North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 02/17/1997

The It's Monday February 17th. Tonight training our state's workers to stay competitive in today's changing economy. In North Carolina now. Good evening I'm Remus Wright thanks so much for joining us as we begin another week of North Carolina now. Republican Senator Lott Faircloth was in our state's capitol today to discuss balancing the federal budget with members of North Carolina's General Assembly. We'll find out more about what he had to say later in the program. We also have a very

special treat for you tonight. Grammy nominee and resident Nina Freeland joins us the jazz singer will share with us her thoughts about her latest album and about the excitement involved with being nominated for a Grammy shall also share with us a very special song that she has written. That's also coming up a bit later in the program. But first tonight we focus on keeping North Carolina's workers competitive in today's changing economy. We've all seen the headlines about companies downsizing and laying off large numbers of employees. But those headlines simply show the stark reality of North Carolina's changing job market. Tonight Shannon Vicary shows us an innovative program in southeast North Carolina that's helping to put the unemployed back to work. Last December more than 600 people in Columbus County became casualties of North Carolina's changing job market. Textile manufacturer Ithaca industries shut down two of its Chad plants. Company officials say the

closure was a way to reduce costs and improve efficiency. But for plant workers Joyce King and Judy Bassett the shutdown was devastating. You can hear rumors and stuff around in the plant that they're going to cause a ripple because when you hear him so often to kind of put him in the back and let people have it. And then when they walk in here is the horse to state officials say if that guy industries is one of the largest North Carolina businesses to close its doors so far this fiscal year and here in Columbus County where the unemployment rate is more than 9 percent almost everyone here was hit and hit hard. We've had other layoffs before we've had other plant closings but never that number of people. When you think about our workforce in Columbus County is somewhere between 20 and 22000 people 600 was a pretty large number of your workforce being unemployed basically on the same day.

Teresa Triplett runs southeastern community colleges unique job link center. It's a pilot program to help the state's unemployed get back to work quickly and easily. The Job Link center is a partnership between the college the North Carolina Employment Security commission and many Columbus County businesses. When the news about Ithaca industries hit trouble it helped to organize a rapid response team to help textile employees like King and bass get back on their feet. Men long ago in the north side of New Math would apply online or in an hour. So instead of heading off to the sewing plant each morning both King and bass come to the job link Resource Center. Here they can study learn how to become better job applicants and just support each other as they literally start over. It's frightening for people. Change is always scary. And what it means is that people are going to have to obtain new scales several times a day in their lives. Remet Smith is a good example of that. She recently moved to North Carolina from New York where she worked as a medical assistant for a nursing home.

Once I relocated I didn't expect to have a job because I thought I had excellent skills. But Smith quickly learned how hard it can be to find a job in the Tarheel State even though she was looking for a job that related to her work in New York. That's why she decided to try southeastern to Job Link center. To help me look for job resources. And it was really heartwarming from of this day that no no resourses not knowing anyone not knowing the right people to go to. Well if you can imagine being someone who is unemployed and you go to one agency to find out about a job opening and then you have to go to another agency and find out about where do I get the training for that job. Then you have to go to another agency and figure out how to get transportation. Its a matter of going to five or six different agencies sometimes getting even conflicting information and then having to go home and sort all of that out. But at the Job Links center all the information and services needed to get a job are located in one place. Counselors are available to anyone

wanting a career sesame to show them what their job strengths are and where they need more training. If we apply for a job or we hear from one that we've already applied for we get in full life it's that you know we're hired is very important that we call you back and let you know that we are working so we didn't contact you draw it when I've been in the classroom. Program participants can learn more about the mechanics of getting the job from putting together a resume to what clothes to wear for a job interview. Job Link officials say for many people those types of skills may seem basic but to someone who suddenly finds themselves out of a job even day to day living can be a tough struggle at one time it is real depressing and you can lose yourself as things start feeling all bad and nobody wants me what's wrong. Today Smith says she looks back on those days and actually smiles. She's currently working as a medical assistant for the Columbus County Correctional Institution. A good paying job she was able to get only after some retraining at Southeastern.

As for bass and King they're finally on the road to recovery as they take classes and work to become registered nurses. You know not a lot out here that you know they've got the time to work we had to show you like me what you need. Denied. And it helps a lot. Honestly south they sing about only one this has failed with. It's a profound event may have sounded when. In all about half of the 600 people laid off by the at the closing now have new jobs thanks to the job link center and almost half of the people still unemployed are currently upgrading their skills at Southeastern southeastern community colleges job link center is one of eight such programs currently being tested in North Carolina. Many of the Job Links services are free or have a small fee for those who need a job link counsellors help them find financial aid childcare and in some cases transportation to the center. Meanwhile officials with the Employment Security Commission say they hope to soon

have similar One-Stop job centers open around the state by the way if you're interested in this topic of our changing economy make sure to tune in to North Carolina now on Thursday newly appointed commerce secretary Norris Tolson will be here to discuss a wide variety of topics dealing with our state's marketplace. Well still ahead on North Carolina now jazz singing sensation Nina Freeland. But first Bob Garner is manning the North Carolina now news desk for Michel Louis He joins us now with a look at today's statewide have lines. Welcome Bob. Thanks Maria. Good evening everyone. A visit from one of North Carolina senators tops our news this evening. Republican senator Locke fere cloth met with state lawmakers in Raleigh today for coffee was working to drum up support for an amendment to balance the federal budget. The senator pointed out that lawmakers often propose spending plans as being for our nation's children but Fairclough says a balanced budget would be a gift to future generations.

We want to do something for the children grandchildren and children yet unborn. It could leave them. Up country either out of debt or at least common I'm the Republican leader of North Carolina's House Harold Baker joined fair cloth and threw his support behind the senator's efforts. Senator Jesse Helms was also scheduled to be on hand for the news conference but he did not attend. State officials are considering a move to allow some tax revenue agents to carry weapons. Officials say the action is a response to the growing aggressiveness of tax protestors tax officials seeking a conversation with a tax debtor reportedly often find confrontation. One state official says the situation has become quote scary. In one instance officials collected 14 firearms from a tax protesters property including an AK 47. Many tax protesters declare that state and federal governments have no right to collect taxes. Mounting student loan defaults are leading to some new measures at North Carolina's historically black colleges. University financial

records indicate there is a 14 percent higher default rate than at predominantly white institutions nationwide. Some black colleges are expanding their financial aid departments by adding a default manager. One such manager at Shaw University says her office stresses the consequences of taking out a loan. She also advises that borrowing should be the very last option. The state is developing guidelines to gauge when a leaking underground storage tank needs to be removed. More than one third of the 15:00 leaking underground storage tanks discovered each year in North Carolina are considered low risk health hazards. Under current rules the state is not obligated to clean up those areas and the community must deal with any minor health threat. The public will have a chance to comment on the new proposals at three hearings slated for next month. Virginia Beach has won another round in the legal fight over the Lake Gaston pipeline. A judge says opponents of the pipeline have not been injured by a Virginia law supporting the project. Among the complainants

congressional leaders from 11 states including North Carolina the judge did say he will consider allowing landowners along the Roanoke River to keep the suit alive if they can prove they would suffer if Virginia Beach is allowed to draw water from Lake Gaston. A private foundation is trying to raise money to protect a Mars Hill landmark. Organizers are worried about the impact of potential development on Bailey Melton. They're trying to raise $200000 to purchase a large portion of the mountain and interstate running near that mountain was recently finished. And now organizers worry about residential construction in the area. Two hundred twelve acres would be purchased with private money and that would be matched with a grant from the State Parks and Recreation trust fund. Supporters of the effort envision a park with hiking trails and interpretive displays. Well looking ahead to tomorrow's weather the beginning of a warming trend will send temperatures surging into the upper 50s and 60s. Highs of 58 in Asheville the triangle and Elizabeth City are forecast for

Tuesday. Abundant sunshine is predicted to accompany the higher temperatures across the entire state added tonight's business news. The introduction of managed health care into Mecklenburg County Medicaid program appears to be working. A six month review of the revamped health insurance program finds that few Medicaid patients placed in health maintenance organizations later decided to change plans. Mecklenburg County officials expect the program to save about seven million dollars annually once all 33000 eligible recipients are enrolled Mecklenburg Cally's use of HMO This is the only program of its kind in the state. The former deco tech plant in McDowell County is reopening after being closed for six months. Let our corp advisers which is based in White Plains New York has purchased the building Lasar will reopen the plant as Marian mills. The building is the county's oldest manufacturing plant. Marion mills will produce woven goods and yarn and employ around 300 people. The stock market was closed

today due to the Presidents Day Holiday Inn. Our guest tonight has been described as the most compelling mainstream jazz vocalist of the 90s. Her latest CD is titled shaking free for which she is nominated for a Grammy for best jazz vocal performance. It's an honor to welcome to the program tonight Nina Freeland welcome. Thank you Maria it's good to be here well it's so exciting to have you here. Let's talk about shaking free. I read a lot of reviews on your new album and a lot of the critics really seem to point

to this album as the big turning point in your career this is the you have a rived album do you see it that way. I do. I do. This is the first this is the fourth album and it's introduced me to a new audience. It's the first time I've been able to record a project with my own group. And so there's a level of comfort there and a level of joy that I and part of my personality that I think is coming through very strong so I'm really proud of this record. Why this album as opposed to the other three or that you have recorded with maybe I'm getting better. I think actually two years of touring we toured all over the United States and in Europe and I think that hard work on the road really funneled its way into the music. I think what you hear on the album is an artist who's grown more experienced and more comfortable with herself and knows herself a little bit better. So I think that's part of what's coming through this new album is on a new record label for you you were originally with

Columbia which is a major record label and this one is with a smaller label. Yes but but well-established and well established well respected label called good records. I count myself as very lucky. Having cut my teeth on the biggest label in the world and now moving to a smaller label there's more creative control and more freedom to do the kinds of things that I want to do so I'm really happy. A lot of the a lot of the critics who really point to you as being somebody who is very good in interpretating the music of making something your own. Why do you think that that skill of interpretation is so important. Well this is jazz music. And very often you're covering tombs that have been written some of them before I was born actually and have been covered by the masters Sarah Vaughan Ella Fitzgerald Billie Holiday. And your only hope is really to tell your own story through the song The songs have been done well many of them many many many times. And so your job as a jazz singer is to tell your own story with your own

voice through this music so it's it's kind of required that you speak uniquely through through the music. It's as much as you can talk about the Grammys who are nominated and they won't the awards will be later this month and you were nominated before but when I was speaking to you prior to this interview this nomination is of particular importance to you why the first nomination was for an arrangement of a song on my first album and that was wonderful for the first time out to get that nod. But this time it's vocal jazz performance which means my peers have noticed what I do as an artist I'm a singer and so Best Vocal Jazz Performance is sort of giving you some acknowledgment for what you do as a singer not as an arranger or as a producer but but as a singer so that makes it very special. Is it possible for you to verbalize that feeling that you felt when you found out you were nominated. No.

No. Well. Just imagine it was very exciting it was exciting I don't know that I had really sunk in right away. I didn't expect it. These are the kind of things that you when you're working hard that you pay attention to. It was just a wonderful thrill. I mean I'm sure you can imagine how it would feel to get a telephone call and have someone say you know it's a wonderful wonderful feeling and the company is wonderful company with some well-established beautiful singers so I'm excited. Well we wish you luck on that. Thank you. Let's talk about Durham and Durham is your home he was there for quite a while. Why do you stay in Durham. I mean not that Durham isn't a great place to live but I imagine you might have some other opportunities in L.A. or Chicago or New York. Well there's no real reason for me to leave at this point this is my home. The Durham community community in North Carolina as a whole gave birth to me as an artist I was born in in Boston and raised in Cambridge but I came here as an adult as a young adult and grew up here in my adult years I'll put it that way. And

so. It's wonderful to be in the place where you started. This is really the place where I started singing and it's wonderful to run into people in the grocery store and you know one of the people used to hear me singing in schools and all around in this one hour and 10 minutes from from New York. And this is home. I my husband and I really love it here and we have three kids and they're in the schools here and we have friends here we have connections here so this is like my second home. And I have no intention of leaving badge and now it's also a great place to raise your kids as you know is just some of those other communities you know. Yeah and I think the illusion is that you must go to these major. Places like New York and L.A. in order to make it I'm one of the lucky people who has made it without having to do that so the reasons to do that don't exist for

me. Let's talk about what's next for Nina for a line you just got off a major tour you're planning on touring again is there another album in the works. There is another album in the works and I am planning to tour going to Japan in the spring that will be my first time in Japan so I'm excited about that will be going to Europe in the summer. Just many wonderful opportunities are coming as a result of the Grammy nomination I'm coming to the attention of some people who didn't know about me before so it's very it's a very exciting time. Wait till you know when that I'll get you or I wish you so much like I am and you will do the honor of singing for us tonight I'd love to. OK. What are you going to say. I'm going to sing a song that I wrote for my daughter Maya and my good friend Scott Sawyer who's been working with me for many many years many of the listeners may remember having seen us perform in the Triangle area and all around North Carolina so I'm real happy that he's he's going to join me for this song and he's on the album as well. And we do it as a duet on the album so we thought it be really nice to celebrate being 13 years old with this

song Blue daughter. So here is the song Nina Freeland wrote for her daughter. It's called Blue daughter off her latest CD shaking free. Here's Nina Freeland. Scott Sawyer and I would like to do a song that I wrote called Blue daughter Blue daughter celebrates the changing of young girl to young woman blue daughter. Oh. I'm

becoming. What a remarkable voice and such a gracious lady. The Grammy Awards will be held

February 26 along with MS Freeland gospel singer Shirley Caesar who was also a guest on this program earlier in the month is also nominated and the Sugar Hill record label based in Durham has several of its artists nominated Sugar Hill founder and president Barry poss will be our guest on the 26. But please make plans to join us tomorrow as Mack Jarvis the new secretary of corrections joins us and Shana Vicary takes a look at how proposed cuts to Medicare could affect the health of many North Carolinians. We'll also continue our celebration of Black History Month as Bob Gardner introduces us to a Greensboro man who went on a six year journey of self-discovery to trace his family history. We hope to see you tomorrow night in the meantime. Have a great evening. Good night.