North State Journal Vol. 3, Issue 33

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VOLUME 3 ISSUE 33

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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM |

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2018

Inside Understanding football’s mystery mats, Sports

EMILY RHEINBOLT | AP PHOTO

Second Lady Karen Pence greets supporters in Charlotte as she embarks on a district-wide bus tour organized by Women for Mark Harris. As parties compete for womens’ votes in particular, the race has national attention as one that could determine the majority in November elections. A recent New York Times poll shows Harris and Democrat Dan McCready in a statistical in a dead heat. Read more in Jones and Blount, A5.

the Wednesday

NEWS BRIEFING

NC goes to the frogs as flooding, breeding align Manteo In the wake of Hurricane Florence, the N.C. coast has been plagued with a tide of frogs and toads. State biologist Jeff Hall says a boom of “explosively breeding” toads are searching for drier ground in flooded areas. Hall says coastal residents are likely to find frogs and toads in odd places until floodwaters recede.

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

Virginia school honoring Confederate general to be renamed Richmond, Va. Staunton School Board in Virginia voted 4-2 Monday to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School. The board plans an online survey this week for community input on what to rename the school. Comments will be accepted through next month. The vote follows Richmond Public Schools voting to rename J.E.B. Stuart Elementary to Barack Obama Elementary School. The school boards in Falls Church and Petersburg also are renaming several Confederate-named schools.

Man charged with threatening kids Wake Forest A Wake Forest man appeared in court on Tuesday, accused of both threatening to shoot students at an elementary school near his home and possessing child porn. Arthur Vladimir Kochetkov, 33, was charged Monday with sexual exploitation of a minor. He has been held at the Wake County jail since he was charged last month for posting a threat to Facebook that said, “he’s done amassed an army big enough to slaughter all your Wake Forest kids in their local playground.” Kochetkov’s family says he is mentally ill.

INSIDE Second Lady Karen Pence campaigns in NC. Jones & Blount

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MATT BORN | THE STAR-NEWS VIA AP

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, left, and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper walk down Market St. during a tour of downtown Wilmington, N.C., Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. Cooper was asking business owners how Hurricane Florence impacted them both personally and professionally.

NC braces for Michael rain as Florence recovery efforts mount By Donna King For the North State Journal RALEIGH — As Hurricane Michael nears the Florida Panhandle with speculation that it could bring as much as 6 inches of rain to North Carolina late Thursday, eastern N.C. residents are tired of it. With roofs still under tarps and giant industrial dehumidifiers drying out small businesses, state officials are still tallying damage, even as they watch Michael’s path carefully. “It absolutely is a concern for me, as my house is still tarped,” said Shane Fernando, 38, who lives near downtown Wilmington where trees toppled by Florence blocked roads and fell into houses — including his. “Of course that makes me anxious.” While the state hasn’t provided a detailed damage estimate, it’s clear Florence affected

thousands of homes. More than 24,000 homeowners and renters have received FEMA housing assistance. “We also have repairs beginning in many homes. A number of homes have rooftop tarps that could be damaged or blown away with this wind,” Cooper said Tuesday. Forecasters don’t expect widespread Carolinas flooding, but warn Michael’s winds could be stronger than Florence’s. This news comes a day after N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler appeared before the agriculture oversight committee at the N.C. General Assembly requesting $310 million for cleanup and recovery, with $250 million of that going toward direct payments to farmers who lost crops and livestock to help them stay in See FLORENCE, page A3

Kavanaugh hears his 1st arguments as Supreme Court justice Kavanaugh has also hired four clerks, all women, the first time that has happened By Jessica Gresko and Mark Sherman The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Brett Kavanaugh took the bench with his new Supreme Court colleagues for the first time Tuesday in a jovial atmosphere that was strikingly at odds with the tension and rancor surrounding his high court confirmation. The new justice dived into his new job, asking a handful of questions in the first arguments of the day following a traditional welcome from Chief Justice John Roberts, who wishing Kavanaugh “a long and happy career in our common calling.” Kavanaugh took his seat at the end of bench to Roberts’ far left just after 10 a.m., a visible manifestation of a moment that Republicans have dreamed of for decades, with five solidly conservative justices on the court, and Democrats have dreaded. His path to confirmation was turbulent — opposition to him intensified after Christine Blasey Ford accused him of sexually assaulting her, allegations Kavanaugh denied. In court, Kavanaugh asked questions of both sides in arguments over increased prison sentences for repeat offenders. He jumped in with his first question after most of the other justices had spoken. Questions from Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s two high court picks, suggested they could vote against the Trump administration and side with a criminal defendant from Florida who is fighting an increase in his sentence from just over six years to possibly more than 15 years.

“The Senate confirmation process was contentious and emotional. That process is over. My focus now is to be the best justice I can be.” Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

See KAVANAUGH, page A2

With a month until midterms, NC races enter home stretch Kavanaugh’s confirmation battle continues to motivate both sides By David Larson For the North State Journal RALEIGH — Despite being a “blue moon election” with no statewide campaigns, like presidential, gubernatorial or U.S. Senate races, this November’s midterms have a lot at stake for the governance of the state and the nation. Heavily contested races for the state supreme court, North Carolina seats in the U.S. Congress and the state General Assembly all put key levers of power in the balance. Justice Barbara Jackson is one of three Republicans on the state Supreme Court, which is currently a 4-3 Democratic majority. With her seat up this fall, a loss for her re-election campaign would tilt the court to a 5-2 Democratic stronghold. The Republicans called foul when another candidate filed as a

Republican despite public connections to high-profile Democrats. Chris Anglin claims he is a genuine Republican, but the GOP went to court to have the “R” next to his name removed. With the party eventually losing the case, Jackson’s Republican backing may be diluted, giving an advantage to Democrat Anita Earls. North Carolina Republican Party Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse told North State Journal this is just another sign that Democrats are willing to play dirty to win. “They’ve created a structural advantage for themselves in this race,” Woodhouse said. “We’ll have to see if it works for them, but it’s a window into their souls.” Woodhouse believes the elections will be thoroughly colored by what he calls “the ugliest smear campaign” he’s ever seen, referring to the allegations against now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. “The women of the North See ELECTION, page A2


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