Will Brinson Sports Editor Jennifer Wood Features Editor Deborah Ross undecided undecided Deborah Ross undecided undecided undecided Linda Coleman undecided 13.57% 22.09% 24.05% 15.94% 13.57% 22.09% Kevin Martin Photo Editor 22.76% 16.05% 24.05%

Published each Sunday by North State Media, LLC 819 W. Hargett Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27603

undecided 16.05%

undecided 16.05%

If the election for N.C. governor we

Inquiries: 866-458-7184 Annual Subscription Price: $250.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C.

and at additionalRichard mailing offices. undecided Burr Burr Donald Trump Hillary Clinton supportRichard Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton 36.38% 39.57% 40.67% 43.39% 20.46% 39.57% 43.97% POSTMASTER: Send address changes to43.39% North State Journal, 819 W. Hargett St., Raleigh, N.C. 27603.

Roy Cooper oppose undecided 34.58% 63.49% 36.38%

Ted Cruz McCrory Dan Forest RoyPat Cooper 42.46% 43.33% 34.58% 15.94%

Pat McCrory 43.33%

Ted Cruz Hillary Clinton undecided 42.46% 43.97% 61.30%

support Hillary Clinton 20.46% 43.97%

support oppose 20.46% 63.49%

If the general election for Lieuten Lind

INFOGRAPHIC BY LAUREN ROSE | NORTH STATE JOURNAL Forest,

ED BUDGET

McCrory reveals education budget proposal, includes teacher pay raise

By Josh Hyatt North State Journal AMESTOWN, N.C. — Gov. Pat McCrory hit on several points of J interest, especially for teachers, earlier

this week while speaking at Ragsdale High School, his high school alma mater, about his budget proposals for the upcoming legislative session beginning April 25.

Perhaps most prominent among the list of proposals made by the governor on Tuesday, includes his proposal to increase teacher pay in the state by an average of 5 percent.

“Two years ago, when I announced a significant teacher pay raise plan right here at Ragsdale, I promised that we would not stop there,” McCrory said in a statement. “Today, I am following through on that promise and introducing an aggressive education budget that will bring average teacher pay to more than $50,000 for the first time in state history.”

A statement from the governor’s office says that factoring in the health and retirement benefits offered to every full-time teacher in the state brings the average teacher compensation over $66,000.

North Carolina Association of Educators vice president Mark Jewell released a statement on the proposals shortly after, saying the governor “has a track record of signing whatever the legislature sends him, even if it’s a budget that ends up making North Carolina the second worst for teachers in America.”

According to the most recent

National Education Association’s report on K-12 teacher salaries, for 2014, North Carolina ranks last (51st) in percentage change in average salaries in current dollars of its public school teachers in the decade from 2003-04 to 2013-14, with teacher pay only increasing, on average, 4.1 percent over the decade, compared to the national average of 21.6 percent.

Adjusted for inflation, 34 states saw real declines in average teacher salaries over that decade, with North Carolina showing the largest decline (-17.4 percent) of all states in the union. As of the beginning of 2015, the state’s public school teachers earned, on average, $45,737, which is 79.1 percent of the national average and ranks them as 48th in the country. During the period, Democrats held complete budget control of state government for seven years, there was mixed control for two years, and Republicans held complete control for the final year.

“Once again, there is no long-range plan to elevate public school educators to the head of the class, only electionyear proposals that do little to make up for years of disrespecting the education profession and dismantling our public schools,” Jewell said in his statement.

“It also leaves education support professionals with nothing. There is a reason educator turnover rates are at historic levels.”

In addition to McCrory’s proposed plans to recommend teacher pay raises when the legislature reconvenes to form a budget later in April, his administration released several key points that are part of the governor’s upcoming proposals:

Abbey Collins teaches duringfor U.S. Se If the general election her Theatre Debora Arts 2 class at Franklin Academy High School, in Wake Forest, N.C. Collins is in her fourth year The city of Charlotte recently passe of teaching bathroom or locker room of thei at Franklin Would you suppor Academy.

phone poll conducted on Mon unaffiliated likely

PHOTOS BY KEVIN MARTIN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

• Provide an average 3.5 percent bonus for teachers and principals

• Allocate $25 million to implement the Connect NC initiative

• Invest $2 million to attract new teachers into STEM fields, includ ingscholarships for 300 students to attend in-state universities, earn degrees in education and teach math and science in one of the state’s public schools

• Invest $5 million to establish a mer it scholarship program for students pursuing degrees in a STEM field

• Invest $130 million to facilitate WiFi connectivity in all N.C. class rooms by 2018 • Provide $29 million to upgrade schools from textbooks to tablets for students • Expand education scholarships for students with disabilities by $5 mil lion • Invest $26 million in “student success strategies” at N.C.’s community col leges and upgrade equipment

According to the governor, he will unveil more aspects of his teacher pay plan and further investments in education via his budget proposal later in April.

A note left by a student in Abbey Collins’ classroom.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY the DASHBOARD

$8.2 million

economic impact of Raleigh’s last two Rock ‘n’ Roll marathons. This year’s full and half marathons were held downtown on April 10

COURTNEY SMEDICK

Support to the warfighter ORTH CAROLINA is home to world-renowned N universities, research and

development institutes and medical practices leading the way for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and life sciences industries.

With a strong supportive infrastructure of resources, North Carolina is strategically positioned to remain one of the top producers of science and medical technologies in the country.

As the overseas conflicts draw down, business opportunities within the medical industries and particularly the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (DoD) medical commands are increasing, in order to meet the needs of our country’s active duty military, veterans and family members. These opportunities cross the full range of medical goods and services, from staffing and provider services to research and development, pharmaceuticals and

North Carolina is home to six major military installations, 116 National Guard and 40 Army Reserve facilities.

medical supplies, devices and equipment and provide North Carolina businesses the chance to increase their federal footprint.

In North Carolina, four-VA hospitals, twentytwo-VA clinics, two major medical military facilities, the US Army Research Office and the RTP facility of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, are key drivers for federal contracts in this industry. Additionally, the DoD agencies outside of the state are key sources of federal contracts for North Carolina medical businesses.

The Medical, Biomedical and Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter Symposium on June 7-8 in Raleigh and Durham will assist businesses to better understand how the DoD and federal agencies procure medical-related products, services and research and development activities. All medical-related businesses in North Carolina – large or small, prime contractors, suppliers or subs, manufacturers, researchers or service providers – will benefit from briefings on military requirements procurement processes and supplier qualifications, oneon-one meetings with buyers and users. The Symposium will also focus on navigating biomedical and biodefense innovation in order to provide effective solutions to our warfighters and our nation.

For more information on medical procurement opportunities or the Symposium, visit the North Carolina Military Business Center at www.ncmbc.us.

4.5%

54%

advance by S&P 500 between its low on February 11 and close on April 1

of recent vacation renters on North Carolina’s coast would not return if energyproducing wind turbines were visible from the beach, according to a recent N.C. State survey

the

PayPal pullout sparks further debate

BRIEF Supreme Court refuses to hear Walmart case

By Donna King North State Journal

Washington, D.C.

W

INSTON-SALEM — PayPal Holdings Inc. canceled plans Tuesday to invest $3.6 million to open a global operations center in Charlotte in the wake of the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, more commonly known now as House Bill 2.

The digital payment company’s decision is the first tangible impact by a major business after North Carolina became the first state last month to enact a statewide measure requiring people to use bathrooms or locker rooms in schools and other publicly owned facilities based on the gender on their birth certificate rather than their gender identity.

The decision has lead supporters of H.B. 2 to accuse PayPal of “hypocritical” policy, because it conducts business in countries with documented human rights issues, like Cuba, China and Saudi Arabia.

Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-9th District) released a statement Tuesday saying, “PayPal does business in 25 countries where homosexual behavior is illegal … yet they object to the North Carolina legislature overturning a misguided ordinance about letting men into the women’s bathroom? Perhaps PayPal would like to try and clarify this seemingly very hypocritical position.”

The law at the heart of the controversy overturned a Charlotte city ordinance that allowed individuals to use the gender restroom they prefer. The state overturn was widely interpreted as an attack on LGBT rights. The bill established statewide policy against discrimination based on race, religion, color, biological sex or national origin, but not gender identity.

The bill also prohibits local governments, not private businesses, from enacting anti-discrimination policies beyond those outlined in the bill.

“The new law perpetuates discrimination, and it violates the values and principles that are at

ROBERT GALBRAITH | REUTERS

PayPal President and CEO designee Dan Schulman speaks during an event at Terra Gallery in San Francisco, California.

the core of PayPal’s mission and culture,” PayPal’s chief executive officer, Dan Schulman, said in a statement.

In a letter March 29, founders and chief executives of more than 100 multinational companies including Apple, Twitter and Salesforce urged North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory to repeal the legislation. This is not the first time tech giants have flexed financial muscle for public policy. Last month, Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff threatened to make a Georgia “religious freedom” bill economically damaging to the state if Gov. Nathan Deal didn’t veto it, which he ultimately did.

“This is not a direction in which states move when they are seeking to provide successful, thriving hubs for business and economic development,” said the letter from the 100 companies.

In support of H.B. 2, last week more than 100 smaller local N.C. businesses signed a letter thanking Gov. McCrory for signing it.

“The risk to the safety and privacy of customers and employees is obvious. Insurance companies already identify bathrooms and shower rooms as one of the most likely areas for sexual assault. The Charlotte ordinance only makes women and girls more vulnerable

and the threat of financially ruinous lawsuits more real,” their letter read.

Earlier in March, PayPal announced plans to open the operations center in Charlotte and employ 400 skilled workers there. It was set to invest more than $3.6 million in the Charlotte area by the end of 2017, according to a news release on the governor’s website.

After PayPal’s decision, North Carolina Lt. Dan Forest defended the law.

“If our action in keeping men out of women’s bathrooms and showers protected the life of just one child or one woman from being molested or assaulted, then it was worth it,” he said in a statement.

PayPal said it is now looking for another site for the center and has not yet made a decision on location.

Lionsgate Entertainment also pulled the plug this week on the filing of a new Hulu televison show in the Charlotte area called “Crush.” They said they will continue filming the made-for-TV remake of “Dirty Dancing” that is already in production in western North Carolina.

Reuters Wire Service Contributed to this report.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected bids by Walmart Stores Inc. to throw out a large judgment. The suit was brought by Pennsylvania Walmart employees who say they were forced to work through breaks, especially during the holidays, and are owed back pay for those missed breaks. Because the justices will not hear the case, Pennsylvania’s high court ruling stands and 186,000 current and former employees and their attorneys will now split $224 million in damages.

Hanesbrand to acquire Champion Europe Winston-Salem Winston-Salem-based Hanesbrands (NYSE: HBI) announced that it is buying Italy-based Champion Europe.

The company sells athletic apparel throughout Europe to retailers and in its own stores.

The company expects 2016 net sales of more than 190 million euros, or $216.4 million.

BofA extends parental leave Charlotte Charlotte-based Bank of America announced that it is extending paid time off for maternity, paternity and adoption leave up to 16 weeks.

Parents can use the time off any time in the first year of their child arriving. The expanded benefit is in addition to childcare and adoption costs reimbursement programs. The company said the move was made in response to employee feedback and changes in the marketplace.

Municipal high-speed internet not cost effective Raleigh

Fed announces new regulations on financial advisers

By Donna King North State Journal ASHINGTON, D.C. — North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx W (R-5th District) is criticizing a new

Department of Labor regulation on financial advisers and retirement investment.

“The federal government should not implement regulations that make it more difficult for hardworking Americans to save money for the future,” Foxx said. “The simple truth is that the Department of Labor’s rule will reduce access to investment options and will increase costs for people saving towards retirement.”

The rule, announced by the Department of Labor on Wednesday, sets a so-called fiduciary standard for financial brokers who sell retirement products, requiring them to put clients’ best interests ahead of their bottom line. The language is tougher than an existing rule that only requires brokers to ensure products are “suitable.” The Obama administration says it will protect investors from predatory financial advisers.

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton is-

sued a statement in support of the new rule, saying it will “stop Wall Street from ripping off families” and “save seniors billions.”

On Wednesday, SEC Commissioner Michael Piwowar expressed opposition to the final rule. Some leading Republican lawmakers also issued statements Wednesday expressing continued opposition to the rule, saying it would prevent low- and middle-income Americans from saving for retirement or getting access to advice.

Several major brokerage firms said they needed time to review the implications, but that they generally supported the idea of a “best interest” rule. Industry trade groups reiterated concerns that the rule could have negative effects.

Wednesday’s announcement caps a fierce, six-year battle involving the Labor Department, Wall Street and many U.S. lawmakers.

The department first issued a proposal in 2010 but rescinded it the following year in response to an enormous industry backlash. A second proposal issued last year also faced criticism.

Firms have said the final rule, while softened, would still raise compliance costs — and therefore

fees — and force them to get rid of Main Street clients and small businesses that offer 401(k) plans.

The Labor Department said complying with the rule would cost the brokerage industry up to $31.5 billion over the next decade but would ultimately benefit investors.

The contracts are required in the final rule, but can be as short as a paragraph, signed later and tucked into paperwork that customers sign when opening new accounts, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said.

The final version also loosened guidelines on pay, allowing advisers to collect “common types of compensation,” such as commissions and revenue-sharing, where brokerages receive payments from mutual fund companies to help promote products.

Nonetheless, implementing the rule will be costly and challenging for firms, said Marcia Wagner, a Boston-based lawyer who advises retirement plan providers. They will have to train and monitor employees who have never been fiduciaries, and draft new disclosures for client paperwork, she said.

Firms have until Jan. 1, 2018, to implement the new rules.

The State Government Leadership Foundation released a study April 6, which shows government-owned broadband is not a fiscally responsible option for most communities. The Federal Communications Commission last year overruled North Carolina’s Level Playing Field Legislation, which limited government-run highspeed internet like Wilson’s Greenlight Community Broadband.

Ivanka Trump’s scarves recalled for fire safety concerns New York Two styles in Ivanka Trumps’ line of scarves are being recalled because they do not meet minimum flammability standards according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Two thousand of the rayon scarves, made in China, were sold in retail outlets from October 2014 through January 2016.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

Murphy

Home to the hardwood Forty-seven basketball players in the NCAA Tournament call North Carolina home. Twenty-three players stayed in the state to play at UNCChapel Hill, Duke, UNC-Asheville or UNC-Wilmington. Two players, Rodney Purvis and Tyler Lewis, started their collegiate basketball careers at NC State but transferred to University of Connecticut and Butler University, respectively. Sixteen of the players are from the Queen City. Nine players on the Bulldogs roster are from the state, seven are in-state for the Tar Heels, six Seahawks call North Carolina home, 3 and Brandon Ingram is the lone Blue Devil from the state.

to

Manteo

8

6

17

9

10

7

4

11

2

15

12

18

14

1

19 5

Icon size relative to number of players from city

1

Asheville Jacob Casper, UNC-Asheville Spenser Dalton, UNC-Chapel Hill

2 Marion Raekwon Miller, UNC-Asheville 3 Burnsville John Cannon, UNC-Asheville 4 Statesville Tyler Lewis, Butler

5

Charlotte ZaQwaun Matthews, Chattanooga Robert Champion, Holy Cross DeAndre’ Bembry, Saint Joseph’s Al Freeman, Baylor Trey Phills, Yale C.J. Bryce, UNC-Wilmington Kevin Hickson, UNC-Wilmington Lawrence Cooks, Hampton Akim Mitchell, Hampton Jervon Pressley, Hampton Ebuka Izundu, Miami Will Weeks, UNC-Asheville Kennedy Meeks, UNC-Chapel Hill Rayjon Tucker, Florida Gulf Coast Marcus Johnson Jr., Little Rock Simeon Carter, Iowa State

6

Clemmons Tony Egbuna, UNC-Chapel Hill

7

High Point Anthony Gill, Virginia

8

9

Greensboro Theo Pinson, UNC-Chapel Hill Ikenna Smart, Buffalo Nick Powell, UNC-Wilmington Chapel Hill Denzel Ingram, UNC-Wilmington

10 Durham Ricky Council II, Providence

16

11 Cary Alec Wnuk, UNC-Asheville Jack Costigan, UNC-Asheville David Robertson, UNC-Asheville Chris Flemmings, UNC-Wilmington

17 Battleboro Sam Hughes, UNC-Asheville

20

12 Raleigh Marcus Bryan, UNC-Wilmington Caid Kirven, Virginia Rodney Purvis, UConn Justin Coleman, UNC-Chapel Hill Josh Newkirk, Indiana

14 Clayton Gary Clark, Cincinnati 15 Wilson Aaron Rountree, Iona 16 Kinston Brandon Ingram, Duke

13 Oxford Isaiah Hicks, UNC-Chapel Hill

18 Williamston James Demery, Saint Joseph’s 19 Washington Markell Lodge, Saint Joseph’s 20 Wilmington Kadeem Allen, Arizona Trae Bryant, UNC-Asheville Stilman White, UNC-Chapel Hill

INFOGRAPHIC BY LIZ MOOMEY, CECE PASCUAL AND LAUREN ROSE

WEST Black bears already on the move in mountains Asheville Wildlife biologists are telling residents to keep an eye out for black bears who seem to be emerging from hibernation early this year with increased populations. They are cautioning residents to be vigilant about keeping bears away from trash cans and bird feeders. The state wildlife agency may make changes to bear hunting rules to control the population.

ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES

Voters to decide county alcohol sales Haywood County Haywood County voters will be asked to decide whether businesses outside town limits should be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages.

Supporters of the measure, which will be on the November ballot, say it could help economic development

E l e c t r o n i c G r a p h i c s /A n d r e w B e r r y Box: AT K B e r r y @ R C N . c o m 755SCH HOF EnvyInducing NorthStateJrnl Publication: Bleed: Trim: North State Journal Newspaper 00" x 00" 00" x 00" Pub. Contact: Delivery Route: Halftone Freq: Tracy Garner 100 lpi

in the county, while opponents worry about a spike in alcohol-related incidents. Currently, beer and wine sales are allowed only in the town limits of Canton, Maggie Valley and Waynesville. Clyde is a dry town with no alcohol sales allowed.

THE MOUNTAINEER

Early audits indicate corruption in tribe finances Cherokee Principal Chief Patrick Lambert of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation called for an FBI investigation into what he says appears to be corruption in preliminary audits of the tribe’s finances. This week Lambert presented the Tribal Council with early results of an audit that found unaccounted for expenditures, including theme park tickets, high-end clothing purchases, limousine rentals and vacations, charged to the tribe during the time Michell Hicks was Principal Chief from 2003 to 2015. Lambert says he’s contacted the FBI and will continue to investigate.

Vox : 857.869.5277 Fa x : 619.789.6520 April 7, 2016 10:57 AM Live: 20.5" x 6" Materials: Insertion Date: PDF 5/3/2016

Jones& Blount jonesandblount.com @JonesandBlount

Countdown to short session

By Jeff Moore North State Journal

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SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS

PIEDMONT Gaston Co. educator named N.C. teacher of the year Gaston County British Literature teacher Bobbie Cavnar of Gaston County was named N.C. Teacher of the Year in a ceremony Thursday. Cavnar’s honor comes with $7,500, a study abroad program and the opportunity to serve on the N.C. Public School Forum and the Education Policy Fellowship while advising the N.C. school board on education.

GASTON COUNTY SCHOOLS

Leak’s home allegedly bought through Medicaid fraud Raleigh The IRS says that former North Carolina State University football player Eric Leak and his wife, Emily, may have purchased their $1.5 million home in Raleigh through suspected Medicaid fraud. Raleigh’s WRAL is reporting that search

warrants of the couple’s behavioral counseling business, Nature’s Reflections, turned up employee claims that they were instructed to file for Medicaid reimbursements for services not delivered. The business billed Medicaid for $8.7 million between 2012 and 2014. SBI officials were seen removing high-end sports cars from the Raleigh home this week.

WRAL-TV

Kennedy Charter School loses public funding Charlotte The State Board of Education stood by its decision Thursday to cut off Kennedy Charter School after repeated low proficiency test scores.

The school was appealing a February decision by the board to withdraw public funding, arguing that the low scores are a result of the challenged population they serve. The school was originally opened for children who had been removed from their homes in cases of abuse or neglect.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

EAST Man receives death row for 2012 killings Greenville A judge sentenced Antwan Andre Anthony to death after a jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for shooting and killing three young men during a robbery at the Hustle Mart-3 near Farmville in 2012. In March, Anthony was found guilty of three counts of firstdegree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon for shooting and killing Mokbel Mohamed Almujanahi,16, Nabil Nasser Saeed Al’mogannahi, 26, and Gaber Alawi, 24, while they were working at their family’s convenience store.

THE DAILY REFLECTOR

“Six” halts filming Wilmington The locally filmed military drama, “Six,” will shut down production for several weeks as a member of the cast recovers from an unknown illness.

A&E Networks produces the eight-

episode series, which follows the professional and personal lives of the men of Navy SEAL Team Six. The break in filming follows the network’s recent announcement that it will finish filming this season in North Carolina, but will not film further productions in the state in response to House Bill 2.

WILMINGTON STARNEWS

Two deaths from apparent overdoses Sneads Ferry The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the deaths of two young adults whose deaths are linked to heroin overdoses. Matt Eyster, 21, and Jason Sapp, age unidentified, died as a result of the rising heroin epidemic in Onslow County. “(Heroin) is a recurring problem and it seems to have only gotten worse over the last several years,” said Maj. Chris Thomas with the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office.

JACKSONVILLE DAILY NEWS

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RALEIGH — As spring comes to the state capital, so too will lawmakers to embark on the 2016 legislative session.

Legislators are scheduled to reconvene on April 25.

While the “regular” session typically lasts for six months, the intervening session typically lasts about six weeks.

Recent sessions have lasted well longer than expected. When legislators convened in January 2015, they did not adjourn for 10 months, marking the longest session in more than a decade.

In 2015 legislators passed a two-year budget, reduced personal and corporate taxes, increased teacher pay, passed regulatory reform, and reformed Medicaid, among other initiatives.

Democrats contend the tax changes disproportionately burden low-income families, and teacher pay is still too low.

The North State Journal spoke with leaders on both sides to ask what each party’s priorities will be once they arrive back in the City of Oaks.

House Majority Whip John R. Bell said the Republicans’ focus will be to keep the short session, well, short.

House Majority Leader Mike Hager concurred. Hager said the majority will “focus on drafting a fiscally conservative budget, to continue on the trend of generating a surplus year after year.”

Citizens can expect “to see some tax reform changes, mainly continuing to lower the personal income tax rate,” Hager said.

Both Hager and Bell said the majority will continue further regulatory reform measures, to “make it easy for business

to do business,” Bell said.

Bell stated they will remain focused on closing the divide between urban and rural areas, to ensure prosperity “does not leave rural areas too far behind.”

Addressing this gap could represent an opportunity for bipartisanship in this short session.

“I think that all of us walk into the General Assembly with the intent of doing what is best for our constituents,” Senate minority leader Dan Blue said, adding “It is necessary for us to find common ground on these issues and move forward from there.”

“There is no doubt that we need to address economic disparity across the state,” Blue added.

Bell predicted one source of unforeseen initiatives could be the legislative oversight committees, bipartisan groups of legislators that meet between sessions to study certain issues.

A committee studying small-business access to financing could strike a bipartisan chord to the benefit of communities across the state.

The committee convened Wednesday to hear from small-business owners, lenders, and the Rural Center, to discuss how to create an environment for lenders to better help new and existing small businesses to grow and thrive.

According to the Small Business & Technology Development Center, small businesses account for 97.9 percent of all employer businesses in the state, and represent 64 percent of all net new private-sector jobs as reported by the Small Business Administration.

The session may indeed go smoothly if lawmakers can stand on common ground, and adjourn on schedule.

Projected surplus spurs calls for spending

By Jeff Moore North State Journal RALEIGH — Last week North Carolina economists announced they expect a surplus of $237 million more than forecasted, the second year in a row of budget surpluses.

State budget director Andrew Heath attributed the surplus to a larger-thanexpected increase in projected personal income tax collections. The surplus indicates “tax reforms are working,” Heath said in an interview.

The Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) projects personal income taxes will overshoot initial forecasts more than $400 million, making up for a predicted $200 million sales tax shortfall.

A series of tax reform measures passed by the General Assembly since 2013 were designed to lower personal and corporate income tax rates as a way to boost job growth and disposable income for taxpayers. They also broadened the tax base, expanding products and services subject to sales taxes, among other modifications.

Critics claimed the changes force lower-income groups to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy through new sales taxes and the

elimination of certain exemptions — such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and tax deductions for medical expenses — they say disproportionately affect low-income and fixed-income seniors.

Medical expense deductions for all taxpayers, not just seniors, were reinstated in the 2015 session.

“Sales tax revenue is increasing [year over year], it just fell short of initial forecasts,” Heath explained, adding “expanding sales tax receipts is necessary for budget stability due to the volatility associated with income tax [collections].”

Gov. Pat McCrory’s recent announcement to further raise teacher pay signifies one budget priority for available funds.

McCrory’s 2016 election opponent, current Attorney General Roy Cooper, has proposed even more education spending that would raise North Carolina’s perpupil education spending levels.

Spending is “incredibly important” to maintaining North Carolina’s AAA bond rating, Heath said. North Carolina is one of only nine states to still hold the top rating.

According to Heath, future budget proposals will also prioritize mental health, state employees, and adding to the state’s rainy-day fund.

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North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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

VISUAL VOICES

OUR EDITORIALS RAY NOTHSTINE

Long past time to end state monopoly of spirits When government hinders human flourishing, we sanction a form of plunder.

IMAGINE IF a government outlawed a product, then legalized it, and decided it was the only one who could distribute and sell it.

That scheme, a state-controlled monopoly, should be illegal in a free society. But today, there are 166 local Alcohol Beverage Control Commission outlets that operate 423 retail stores across North Carolina. It’s time to unleash the free market and end our state’s prohibition relic.

The argument for the status quo is simply that the state receives more revenue, and drinking hard liquor, which can be hazardous, is more difficult to consume and expensive for the consumer.

But we too often assume that the government is on a higher moral plane as individuals or other actors in society. We tend to think that government exists to protect us from ourselves and our own appetites.

While there are many arguments to dismiss that perception, such as the immorality of our $19.2 trillion federal debt or rampant cronyism, the greatest one is the notion of self-government, which has always required restraint in society.

Stamping out alcoholism is a laudable goal, but many states with direct government control over distribution suffer from higher rates of alcohol addiction. There is no moral reason for government to be entrenched in the liquor business; as multiple studies have shown, it has little to no impact on public safety, and often has a detrimental effect. Government’s primary goal is to promote the common good, not engage in a cartel of a legal product.

Across the nation, 32 states have hundreds of millions of citizens who flourish under a market-friendly model of spirited liquor distribution and sales. With the increased market demand for local products among consumers, it’s unfair to put North Carolina distillers at a disadvantage and deny them similar opportunities to sell their product. Part of the timeless values of entrepreneurship is allowing for creators of distilled spirits the freedom to have complete ownership over their product, including selling without undue restrictions at their facilities. When government hinders human flourishing, we sanction a form of plunder.

Over 10 years ago, North Carolina benefited from the “Pop the Cap” campaign that struck down the 6 percent alcohol content limit on beer, resulting in a local explosion of jobs in the economy and a high-quality product for consumers. That scenario would likely repeat for spirits, encouraging markets that would open up additional opportunities for farmers. (Corn, wheat and sweet potatoes, all used to make liquors, are grown in abundance in North Carolina).

The biggest challenge to unraveling the state monopoly lies in the complex intertwining of state and local government with the ABC system. An important baby step has been made by allowing for distillers to sell one bottle annually to eligible consumers. It’s entirely possible to retain state revenue from alcohol sales and expand a market that is growing nationally. North Carolina already allows liquor sales in bars and restaurants; there is no credible argument for restricting sales to government-owned stores unless one’s aim is to benefit government alcohol wholesalers.

Why not empower consumers and individuals to make free choices instead of being regulated to purchasing at government stores, where they are made to feel like they are engaging in an illegal and illicit activity? (Not to mention the limited options.) The former Soviet Union had a name for their experiments at freemarket reforms in the 1980s, They called it Perestroika. When it comes to North Carolina’s antiquated state liquor monopoly, even Soviet reforms serve as a better model than doing nothing.

BE IN TOUCH Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@NSJonline.com or 819 Hargett St. Raleigh, N.C. 27603. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@NSJonline.com.

DREW ELLIOT

Surplus is a spring breeze compared to deficits of the past The problem wasn’t that Easley had to tap into the fund, it’s that even after this extreme experience, the budgeting never got better.

POLITICIANS WILL RETURN to Raleigh at the end of the month with a smile on their fiscal faces. For the second year in a row, projections for the June 30 end of the state’s fiscal year are rosy. This year, a $237 million surplus is anticipated. Last year the spring forecast was for a $400 million surplus. As it happened, the state ended the 2014-2015 fiscal year with $446 million more than budgeted.

To be sure, the $237 million is just a projection. And even a $446 million surplus was small change on a budget of $20.8 billion — just above 2 percent. When we’re talking about a system as dynamic as a state economy, any time we can land within two percentage points either way, it’s a win. ’Twas not always thus. Consider this report from Governing magazine in May 2002: With the special constitutional powers that [an emergency declaration] grants him, [Gov. Mike] Easley slashed $350 million from state agencies’ budgets. That was only the beginning: He also drained the rainy day fund, seized cash from several trust funds and withheld more than $200 million in tax sharing and reimbursements that should have gone to localities. It still was barely enough to balance the books for the current fiscal year

— and the next one doesn’t look all that much better.

Rainy-day funds are meant, of course, for rainy days. The problem wasn’t that Easley had to tap into the fund, it’s that even after this extreme experience, the budgeting never got better.

Things got so bad that even the left-wing North Carolina Justice Center came out against the Democrats’ constant raids and underfunding of the state’s rainy-day fund.

The fund — officially the Savings Reserve Account — was fully drained in 2001 and nearly so again in 2008, when Gov. Beverly Perdue plundered it to help cover a $2.2 billion budget hole.

Under Democratic leadership, the state faced numerous deficits near or exceeding $2 billion, yet the democrats failed to change their ways. Again and again, lawmakers raided and reived fit to make a Viking blush, using “one-time” transfers, busting trust funds, failing to adequately fund the Savings Reserve Account — then raiding what was there.

Failing to make levelheaded choices when leaders were budgeting led to deficits later, and to near panic when the shortfalls ballooned in bad economic times. The rainy-

day fund, which should be a reserve for (literal and figurative) hurricanes only, became a well lawmakers plumbed for annual spring showers instead.

By 2011, when the N.C. Justice Center declared that politicians should “take steps to improve the Rainy Day Fund rules…,” the voters had decided to do them one better — they elected a legislature that was serious about replenishing the rainy-day emergency fund, but also about above-the-board budgeting.

The state’s rainy-day fund now stands at $1.1 billion, more than seven times the paltry $150 million there in 2009. Its ongoing accumulation is a result of two efforts: first, the will to put money away for later emergencies; and second, the fiscal discipline to budget realistically so that the spring doesn’t bring emergencies every year.

With good planning and accurate forecasting, a small surplus or deficit is not a big deal fiscally. But it is a big deal to see good budgeting in place on Jones and Blount streets. It needs to stay that way.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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GUEST OPINION | GREGG THOMPSON The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters consists of a complex of buildings in the Federal Triangle area of Washington, D.C.

CLARENCE PAGE

Safe spaces must yield to free speech GROUP of Emory University students recently made news by demanding A protection from being put “in pain,” as one MARK VAN SCYOC | FOR THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Big government versus small business

P

Garland strongly favors government power over private enterprise.

RESIDENT OBAMA nominated Merrick Garland, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. If confirmed, he could serve on the court for at least a decade and tip the balance in favor of the liberal block of justices who routinely side with government over employers.

The consequences for the economy, and especially for small businesses, could be harsh and long lasting. That’s why the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the country’s leading advocate for small business owners, has been vetting Judge Garland’s record for weeks.

NFIB found that Garland has sided overwhelmingly with regulators, labor unions, trial lawyers, and environmental activists. Small employers have been almost always on the losing end of his decisions.

For example, in NAHB v.

EPA, Garland in 2011 rejected a Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) claim by the National Association of Home Builders against the Environmental Protection Agency. He did so despite the fact that the RFA is unambiguous. It requires certain agencies to analyze the effect of their actions on small employers.

That’s an important protection for small businesses, who struggle with the costs of regulations. In fact, according to the SBA, the

typical small business must spend $12,000 per worker annually to comply with federal regulations.

There’s little doubt that Garland would defer to regulators as a Supreme Court justice.

In another case, Rancho Viejo, LLC v. Norton, in 2003, Garland argued that the federal government can regulate private property in California under the Commerce Clause because of the presence of a unique species of toad. The Commerce Clause applies to interstate commerce.

The toad wasn’t part of any interstate commercial activity.

Nevertheless, Garland twisted the Commerce Clause into a pretzel in order to rationalize federal regulation.

On the circuit court, Garland ruled in many cases involving the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB is supposed to be a neutral arbiter of labor disputes. Often, however, it acts more as an agent of the labor unions. Garland ruled in two cases that when employers are found guilty of violations, not only should their business assets be penalized but their personal assets as well. In other words, according to Garland, a business owner’s personal assets, like homes and retirement savings, are fair game for regulators.

In fact, in 16 major labor decisions, Garland ruled in favor of the NLRB in all but one case. In that case he voted with the union.

That’s the pattern throughout his long tenure on the bench.

He strongly favors government power over private enterprise.

He has deep sympathies for labor unions over employers. And he is certain to bring those views to the Supreme Court.

NFIB is a plaintiff in two very important cases that could land at the Supreme Court soon. It is challenging the EPA Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which would require local business owners to seek federal approval for even the smallest property improvements as long as there is water nearby. The applications will cost thousands; the delays will be endless; the threat of litigation will hang over every project.

The EPA power plan rule is just as potentially damaging. It forces states to switch from coal as a source of electricity to more expensive alternatives. Even the EPA predicts it will significantly increase the cost of electricity.

That means higher fixed costs and lower profits for small businesses that are already struggling.

After examining his record, it’s a fair assumption that Garland would readily side with the government in both of these major cases. Small business knows where he stands. NFIB is firmly opposed to this nominee.

Gregg Thompson is North Carolina state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, a small-business association. He can be reached at gregg.thompson@NFIB.org.

COLUMNIST | ZEB SMATHERS

Innovations at Cherokee hospital seek mental health solutions HIS spring will mark the anniversary of my graduation T from the University of North

The focus is to create, fund, and follow a comprehensive, personal, cost-effective mental health treatment plan.

Carolina School of Law in 2008.

I practice in my hometown of Canton in Haywood County, where my work is divided between criminal defense, domestic law, and other miscellaneous legal matters. In my mind, 2008 also marks the year where our state began the political realization and practical conversation that our mental health system was in crisis.

Since then, state politicians and administrations of both parties have attempted to move past the admittance of a problem to seek solutions, with varying results.

While our leaders have struggled to find the mental health treatment “silver bullet,” I have struggled in my legal practice with the realization that mental health related issues have a hold on the majority of the problems I deal with in our legal system.

Paired often with poverty, issues such as addiction, depression, and substance abuse are consistently present from client conversations in jail cells, visitation lines at funeral homes where another young North Carolinian has succumbed to a prescription pill addiction, to the felony pleas where I point out to the judge the existence of mental health issues I suspect they already know are present. Though our criminal justice system has made sincere gains in attempting to move past

the well-worn demand to “complete a mental health assessment and follow all recommendations,” we, like our elected leaders, are still struggling to find a “silver bullet” to close the loop between criminal acts and mental health action.

Last month I joined several elected officials on a remarkable tour of Cherokee, N.C. that highlighted several tribal programs and locations that blended honoring past traditions with modern economic, health, and education advancements. However, for me it was our last stop at the new Cherokee Indian Hospital that was the highlight of the tour.

Though I was impressed with the traditional tribal artwork, advanced medical equipment, and patient care of the hospital, it was the conversations with staff that linked the tribal criminal justice system directly to the tribal mental health care system that not only caught my attention, but my curiosity. I witnessed for the first time a sincere push to move beyond a mental health diagnosis; instead the focus is to create, fund, and follow a comprehensive, personal, cost-effective mental health treatment plan.

What the Cherokee Indian Hospital is attempting to accomplish with the help of community partners is the development of a holistic treatment approach and comprehensive continuum of care plan. To be effective the initiative depends on

the strengths, values, and beliefs of the Cherokee community and close collaboration with the Tribal Court, law enforcement, and public health and human services.

However, to improve long-term recovery success requires more than a community approach, but also an emphasis for an individual to rebuild a healthy and productive life.

Immediately I began to question if the ambitious care system the Eastern Band had created could be replicated in the North Carolina mental health and criminal justice system. Over the next several columns with the assistance of Doug Trantham, behavioral health clinical director for the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority, we will examine the possibility.

Specifically, we will touch upon the issues present in the Cherokee mental health system and community, the partnership between the tribal courts and hospital, funding, and the possible applications to North Carolina’s mental health treatment system.

It is our hope that the courage and bold endeavors of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee to attempt to solve the complex riddle of mental health treatment in the criminal justice realm will spread well beyond the Qualla Boundary.

Zeb Smathers, a graduate of Duke University and the UNC School of Law, is a lawyer in his home town of Canton, N.C.

student chant put it, by slogans like “Accept the Inevitable: Trump 2016” chalked overnight on campus walkways.

In pain? They could just wait for rain to wash their troubles away.

That’s what Salman Rushdie, a writer who knows a thing or three about being threatened for his ideas, said when I asked him about the Emory uprising.

Yes, that Salman Rushdie. The Booker Prize-winning, Muslim-raised British Indian novelist and essayist has been living under threats to his life since Iran’s late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa in 1989 calling for his assassination.

Khomeini did not like the way the Prophet Muhammad is depicted in “The Satanic Verses,” Rushdie’s 1988 novel. After the Ayatollah’s death, the fatwa was continued and a bounty for Rushdie’s death raised by other Muslim fanatics.

Yet, after years of living in a cocoon of government security in Great Britain, he left government bodyguards behind and moved in 2000 to Manhattan.

Coincidentally he also taught for several years at Emory, which he likes well enough to place his archives in the university’s library.

Yet when I caught up with him in Washington, he expressed dismay and disappointment with the “silly” dust-up over chalked Trump slogans. There are no “safe spaces” against offensive ideas, he said, nor should we want there to be — especially in places that are intended to expose us to the world, not to hide from it.

“I assure you,” he said, “most Emory students are actually quite intelligent.”

Appropriately, Rushdie was in town to talk at New York University’s Washington, D.C., center about “whether art should or must be politically correct.” (Full disclosure: My wife, Lisa Page, director of creative writing at George Washington University, led the discussion.) He cheerfully dismissed that question with a “no.”

In a regime of free speech, bad ideas should be confronted with better ideas.

“When people say, ‘I believe in free speech but...,’ then they don’t believe in free speech,” he said. “The whole point about free speech is that it upsets people.”

“It’s very easy to defend the right of people whom you agree with — or that you are indifferent to,” Rushdie said. “The defense begins when someone says something that you don’t like.”

That happy ideal is under assault on campus not only by dueling ideas but also by dueling grievances, some of them brought out by newly minted conservatives like Trump.

New York University engineering major Dylan Perera, for example, recently described the horrors of having a female student “screaming at me, calling me a ‘racist’ and a ‘fascist’” after he said he supports Trump.

“That’s not what America is about,” Jake Lopez, a Westmont College student and California director of Students for Trump, told a Los Angeles Times reporter.” [Trump has] enabled students to voice whatever we believe in a thoughtful way.”

And sometimes unthoughtful ways, such when Trump called for a temporary halt on the admission of Muslims to this country or when he declared, “I think Islam hates us.”

“Donald Trump is what happens when you forget what America is,” said Rushdie. Yet as much as he disagrees with what Trump says, he argues that it would be more dangerous to block him from saying it. Indeed, in a regime of free speech, bad ideas should be confronted with better ideas.

Admirably Rushdie has consistently defended freedom of expression even when his own life would appear to be at stake.

For example, he campaigned successfully to prevent the British government from banning a libelous Pakistani film about him, because a ban would have made it “the hottest video in town.”

That’s a good model for those who would like to silence Trump. It’s much more satisfying to see the New York billionaire and reality TV star hang himself on his own half-baked and still-evolving version of conservatism. To do otherwise would grant his views the false attractiveness of forbidden fruit.

Clarence Page, the 1989 Pulitzer Prize winner for commentary, is a member of the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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NATION& WORLD Michigan governor hit with racketeering class action lawsuit Detroit More than 400 residents of Flint, Mich., on Wednesday filed a racketeering lawsuit against Governor Rick Snyder and several local and state officials over the contamination of the city’s drinking water with dangerously high levels of lead.

The class action, filed in U.S. District Court in Flint, charged that Snyder and other officials enacted a “wrongful scheme to solve Flint’s fiscal problem by selling Flint residents poisoned drinking water” in order to balance the city’s financial books.

A federal judge must certify a class.

“As a result of the acts of Governor Snyder and his staff, the emergency managers, MDEQ, and MDHHS, unthinkable harm has been inflicted on the residents of Flint,” the suit said.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages for personal, property and business losses that could total billion of dollars. It is one of at least eight lawsuits seeking class action status related to the water crisis. Snyder’s spokesman, Ari Adler, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Under the direction of a state-appointed emergency manager, Flint switched water supplies to the Flint River from Detroit’s system in 2014 to save money.

The corrosive river water leached lead, a toxic substance that can damage the nervous system, from the city’s water pipes. Flint switched back to the Detroit system last October.

MURAD SEZER | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Migrants disembark from a Turkish coast guard boat after a failed attempt at crossing to the Greek island of Lesbos, in the Turkish coastal town of Dikili, Turkey.

Turkey strikes deal to take Syrian migrants as Pope plans visit

By Philip Pullella Reuters ISTANBUL — Turkey has adopted a rule granting temporary protection status to Syrian migrants sent back from Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, a step required under a contested deal between Turkey and the European Union to start returning newcomers to Turkey this month.

The status would be given to Syrians who had illegally crossed to the islands after March 20, and who requested protection after being readmitted to Turkey, according to an announcement posted Thursday on Turkey’s Official Gazette.

Hundreds of thousands of refugees, many fleeing war in Syria, have poured onto the Aegean island over the past year, triggering Europe’s biggest humanitarian crisis in generations.

Alarmed at the recent influx of ref-

ugees, the European Union and Turkey agreed to seal off the sea route last month after Balkan states shut their borders to migrants trying to reach wealthy western Europe, stranding thousands in Greece.

Under the agreement, Turkey has said it will take back migrants and refugees who cross the Aegean. In return, the EU will take in thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey and reward it with money, visa-free travel for Turks and progress in its EU membership negotiations.

The Vatican also announced Thursday that Pope Francis will make a lightning trip to the Greek island of Lesbos on April 16. The visit is aimed at supporting refugees and drawing attention to the front line of Europe’s migrant crisis.

The pope has repeatedly spoken out in support of refugees and has urged Roman Catholic churches around

Europe to take in migrant families.

His first trip after he became pontiff in 2013 was to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, which, like Lesbos, has received many thousands of migrants.

“It’s very clear that the pope recognizes that there is a significant emergency going on,” said Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi. “Just as he went to Lampedusa, which was then the front line of the Mediterranean route, now that there is this difficult, dramatic situation on the Aegean front, he naturally wants to be present to show a sense of solidarity and responsibility.”

The Vatican said details of the day trip were still being worked out but that the pope would meet refugees along with Bartholomew, the Istanbul-based spiritual head of the world’s Orthodox Christians, and Ieronymos II, head of the Greek Orthodox Church.

H.B. 2 from page A1

OPIOIDS from page A1

commodations such as single-occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities and may designate those facilities as gender-neutral,” the instructions read. “The Attorney General has announced that he will not represent the Governor or the University in the lawsuit. The University will work with the Attorney General’s office to make arrangements for counsel in the lawsuit. Like all public agencies, the University is required to fulfill its obligations under the law unless or until the court directs otherwise.”

The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and Equality NC are challenging H.B. 2 on behalf of three plaintiffs: a UNC Chapel Hill employee and transgender male; a full-time student at UNC Greensboro and transgender male; and a lesbian law professor at North Carolina Central University.

“It’s incredibly disappointing that the University of North Carolina has concluded it is required to follow this discriminatory measure at the expense of the privacy, safety, and well-being of its students and employees, particularly those who are transgender,” said the groups in a joint statement.

Since her installation at the helm of the UNC system on March 1, Spellings has seemingly had crisis management as part of her job description. A group of faculty and students interrupted her speech to the Board of Governors and organized a walkout on three campuses the day she started.

On March 23, protesters demonstrated on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill when H.B. 2 became law. It’s not unchartered territory for Spellings. She also served as U.S. Education Secretary under President George W. Bush during Hurricane Katrina and the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007.

“Constituent institutions must continue to operate in accordance with their nondiscrimination policies and must take prompt and appropriate action to prevent and address any instances of harassment and discrimination in violation of University policies,” her statement read.

deaths in the Unites States in 2014, with 1,358 of those overdose deaths in North Carolina alone.

For Jonathan, an addiction to prescription pain pills led to heroin. He approached his parents in December of 2014 informing them of his pills addiction, but it would be after his run in with the law and a visit from Wilson Police Captain Eric Smith a month later than an addiction to heroin was unveiled.

“When I meet with parents, I inform them how hard and difficult a road lies ahead of them,” said Smith.

“We had never been exposed to this so we really didn’t understand,” said Cannon.

“There are many dangers involved.

When you go down the road of a heroin addiction, it is so hard to get off,” added Smith.

The CDC reports that of new heroin users, approximately three out of four report having abused prescription opioids prior to using heroin.

“Prescription pill addictions are harder to fund now, so addicts are turning to heroin,” said Smith.

On the streets, heroin fetches for $7$10 a bag. For users to fuel their need to get high, addicts get desperate for money often stealing from their family first and selling their electronics to a pawn shop.

“To me, heroin was in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. It wasn’t in Wilson. It wasn’t in North Carolina,” said Cannon.

Smith noted Wilson County Emergency Medical Services are responding to a drug overdose every other day while his colleagues in cities across the state are facing the same epidemic.

Despite efforts to save Jonathan from a heroin addiction and two stints in rehabilitation facility, he died from an overdose in August.

“When this happens, some people hide from it. We decided to unzip and

U.S. Supreme Court upholds “one person, one vote” Washington, D.C. A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court on Monday upheld the method all 50 states use in drawing legislative districts by counting every resident and not just eligible voters, rejecting a challenge to a Texas district map that argued the state violated the guarantee of equal protection under the law under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment.

The eight justices ruled that Texas, in carving out its state Senate districts, did not violate the legal principle of “one person, one vote” endorsed by the court in the 1960s.

Writing for the court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stated that elected legislators “serve all residents, not just those eligible or registered to vote.”

Ginsburg said nonvoters, including children, have “an important stake in many policy debates,” including education, and sometimes need help navigating government bureaucracy.

The challengers said the Texas redistricting map signed into law by a Republican governor in 2013 failed to equally distribute voters, improperly expanding the voting power of urban areas.

The dispute did not involve U.S. congressional districts, including North Carolina’s newly redrawn congressional map, currently under review by a three-judge panel in Winston-Salem. The Constitution requires seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to be distributed based on a state’s total population, not just eligible voters.

The court is one justice short following the Feb. 13 death of Justice Antonin Scalia. The unanimous ruling suggested his presence would not have substantially affected the outcome.

unveil it — to address this issue head on,” said Cannon.

At the conclusion of his son’s funeral, Cannon stood up and offered help to the drug users in the room. Two hours later, knocks began on his front door and those struggling with addiction began to ask for help. In the months since Jonathan’s death, 100 youths and adults have come to him for help.

Cannon and Smith have partnered and together are working to help one user at a time, to make parents aware of the silent struggles of addiction and to help legislators understand the need to battle the epidemic.

Most recently, the team spoke before the N.C. House Select Committee on Step Therapy, which is discussing the barriers to access abuse-deterrent opioids that are in place by health insurance companies. Abuse-deterrent opioids,

which are pills coated with a special substance, are harder to crush. The inability to crush the pills reduces the ability of the user to snort the substance and is seen as a way to reduce abuse.

“There is no one demographic heroin addiction singles out,” said Smith. “I’ve seen this with males, females, and different races; from older adults to young teens.”

Tackling the nation’s growing addiction epidemic is becoming a bipartisan focus at the federal and state level. The N.C. House Step Therapy committee meets again April 19 where Chairman David Lewis is expected to propose a bill aimed at tackling the opioid epidemic in North Carolina.

Look for part two of “Delivered from Addiction” coming soon in the North State Journal.

MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Mike Cannon, of Wilson, sits on the steps of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church near Barton College in Wilson.

the Sunday SIDELINE REPORT

NCAA TOURNAMENT

1. Georgia Tech hires Josh Pastner (formerly of Memphis) to be their new basketball coach.

2. Joel Berry, the 2016 ACC Tournament MVP, announced he will return for his junior season with North Carolina.

3. For the second time in three years, the Charlotte Hornets clinched a playoff spot.

4. The Carolina Panthers, who have the No. 30 pick in the draft, met this week with two Clemson defensive ends: Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd.

5. The NCAA Championship game between UNC and Villanova drew 12.0 overnight household rating — down 30 percent from 2015.

@NBA: The @Warriors join 1995-96 @ChicagoBulls as only teams in @ NBAHistory to reach 70 wins! #ThisIsWhyWePlay

CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

North Carolina guard Marcus Paige (5) walks off the court after the Tar Heels loss to Villanova at the end of the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday.

SPORTS DUKE BASKETBALL

How Carolina lost the NCAA Championship

By Brooke Pryor North State Journal

@TheBenSwain: “Don’t do it. Reconsider. Read some literature on the subject.”

— one Atlanta resident on the Pastner/GT rumors

OUSTON — Less than a week after Kris Jenkins released it, the shot has more two million views on YouTube.

H Jenkins’ buzzer-beating, championship-winning 3-pointer

one-upped Marcus Paige’s miraculous 3-pointer, ripped the heart out of the Tar Heels’ season, and secured Villanova’s permanent place in NCAA Championship lore.

We’ve all watched Jay Wright calmly mouth “bang” as soon as the shot left Jenkins’ hand. And we’ve all seen Villanova dogpile in celebration while North Carolina’s players slumped and sullenly walked off the court at NRG Stadium.

But the reality is North Carolina lost the game long before Jenkins released the improbable shot just over Isiaiah Hicks outstretched hand, and long before it fell through the nets.

Here’s how it happened.

@BaxterHolmes: Chris Paul was asked to describe Kobe in one word: “Killer.” Paul added, “Kobe wants to win, and see him end like this is tough.”

The NRG effect and law of averages Concerns over shooting woes at NRG Stadium were unfounded for the Wildcats (33-5). After shooting an absurd 71 percent in the beatdown of Oklahoma, Villanova put together another monster performance, shooting 58.3 percent from the floor. Incredibly, Villanova hit 14-of-24 shots in each half, including 5-of-7 3-pointers in the second half.

The Tar Heels kept pace with the Wildcats in the first half, hitting 53.6 percent of its shots, including an impressive 7-of9 3-point tries. But when Villanova kept burying baskets in the second, UNC cooled to shoot 34.3 percent.

NFL

Twitter will stream Thursday NFL games in 2016 League commissioner Roger Goodell announced from his personal Twitter account that the NFL will stream Thursday Night Football games during the 2016 season on Twitter. According to multiple league executives, the move was made to help capture a young audience.

NBA

Hornets make push for Walker as Most Improved award The Charlotte Hornets launched a campaign this week to promote point guard Kemba Walker for the league’s Most Improved Player award.

Their promotions have featured a clever video, signs and merchandise — all adorned with the tagline #WinWithWalker. Kemba’s posting career highs in points, shooting percentage and offensive rating for the playoff-bound team.

NHL

Peters puts relocation rumors to bed Prior to Carolina’s home game against Montreal, Hurricanes coach Bill Peters was asked by the Canadian media about rumors of the franchise relocating to Quebec. The second-year head coach immediately shut down the notion: “It’s not going anywhere.”

CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Duke guard Grayson Allen (3) shoots over Florida State guard Devon Bookert (1) during the first half of the college men’s basketball game on Feb. 25 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Allen return sets stage for Duke dominance

By Shawn Krest North State Journal rayson Allen’s decision to return to Duke for his junG ior year gives the already-loaded

Blue Devils even more firepower next season.

The 2016-17 season will be the first time Duke has returned its leading scorer from the previous season since 2006-07, when DeMarcus Nelson returned for his final season in Durham. It’s the first time Duke hasn’t lost its top two scorers since 2012-13, when Seth Curry, who finished second to Austin Rivers in 2011-12, came back for his final season.

Despite averaging 21.1 points per game this year, Allen is perhaps a long shot to repeat as Duke’s scoring leader. That’s because coach Mike Krzyzewski’s squad will feature one of the nation’s top recruiting classes and a roster jam-packed with talent.

In addition to Allen, Duke returns its third- and fourth-leading scorers in rising sophomore Luke Kennard and senior Matt Jones from its Sweet 16 season.

All told, Duke brings back a whopping 68 percent of its scoring from this past season, with

ACC Freshman of the Year Brandon Ingram and center Marshall Plumlee its only major losses.

Duke also had another surprise addition to next year’s roster as power forward Amile Jefferson, who missed most of his senior season with a foot injury, is expected to be granted an extra year of eligibility.

Added to that will be two of the nation’s most sought-after recruits in the high-school class of 2016. Five-star power forward Harry Giles was rated the country’s top incoming freshman by both ESPN and Scout and was in the top two by virtually every other major recruiting service.

The 6-10, 220-pounder missed all of his senior campaign recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, but he’s expected to be back to full strength by next season.

Giles will be joined by Jayson Tatum, a five-star small forward who was rated second in the nation by ESPN and third by Scout, giving Duke two of the consensus top three recruits in the class. The 6-8, 208-pound small forward out of St. Louis was a See DUKE, page B6

Second-chance failures UNC (33-7) outrebounded Villanova 36-20, which, given UNC’s size advantage, shouldn’t be too surprising. UNC got 16 offensive rebounds to Villanova’s two and outscored the Wildcats 11-2 on second chance points, but the Tar Heels doomed themselves by missing too many layups and bunnies.

Kennedy Meeks, who grabbed six offensive rebounds, only had one field goal on eight attempts in his final game of the season. Though he grabbed loose balls with authority, he wasn’t strong enough at the rim to convert them See CAROLINA, page B7

INSIDE

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

BULLS BASH KNIGHTS The Durham Bulls 2016 season kicked off Thursday night with a 7-3 victory over the Charlotte Knights.

Blake Snell — a must-see, top prospect who won’t be in town long — dominated from the mound. Find out more about the Bulls’ top prospects and their No. 1-rated concession item (an Angus Barn cheesesteak) on B8.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

B2

NS J beyond the box score

04.10.16

POTENT QUOTABLES

Tyler Summitt: The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball coach and son of Pat Summitt resigned after just two seasons, admitting to “an inappropriate relationship.”

A.J. Tarpley: Buffalo Bills linebacker retired from NFL after just one season, citing two concussions he suffered during his rookie year.

Allen Iverson: 2016 NBA Hall of Fame class member wishes he could take back ‘practice’ rant: “Man, I am a Hall of Famer and that’s all you can think about?”

D’Brickashaw Ferguson: Jets left tackle retired from the NFL at the age of 32, leaving a massive hole on the offensive line for New York and a void for the best name in the league.

Le’Veon Bell: Steelers running back ranted on Twitter about ESPN draft analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper: “They never played any football, so how can you analyze the game?”

Jordan Spieth led the opening round of the 2016 Masters, marking his record fifth straight at Augusta National. The 22-year-old golfer led

Kyle Schwarber: Cubs outfielder suffered left ankle sprain after violent outfield collision with Dexter Fowler.

Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry led team to 70 wins, becoming just the second team in NBA history to pass the mark with win over San Antonio Spurs.

SPIETH BREAKS MASTERS RECORD

wire-to-wire last year to win his first major before claiming the 2015 U.S. Open and FedEx Cup championship.

KIM KLEMENT | USA TODAY SPORTS

“Maybe we’ll come out wearing dresses tomorrow.

Maybe that’s what everybody’s looking for.”

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons on MLB’s rule changes after 3-2 loss to Rays ends on replay.

ROB SCHUMACHER | USA TODAY SPORTS

ROOKIE RAKING

VICKERS TO RUN 500?

PUTTING BLUNDERS

6

Amount of putts it took Ernie Els on the first hole at Augusta National for a Masters record 9! The former World No. 1 player finished the round at +8 before missing the cut for the weekend.

BULLS ACE

1.41

Blake Snell’s total ERA in 2015 across Port Charlotte, Fla., Montgomery, Ala., and Durham, N.C. The combined ERA was the lowest by a minorleague pitcher in a season since Justin Verlander in 2005.

Read more about Snell on Page B8.

MARK J. REBILAS | USA TODAY SPORTS

Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story became the first player since 1900 to open his career with home runs in his first three games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Story had four hits through his first three games — all homers.

JEROME MIRON | USA TODAY SPORTS

N.C. native Brian Vickers said he’s “open” to running the Indianapolis 500 next month after being linked to a Schmidt Peterson Motorsports ride. Vickers has filled in for the injured Tony Stewart this season after missing nearly all last year with blood clots.

‘DUFNERING’ HAS A NEW LOOK Jason Dufner tosses his ball from out of the azaleas near the 13th green during the first round of the 2016 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday.

ROB SCHUMACHER | USA TODAY SPORTS

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

B3

NC STATE BASKETBALL

Dennis Smith, a top-ranked point guard, at the Dail Basketball Center at NC State on April 1.

PHOTOS BY MADELINE GRAY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

How Dennis Smith will save NC State basketball

By R. Cory Smith North State Journal

R

ALEIGH — Expectations for Dennis Smith Jr. are immense heading into his first year at NC State. They pale in comparison to the goals the freshman sets for himself.

The Fayetteville native is the No. 1 player in North Carolina, according to 247Sports. He turned down offers from high-profile programs like North Carolina, Duke, Kansas and Kentucky when he committed to NC State — his first offer as a sophomore at Trinity Christian School.

Now he’s being asked to lead the program. After the departure of Cat Barber to the NBA draft and Cody and Caleb Martin transferring, Smith is the guy in Raleigh. This despite being a true freshman and not playing in a game since August 2015, when he tore his left ACL in the Adidas Nations tournament.

Is he nervous? Not a bit.

After all of the offseason departures, how confident are you this team is going to be ready to compete in the ACC next season?

I’m very confident. The twins are transferring, which they believe is in their best interest, so I wish the best for them. But Terry [Henderson] and Torin [Dorn] will be ready to go, so I don’t feel like we lose anything.

Directly after the Martin twins announced they would transfer, you tweeted out a picture of you, Henderson and Dorn. What was your message to Wolfpack fans?

There’s no need to fret. [Laughs] We’re still going to be in good hands, man. With the guys that we have coming back, I feel like we’ll be a national title contender next year.

Right before the Final Four, ESPN’s Jay Williams said you’ll be a “gamechanger” in the ACC. What are your thoughts on the expectations for yourself personally?

I’m so hungry to play, man. I haven’t played a game since Aug. 2, 2015, so it’s been a very long time since I’ve been able to prove myself. I remember the date. I’m hungry to go out there and compete and prove that it’s not all hype. One thing I can promise is that I’ll play every game like it’s my last because I realize now it can be taken away from you at any moment.

Dennis Smith Do you still have anything from that Adidas Nations tournament?

I still have a jersey. It’s actually Markelle Fultz’s (I-star guard headed to Washington) jersey, because he wore my jersey during the championship game as a shoutout to me. I have it hanging up on my wall as a symbol of respect to him. I also plan on wearing the same shoes from that last game during the opener.

Are you fully recovered?

Oh, I’m 100 percent now. But I don’t want to come back at 100 percent, though. I want to be around 120 after my recovery and playing better than I ever have by October.

There were rumors that you had the 360 dunk back. Any truth to that?

That’s nothing! That’s nothing right now! I’ve got all my dunks back, so I’m ready to show them off.

What specifically have you gained from being at NC State?

I came here and gained 16 pounds in muscle and got stronger. I’ve rehabbed quicker than I was expected to.

How is rehab going, and what is your daily regiment like?

When I first got here, we were doing things that isolated my knee, because my quads and hamstrings weren’t strong enough to squat or deadlift. Now I’m already able to max out on squats and deadlifts.

I’m just working on that every day to prepare for the season.

How close is your connection with J. Cole with you being in Raleigh now?

It’s cool. We still work out when he’s here until he gets sore.

[Laughs] He’s not able to do two days back to back anymore because he’s getting old now. Aside from basketball, we talk almost every day just texting or calling each other. He’s kind of like a brother to me now.

Getting that first offer from NC State as a sophomore, how much weight did you place on Mark Gottfried believing in you?

Oh, a lot. A whole lot. There were other schools — I won’t mention any names — that offered other point guards outside of the state before me. I saw that as a slap in the face. So I kind of feel like I owe them something now. Loyalty played a huge part in it, no doubt.

What is your bond like with this team after spending the last few months in the program?

Everybody is pretty equal on this team. There’s no cliques and

Age: 18 Hometown: Fayetteville, NC Previous school: Trinity Christian Class: 2016 NC Rank: No. 1 National Rank: No. 6 Favorite Rapper: J. Cole Twitter: @Jhooper_3 *RANKINGS VIA 247SPORTS

everyone respects everyone. It’s really like a brotherhood here, and they’ve completely accepted me in it.

Has your perception of NC State changed at all since you committed?

It hasn’t changed at all, actually. When they first offered me, I knew this is where I wanted to be. Now it’s still the same thing — this is where I feel I belong.

Overall, what specifically do you hope to change about the Wolfpack next season?

You know, when we looked at the stats from last year, we weren’t scoring a lot on the fast break and we didn’t get a lot of steals. I really want to change the tempo of our team next year and play a faster pace. If we can improve defensively and turn that into more offense, I think we’ll compete for a national championship. I really believe that.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

B4

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

B5

The triumph and tragedy of the Tar Heels’ NCAA run Photos by Christine T. Nguyen, North State Journal

ELITE EIGHT

FINAL FOUR

CAROLINA 88, NOTRE DAME 74

North Carolina used a second-half run to pull away from Notre Dame in its Elite Eight win, sending the Tar Heels to the Final Four for a record 19th time. Brice Johnson had 25 points and 12 rebounds against the Irish on the way to earning Most Outstanding Player honors for the East Region. Carolina also won the season series against Notre Dame with the win, avenging a regular-season upset loss with two postseason victories (ACC Tournament, NCAA Tournament).

North Carolina guard Marcus Paige, left, takes a video of teammate Nate Britt (0) after beating Notre Dame.

North Carolina guard Marcus Paige (5) passes the ball around Notre Dame forward Bonzie Colson II (35).

North Carolina forward Brice Johnson (11) and the Tar Heels pose for a selfie with a Twitter Mirror following their NCAA Tournament East Regional championship win.

NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

CAROLINA 83, SYRACUSE 66

Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks and Joel James combined for 41 points and 24 rebounds against Syracuse in the Final Four as the Tar Heels coasted to a 17-point victory. The active play inside busted up Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone and ended the unlikely Cinderella run from the 10-seed Orange. It was North Carolina’s fifth-straight double-digit win in the NCAA Tournament and resulted in a Saturday night Franklin Street celebration.

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams laughs as North Carolina forward Theo Pinson makes a surprise appearance at a press conference before the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston.

North Carolina forward Brice Johnson (11) dunks near Syracuse forwards Tyler Lydon (20) and Tyler Roberson (21).

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams reacts to a call.

VILLANOVA 77, CAROLINA 74

Preparation for celebration was met with ultimate disappointment for North Carolina, losing 77-74 to Villanova in one of the best-ever finishes in an NCAA Championship.

Marcus Paige’s 3-pointer with less than five seconds left was immediately called, and then raised, by Kris Jenkins with a true buzzer-beating 3-pointer to win.

Paige later told reporters he felt UNC had the game if it went to overtime, but Jenkins never let the game get to that point.

Villanova forward Kris Jenkins (2) hits a game-winning three-pointer during the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston, on Monday.

Above: North Carolina guard Marcus Paige speaks to the press following their 77-74 loss.

Left: North Carolina forward Brice Johnson (11) sits in the locker room following their 77-74 loss.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

B6 CAROLINA BASKETBALL

Justin Jackson’s not-quite hometown return

By Shawn Krest North State Journal OMBALL, TEXAS — A blue banner hangs above the front T porch and a pair of Tar Heel

signs adorn the front door. Travel through tiny Tomball, Texas, and the Jackson household is the only way to know the Final Four is nearby. There are no Carolina signs in local shop windows, and no restaurants advertising viewing parties for North Carolina’s upcoming games despite just 40 miles separating the town from NRG Stadium in south Houston.

The low-key coverage fits the personality of hometown anti-hero Justin Jackson, Carolina’s sophomore swingman, and someone who is significantly less popular in Tomball on this toasty Saturday afternoon than the annual German Fest taking place in what can accurately be called downtown.

“There’s a downtown,” Jackson said of his hometown. “But you can snap your fingers, and you’re already through it.”

The easy narrative from Final Four weekend is Jackson’s return home to chase a title for Carolina. But calling Tomball a part of Houston is akin to saying someone from Siler City played in their “hometown” at the Dean Dome.

Tomball, a city that boasts its population of 10,753 on the sign at the town limits, is much farther from Houston than the odometer indicates. This quiet, unassuming town produced a player who matches its personality, at least off the court. Jackson is earnest and thoughtful, speaking in a drawl so deep and slow it sounds like a borderline Brooklyn accent.

“It’s a little city,” Jackson reflected. “But it’s not too big.”

Jackson, who suffered through prolonged shooting slumps early in each of his first two seasons, is a thinker, and maybe too much of one. His interviews, often overthought, match his game, and you can tell he’s trying too hard to be perfect at both.

“I’ve been to a Texans game,” he said of his history at NRG Stadium. “Have I been to a Texans game? I think I might’ve been to one Texans game.”

“I’ve made that trek plenty of times,” Jackson said of going to Houston. “My home-school

DUKE from page B1 McDonald’s All-American as a senior.

Duke also adds a five-star point guard in Frank Jackson from American Fork (Utah).

The 6-3, 180-pounder was also a McDonald’s All-American and a consensus top-15 recruit.

Two other recruits round out the class in four-star forward Javin DeLaurier and three-star Australian small forward Jack White.

CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

North Carolina’s Justin Jackson runs out before the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday.

team — which I’m sure that’ll stir up a whole lot of jokes — had to practice at a high school toward downtown Houston. So yeah. Obviously, Houston’s huge anyway, so you’ve got to drive a distance to go anywhere.”

Back in the day, Tomball was known for its railroad station.

The location and landscape of the town — close to the coast, but not too hilly — made it an ideal spot for a train stop.

Freight trains still run through Tomball from time to time but the railroad hardly appears to be the backbone of the local economy it once was. Driving the 35 miles from downtown Houston to Tomball as an outsider entering from the east, the road literally approaches town on the wrong side of the tracks. Boarded up stores, restaurants and “For Lease” signs litter both sides of the highway.

Inside Tomball town limits, things pick up. Signs welcoming visitors to Old Town Tomball neighbor the train tracks on both sides of the street, and the area is a thriving cluster of antique shops and stores whose names include “vintage” or “heritage.”

Ricca’s Shoes and Boots and Charlotte’s Saddlery offer patrons a chance to acquire both English and Western tack. The group of stores in a plaza called “Relics by the Railroad” includes a tea room (The Whistle Stop), a smattering of gift stores, and something called the Burlap Ranch.

It’s here, in this three-block section of town that relies on a nostalgia-based economy, where the German Fest is located. There are rides for kids, a polka band, and plenty of brats and kraut at a variety of German food booths, including one called — no lie — Schnitzels and Giggles.

Sift through the lederhosen-clad celebration and the lack of Carolina apparel rears its conspicuously absent head again.

There is an abundance of Astros and Texans gear, Texas A&M is well represented on the hats and shirts of attendees, but there’s nothing representing the college choice of the town’s most-famous son.

After a prolonged hunt, one man, at a booth selling baked goods, is wearing a Carolina T-shirt. It turns out he’s a vendor

who came to Tomball’s German Fest from another part of Texas. He wore the shirt thinking it would pander to the locals.

“Honestly I don’t think many people know who I am, which I don’t really mind,” Jackson said before the Final Four began. “Being home-schooled, I think that closed me off a little bit. But who knows? Maybe people know me now.”

Leaving Old Town Tomball for Tomball proper, the boutiques give way to a more town-like group of local businesses.

The letter “T” must take up a majority of the Tomball yellow pages, because just about every locally owned store features the town name. There’s Tomball Pet Resort and Tomball Acupuncture. Tomball Moving and Storage. Tomball Pool and Spa. The fixation on the town name isn’t unique to Tomball, but it is interesting because it’s based on a typo. Originally named “Peck,” the city was renamed in honor of local congressman Tom Ball in 1907. At some point, two words became one, and the name stuck.

In all, 112 stores begin with

the town name according to the phone book, free for the taking in front of one business. These are the type of oddities common to small towns. Someone thought it was a good idea at some point, and we’ve done it that way ever since.

The free phone book, specifically, is a trusting and naive gesture, one perfectly normal to the people of Tomball. Jackson, who got duped out of his game jersey in Washington, D.C., prior to an ACC Tournament start, wouldn’t bat an eye.

Traveling west on Farm to Market Road, fields of longhorn cattle signify Tomball is gone, but a few miles down the road, a right turn leads into a housing development. People are out mowing their lawns, and joggers wave at strangers in passing cars.

One house stands out from the rest. It’s not the full-size basketball court in the back — that’s not visible from the road. No, the place stands out because of the banner and the signs, the only acknowledgement someone from town played in the Final Four on German Fest weekend.

Despite the embarrassment of recruiting riches, Duke may not be done. The Blue Devils are believed to be a finalist, along with Kentucky, for Marques Bolden, a McDonald’s All-American center out of DeSoto, Texas. Bolden plays at Matt Jones’ alma mater and would give Duke eight McDonald’s All-Americans on its roster.

If Duke lands Bolden, that would create a bit of a logjam.

The six freshmen would join Allen, Jones, Kennard, Jeffer-

son, junior big man Sean Obi, and rising sophomores Derryck Thornton, Chase Jeter, Antonio Vrankovic and Justin Robinson.

That’s 15 players, and scholarships are limited to 13.

Robinson, son of NBA Hall of Fame center David, originally came to Duke as a walk-on and was granted a scholarship for his first season when Duke had one available. Even moving him back to walk-on status would leave Coach K with one too many players.

There’s the possibility Duke’s interest in Bolden may be dependent on a member of the current roster planning to transfer.

Internet message boards are always hot with unsubstantiated rumors of Duke players looking elsewhere, and Thornton appears to be the target of their speculation at this point.

Based on the roster as it stands today, Duke’s starting lineup next season could consist of: • PF Amile Jefferson, senior • SF/G Matt Jones, senior

• G Grayson Allen, junior • SG Luke Kennard, sophomore • PG Derryck Thornton, sophomore, or Frank Jackson, freshman The first players off the bench would be Giles, Tatum and Jeter.

Duke will clearly have one of the most talented rosters in recent memory, and the Blue Devils have already been named No. 1 in the way-too-early top-25 rankings released by ESPN, Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports.

Angels Among Us 5K! l a u n n A rd

23

Supporting brain tumor research at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke

Saturday, April 23, 2016 Run Through the Beautiful Duke Campus angelsamongus.org

Angels

Among Us

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

B7

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

11 years in, Marvin Williams is finally playing his best Williams is one of five players in the NBA this season to make 100-plus three-pointers and collect more than 500 rebounds.

By Brian Geisinger North State Journal t was a transaction that was lost in the hubbub of the 2014 INBA offseason — that’s when

LeBron James decided to return to Cleveland — but Marvin Williams signing with the Charlotte Hornets for two years and $14 million that July is having a massive impact on this year’s Eastern Conference playoff race.

In his first season with the franchise, Williams played well coming off the bench for a slow, sluggish team that slumped offensively, featured Lance Stephenson and won only 33 games.

The 2015-16 Hornets, however, have been a breath of fresh air for NBA fans in North Carolina. Not only has the team found success (45-33, safely in the playoffs), but they’ve done so by embracing fun, modern basketball.

Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) drives to the basket and scores as he is defended by Philadelphia 76ers center Carl Landry (7) during the second half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena on April 1.

The Hornets won 100-91.

Getting stretchy The nouvelle vague NBA offense attempts to feature as much shooting and passing as possible.

If you want to keep up with the Joneses, that means playing at least one big man who can shoot threes. Frontcourt players who can make 3-pointers have become increasingly valuable, and this is where Williams excels.

His development as a stretchfour reinvigorated his career, and it will also earn him a lot of money in a few months (more on this later). During the 2007-08 season with the Atlanta Hawks— his third year in the NBA — Williams started 80 games, but he shot only 10 3-pointers that season, making just one of them.

This lack of long-range game would be unplayable in today’s NBA. Last season, Williams set career highs in both attempts (265) and makes (95). He’s already blasted through both of those totals this campaign. Williams has splashed 143 threes (second on the team) on 359 attempts, which translates to a scorching 40 percent clip from beyond the arc.

While most of his attempts come from above the break, primarily off pick-and-pops initiated by Walker or Batum, Williams is proficient on corners threes, too: 44-of-102 (43 percent). More than half of his shots (roughly 51 percent) come from beyond the arc. Almost every field goal for Williams is a three or at the rim, which has in turn made him a more efficient player. He’s the prototypical “Moneyball” forward, currently posting career

CAROLINA from page B1 into much-needed points. All of UNC’s bigs underperformed in the national championship game as Villanova’s big men aggressively packed the paint to deny the Tar Heels post players. Isaiah Hicks scored just two field goals on four attempts for four points, well below his season average of nine points per game.

Brice Johnson finished with 14 points in his final career game, three points below his season average. Meanwhile, Villanova was cleaning up at the rim and outscored UNC 32-26 in the paint.

UNC dropped to 0-6 this season when outscored in the paint.

Lack of transition For the first time all season, UNC failed to score a transition bucket. Again, UNC had plenty of opportunities for fast break points, but it couldn’t convert the chances. In losses at Northern Iowa and Virginia and a win at Boston College, UNC scored only two transition points.

Remember how Villanova only got two offensive rebounds?

It was likely by design, because forgoing the opportunity to score second chance points meant Villanova could get back on defense and prevent UNC’s signature fast breaks.

At the end of the first half, Justin Jackson had a chance for a breakaway layup thanks to a steal and an outlet pass by Meeks. But Jackson and Josh Hart collided in the air before the shot. Hart was credited with a block and UNC’s lead remained at seven with eight seconds to go. Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono grabbed the rebound

UNC’s bigs underperformed in the national championship game as Villanova’s big men aggressively packed the paint to deny the Tar Heels post players.

SAM SHARPE | USA TODAY SPORTS

highs in player efficiency rating (16.6), win shares (7.4) and true shooting (58.1 percent).

He’s not just a standstill shooter. Williams is one of five players in the NBA this season to make 100-plus 3-pointers and collect 500-plus rebounds. The others are All-Stars and Olympians: Kevin Love, Kevin Durant, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.

Putting in work This breakout season hasn’t happened by chance. Williams put in the time at the Hornets’ practice facility last offseason.

The former Tar Heel was in the gym lifting, running and getting up shots every day during the summer of 2015.

The results are tangible — we’re witnessing Williams’ best season on the defensive end. He’s adept at defending both forward positions, which is critical in allowing the Hornets to go small or big when necessary. This type of two-way versatility has been missed without the injured Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the team’s stud defender who played in only seven games due to shoulder injuries.

Williams’ rim protection has been phenomenal this season — better than coach Steve Clifford could have ever envisioned. Williams, who is the Hornets’ most vocal communicator on defense, leads the team with a career-high 74 blocks (his previous high was 46 in 2009-10). More impor-

tantly, opponents are shooting a lowly 45.6 percent on field-goal attempts at the rim when Williams is defending, according to NBA.com’s player tracking data.

This metric ranks No. 6 in the NBA — behind defensive stalwarts/pterodactyls like Rudy Gobert of Utah and Serge Ibaka of Oklahoma City.

Williams has defended well away from the basket, too. He’s good in space, rotates crisply and has the foot speed to stay with guards for a dribble or two while switching out on a pick-and-roll.

Far too often rebounding proficiency is mistaken for defensive prowess, but it’s still important.

This is yet another area Williams is excelling at a career pace: 6.6 rebounds per game (leading the team), and a rebounding rate of 12.3 percent (the percentage of rebounds a player snags while on the court), according to Basketball-Reference.com.

Money on my mind The Hornets rank inside the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and Williams is perhaps the biggest reason behind that. A stretch-four who hits 40 percent of his threes, protects the rim at an elite level and defends the pick-and-roll is immensely valuable. You can bet he’ll reap the benefits of that when he hits unrestricted free agency this July, just as the league’s salary cap vaults to $90 million.

Williams, at $7 million this

season — the fourth-highest salary on the team — is a bargain for Charlotte. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in year one of a five-year $113 million contract with Kevin Love. Take a guess as to which player they’d rather have to close out the season.

Williams, who has played in all but one game this season, is hitting free agency at a tremendous time. Just about every team in the NBA will have cap space and there will be plenty of suitors for Williams, including Charlotte, who will likely look to retain their starting power forward.

He’ll turn 30 in June, but Williams is in line to potentially double his current salary. Last offseason, DeMarre Carroll inked a four-year $60 million contract with Toronto, and that was with the cap rising modestly to $70 million, not the unprecedented spike to $90 million. While Carroll is predominantly a wing-forward, he plays some small-ball four for Toronto and is a contemporary of Williams — they’re the same age and feature similar games on offense. This offseason, Williams could easily get a contract worth $14-15 million annually.

Williams is one of only two guys from the 2005 North Carolina championship team still in the NBA, along with Raymond Felton, and he isn’t just hanging on to a roster spot; he’s thriving for a playoff team. We’ll save the money talk for the summertime.

As the playoffs approach, there’s business at hand.

and tossed it ahead to Phil Booth, who scored a jumper with a second left in the half to cut UNC’s lead to five at halftime.

Don’t blame the zebras By the end of the game, the Tar Heels were called for 20 fouls to Villanova’s 16. That isn’t a huge discrepancy, and there’s no basis for blaming the outcome of the game on the officiating, but UNC’s response to the foul calls played a big part in the eventual loss. The Tar Heels grew flustered as they were called for eight straight fouls during a seven-minute span in the first half. UNC hit a couple of field goals in that span, but there wasn’t much rhythm to the game with the constant whistles.

The back-breaking whistles came in the second half, as a couple times UNC appeared to lock in for a solid defensive possession, only to be called for a foul with just seconds left on the shot clock.

Trailing by a point with a minute to go, the Tar Heels held Villanova without a shot for 25 seconds.

But with just a few ticks left on the shot clock, Hicks picked up a touch foul guarding a driving Phil Booth. Booth hit both free throws and gave the Wildcats a three-point lead with 35 seconds left.

Final countdown So what exactly happened on that final possession before Jenkins won the national championship? One play doesn’t lose the whole game, but it is worth breaking down exactly what happened in those final 4.7 seconds.

UNC chose not to guard the inbounds, which isn’t exactly a mistake, just a gamble made by

The North Carolina bench reacts during the second half of the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday. Villanova defeated North Carolina 77-74.

CHRISTINE T. NGUYEN NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Roy Williams and the coaching staff. Instead of guarding Jenkins, who trailed the play after inbounding the ball, UNC dropped back and kept Brice Johnson under the rim.

Williams and his players later explained that everyone dropped back to protect against the layup, which makes sense since Jenkins and Arcidiacono executed a similar play in the final seconds against Seton Hall in the Big East Tournament. A trail man on that play too, Jenkins tried for a layup but missed for the win. Joel Berry II picked up Arcidiacono around the 3-point line before half court, but he lost his man by the other three-point line as Daniel Ochefu guarded by Isaiah Hicks set a

pick for Arcidiacono at midcourt.

Berry pulled off Arcidiacono and Hicks slid off Ochefu and back to the three-point line to drop into the paint with Johnson.

But as Arcidiacono dished the ball to Jenkins, Hicks rushed forward with his hand outstretched.

But it was too late and Jenkins got the shot off. Bang.

So what should UNC have done in that situation? With the personnel on the floor, there’s not much else that could’ve been done to save the situation. Maybe the Tar Heels could’ve put Theo Pinson on Jenkins from the inbound to prevent him from getting open, but short of that, UNC took a gamble by protecting the rim and it didn’t pay off this time.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

B8 DURHAM BULLS

Meet the newest Bulls stars set to make the MLB leap

By R. Cory Smith North State Journal URHAM, N.C. — Blake Snell didn’t change anything on D the mound this offseason. But the

Tampa Bay Rays’ top prospect is always looking to improve, so he let go of something he holds near and dear in order to get better.

“Ice cream. I love it to death, so RIP to that,” Snell said with a smile. “I’m obsessed, so it kind of sucks.”

Snell’s true love is of the cookies-and-cream variety. It’s hard to imagine the Bulls’ ace getting better because of just dessert — he’s coming off a season where he finished 15-4 with a 1.41 ERA. It’s the lowest ERA of any MiLB pitcher since former MVP Justin Verlander in 2005 (1.29).

Snell won both the Baseball America and USA Today Minor League Player of the Year honors last year; the last player in the Rays’ system to do so was Wil Myers in 2012, who won MLB Rookie of the Year the following season.

The wiry 23-year-old southpaw could get a decent look at his own top-tier hardware this year.

After rocketing up from Charlotte to Montgomery to Durham last season, Baseball America editor John Manuel believes he’ll land with the Rays very soon.

“I don’t see him repeating as Minor League Player of the Year again, because he won’t be there long,” Manuel said. “I see him being too good for the Rays to ignore. Obviously we’re pretty high on him and can see him developing even further this year.

“The Rays have always been deliberate and slow-moving with their promotion of pitchers, but it seems to work.”

The list of Bulls pitchers to excel at the MLB level is distinguished. David Price is a fivetime All-Star and 2012 Cy Young Award winner. Chris Archer was named an All-Star last season and is quickly emerging as one of the faces of the MLB. Snell followed a nearly identical path as the previous two superstars. Both Price and Archer were gradually brought up through the system to maximize both development and Tampa’s control over their contracts.

“I feel like I’m still developing, getting better and have a lot to learn,” Snell said. “I’m just taking all the positives that I can. I feel like it’s good for me to start here and really develop my craft even more. When they think I’m

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Durham Bulls pitcher Blake Snell (37) winds up for a pitch in the fifth inning of the minor league baseball game against the the Charlotte Knights at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. on Thursday. The Durham Bulls defeated the Charlotte Knights 7 - 3 on opening night.

“I see him being too good for the Rays to ignore.

Obviously we’re pretty high on him and can see him developing even further this year.”

John Manuel, Baseball America Editor

ready, I’ll be ready for it.”

The Bulls second-year manager Jared Sandberg knows the time is coming for Snell, but knows the process is not a quick one.

“He’s got some high expectations this year,” Sandberg said.

“He’s more mature this year.

Mentally, he knows he’s got to do it again, but he’s not going to put too much pressure on himself to go out there and try to replicate that season in one or two starts.

“He’s a bright star. It’s amazing what he did and hopefully he can duplicate that or do better this year.”

The Bulls’ lineup also presents a major issue for opposing pitchers with both Mikie Mahtook and Richie Shaffer back in Durham.

Mahtook played in 41 games in Tampa Bay last season, hitting .295/.351/.619 with nine homers and is likely an injury at the MLB level away from another stint.

Shaffer’s cup of coffee with the Rays didn’t go quite as well. In 88 plate appearances, Shaffer hit .189/.307/.392 with four homers, six RBI and 32 strikeouts. The Charlotte native bought a house in Raleigh during the offseason and trained at NC State to improve his plate approach.

“I think he just needs to maintain confidence,” Sandberg said.

“He hit 30 homers and had extended success for the first time in his career. He goes into the offseason and works on what he was able to do last year. He had a good Spring Training and is looking forward to getting off to a good start.”

In total, Shaffer actually hit 26 home runs last year with 72 RBI across Montgomery, Durham and Tampa Bay. The Clemson product also had the highest overall average of his career at .267 after hitting just .222 the previous season.

Though the numbers have improved, becoming a starting third baseman in Tampa Bay isn’t exactly easy to pull off, with three-time All-Star (and Bulls alum) Evan Longoria manning the position.

Luckily for Shaffer, his versatility could earn him a role on the Rays’ roster again this year. The release of first baseman James Loney — which happens to be Shaffer’s alternate position — leaves a void currently filled by Logan Morrison, who hit .225 last season.

“There’s a spot on the roster, but he still has something

to prove,” Manuel said. “I think the valuation question remains: How much contact is he going to make? He’s shown he can hit for power, but he has to be more consistent at that level. Triple-A pitchers are good, but MLB pitchers are so much better.”

Although the roster shakeups might pique his curiosity about carving out a starting role at the MLB level, Shaffer isn’t getting his hopes up. Playing both first and third baseman along with getting some starts in the outfield, Shaffer is a versatile chip similar to Ben Zobrist, who played for the Rays from 2006-14.

While Shaffer said his goal is obviously to get to Tampa Bay, he isn’t focusing on where he might fit with the squad.

“At the big-league level, they don’t have much versatility in the lineup, but they want it,” Shaffer said. “It’s tough, because we’re human and you pay attention to roster moves. But if you let that stuff dictate what you do, you’re going to press or feel like you have to do too much.

“My goal is to come out like I did last year and have fun. I was able to achieve my goals in 2015 with that mindset and hope the same will happen this year.”

The one concession item you need to try at a Bulls game

By Brooke Pryor North State Journal URHAM, N.C. — Before Thursday night, I was an AnD gus Barn rookie. That all changed

thanks to the Durham Bulls adding the Angus Barn Steak and Cheese to the ballpark menu.

With my Methodist minister father, my family has always been more of a potluck kind of crowd, so we never really ventured out to nice restaurants to celebrate milestones. And as a beer and pizza kinda gal, I’ve never had a date take me to the Barn either.

But when I was assigned to work the Durham Bulls’ Opening Day game and Angus Barn announced it would be bringing its steak and cheese sandwich to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park this season, I knew it was time to take my first swing at the famous establishment.

Normally I go for chicken fingers and popcorn at the game, but who am I to pass up a glorified Philly cheesesteak for the sake of journalism?

When I walked up to the stand on the DBAP’s concourse to the left of the home plate entrance, there wasn’t a single person in line. Naturally I assumed it was either terrible, overpriced or all gone.

Only one of my three assumptions was correct.

The woman taking my order assured me there was plenty of Angus beef, grilled onions, bell peppers, cheese and special sauce left for my sandwich, and I was lucky enough to have just missed the crowd. At $16 a sandwich, however, I suppose it was a bit

That was the single best item of ballpark food I’ve ever eaten.

overpriced.

There was also the option to purchase Angus Barn’s signature cheese and crackers for $6, but given the size of the sandwich, a side item would be an aggressive dalliance in excess.

Accompanying the sandwich with a beer would be far more logical, so I moseyed over to the Bull Durham beer stand a few feet away and grabbed a Water Tower Wheat, one of two beers made at the ballpark’s year-old brewery. Next time around I’ll try the Lollygagger Kolsch, but as a big wheat beer fan, I couldn’t help but open the season with a personal favorite.

After all, it was National Beer Day. The Water Tower doesn’t come with an orange slice, but there is a magnet in the bottom of the cup, used for the bottoms-up filling mechanism. Collect ’em and at the end of the summer you can see just how many dollars you spent on ballpark beer (hint: probably too much).

In any case, I took my beer and sandwich to an upper deck table to watch warmups and pray the dark clouds to my left wouldn’t bring rain.

My first mistake, I quickly learned, was not grabbing a napkin or two before diving into this monster of a sandwich. It took one bite of steak, special sauce and cheese before I looked like a 5-year-old — or any year-old for that matter — eating a sloppy joe.

Luckily, I found a crumpled up napkin in my pocket and used it to limit the damage while I went searching for reinforcements.

I jogged into the neighboring

EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

press box and searched all the cabinets for napkins. Nothing.

In another lucky break, a Bulls employee saw my frantic search and ran next door to the box of Jim Goodmon — CEO of Capital Broadcasting Company, the parent company of the Bulls — and grabbed a few napkins.

Sanitary lifesavers in hand, I ran back out to my table to immerse myself in this glorious sandwich.

I’m not proud to admit this, but I only managed to finish half of it — the sandwich, not the beer, of course. The Italian roll was cut in two, each piece maybe four inches long and two inches across, overflowing with steak and peppers. When I took my first bite, I fully intended to finish the whole thing. I’ve never met a plate I couldn’t clean, and I wasn’t planning on starting with this one.

But in another rookie mistake, I didn’t come to the ballpark with an empty stomach. About an hour and a half before arriving at the stadium, I ate a bag of popcorn.

It was delicious in every sense of the word. When I bought it, I made internal jokes about it being a wanna-be Philly cheesesteak and how it couldn’t possibly live up to the real thing. I’m here to tell you I was wrong. That was the single best item of ballpark food I’ve ever eaten.

I just got back from Philadelphia a few weeks ago and ate plenty of cheesesteaks there, but this one was the best I’ve ever had (sorry, Rocky). Maybe that’s because it’s made with secret sauce and primo Angus Barn meat and wasn’t cooked by a street vendor, but regardless, it was well worth the money — especially since I’ll be eating the other half for lunch tomorrow.

The new Angus Barn steak and cheese sandwich at the Durham Bulls stadium.

NS J

green thumbs

SUNDAY

N.C. Tomato Man, Craig LeHoullier, gives his garden guidance to help us get ready from seed to sprout.

4.10.16

Continued on page C3

the good life IN A NORTH STATE OF MIND

virtual reality

PHOTOS BY EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Wearing the Samsung Gear VR headset, Mike McArdle, left, and Micah T. Sam, right, founders of The Virtual Reality Learning Experience in Durham, North Carolina, pose for a photograph on Jordan Lake near Chapel Hill, Tuesday, April 5, 2016. The Virtual Reality Learning Experience brings VR technology to middle school and high school classrooms for an interactive lesson on outer space.

Stepping into a virtual world With each new piece of technology we change our daily life and reality as we know it. But what if we took the world we have as a model to create a virtual world?

By Samantha Gratton North State Journal

O

culus RIFT, Google Cardboard, HTC Vive, and Samsung Gear VR are a few of the virtual reality headsets available. Each boasts its own set of unique features, but the idea is the same. As you put on the headset, which looks and feels similar to a pair of bulky ski goggles, your

Inside

vision is altered in such a way that you feel like you are stepping into another world.

Your eyes guide you from place to place, effectively moving you across the screen.

Then if you turn your head, or even your body, to the side or up and down, your view reflects that movement and travels with you, as if you were really there.

While the idea of virtual reality (VR) is See VIRTUAL REALITY, page C6

THE BREW

April is North Carolina Beer Month, so this week we'll take you across the state to share our favorite events on tap.

See page C4-5

A detailed look at one of the Samsung Gear VR headsets The Virtual Reality Learning Experience uses in middle school and high school classrooms.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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necessities thrive!

history marked

Manners for the modern southerner

The Fourth Provincial Congress met in the town of Halifax with 83 delegates present and unanimously adopted the resolves, further encouraging delegates to the Continental Congress from all colonies toward independence.

The adoption of the Halifax Resolves was the first official action in the colonies calling for independence from Britain. The date is honored on our state flag.

The Halifax Resolves were important not only because they were the first official action calling for independence, but also because they were not unilateral recommendations.

They were instead recommendations directed to all the colonies and their delegates assembled at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

Virginia followed with her own recommendations soon after the adoption of the Halifax Resolution, and eventually on July 4, the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed. William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn were the delegates from North Carolina who signed the Declaration of Independence.w

GUEST who is always welcome at Southern A soirees is polite, well-

mannered, and considered to be a delightful addition to the party. The obnoxious, messy, and inconsiderate guest will likely be left off from invitation lists. In a place where entertaining is always in style, here are a few guidelines to remember when being a gracious guest.

When receiving an invitation by mail, make sure to reply your acceptance or regrets by the RSVP deadline. It's always safe to use the "three-day rule" and reply within three days of receiving the invitation.

If the invitation doesn't include children, then kindly find a sitter. Parties featuring martini sips don't exactly coincide with babies on hips.

A hostess gift is always appreciated. A handwritten thank you note should follow within three days; however, life does get the best of us. Try to send the note within two weeks. If it's later, note your tardiness and proceed with sincerity in your writing.

Being a guest means being a team player. If Charades is the game of choice by the host, then be prepared to dive right in with your best rock star impersonation. This also means mingling and carrying on conversations with the other guests present.

Table manners are never more important than at a dinner party. Remember, the napkin goes in your lap and not at your neck. Straight posture and no elbows near your plate.

The host will signal when it's time to begin. And ladies, lipstick shouldn't be applied at the table.

Should the lovely red wine in your glass become the newest detail of the host's couch, then as a courteous guest begin to clean the spilled wine. The following day, call the host to apologize and offer to pay for the cleaning services.

Follow these simple rules and you're set to be the gracious guest everyone favors.

Laura Ashley Lamm North State Journal

just a pinch

sowing Ready to dig in the dirt and place those seeds? We have a few tips for you as you make your garden plan and gather up your seed packets. Small seeds can be hard to plant as directed — thin and even. It is far easier to space them if you mix the seed with dry sand or soil before attempting to thin and even spread.

To really make your gardening life easier, plant some radishes among your carrots and lettuce or other small seed vegetables. The radishes will pop up first and fast, marking your row for you and making room for the remaining vegetables when pulled.

N.C. by the byte We uncovered two companies who saw a void in the marketplace and stepped up to meet that need.

LUXURY SHOE CLUB An N.C. IDEA grant winner, this company wants to give shoe-loving women a way to easily shop each other's closets. Designed around the research that worldwide women's shoe spending is $4.7 billion annually, this company makes it easy to trade or buy new and gently used designer footwear. Club members choose a membership level — obsessed, passionate, or intrigued ­— based on their shoe buying habits. Whether you have a closet full of designer shoes or just one pair you'd like to swap for a different style, Luxury Shoe Club wants to make that exchange happen. Recognizing that their core customer base has a desire to give back, the company has an "Empowered Soles" program to donate a portion of their proceeds to organizations that help disadvantaged women get back on their feet.

Information courtesy of N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

turn the page Let your imagination run wild with a book!

These young adult fiction suggestions came from Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, N.C., so you can check them out at your local bookstore.

“Scarlett Epstein Hates it Here”

by Anna Breslaw

releases April 19, 2016

The Sweeps team volunteers at N.C. Big Sweep.

“The Forbidden Orchid”

by Sharon Biggs Waller released March 8, 2016

“Salt to the Sea”

by Ruta Sepetys

released February 2, 2016

“Rebel of the Sands”

by Alwyn Hamilton released March 8, 2016

“The Serpent King”

by Jeff Zentner

released March 8, 2016

“Lady Midnight”

by Cassandra Clare released March 8, 2016

Voices

Contributors to this section this week include: Samantha Gratton Laura Ashley Lamm Page Leggett Craig LeHoullier Alison Miller Amy Richards Alton Skinner

Tell us

Know a North Carolina story that needs to telling?

Drop us a line at features@nsjonline.com.

SWEEPS.JOBS Morris Gelblum was still in college when he recognized that he was surrounded by talented students with varying skill sets in need of work.

After running a successful cleaning business with his mother while he was still in high school Gelblum knew the community of customers was out there, and he knew how to harness new

technology to fill the need with vetted students.

Sweeps has students working in ten cities across North Carolina by utilizing an online platform to connect students with people who need help; from fixing a printer that won't work to digging for spring planting. True to their mission of community building, Sweeps offers free and discounted hours of work through their "Sweeps Gives" program.

stir it up “Scot Sanborn, the owner of Sutler’s Spirit Co. in Winston-Salem, came in with his gin when he was first getting it into the market. As our conversation evolved, we determined that we both used to hang out at the Blue Hour, one of Greensboro’s first real cocktail bars, which is sadly no longer around.

There was a great bartender there named Hiram. When it came time to name the cocktail, I decided to tip my hat to them both. The gin, charred grapefruit tonic, and orange bitters give the drink some nice citrus notes, while the ruby port adds texture and complexity, plus rich, dried-fruit flavors.”

— Niels Larsen, Print Works Bistro, Greensboro

Hiram's Hour 2 ounces Sutler's Gin ¾ ounce Bittermilk Charred Grapefruit Tonic Syrup ½ ounce Shelton Vineyards Yadkin Valley Port 2 dashes Crude “Sycophant” Orange & Fig Bitters 1 sprig rosemary

Combine all ingredients except rosemary in a cocktail shaker.

Add ice, shake, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with rosemary sprig.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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green thumbs tomatoes | North Carolina

By Craig LeHoullier For the North State Journal

M

OST EVERYONE loves tomatoes.

When I started gardening in 1980, big red hybrid beefsteak types like Big Boy and Better Boy ruled the day.

Now, anything goes—the more interesting looking and colorful, the better. We are very lucky to live and garden at a time when the array of tomato possibilities is limitless.

The centerpiece of most gardens, I suspect, are tomato plants. The great news is that, given sufficient direct sun (at least three hours per day for cherry-sized varieties) there is no reason that anyone should be left out of the joy of harvesting sun-warmed, fully ripened, succulent fruit from their own vines.

Seeds or seedlings We in North Carolina are fortunate for our long growing season. This means that seeds started now will produce a good crop before frost. Starting seeds is how the greatest variety can be experienced. Growing tomatoes from seed is simple, fun, and does not need to take much room.

For those who don’t have the time or space, it is becoming easier to find nice selections of tomato varieties in the spring.

Each year, more and more colorful, unique heirloom types appear at garden centers.

Deciding the tomato type Hybrid tomatoes may be best for your garden, with less blemished (“funny looking”) fruit and an increased ability to fight the dreaded diseases. Heirloom types provide the color palette of the garden, and often have distinctive flavors and interesting histories behind them.

Indeterminate varieties grow and grow; they need vertical support, caging, and regular pruning. Most heirlooms are indeterminate in nature. Determinate varieties are more easily controlled, producing a self-topping “bush” easily staked and caged, but are less numerous and flavorful. Dwarf types behave as indeterminate varieties; they grow at half the vertical rate, don’t require pruning and can be as delicious and unique as the indeterminate heirlooms.

Seed starting and timing I plan for one month of time between starting seed and transplanting to a larger container, then one month for hardening off and readiness to plant out. If you calculate back two months from the last frost date, it will provide the earliest date that seed should be planted.

Warmth, not light, is the key for successful seed starting, and can be supplied by setting the flats or pots on a heat mat. Use of a sterile soilless seed starter and very shallow planting result in quick, healthy germination. Sun through a south facing window or grow lights will minimize leggy growth before temperatures outside are warm enough for a place outdoors.

Craig LeHoullier lives and gardens with his wife and collection of dogs and cats in Raleigh, N.C. A chemist by training, his heirloom tomato hobby culminated in his first book, "Epic Tomatoes," and later he also wrote "Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales."

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN GARRETT | FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

The time between planting seeds and having sprouts up and growing is a few weeks. It takes a month after seed planting until the sprouts are ready to be separated and moved into their own containers, then another month until they are ready to be planted.

A selection of great varieties for N.C. Hybrids Big Beef, Whopper Improved, Lemon Boy, Sun Gold, Sweet Million

Non-hybrids/heirlooms Andrew Rahart’s Jumbo Red, Aker’s West Virginia, Dester, Eva Purple Ball, Lillian’s Yellow Heirloom, Hugh’s, Cherokee Purple, Cherokee Chocolate, Cherokee Green, Green Giant, Dwarf Sweet Sue, Rosella Purple, Dwarf Mr. Snow, Sweet Scarlet Dwarf

Seed sources Tomato Growers Supply, Victory Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Tatiana’s TOMATObase, Sample Seed Shop

A basket of heirloom tomato varieties from Craig LeHoullier's garden including Sun Gold, Tiger Tom, Cherokee Green, Cherokee Purple, German Johnson, Kellogg's Breakfast, Old German, Nepal, and Lemon Boy.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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the brew N.C. Beer Month| North Carolina

April 10 4th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience Durham

Raise a glass and celebrate what's brewing in North Carolina for N.C. Beer Month. To kick things off, photographer Eamon Queeney joined Raleigh Brewing for their 3rd Annual Brewers Olympics where brewers from around the Triangle competed in multiple feats of skill. Then, check out the beer events coming up this week across the state.

North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival Raleigh The Pit's 8th Annual 'Cuegrass Festival returns to the warehouse district of downtown Raleigh with a jampacked day full of great barbecue, local brews, and toe-tappin' bluegrass music! They'll be closing down the streets around The Pit and firing up the pig cookers to serve plenty of Eastern N.C.-style barbecue and a selection of locally made beers. Admission is $5.

The Bull City Food & Beer Experience stimulates and educates your palate and mind through the pairing of local food showcasing 35 Durham restaurants and unbelievable beer from 35 premier craft / import breweries as well as live music on stage. Tickets are $80.

April 13

Loaded Up 'n Truckin' Food Truck-Off Hendersonville Bringing together 18 regional food trucks serving their full menus, each truck will also serve a special menu item for festival goers who purchase a "Judge's Ticket" to determine this year's Truck-Off Grand Champion. Music from Shovels & Rope, Futurebirds, Dangermuffin, Aaron Burdett, Sally & George, and Pretty Little Goat will be playing throughout the day and camping is available.

Unknown Brewing Company Dinner at the New Public House Blowing Rock Unknown Brewing Company of Charlotte will be paired with a special menu and tasting event! Join in for dinner and enjoy a night of specially prepared dishes and tasting flights of Unknown Brewing beers.

14th Annual Hickory Hops Hickory

Sierra Nevada Beer/Cheese Pairing Event Sylva Evolution Wine Kitchen is hosting a beer and cheese pairing with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Tickets include a selection of artisan cheeses expertly paired with a variety of Sierra Nevada beers by a Sierra Nevada expert.

April 16

Left, Jessica Hudson, of Fullsteam Brewing, searches for a gasket in a kiddie pool during an obstacle course relay event in the third annual Brewers Olympics. Right, all dressed as Donald Trump, the Double Barley Brewing team competes in an impromptu costume contest.

Featuring the hand-crafted beers of more than 50 local microbreweries in the Southeast, there will be plenty for everyone, from inexperienced beer novices to hardened beer fest veterans anxious for something unusual. Come see who claims the title of Carolinas Championship of Beers.

White Street Brewers Guild Open Wake Forest

April 14

Members of the White Street Brewers Guild will be sampling the delicious homebrews but need you to be the judge! Admission is $16.82, and the first 100 tickets purchased receive the right to judge.

N.C. Mystery Tap Night - Name that N.C. Brew!

Asheville

Bayne Brewing's 2nd Annual Craft Beer Olympics Cornelius

The clues lie in the descriptions, but which N.C. beer is on which tap? Test your N.C. beer know-how by pairing up the correct beers to their tasting notes at Thirsty Monk.

Events will include Giant Jenga, Cornhole, Ladderball, and many more! Although drinking is not required to participate, you are welcome to enjoy a Bayne Brew during the festivities.

Three Eagles Beer Festival Goldsboro

April 15

Several North Carolina breweries and great local homebrews will be available for tasting. There will also be food trucks and music by the Downtown Chameleons. General admission is $38, and VIP admission is $54.

IRS Special Release Carolina Beach Enjoy this once-a-year opportunity to try the Imperial Russian Stout at Good Hops Brewing! What better day to enjoy this IRS than tax deadline day? Free to enter and $10 to participate, commemorative glasses and grumblers will also be available for sale.

Battle of the Beers Raleigh The Green Monkey has invited five breweries to bring four of their beers. Each beer sample will be marked only with a letter to vote. The brewery that receives the most votes for their beers will receive the "Best Overall Brewery" award and the brewery with the single beer with the most votes will receive the "Best Single Beer" award.

Beer Guys and Fly Ties Greenville Come to this monthly event that brings together new and old fly fishers over local craft brews and fishing stories. The kickoff event will include a meet & greet with Orvis experts, Dead Weight Fly, and Natty Greene's Brewers, a fly tying and casting competition, giveaways, and the chance to enter to win a fly fishing trip with Orvis guide Mike Miles, Dead Weight Fly, and Natty Greene's!

New Sarum Brewing Company's Grand Opening Celebration Salisbury Bring a lawn chair and come enjoy live music all afternoon and into the night, Rock 92.3FM broadcasting live, outdoor beer gardens, food trucks, games, giveaways, and much more!

What to bring: - Your fly tying materials (limited supplies will be available for first timers) - Lighting if you have it (some lighting will be provided) - Your best fishing stories For more information on any of these events or additional N.C. beer events this month visit ncbeermonth.com

Ales for Autism Charlotte Come for a day filled with live music, food trucks, and delicious beer at NoDa Brewing Company for the third time to raise funds and awareness for Autism Charlotte.

PHOTOS BY EAMON QUEENEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

All the brewery teams toss yeast bombs — water balloons full of yeast — back and forth in an elimination event during the third annual Brewers Olympics at Raleigh Brewing in Raleigh. Neuse River Brewing Company took home the top prize, edging out the home team, Raleigh Brewing, by one point.

A score gets updated between events during the third annual Brewers Olympics.

Jessica Hudson, of Fullsteam Brewing, reacts as she gets covered with a yeast bomb during the third annual Brewers Olympics.

Left, Rhett Harper, of Big Boss Brewing, reacts as he moves bags of malt from one pallet to another while blindfolded during the third annual Brewers Olympics. Right, owners of Neuse River Brewing Company, Ryan and Jennifer Koralov, share a kiss with the first place trophy after the third annual Brewers Olympics at Raleigh Brewing.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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playlist April 12 Halifax Day Halifax Mark the 240th Anniversary of the Halifax Resolves, the first official call for independence from England by any American colony. Halifax Day 2016 will include a special exhibit featuring original documents on loan from the State Archives.

Enjoy tours of historic buildings, living history activities, and a formal commemoration program with a guest speaker, followed by a reception. nchistoricsites.org

gather Sensoria | Charlotte

April 14-17 SAVOR Blowing Rock Blowing Rock Formerly the "Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival," SAVOR Blowing Rock incorporates your favorite events from past festivals with brand new celebrations of wine, craft beer, spirits, and cuisine. Enjoy pairing dinners, grand tasting, reserve wine tasting, cooking classes, seminars, Corkscrew 5k, Cork and Canvas, Downtown Wine Down, and more. savorblowingrock.com

April 15-16 Phuzz Phest Winston-Salem Phuzz Phest is an annual music festival taking place at various venues across the blooming downtown area. Featuring about 50 critically-acclaimed, genre-spanning acts coming from as far away as Los Angeles, New York, Detroit, and London as well as hidden gems from Winston-Salem and the surrounding area. Weekend wristbands and single-day passes are available. phuzzphest.com En Plein Air Paint Off Fuquay-Varina This exciting outdoor event supports artists in the area and brings public art to the streets.

A contest of skills will challenge each artist to create an original painting of Fuquay-Varina's historic landscape. fuquay-varinadowntown.com

April 16 WOOFStock 2016 Manteo Let the dogs out for this second annual tail-wagging’ happy affair! Features local fur-loving exhibitors and activities for your entire family with contests for your dog. WOOFstock also features live music, a dog photographer, and concessions available for both dogs and humans. elizabethangardens.org Publick Day Beaufort An old-fashioned flea market on the Beaufort Historic Site with vendors selling antiques and collectibles, art, crafts, handmade jewelry, books, food, and much more. beauforthistoricsite.org "Rock the Roanoke " Rockfish Tournament Weldon Join the Town of Weldon, "Rockfish Capital of the World," for the annual Roanoke River Grand Slam Tournament Series. historicweldonnc.com

By Page Leggett For the North State Journal

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O MATTER what artform speaks to you, Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) will celebrate it at the annual Sensoria.

“CP,” as Charlotteans call it, takes a broad view of art, proving high art and street art can peacefully co-exist. For instance, the school’s cosmetology club will showcase their artistry in a two-hour nail art session. At what other arts festival will you find manicures alongside poetry readings and bake sales on the same day as a Joffrey Ballet performance?

Sensoria started in 1993 when poet Irene Blair Honeycutt launched CPCC’s Spring Literary Festival. It was a small-scale effort then.

In the years since, it has grown to encompass music, cinema, visual arts, performing arts – theater, opera, live music – history, and the culinary arts. This year, slam poetry and graffiti art have also been added.

Many events are free, and even ticketed events are priced affordably. CPCC stages the festival for the entire community, but stu-

dents are the No. 1 audience organizers consider, said Amy Bagwell, English professor and board chair of Sensoria’s literary events committee.

Bagwell is excited about the message memoirist Amelia Morris conveys. Morris began blogging about food, family, love, and unemployment and turned her musings into a memoir, “Bon Appétempt”, which was Amazon’s book of the month last February.

“I think Amelia Morris’ message will really resonate,” Bagwell said. “Her success didn’t happen overnight. She worked hard, developed a following on her blog, and then published a book. Her story is a great motivator.”

One evening, a lucky few will get to eat her words as Morris will be part of a dinner featuring dishes from her memoir prepared by students in CPCC’s culinary program.

Other featured authors include Amy Bloom, this year’s Irene Blair Honeycutt Distinguished lecturer and author of New York Times Bestseller “Lucky Us,” Dacre Stoker, author of “Dracula The Un-Dead,” and Ben Marcus, editor of “New American Stories”

VIRTUAL REALITY from page C1 not new, its capabilities and consumer appeal have started to gain more attention in the past few years. Currently, it is most linked with video games, as the graphics and exploratory worlds seem to be a good fit for the products available. The long-awaited release of the consumer model of Oculus Rift ($599) was sent out in its first shipment on March 28 to those who pre-ordered it months ahead of time. Along with the headset, it included two video games, but some hope that this release will continue to encourage the advancement of VR across several platforms.

In North Carolina, there are three Meetup groups of people who get together to discuss and try different products around virtual reality. In this social setting, members of the groups in the Charlotte, Triad, and Triangle areas meet regularly to consider new uses for the technology. Not only can these products impact video games, but also have the potential to shift how we view everything from films to education.

Mike McArdle, co-founder of The Virtual Reality Learning Experience in Durham, N.C., brings VR straight to the classroom. He helped create an experience that allows middle school and high school students to put on those goggles and take a virtual field trip—all the way to outer space.

"Looking at something in a visual and intuitive way is something people take for granted. Our mission is to bring VR to schools that do not have the resources or opportunities to do this."

— Mike McArdle, co-founder of The Virtual Reality Learning Experience

“VR is a very powerful medium, and the main thing to know about it in education is that it enables you to learn in a visceral sense so that you don’t even realize you’re learning,” says McArdle, who is also a scriptwriter for the VR program, Titans of Space, a guided tour of some of our planets and stars. He has taken this program and paired it with

and author of “The Flame Alphabet.”

SCAD-educated Charles Williams, 32, is Sensoria’s featured visual artist. Williams has nearly drowned three times, and he confronts his fear of water by painting it.

His large-scale, hyper-realistic oceanscapes aren’t painted from memory. He puts on a lifejacket and heads into the surf – as far as he can comfortably go and always with someone else with him – and snaps pictures of the water surrounding him. The work packs a punch, given its massive size and delicate artistry. But when you know the story behind it, you realize the art is downright brave.

Sensoria embraces the performing arts, too. If you thought it impossible for “high-energy” and “harpist” to be used in the same sentence, you should check out Deborah Henson-Conant, a Grammy-nominated electric harp virtuoso. Her concert will include pop, jazz, flamenco, and classical.

Art is for everybody. Whether you want to see, hear, touch, or taste your art, Sensoria has you covered with performances, exhibits, and presentations from April 8 -16.

educational content and worksheets through his collaborations with both developers and teachers.

“There’s a reason students go on a field trip—they are learning by being there and seeing something. Looking at something in a visual and intuitive way is something people take for granted. Our mission is to bring VR to schools that do not have the resources or opportunities to do this. Students can’t go to space, so VR is a very powerful tool.”

As students navigate through the different planets, moons, and stars with their eyes, they can stop and read more about something that interests them, just like they might stop to read more in a museum. But even without the text or the audio acting as a guide, just watching the planets fly by gives students a better sense of scale when looking at our solar system.

McArdle hopes to continue working with teachers to further develop the curriculum to coincide with new opportunities and places for students to explore with virtual reality.

He will be holding a roundtable discussion and demonstration in May and welcomes interested teachers and educators. The possibilities are endless for the application of virtual reality in the classroom—whether that be letting students virtually walk the streets of Rome or meeting with our Founding Fathers.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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Read to me

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The Magic Bunk Bed

By Tales Untold EDITOR’S NOTE

Stories have power. They amuse, enchant, teach, and transport us to another time and place outside of our own. Each week, we invite you to read with us, and with the people you love, to let your imagination run wild and free.

L

AST WEEK, five-year-old Miles Fenby helped his dad put together his new bunk bed and in the process ended up with a spare part. Not just any spare part, but a key! At night Miles discovers the hidden keyhole in his bed and inserts the key…

His bedroom begins to change. The walls of his room melt away. The ceiling above him is replaced by a starry night sky. The carpet beneath his bunk bed changes into a dirt floor. And that smell… what is that smell? Something so wild and dog-like. And so very close.

Miles sits up in his bed, speechless. He knew his new bunk bed was special, but never in his wildest dreams did he think it was this special.

Where is he? The moon above him shines a pale light on this new world. He can see tall fences and trees all around him—and a large rock on the ground beneath him. It’s so quiet and still, except for a strange sleepy growl that sounds like a chainsaw chopping through Jell-O. That’s when Miles spies a strange little man, barely the size of a bowling pin, seated on a nearby branch, staring at him intently.

If you asked Miles to think of one word to describe this man, he would probably choose “persnickety.” And here’s why: to begin with, the little man dresses fancy. (Or at least a lot fancier than Miles, who is wearing footie pajamas with drawings of hockey players on them.)

In the moonlight, Miles can see the little man wears a fancy suit, complete with a fancy bowler cap, a fancy bow tie, a fancy vest, and a fancy gold watch that hangs from a pocket near his waist. He has one of those fancy cartoon mustaches, too, the kind that curls up toward his nose on each end. And let’s not forget that fancy eyeglass, the kind oldfashioned people hold up to their faces whenever they want to look important. To top it off, Miles can see a fancy umbrella lying across the little man’s lap.

“Well, it’s about time,” the little man says. “Where have you been?”

“Where am I?” Miles asks. The little man holds a finger to his lips.

“Ssssh, you don’t want to wake him.”

“Wake who?” Miles whispers, looking to where the man is pointing. That’s when he realizes the rock on the floor beneath his bunk bed is not a rock, it’s a …oh my…it’s a lion! A sleeping, snoring lion. So that’s what’s making that chainsaw-in-Jell-O sound!

Suddenly, being five feet off the ground in a bunk bed doesn’t seem that high at all! Of all the places his magic bunk bed could have taken him, Miles has ended up in a lion’s cage!

“Now, now, now,” whispers the little man. “Don’t get your jammies in a bunch. Let me explain.”

And with that, the little man gets to his feet and

nervously walks his way down to the very end of the branch he is standing on, then steps over the gap between it and Miles’s bed.

The little man shakes Miles’s hand. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Inspector 9.”

“I’m Miles, sir.”

“I know that.”

“Are you the Inspector 9 who inspected my bunk bed back at the factory?”

“The one and the same,” says Inspector 9, bowing. He gives the bunk bed a knock with his fist. “And I must say, your father did a bang-up job building this one.”

“I helped,” says Miles.

“Of course you did,” says Inspector 9. “That’s why you’re here.”

“I don’t understand, sir.”

“You will. You see, I slipped that key into the box of your bunk bed because I knew you could help me.”

“Help you with what?”

Inspector 9 pulls out a piece of paper from his back pocket. “Why, the greatest scavenger hunt of all time, my boy. You do know what a scavenger hunt is, don’t you?”

Inspector 9 explains to Miles that a scavenger hunt is a game where everyone gets a list of items that they must go out and find on their own. The first person to get all the items on his or her list wins the game.

“It’s that simple,” says Inspector 9. “Or at least it should be. But tonight I’m stumped.”

Inspector 9 glances up from his list and looks around the lion’s cage, the same way his Dad looks up from a map whenever they get lost on one of their adventure hikes.

“I am supposed to be locating a ring somewhere in this zoo. I thought I had its location all figured out. Now I’m not so sure.

Maybe you could help me with this riddle?”

Miles thinks about it for a second. But only a second. “Shoot,” he says.

Inspector 9 puts on his eyeglass and reads the

clue aloud: “I have four legs, all of them fast.

Zoom, zoom, zoom, I’m never last.

But it’s not just races where I find fame.

Play some cards? I’ll win every game.”

“I thought the answer was a lion, naturally,” explains Inspector 9. “Lions are strong. And fast.

And only a fool would lose a card game to a lion, wouldn’t you say?”

Miles repeats the riddle to himself: “I have four legs, all of them fast. Zoom, zoom, zoom, I’m never last. But it’s not just races where I find fame. Play some cards, I’ll win every game.”

Think, Miles, think.

And then, like it always does, a light bulb goes off in his head. Of course!

“You’re right about the animal part, sir. But’s it’s not a lion. Think about it. What sort of card player never loses at cards?”

“Well, it is impossible to win every single time.

Unless, of course, you’re a cheater.”

“Exactly!” cries out Miles and the lion below him stirs. “Exactly,” he repeats in a whisper.

“Only cheaters win every game.”

“But what does a cheater have to do with a--ohhhh, I get it. Of course, a cheetah! We’re looking in the wrong cage!”

Inspector 9 leaps up. He turns to Miles. “Well, are you coming?”

Miles considers his options. He can stay right where he is in his bunk bed, turn the magic key, and return to his bedroom, safe and sound. Or, he can follow this strange little persnickety man to find those cheetahs—and most likely some other adventures along the way. When you think about it, it’s really not that hard a question after all.

“Let’s do this!” Miles says.

“Excellent choice, lad,” says Inspector 9. “Let’s go!”

A ring was hiding somewhere out in that darkness — and the two new friends set out to find it.

COMING UP in the good life The plate

Alison Miller travels to Lincoln County to bring us a delicious recipe full of favorite local ingredients.

Spin this

What's on your playlist? We'll help tune you up with a list of homegrown musicians and music to check out in the area.

White blooms bring definite opinions

Desired as a landscape tree by some and much maligned by others, the Bradford Pear is a first sign of spring in North Carolina. We bring you the story of research and development surrounding this widely planted tree.

North State Journal for Sunday, April 10, 2016

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pen & Paper pursuits I reckon . . .

Your guide to what’s what, where, why, and how to say it.

Mebane

This North Carolina city is located in both Alamance and Orange County. Named for Revolutionary War Brigadier General Alexander Mebane of the North Carolina Militia and incorporated as Mebanesville in 1855, they lost the "ville" by 1883. Phonetically speaking the emphasis is on the first syllable, it's pronounced MEB-un. When driving to and from on I-40 you're likely to see signs for this quaint N.C. place.

COLOR AWAY!

In honor of Old Salem, celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2016, step back in time to show what you think it might have looked like way back then. Share your work on social media with the hashtag #coloraway.

JANRIC CLASSIC SUDOKU

Old Salem

SOLUTIONS TO PUZZLES FROM 4.3.16

ILLUSTRATION FOR THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL | AMY RICHARDS