VOLUME 5 ISSUE 23
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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM |
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020
the Wednesday
NEWS BRIEFING
Gov. Roy Cooper issues statewide alcohol sales curfew Raleigh Gov. Roy Cooper announced a statewide curfew on alcohol sales, which takes effect on Friday, July 31 at 11 p.m. “Slowing the spread of this virus requires targeted strategies that help lower the risk of transmission,” said Cooper. “This will be particularly important as colleges and universities are scheduled to start, bringing people all over the country to our state. We have seen case numbers increase among younger people, and prevention is critical to slowing the spread of the virus.” The order does not apply to grocery stores, convenience stores or other entities permitted to sell alcohol for offpremise consumption. Local governments that have enacted stiffer orders on alcohol sales are not affected by the order. NSJ STAFF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Lawsuit again targets Opportunity Scholarships program Raleigh The National Education Association and the North Carolina Association of Educators, vocal opponents of the Opportunity Scholarships, are funding a lawsuit against the program, which they claim violates several portions of the state constitution. “Vouchers for private schools are an affront to a state that has a long and cherished history of public education,” NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly, one of the plaintiffs in the suit, said in a news release. “Using public money to pay for private schools is part of a broad assault on public schools and on our state constitution.” The litigation filed in Wake County court comes five years after a closely divided state Supreme Court upheld the legality of the private-school grants. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
State Highway Patrol to launch ‘move over’ campaign Raleigh In an effort to increase awareness on the importance of moving over for public service vehicles, the State Highway Patrol is launching Move a Little/Save a Lot, a campaign focused on the education and enforcement of the state’s Move Over law. Since June, six separate collisions have occurred where a Highway Patrol vehicle was struck by another motorist, sending troopers to the hospital with a range of injuries. Failing to move over was the contributing factor in five of the six incidents. Within the past five years, 15 trooper’s vehicles have been struck due to move over violations. NSJ STAFF
Remington seeks bankruptcy for 2nd time in 2 years Madison Remington Arms, weighed down by lawsuits and retail sales restrictions following the Sandy Hook school massacre, is seeking bankruptcy protection for the second time in as many years. In a Chapter 11 filing in U.S. Bankruptcy court for Northern District of Alabama this week, the nation’s oldest gunmaker listed assets and liabilities of between $100 million and $500 million, and between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors. Remington sought bankruptcy protection in 2018. It exited court protection the same year, owned by creditors. According to June figures released by the FBI, 3.9 million background checks were conducted last month, the most since the system was created in 1998. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump visited a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Morrisville on Monday to see the latest developments for a COVID-19 vaccine.
NORTH
STATE
JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION
US attorney: Federal agents will stay in Portland until attacks end Hatfield United States Courthouse. Williams, whose office is inside PORTLAND, Ore. — U.S. offi- the courthouse, called on peacecers will remain in Portland un- ful protesters, community and til attacks on a federal courthouse business leaders and people of cease, a top official said Monday faith to not allow violence to ocafter another night of violence. cur in their presence and to leave And more officers may soon be on downtown before violence starts. He said federal agents have made the way. “It is not a solution to tell fed- 83 arrests. Demonstrations eral officers to leave in other cities around when there continues the U.S. were marred to be attacks on fedby violence over the eral property and personnel,” U.S. Attorney “If the Portland weekend. Protesters set fire to an Oakland, Billy Williams said. Police Bureau California, court“We are not leaving house; vehicles were the building unpro- were able to set ablaze in Richtected to be destroyed do what they mond, Virginia; an by people intent on dotypically do, armed protester was ing so.” shot and killed in AusPortland Mayor they would be tin, Texas; and two Ted Wheeler and City able to clear people were shot and Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty called for a this out for this wounded in Aurora, Colorado, after a car meeting with Acting disturbance drove through a proHomeland Security test. Secretary Chad Wolf and we would Kris Cline, princito discuss a cease-fire leave our pal deputy director and removal of heightof Federal Protective ened federal forces officers inside Service, said an incifrom Portland. the building dent commander in The city has had and not be Portland and teams nightly protests for from the Department two months since visible.” of Homeland Securithe killing of George ty and Department of Floyd in Minneapolis Kris Cline, Justice discuss what in May. force is needed every Early Monday, principal deputy U.S. agents repeated- director of Federal night. Cline refused to ly fired tear gas, flash Protective Service discuss the number of bangs and pepper officers currently presballs at protesters outent or if more would side the federal courthouse in downtown Portland. be arriving. Cline said Portland police Some protesters had climbed over the fence surrounding the court- should take over the job of dishouse, while others shot fire- persing protesters from the works, banged on the fence and courthouse area from the federal officers. projected lights on the building. “If the Portland Police Bureau Trump said on Twitter that federal properties in Portland were able to do what they typical“wouldn’t last a day” without the ly do, they would be able to clear this out for this disturbance and presence of the federal agents. The daily demonstrations have we would leave our officers inside included pelting officers with ob- the building and not be visible,” jects and trying to tear down fencing protecting the Mark O. See PORTLAND page A2
Trump showcases vaccine progress at Triangle biotech firm The president’s visit also highlights North Carolina as key swing state in 2020 By David Larson North State Journal MORRISVILLE — Air Force One landed at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Monday so President Donald Trump could tour a nearby biotech facility, showcasing his administration’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic amid a tough election year. Trump was joined at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies’ Innovation Center by several of North Carolina’s top Republican political figures, which he thanked for their presence and praised for their work.
Like the president, some of them, including Sen. Thom Tillis and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, have difficult races ahead in the swing state. “Sen. Thom Tillis, thank you very much,” Trump said in his remarks. “Good job you’ve done. Thank you very much. You really have. Reps. Richard Hudson, David Rouzer, Mark Walker, Dan Bishop and Greg Murphy, thank you. All friends. All warriors. Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who I hear is doing a great job — where is Dan? Stand up, Dan. Great job, Dan.” But the president was not there just to boost Republicans’ chances in November’s elections. He spent most of his time speaking about the progress being made on responding to the COVID-19 panSee VACCINE page A2
By Andrew Selsky The Associated Press
CDC’s latest update says schools should reopen for in-person instruction Forest hits Cooper on ‘nonplan’ to reopen By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — On July 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance stressing the importance of reopening schools and that unless there is “substantial, uncontrolled community transmission in an area,” all schools should reopen on some level this fall. A “decision-making” toolkit accompanying the guidance was also released. The CDC says school closures cause “well-known and significant harm” to children in the areas of “social, emotional, and behavioral health, economic well-being, and academic achievement.” In particular, low-income and minority children and those living with disabilities will be hardest hit and disproportionally impacted. “It is critically important for our public health to open schools this fall. School closures have disrupted normal ways of life for children and parents, and they have had negative health consequences on our youth,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said in a statement, adding that the “CDC is prepared to work with K-12 schools to safely reopen while protecting the most vulnerable.” In past statements about school reopening, Redfield has stated he would send his own grandchildren back to school.
The new guidance also highlights that the “best available evidence indicates if children become infected, they are far less likely to suffer severe symptoms,” and that See SCHOOLS page A2