Youngest NC voters can’t cast ballot on Amendment One

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012, 4:02pm

RALEIGH, N.C. — Some of North Carolina’s youngest voters are getting a chance to pick candidates for November’s general election, but they won’t be able to vote on the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

State elections director Gary Bartlett said Tuesday that officials have received less than a dozen complaints across the state from 17-year-old voters angry they did not get to vote on the marriage ban.

State law allows 17-year-olds to vote in primaries as long as they will be 18 by the general election in November. But Bartlett said those voters cannot cast a ballot on the amendment because that issue is being decided Tuesday.

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Moderate turnout as voters decide on candidates, Amendment One

Submitted by MyFox8_Web_Staff

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012, 7:21am

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina voting officials say turnout picked up in the final hours before the polls close in primaries across the state.

State elections director Gary Bartlett said Tuesday evening that turnout increased in the afternoon, especially in the mountains after the rain moved out of the eastern part of the state.

Bartlett says he thinks turnout could top the 37 percent that voted in the 2008 elections.

Bartlett says it has been a smooth day for voters overall and few problems have been reported.

A constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage is driving turnout, but North Carolina voters also are choosing nominees for governor, 13 congressional districts, nine of the 10 Council of State positions and dozens of General Assembly seats.

Polls closed at 7:30 p.m.
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This article was provided by The Associated Press Wire. (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Campaigns work on last day before primary (sample ballots)

Submitted by MyFox8_Web_Staff

Monday, May 7th, 2012, 7:39am

RALEIGH, N.C. — Candidates in hundreds of North Carolina primary elections have one more day to try to persuade voters they’re the right choice.

Monday also marks the last full day of campaigning on both sides of the marriage amendment on Tuesday’s primary ballots as well. Religious leaders and clergy who support the constitutional amendment planned rallies Monday in Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro. Ministers opposing the amendment held a large rally Sunday in the Triad.

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New Yadkin River bridge to open on Saturday

Submitted by MyFox8_Web_Staff

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012, 1:44pm

SALISBURY, N.C. — The replacement for an aging and deficient bridge on Interstate 85 in North Carolina will open this weekend, easing traffic along a key route between Atlanta and points north.

Gov. Beverly Perdue said Thursday the new I-85 North bridge over the Yadkin River near Salisbury will open early Saturday.

“This new bridge is part of a more than $200 million investment we’ve made to widen I-85 and replace the aging bridges over the Yadkin River,” said Gov. Perdue.

Construction started on the new I-85 North bridge in February 2011. At its peak, more than 200 people worked 24-hours a day, six to seven days a week to complete the new bridge on time. Crews finished building the 0.5-mile bridge in roughly 14 months, an impressive accomplishment by construction industry standards.

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Komen fundraising dives in Triad after national flap

Submitted by MyFox8_Web_Staff

Thursday, April 26th, 2012, 6:01am

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Fundraising has plummeted for the local affiliate of the breast cancer nonprofit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, partly because of the row stirred up last winter by the national Komen organization over its decisions to withdraw — and then restore — funding to Planned Parenthood.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure N.C. Triad Affiliate has seen its registration numbers drop 39 percent, from 7,606 at this time last year to 4,654, less than two weeks ahead of its signature annual fundraiser known as the Race for the Cure. Participants raise money by running or walking 5 kilometers, or about 3 miles. This year’s event is May 5, starting from Salem College.

Fundraising has dropped 43 percent, from $219,736 to $126,418, officials said.

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Gov. Perdue’s jet makes unscheduled landing; none hurt

Submitted by MyFox8_Web_Staff

Friday, April 20th, 2012, 2:58pm

MORRISVILLE, N.C. — A state-owned jet carrying North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue has made an unscheduled landing after concerns the plane’s landing gear wasn’t working properly.

Perdue press secretary Chris Mackey said the Cessna Citation left Raleigh-Durham International Airport about 12:30 p.m. Friday, but its pilots decided to return when the aircraft began vibrating excessively soon after takeoff. Mackey said the plane landed safety with all the landing gear working and emergency equipment on standby at the airport. No one was hurt.

The plane carried Perdue, Mackey and a state trooper, along with two pilots. Perdue was heading to Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro for a furniture jobs announcement in High Point.

Mackey said the plane was being inspected by maintenance workers.
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This article was provided by The Associated Press Wire. (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Ashley Furniture to open plant, create 550 jobs in Davie Co.

Submitted by MyFox8_Web_Staff

Friday, April 20th, 2012, 1:48pm

DAVIE COUNTY, N.C. — State officials announced Friday that Ashley Furniture will open a manufacturing and distribution center in Davie County, bringing with it more than 500 jobs.

State Deputy Secretary of Commerce Dale Carroll made the announcement at the High Point Furniture Market. The $80 million project is expected to create 550 jobs over a period of five years.

“It’s a good environment. We feel there is a good workforce there. The RJR facility fits our needs well, and it has a lot of room for expansion,” said Ron Wanek with Ashley.

Ashley will convert RJR’s former tobacco drying and and storage facility into a 1.3 million square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility.

Todd Wanek, Ashley Furniture CEO, said the company also was impressed with something else besides the logistics: the attitude.

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