VOLUME 5 ISSUE 32
|
WWW.NSJONLINE.COM |
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
the Wednesday
NEWS BRIEFING
NCDHHS will allow indoor nursing home visitation Raleigh N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen issued a secretarial order updating visitation guidelines for nursing homes to allow indoor visitation. Indoor visitation will only be permitted in nursing homes with no COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days and in counties with a percent positive testing rate of less than 10%, reflecting guidance from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to the order. “We have focused on protecting the health of nursing home residents since the start of this crisis. Our progress in testing, infection control and slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our communities allows us to move forward with safe indoor visitation in accordance with federal guidance,” said Cohen. NSJ STAFF
Folwell announces ‘AAA’ bond ratings for NC Raleigh State Treasurer Dale Folwell announced that all three major national bond rating agencies have re-affirmed the state’s “AAA” bond rating. North Carolina is one of only 13 states that have an “AAA” rating with all major rating agencies. The ratings were assigned, in part, in preparation for the fourth issuance of $2 billion worth of bonds related to Connect NC projects. “Having the rating agencies affirm our ‘A AA’ bond ratings during these volatile economic times is a credit to the taxpayers of North Carolina and the General Assembly for their strong fiscal management,” said Folwell. “Maintaining our ‘A AA’ rating will help us finance debt at the lowest possible rates, making more money available for public education, public roads and the other core functions of government.” NSJ STAFF
Azerbaijan and Armenia brush off suggestion of peace talks Yerevan, Armenia Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia brushed off the suggestion of peace talks, accusing each other of obstructing negotiations over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, with dozens killed and injured in three days of heavy fighting. In the latest incident, Armenia said one of its warplanes was shot down by a fighter jet from Azerbaijan’s ally Turkey, killing the pilot, in what would be a major escalation of the violence. Both countries accused each other of firing into their territory outside of the Nagorno-Karabakh area on Tuesday. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cabarrus County school board censures member for slur Concord A North Carolina school board censured one of its members on Monday for using a derogatory slur in describing a remote learning plan and not realizing her microphone was open. During the Sept. 21 meeting of the Cabarrus County school board, board member Laura Blackwell was heard while off camera agreeing with an unidentified person on the call who said young children should not be kept in front of a computer, news outlets reported. Blackwell used a word that has been used to demean people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. She apologized in a statement last week, calling her use of the slur “insensitive” and “unacceptable.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AP PHOTOS
Trump, Biden meet in first Presidential debate President Donald Trump (left) and Joe Biden (right) speak to supporters last week in appearances in Charlotte. The two candidates met for the first of three debates on Tuesday night in Cleveland.
NORTH
STATE
JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION
Lara Trump rallies with Wake County Republicans Elections’ proposed agreement to make several controversial changes to absentee ballot rules, NEW HILL — Lara Trump Trump said, “I think it’s quite riwas the headliner at a Monday diculous in an election where evening event at a farm in south- people have already started votwestern Wake County to ral- ing to say we’re going to change ly support for President Donald the rules, extend the period of time to submit your absenTrump. Wake County Republicans tee ballot; this is not right. This and other activists from around is not something that should be the triangle gathered at Fin- happening in the United States of America, but sadnigan’s Run Farm in ly it is.” New Hill to hear from She elaboratpresident’s daughter-ined further that the law and Susan Tillis, the “Donald agreement appears wife of U.S. Sen. Thom Trump has to be an effort to Tillis. change rules to benIn her nearly 30-min- said from day efit Joe Biden to try ute speech, Trump and cheat the system, hit President’s Trump one, I want to calling it “shameful.” Democratic rival Joe help with any Trump also said Biden repeatedly, at one violence, any the campaign would point saying that “the push back hard two people most excit- chaos, any against the proposed ed for his run for presi- disturbances. changes, which was dent are Jill and Huntechoed by senior er,” Biden’s wife and son. Some have campaign advisor North State Journal taken him up Josh Kivett. spoke with Mrs. Trump “You don’t try and after the event. Trump, on that, and a graduate of NC State some haven’t, change the rules if you’re in a good poUniversity, commentand they’ve sition,” Kivett said to ed on local protests that NSJ. “They’re strughave turned violent in let down their gling to hit their Raleigh and on the N.C. citizens and numbers so they try State Board of Elecand make these kinds tions’ proposed agree- their small of changes in closed ment to change many businesses.” door meetings. The absentee ballot rules. Democrats on the “Whether its in Rastate board of AG leigh or many oth- Lara Trump Josh Stein have tried er Democrat-run citto enact these policies ies, people need to know who they’re voting for. I think for months and failed.” Trump also talked about some we see now why it’s important to know who your local offi- of the differences she’s expericials are,” said Trump. “Donald enced campaigning four years Trump has said from day one I ago to campaigning this time, want to help with any violence, saying with a laugh, “we’re much any chaos, any disturbances. more organized than we were Some have taken him up on that, four years ago.” She continued: “2016, we had and some haven’t, and they’ve let down their citizens and their no political experience whatsosmall businesses.” See LARA TRUMP, page A2 On the N.C. State Board of By Matt Mercer North State Journal
NC attorney general race in spotlight as crime, protests grab public attention Stein spent much of term battling Trump admin By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The attorney general’s race between Democrat incumbent Josh Stein and Republican challenger Jim O’Neill hasn’t seen much press, but that may change as civil unrest and law and order are increasingly on the minds of voters. The N.C. Department of Justice, Stein and Gov. Roy Cooper have remained relatively quiet on the riots in major cities across the state. O’Neill says this, and what
he calls Stein’s support for “sanctuary city” policies regarding illegal immigration, are putting communities in the state at a greater risk for violent crime. O’Neill thinks his experience as a prosecutor and district attorney are what the state needs in an attorney general, and that this is experience his opponent doesn’t have. O’Neill is currently in his third-elected term as Forsyth County’s district attorney after first being appointed in 2009. He spent a number of years as a prosecutor and was Forsyth County’s first dedicated domestic violence prosecutor. See AG, page A3
Clarence Henderson describes path from 1960 Woolworth’s sit-in to 2020 featured RNC speech By David Larson North State Journal RALEIGH — Clarence Henderson knows what it’s like to hold his ground despite strong opposition from the majority. That was true in 1960 when he participated in the historic sit-in at a Greensboro Woolworth’s lunch counter, and it was true in years since as he’s walked the often-lonely path of being a black Republican. But in 2020, Henderson is no longer alone. New energy is being injected into black conservatism by a generation of emerging leaders and organizations, many of them from his home state of North Carolina. Much of the groundwork for the rise of this new black conservative movement was laid by trailblazers like Henderson. While being more-recently known as a celebrated speaker at President Donald Trump’s 2020 Republican National Convention, Henderson’s public activism began in a much different time and place — in 1960 at the Greensboro Woolworth’s segregated lunch counter. Henderson told NSJ in a Sept. 22 interview that he was recruited by one of the protest leaders, a friend since the first grade, to sit at the counter on the second day of the sitin, Feb. 2, 1960. It was on this day that the iconic photograph of four black men, one being Henderson, sitting at the counter was taken. He says this photo “went around the world” and inspired sit-ins at lunch
counters across the country, even places that were already integrated. His motivation for joining the See HENDERSON, page A2