Great news: North Carolina’s Biomass Trader is at your service whether you’ve got trash or need some trashy materials. The site will even connect you to the 411 on composting, organic products and more. Check it out :
Whaddaya say? Should we take away all state government privileges until they bring their grades up? Obviously we need to do something because North Carolina made a ‘D’ on this same test last year.
North Carolina has retained a grade of D in the 2009-10 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard, a biennial report from the Corporation for Enterprise Development.
The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit looks at how states measure up in dozens of economic and social indicators, The group’s latest scorecard, which examined 58 measures, graded North Carolina low because the state posted big declines in household net worth and large increases in “asset poverty,” a measure of families’ ability to survive a job loss.
“Many North Carolina residents are struggling to achieve financial security,” the group concludes.
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In addition to conducting surveys, CFED also makes recommendation to states on how they should address their most pressing problems, In North Carolina’s case, the group says, the state should increase the number of households with bank accounts and also consider expanding its funding for food- and income-support programs.
How much has your salary increased over the same number of years?
North Carolinians have seen their health insurance costs rise five times faster than their salaries over the last decade, according to a new report released Tuesday that is likely to add more fuel to the health care debate.
The report found that health care premiums in the state rose 96.8 percent from 2000 through 2009, while median individual earnings rose by 18.4 percent, according to the study by Families USA and by Action for Children North Carolina.
“Rising health care costs threaten the financial well-being of families in North Carolina and across the nation,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. “If health care reform does not happen soon, more and more families will be priced out of the health coverage they used to take for granted.”
In case you missed it, here’s President Obama’s weekly address which focuses on … you guessed it … health care reform:
Will we ever get anywhere if we’re constantly taking one step forward and two steps back? Sure we will. We’ll find ourselves drowning off the coast.
The North Carolina State Senate has voted overwhelmingly to ban large wind turbines from the state’s scenic western ridgelines.
The 42-1 vote on Thursday represents the strongest stand against wind turbines taken by lawmakers in any state. The bill would amend a 1983 “ridge law” to allow only turbines that are 100 feet or smaller to be placed on ridgelines above 3,000 feet. This effectively bars industrial-sized turbines — which can reach several hundred feet in height — from the windy mountaintops.
The bill has been sent to the state’s House of Representatives for consideration. However, the House is due to adjourn in a few days, so the debate is likely to resume after the legislature returns next May
March, according to Brandon R. Blevins, the wind program coordinator for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
More from Green, Inc., a New York Times blog.
More about wind energy in North Carolina:
Mamma Mia
Belk Theater
July 28, 2009
The Deal: Mamma Mia kicked off its Charlotte performances with a sold-out show at Belk Theater last night.
The Good: Mamma Mia is one of those musicals that you just know, is going to leave you singing tunes, like the all-too-catchy “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and lots more. But, without a grand cast to do the acting and singing, things could be very sour, even with the good melodies. This wasn’t the case at all last night though. The cast of Mamma Mia gave its all for an evening of sublime merriment. From the get go Liana Hunt, who played the young bride-to-be, Sophie, delivered a stellar solo. And then there’s Michelle Dawson, who played the part of Sophie’s mother, Donna. Dawson captured her part to a charm, along with sidekicks – Donna’s best buds – played by the charismatic Kittra Wynn Coomer and the lovely-legged Rachel Tyler. But, we can’t forget about the three lead men of the show, better referred to as Donna’s former lovers and the possible fathers of Sophie. Martin Kildare who played Bill, Michael Aaron Linder who played Harry, and John Hemphill who played Sam, were a jumble of humorous delight. Sophie’s future “hubby” Sky, played by Adam Jacobs, was a bit over-the-top along with his buds, but boy could they move in swim gear.
Crystal clear favorites of the evening were popular ditties “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S,” and “Take a Chance on Me,” but others in the mix didn’t stray from goodness. “Money, Money, Money” got a majority of the cast onto the stage at one time for some serious action, while “The Winner Takes All,” proved Michelle Dawson (Donna) doesn’t have trouble hitting high notes. In addition, “Under Attack,” was a surprising and innovative scene.
The entirety of the performance was excitingly energetic, leaving folks both caught up in the drama and the music. Audience members joined in with clapping on a few tunes, including “Take a Chance on Me,” and they even stood for the shows long and exciting grand finale.
The Bad: Well, I can’t say much for the show itself, but the weather last night was bad. It was a wet, wet night. Oh well, at least folks who left Belk Theater had the perfect tunes stuck in their heads for singing in the rain.
The Verdict: Mamma Mia is so much fun. How can you resist? Go see it. Performances continue through Aug. 2. Dates and times are as followed: July 29-30, 7:30 p.m.; July 31, 8 p.m.; Aug. 1, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Aug. 2, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For more information, click here.
Now, remember: Innocent until proven guilty.
To neighbors and friends, Daniel Boyd was a father who stopped his work at noon each day for prayer. Dylan Boyd, Daniel’s son, was a college student at N.C. State University who until last year worked as a clinical services technician at WakeMed Raleigh Campus. Mohammad Omar Aly Hassan was a newlywed; his father owns a Raleigh car dealership.
To federal authorities, these men and four others plotted to kill themselves and others in the name of Islam. Their activities, tracked by FBI agents over three years and detailed in federal indictments released Monday, tell of an elaborate scheme hatched in a quiet Johnston County neighborhood and nondescript apartment complexes across Raleigh and Cary.
You may want to take your last breath of smoke-filled air before you enter the vicinity of a N.C. hospital from now on. As of July 6 state hospitals will be officially tobacco free. This new rule applies to hospital sidewalks & parking lots as well. And FYI, you might as well catch on quick before Charlotte starts running these commercials:
Note: If you’re living in a house with a woman and her husband, avoid all drama and don’t get pregnant with his baby.
Now you can continue reading.
Simmons, who reportedly is six weeks pregnant, was stabbed in the side with a screwdriver and taken to Gaston Memorial Hospital. Her mother, Patsy May, 58, was treated for a wrist injury suffered when she tried to break up the fight. Family members asked the hospital not to release information about Simmons — or the condition of the unborn child.
“Where do you see Charlotte in 15 years?”
A family-friendly mini Hollywood or New York bringing in tons of money! How about you? OK, well, think about it.
This was the question posed to a group of teens as they began development on “The Crossroads Teen Theater Project.” The play is based off of self-written monologues which centered from numerous conversations between the teens and their director Kevin Campbell. And from the sound of things, it is set to be a hit.
