North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 06/10/1994

Tonight Cornelius Happy Friday to you everyone I'm wide awake and I'm Michel Louis filling in for John Basin who will be singing later tonight on legislative week in review. And speaking of the legislature the Senate passed its budget this week and the House will be working on its budget next week. And I guess when the House gets its house in order then the House and Senate will get together and try to reach some type of compromise. So yeah the goal is to try to adjourn before the 4th of July they haven't done that in quite a while but they seem to be very serious about doing it this time. And we'll hear more about the legislature in just a bit.

We'll also hear from Cornelius and the American dance festival began last night and we'll have two guests from here to talk about the to recline that they have a lot of arts and a lot of art. We are very artistic but yes we are but our legislative weekend review takes a look at groups that are lobbying to get state funds. This week the Coens is being lobbied for cover a wide range of interests. There is little likelihood the senators expected universal praise for their budget but they might have wished for that to be a little more drive before Superintendent of Public Instruction Bob Etheridge waded into the Senate's plan. There is more money in the budget for basketball arena than there is a technology for the 1.1 million school children in the state of North Carolina. There is more money for an auditorium than there is for the 1.1 million school children in the state of North Carolina Etheridge says he wants some more technology money and a group of elementary and middle students showed off what they can do with

technology in the legislative committee room. Yeah I am a painless transplant is the demonstration was put on by the North Carolina Educational Technology Commission which has to have some clout to get students who are on summer vacation to even show up for one of the things they were trying to decide in the legislature is how much money they put into the instruction I answered. There are some good out there for the senators head of the family still or what our students are doing with technology our lives are going to hell or something some are blocking was an everyday occurrence this week folks wanting to assure a 10 million dollar annual fund for park turned out and then work the halls at a news conference which boasted the politically strange bedfellows of the Sierra Club's Bill Holdman and the citizens for business and industries Phil Kirk. A group plug for having state parks receive all of the surcharge on every deed transfer in the state. When this bill was originally introduced in the in the Senate sort of best

night the dollar was to be used for the purposes of contain this bill. What happened they came up with that shortfall and only 15 percent of it went to the historic nature Bruiser and the rest of it got sent off to the general fund and we were working on this thing at the time and says they had a budget shortfall then the money had just been going to the general fund. So it is our belief that that was the original intent of the bill when it was introduced and I think it's only appropriate that we ought to follow through and sort of do all these new dollars going into general dedicated for the barber save the original bill was introduced. The bill has passed the Senate but and it seems there's always a but in this case House budget maker Martin Nesbitt says the money is already spent and cannot be earmarked for parks. And in the case of this bill on the front end they missed the point that that money has already been spent. I mean usually when you have a dedicated phone at least somebody brings you a new revenue.

Supporters of children's issues also turn down bills of interest range from health insurance to restricting youngsters from riding in the back of pickup trucks. So I've seen a tremendous growth and the involvement of pediatricians in state government and this is just one more way of getting a few more of us active with the government structures that determine children's health as a government function almost because so many children are Mourne into dysfunctional families and poverty today that government has to figure out ways to take care of them and pediatricians are the best people to tell government exactly how you provide for the life and death needs of children. And the North Carolina nursing center came with a series of recommendations. So basically those are the five areas of greatest need providing transitional education as nurses move out of hospitals and into community settings educating hospital nurses to better manage supervise training

ancillary personnel increase emphasis on gerontology diversifying the nursing workforce and advanced practice nurses. So those are really the areas hit through the center for nursing in this excellent taskforce that we're recommending the nursing community and the health care industry focus on the center works on various nursing issues and was developed in the wake of a severe nursing shortage six years ago. Appropriations cochairman MS but noted the request don't cost a lot of money. Of course a proposed pay raise for state employees is a big ticket item in the budget. Governor Jim Hunt joined state workers for a barbecue across the street from the legislative building. The governor's request for a 4 percent raise and a 1 percent onetime bonus is in the Senate budget and should get the house too. And lest we think that all the talk was still money this week it was a leftover item from the crime session to be considered a House subcommittee will take a long look at a bill passed

by the Senate in the crime session. That measure sponsored by Caldwell County Senator Dianne Kincaid. So it's to clarify instances in which homeowners could use deadly force to deal with intruders. And House budget leaders say they may have a budget out as early as next Tuesday. For more insight into the week's activities of the General Assembly Be sure to tune into legislative week in review tonight at 10:00 p.m.. And now for something a bit lighter. North Carolina has long been the home of many jazz greats. The Loneliest monk and John Coltrane among them a unique vocalist is about to join the ranks of North Carolina jazz alumni. Cornelius has come a long way from our days as a protege of Brother Yusef flame at the cafe deja vu and Raleigh producer Bill Hannah and I have a chance to witness her talents in person at Duke University. Do you

eat corn yes vocal chips often. Yeah two of the SE most respected jazz artists. They make you know a guy started singing you know the little girl of course you know we all sing back then but I started singing seriously when I moved to North Carolina in the late 70s you met Brother Yousef for me at the Catlin a jazz club. I used to go over there and sit and try to sing with everybody and then when I finally did get the USEF he was so inviting and friendly and you know gave me such a warm reception that I sang with him for years all around the state. You said it was a cheerleader always encouraging and supporting a youthful in her.

Over the years Eve's voice has matured. She's learning piano and has formally studied music at area university. Sure. Even Chip had known each other for five years and one day each. Why don't we hook up. Chip thought it was a good idea and they'd been a duo who were trying to do something we really admired the people I have it and he does to people who have tried to travel the path less traveled. What we want to do is take it to the next step. Those guys are part of this because they started the phones with all that need to get to the next big thing and they're going to see it so we do stuff we try to sing that

the notes less traveled to see him sing the rhythms less traveled and if there's a copy of it it's going to be a confident less travel if we can because that can be exciting. Just man we maybe need to move in with the West. What a voice. I can do that. Yeah I think I have a migraine headache. By the way it will be one of the featured artist later this summer at the New Moon Jazz and Blues Festival August 5th and 6th at the Art Center in Corporal North Carolina.

For more information call area code 9 1 9 9 2 9 2 7 8 7. Now coming up Michel Louis will fill us in on the news events from around the state and later on I'll talk with tonight's guests who are from the American dance festival so stay tuned in. Now here's a review of today's news from around North Carolina. Convicted killer David Lawson led today's early morning deadline pass without exercising his right to decide on the method of his execution. That means barring a late reprieve he'll be put to death by

cyanide gas early next Wednesday morning for the 1980 murder of Wayne shin of Concord North Carolina law requires that a condemned inmate be executed in the gas chamber unless the end may choose its lethal injection within five days before the execution. Lawson has said previously that he would not make a choice because that would be equivalent to his acquiescing to the execution. Late yesterday a federal judge in Greensboro rejected arguments from Lawson's attorney that death in the gas chamber is cruel and unusual punishment. U.S. District Court Judge Stafford Bullock ruled that Lawson will not get a stay of execution Lawson's attorney has appealed that ruling to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond Virginia. And Raleigh the General Assembly continues to grind away at a budget plan. The Senate has passed its version and currently the House Appropriations subcommittee are going over the various requests from the governor and individual members of the legislature. The subcommittee chairman are now pulling together all this information we're trying to put an

overall balanced package. And that's going to take a little while to do it once we complete that process and have a balanced package than this then the individual subcommittees will go back they will hear and listen to the individual piece of the budget that applies to that subcommittee and then those subcommittees report to the full committee and the full committee will take action probably on Monday or Tuesday probably more on Tuesday of next week. Once the house has a budget it must be reconciled with the Senate spending package. The House plan will probably have more money for education than the Senate proposal. This sets the stage for a lot of political bargaining to be done before a final budget is adopted. A state senator is declaring economic war against Florida California and Texas on behalf of North Carolina tobacco farmers. Senator Sandy sands of Rockingham County has filed a bill that would levy an excise tax of two cents on every piece of citrus fruit brought into North Carolina. It also requires anyone

carrying citrus fruit into the state to pay an inspection feet. The legislation is in retaliation against the three states which have taken lead roles in the fight against the tobacco industry. Florida recently enacted a new law that lets the state suit tobacco companies on behalf of all smokers who are on Medicaid. And California Congressman Henry Waxman is leading the charge against tobacco in Congress. Sand says it's time that someone stood up for North Carolina which is the largest tobacco producing state with a one billion dollar annual crop. Chancellor is one of the state's historically black colleges say their schools don't get as much funding as their white counterparts. And a lawsuit may be necessary to change that. Leaders from four historically black colleges in the 16 campus U NC system spoke before a subcommittee of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Julius chambers chancellor of NC Central says he doesn't think the USC system complies with the Supreme Court ruling which states that merely opening admission to members of all races is not enough to end racial segregation.

You may soon have to pay a toll to get over to the Outer Banks. A House committee has approved a Senate bill that would establish a state bridge authority under the new legislation the authority would have the power to build maintain repair and operate toll bridges in North Carolina. The legislation specifically calls for the authority to build a bridge between the mainland and the Outer Banks in Dare County. The bill gives the authority power to establish tolls not to exceed $10 per vehicle and not more than $500 for yearly pass to cross the bridge. Traditionally North Carolina has prided itself on being able to avoid tolls to fund highway improvements. Today it was cloudy and rainy across most of the state. High temperatures were mostly in the mid 70s and low 80s but in the Triad area it only got up to 66 degrees. Tonight there is a chance of rain and thunderstorms everywhere in the state except in the Elizabeth Syrian city area here only cloudy

skies are expected lows will be in the 60s statewide tomorrow the entire state can expect yet another wet and cloudy day with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs will be in the 70s everywhere except in the Wilmington area. There it will be 80 degrees North Carolina auto parts suppliers will get one hundred twenty million dollars worth of business from Toyota this year. That commitment is up from one hundred million dollars in 1993. Toyota Motor Manufacturers manufacturing USA Incorporated has 10 parts suppliers in North Carolina accounting for about 2000 jobs. Hundreds of North Carolina gun dealers have decided their licenses are no longer worth the hassle. Between January and May one in 10 gun dealers in the state have given up their licenses or decided not to renew them. Stricter local state and federal laws are the reason so many gun dealers are bailing out of the business. The number of gun dealers

in the state has dropped to under 6000. It's expected that number will continue to dwindle because the number of pending applications is also falling. Stocks chalked up some solid gains today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than 20 points to close at thirty seven somebody three point forty five advancers beat decliners by about a four to three margin. Two hundred twenty two million shares were traded. The Standard Poor's 500 index gained less than a point and the Nasdaq composite index rose more than five points. Now for some stocks of North Carolina interest. The state of North Carolina has many diverse cultural treasures quite notable is the

nationally renowned American Dance Festival headquartered at Duke University. This year ADF celebrates its 60th anniversary and from now until July 23rd you have a chance to experience some exquisite modern dance performances in page auditorium at Duke University. Here to talk about the festival are humanities Director Gerald Meyers and ATF on tour director art waver. Thank you so much for being here. Yes thank you for having us Audrey. Now for a lot of people myself included I thought ADF was just a series a few weeks long series of dance performances but it's much more than that is. That's right sometimes I think people the ministering the special wish they were only six weeks. But it's a 12 month year round operation and a very vigorous year round conducting all kinds of activities including international events so that although it's most visible here during June and July for the festival season it's operating all the time behind the scenes and sometimes visibly. But actually internationally

the year and I should add that the reputation of the festival is not merely a place where dances are conducted for audiences during June and July but it's the leading arts cultural institution in the country and conduct many other activities including educational and cultural historical types of events and the sponsors. All right. I know part of the events that happened during this six week period is training and teaching for students not only here in America but international students. I bet it's quite a coup to to be able to participate. It's a great coup as an administrator to participate in the American Dance Festival this is my my sixth festival it's a pleasure to be here and our school has one of the most extensive if not the most extensive training program for students of all levels from from all over the world here. Now it started in 1934 but not at Duke University. It was here at Duke in 78 began in 78 but where did it began and

why. Well began in Bennington Vermont as a summer respite from the New York City heat for the founders including masa Graham and others whose names I think your viewers would recognize. So it was founded in Vermont in 1934 and then it moved eventually to Connecticut College in Connecticut. And then in 1700 here to Duke University now you've got so much I want to jump right into what's happening these next six weeks now. It began last night with the last group that everybody knows because they're so exciting. But in addition to what else is in store for patrons and others these next six weeks coming up this this next week we have a very exciting program featuring the world around Katherine Dunham and perhaps your You'd like to talk about for a moment. Katherine Dunham who many regard is the lady who helped. African-Americans they recognized as serious modern concert dance sagas will be with us next week

as part of a whole complex of activities which we have described as the black tradition in American modern dance or sometimes African-American perspectives on modern dance and those activities will include downtown Durham on Wednesday night the 15th at 6 o'clock at the Durham Arts Council. A wonderful program which will include some dance demonstration by leading dancer in this country a wonderful dancer named Sherry Williams with a contemporary dance company in the temporary dance company and Cleo Parker Robinson dance on the song from Denver Colorado. We'll share a very very exciting program Thursday and Friday and Saturday nights June 16th 17th and 18th. It's sounds absolutely wonderful. The date tonight is a tremendous organization. And one thing I have noticed looking at the lineup of performers is you really try to get a nice mixture of different types of dance ethnic groups not only from America but internationally as well is that one of the major goals.

Exactly right. And the other companies that will be very interesting for the audiences here representing. Well we're not we're not really concerned about defining these groups as asked like at all. They're just great modern dance troops but they happen to be from different ethnic backgrounds and so we have groups like Bill T Jones and Ralph lamb and then over there all the other very exciting groups like Mark then the Mark Morris and Maggie Moran from France and so we were Louis. GROSS So you goes on and on. So you're quite right. It's it's too much for us to be able to describe it a few moments. But you're right it's a very balanced and very representative program of the best of America in modern times. Well before we end this we have to be sure to give a number so that anyone who wants and I'm sure all of our viewers will want to get tickets to performances. Let's give the number of the box office where they can get it and there it is on the screen 9 1 9 6 8 4 or

4. And also if they want to get other information about who's performing they can call that number they can give them another number. But it goes until July 23rd and it's more than performances it's education and it's culture and it's here in North Carolina and it's something now the 60th anniversary this is part two of a 60th anniversary so you've been celebrating before but the best part of the celebrations here in North Carolina. Right. That's what the rest what we tell the country. Oh definitely. Well we hope that everyone will attend a dance festival and perhaps we'll have you back we'll even show some performances and maybe even get some dancers here. Yes so those people need more information about what's going on because a so rich will be happy to supply the logo either over the phone or without a chair but they sometimes and we certainly do welcome everybody when we have tours we have public tours going on every day. OK. Thank you very much Dr. Myers and just way we appreciate it. Thank you. Now we'd like to get your response to North Carolina now

enjoys suggestions as well. Simply call our viewer comment line at 9 1 9 5 4 9 7 8 0 8. Or write us at P.O. Box 1 4 9 0 0 RTP NC 2 7 7 0 9. You can fax a message to 9 1 9 5 4 9 7 0 4 3. Or try our Internet address. You and CTV at AOL period com whatever you do please give us a daytime phone number in case we need to reach you. I should also mention on June 19th Albert Duke University choreographer Trisha Brown is going to receive the Samuel Scripps Award for lifetime achievement which includes a $25000 award that's pretty good. Do you think this award is available for maybe some budding Coho. I don't think so. I don't think so. I thought I'd try anyway. I want to remind you of course to watch. Legislate that we can review tonight at 10 o'clock with John Benson Elizabeth Hardy and Harrison. Yes it is so you can catch up on all the

week's activity at our general assembly. And we hope you'll be with us next week will have a feature on also harmless research and a violin maker and willing Pen who was the producer composer of the Riverrun documentary which airs Monday night at 9 o'clock it's all about the Cape Fear River it's absolutely beautiful it's a program you won't want to miss but you'll hear more about that on Monday. So join us then have a terrific weekend and a safe weekend please. Until then I watch your case by early. Thanks for joining us I'm Michel Louis. Goodnight.