North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 01/04/1995

The TONIGHT how did that to Marion's minutes ticking 900 animals healthy at the North Carolina Zoo. And good evening to you everyone and glad you could join us tonight our guest Tom Lauria of the Tobacco Institute in Washington DC will respond to last night's

Frontline documentary The nicotine war. That program looked at the question of whether nicotine should be regulated as a drug and Mr. Loria will give us the tobacco industry's viewpoint and I'll take you to the toughs houses and out in the North Carolina mountains. It's a lovely bed and breakfast located in such a peaceful and scenic setting that makes it a great place to get away. But first Maria Lundberg will take us to the North Carolina Zoo where we'll see the incredible work that one group of zoo professionals does here. And that's right even if the weather has turned a little cooler the North Carolina Zoo is a great place to visit any time of the year. Tonight reporter Maria Lundberg and producer Jim Bramlett go behind the scenes to see how soon veterinarians care for more than 900 animals. Tells me. Did you ever wonder how to brush a lion or check to see if a zebra has a cold. Well those are just two of the problems that have to

be solved by the veterinarians here at the North Carolina Zoo here at the North Carolina Zoo we have about 160 species of animals we have to be able to deal with all of those. Apart from that we have to be able to handle our animals differently than a regular veterinarian might in order to deliver that medical care to the animals. A lot of the animals we have are our large powerful and potentially dangerous animals. So we have to be able to approach those animals and deliver the appropriate amount of restraint on those animals to be able to treat them the way we need to. The veterinarians perform an annual check ups on the animals as part of an aggressive preventive medicine program. But they must also handle any special problems which arise and that treatment can include some very unusual procedures from time to time we find animals that have fractured teeth or have cavities etc. that we have to have to deal

with. This year we found two animals actually that had broken canine teeth and require root canals. We had a problem of infertility and two female gorillas that we have here at the north as part of the work up for those for the infertility that we've had in these animals. We perform laparoscopic examinations of the ALS and we actually insert a telescope into the abdomen of the animal and then we can look at the reproductive track now to see if we see any physical abnormality is that would be done. Dr Loomis says the veterinary staff depends on the zoo keepers to alert them to any potential health problems. The zoo keepers are really extremely important in the health care of the animals because they're the people that are there seeing those animals on a day to day basis. They know the animals very well so they're able to pick up on just minor changes in their behavior or our activity or their food consumption that will alert them to the fact that something's

wrong. One case was when a giraffe had a problem with its hook. Well the draft had an overgrown hook and the hook was over growing to the point that it was causing the animal to be lame. It was actually hurting the foot of the animal causing a deformity. We felt that it was going to be necessary to go ahead and trim that one so we didn't risk of further damage to the foot. Any time you know supplies an animal there's always a chance that animal's not going to recover from a seizure just like in human medicine or certain percentage of cases that don't recover from anesthesia. Medical staff members monitored the anesthesia and heart rate of the giraffe while a farrier trimmed the overgrown hoofs. We also radiograph or took X-rays of the heart so that you can see the actual location of the bone. And to look closely we didn't risk having too much of the book while responding to some of the sensitive issues but once we managed to get the book for him

and took various sample blood samples etc. that we needed then we gave the animal a drug that reverses the narcotic that we used to anesthetize an animal with. Once we did that we were able to kind of push the animal up as it was trying to stand and then the animal recovered from that fairly often and the tram did help the YAML automatically and decrease the lameness considerably. Procedures like this one enable the animals to stay in good health and to return to the usual routine like munching on leaves and feeling frisky enough to nudge a zebra out of the way. Most visitors to the zoo probably don't think about what a big job it is to try to keep all these animals healthy. They may not be covered by President Clinton's health care plan but you can be sure that the zoo animals are getting some of the most specialized medical treatment in North Carolina. Veterinarians

at the zoo not only take excellent care of the animals but they also play an important training role. The zoo and North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine co-sponsor a program for vet school graduates who wish to specialize as zoo veterinarians. If you'd like to visit the North Carolina Zoo it's located on Highway 1 59 6 miles southeast of borough. Hours are nine to five seven days a week. That mission is $6 for adults $4 for children and senior citizens. For more details call 1 800 4 8 8 0 4 4 4. Some of the exhibits closed during the winter for repairing cleaning so you may want to call to get that information if you plan to visit the zoo in the next few months. Well every once in a while we all need to take a break from our hectic schedules. And we found a great getaway spot. We like to share with you that spot overlooks the Elk River valley between beach and sugar mountains. That's where I found a quiet and restful bed and breakfast called the tough house in.

Hectic scenes are all too familiar and bustle is getting to you. Why not try the flip side. Nancy and Dee Barnett tried it for a good many years. We were doing our kids were back in but the Barnetts didn't come to the Western North Carolina mountains just for they came for keeps the dream come true. They gave the fans to become here at the ANZ has gone from therapist to gourmet chef and believe me a good one at that. Dean has responsibilities too.

Out of the way he's not allowed to step down. The baronet's take great pride in creating a warm and inviting home for their guests a reflection of themselves. Their job is to create a laid back environment. There's a lot of personal satisfaction with seeing somebody come and they're a little bit up tight and they come up here on the first night you may see him sitting on that couch with her sprawled out watching the fire eating popcorn. And you know you really feel that you've accomplished what you were supposed to do. This cozy house tucked in the southern highlands of North Carolina allows guests to have plenty of R&R along with the peace and serenity of the mountains. But this home also has historical significance for the community of better oak. That's because the name toughs dates back to the 1900s when Edgar tops

a Presbyterian minister came to Banner Elk and saw the need for a church and school here. It was Edgar Jr. that acted on the idea in his own really. Then picked up the visions of his father and took the fireside school on to a junior college level. Developed A beautiful college in being around which is really a keystone of the town. The other thing that Egger tuff did the son he built the grandfather orphanage which again is a beautiful facility just on the east side of town. Edgar Jr. built this home in the valley in the 30s. Now 60 years later the Barnetts are proud to carry on the distinguished history even Edgar Tusk the third has visited and run to the Barnett touch two years that they've honored his heritage. They've done that by restoring antiques from the period of the 30s and 40s when the toughs family lived there. In addition each of the

three guest rooms are uniquely decorated. This one comfortably rustic. Made locally by Charles Harden who is a wonderful folk artist. This bed a sassafras wood upstairs you'll find this high bed with those soft old linens ironed to perfection. The original tile floors in the baths and wooden floors throughout the house Nancy and Dean have decorated by including personal pieces like this layup made by Dean's father. And this quilt made by Nancy's grandmother with great sentimental value and the signature style of the home rabbits reminiscent of the Barnetts search for this perfect home. Well this was the end of a very long day of looking at property and we pulled into the driveway here and there was this sweet little brown rabbit right in the driveway and that's all she wrote I mean that with our welcome and we felt welcome ever since. And you will feel welcome here too and you will know that even though you'll have to get back to the

grind at least for a short time during your visit here you'll be relaxed and at peace. If you'd like more information about the tough house in you can call 7 0 4 8 9 8 7 9 4 4. For more information on B and B's in North Carolina call the North Carolina bed and breakfast association that number 1 800 8 4 9 5 3 9 2. Now if you want more information on the history of Lees McRae college you can pick up a book entitled A sacred flame. Now Michel Louis will be here in just a moment with a summary of the events making news around North Carolina. And after the news all interview Tom Lauria of the Tobacco Institute in Washington DC said Don't go away. Good evening I'm Michel Louis.

Here's a review of some of North Carolina's top news stories. The 100 Fourth Congress convened at noon today and for the first time in more than 40 years it is a Republican controlled Congress. The changing of the guard on Capitol Hill included five Republicans from North Carolina who took their seats as freshman Representatives today. Those newcomers are Fred Hileman Walter Jones Jr. David Funderburk Richard Burr and Sue Myrick Charlotte Sue Myrick has been getting a lot of attention in recent weeks. This month's Washington magazine calls the new Ninth District representative an up and comer in the GOP. She was the only woman on House Speaker Newt Gingrich's transition team. And a state lawmakers get ready to head back to Raleigh. Republicans are talking tax reform. GOP legislators will introduce a Taxpayers Protection Act when the General Assembly convenes January 25th. The act would limit the rate of growth of state government by linking it to inflation rates and population growth. According to the bill's sponsor Representative Carolyn Russell the act would make lawmakers more accountable for the way they spend your tax dollars.

This bill puts parameters on legislators you might say to me are young indeed this kind of thing to curtail spending. Unfortunately yes we do. We needed also to do some of those things that the GI PAC folks told us. They said you need to look at duplication you need to look at excess programs that you've got you need to look at effectiveness. But I ask you how many of you sitting out there have looked at the actual recommendations and seeing what has been implemented. This bill is going to cause us to do that. The government performance audit or GPA C was ordered by the General Assembly in 1991 and completed two years ago. Many of the recommendations on government efficiency have not been carried out and are still pending. Governor Jim Hunt has a life or death decision on his hands after an all day hearing. The governor now has to decide if he should offer clemency to death row inmate Kermit Smith Jr. of Roanoke Rapids or let Smith's January 24th execution date stand. Smith's attorneys are requesting that one commute Smith's death sentence to life in prison without

parole or that he order a new sentencing hearing in the case. Smith is set to die January 24th for the 1980 murder of a North Carolina Wesleyan college cheerleader. Governor Hunt says he will make an announcement on whether he will commute Smith's sentence tomorrow morning. The Carolina Panthers talks with a potential new head coach has cost the team to draft picks and 150000 low $150000 fine. The penalties were issued because NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue says those talks violated league rules. The Panthers engaged in discussions with Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dom Capers about the head coaching job with the Panthers while Pittsburgh season is still underway. The Steelers were fined $50000 and a moratorium was placed on signing papers. However an agreement between capers and the Panthers is expected after that moratorium is over. Today skies were partly to mostly cloudy across North Carolina highs were only in the upper 20s

and low 30s in the mountains. But the rest of the state saw highs in the mid 40s tonight skies will be clear over much of the state. But the weather in mountains and the Wilmington and Elizabeth City areas will have some cloud cover. Temperatures in the mountains will fall below 10 degrees and for the rest of the state they'll be dropping into the teens and the low 20s. Tomorrow will be a sunny day with temperatures being colder than today's. Most places will see mid 30s. But in the northern mountains it'll only get into the 20s the Greenville and Wilmington areas may get to 40 degrees. North Carolina fares extremely well in a survey printed in today's edition of The Wall Street Journal. The questionnaire called Tracking the SE asked readers questions about the business climates of North Carolina Alabama Georgia South Carolina and Tennessee. Let's see how you fare in answering these questions. How many foreign companies chose North Carolina as the site of a new or expanded manufacturing or other facility from

1991 to 1993. The answer is 110 by the way that total is more than double the number landed by the two Runner-Up States which two southeastern metro areas with a population between 150000 and 300000 are projected to rank first and second nationally among metro areas and income growth over the next 10 years. The answers are Jacksonville and Wilmington North Carolina where is North Carolina projected to rank nationally in personal income growth from 1995 to the year 2000. The answer is first and finally which southeastern metro area had the strongest employment growth from 1986 to 1993 at nearly 5 percent. The answer Raleigh Durham. North Carolina granite company has postponed its plan to mine part of Stone Mountain State Park. The delay comes as the state tries to put a proper value on the company's mineral rights in the park. The company retained mineral rights on one hundred twenty five

acres when it sold the state more than 1000 acres with a park in 1969 a 25 year ban on mining expired last year. And the company wants to either open a granite quarry at the park or sell the mineral rights to the state. The stock market closed higher today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 19 points to close at thirty eight fifty seven point sixty five. Advancers lead decliners by a three to two as three hundred twenty million shares were traded. The Standard and Poor's 500 Index rose a point and a half and the Nasdaq composite index was up two and a quarter. And now for some stocks of North Carolina interest. You

may recall last night on North Carolina now we interviewed an expert in nicotine research. The discussion previewed a Frontline documentary which aired on U.N. see TV called the nicotine war. Balancing our coverage tonight we present an expert from the tobacco industry Tom Lauria who is the assistant to the president of the Tobacco Institute in Washington D.C. and he joins us tonight via satellite Mr. Loria thank you so much for joining us. Good evening. Last night's Frontline documentary dealt with the issue of whether nicotine should be regulated as a drug or not. There seems to be a consensus in the medical and scientific professions that nicotine is addictive. Why do you think it should not be regulated.

Because as an agricultural product one it's been in our society for over three hundred years it is commonplace and everyone is aware of the medical establishment opinions about both tobacco and nicotine. However there is one important aspect to nicotine that did not appear on the frontline piece and that is while it is not intoxicating nicotine does nothing to the user that interrupts that person's ability to decide for themselves whether they want to continue smoking or not. As as we all know alcoholism in case of alcoholism prohibits the drinker from making it clear rational decision as does cocaine heroin. Almost every drug mentioned on the program last night has an intoxicating effect which dilutes the person's ability to decide what's best for them. Unlike all those other substances which truly are addictive and debilitating there's nothing about nicotine is the thing about smoking cigarettes that interferes with your ability to read the Surgeon General's warning label and decide for yourself if that's what you want to continue to

do. OK and in light of that then if two thirds of all smokers in the United States say they wish that they could quit and according to my statistics 43 million people have quit in the last 30 years only represents two and a half percent of those who have tried to quit doesn't that lead credence to the idea that nicotine could perhaps then be addictive. Well I when I saw that mentioned on Frontline last night I thought to myself How ironic. Look at how more than half of the United States population at any given time would like to lose weight. Of course we all know that's a little harder to do. It requires willpower It requires discipline. That's exactly the same case for smoking cigarettes. No one says that it won't take willpower or won't take a presence of mind in order to accomplish your goal of stopping smoking. But I think that by labeling smokers as addicts the medical community inadvertently lets them off the hook in terms of being accountable for their own behavior. I believe that any individual

who do anything that they want if they set their mind to do it that includes quitting smoking. Now when earlier you had talked about addiction and other types of drugs and even alcohol I think you mentioned in there being. An addictive substance and people not being able to make that type of choice as to whether to quit or not. In light of that how would you rate tobacco in terms of its addictive nature. If the fact that what if there are smokers who do want to quit but there is a substance in nicotine that would not allow them to quit. They're hooked on it. What about that argument. Well that argument is a little bit beyond me as as a non-scientist I have no capability of being able to evaluate any substance. I can only evaluate the impact of those substances and clearly if anyone can tell the difference between alcohol and cocaine and heroin and those type of things and the common cigarette will be common sense tells you they're very jittery they don't belong in the same category. They shouldn't be categorized with one whole cloth like that.

Dr. David Kessler from the FDA has recently said that cigarette manufacturers may manipulate the levels of nicotine in their products to keep smokers hooked. Are the levels in the mini If you laid it at all. No not at all. And in fact we provided to the producers of of front line written statement lengthy written statements from all six major tobacco product manufacturers attesting to the fact that they did not when it relate to levels of nicotine for the purposes that Dr. Kessler accuses us of. We believe that had. The front line producer has been as careful with our documentation as they were with the anti smoking side. You would have seen a much more balanced and objective discussion of this controversial issue in light of some of the changes going on in Washington right now and today of course ushering in a new Congress because Representative Lee from Virginia has taken over Henry Waxman's committee on investigating nicotine. Do you feel that there will be

some changes and perhaps the FDA may eventually regulate nicotine or may not now does it look better for the tobacco industry. Well right now it doesn't look very good we still have the FDA threat over our heads and over the heads of the 700000 people in the industry as well as 50 million American smokers. We don't know what the FDA is going to do but it's a challenge that we take very seriously. In addition the Department of Labor's Occupational Health and Safety Administration is clearly holding hearings as we speak today on the subject of whether there should be a national smoking ban. So these are two issues without even considering Congress that the industry finds itself facing. In 1995 the very serious issues and they're ones of which have our undivided attention we take them that seriously. OK and in light of that do you think that what does the future look like for the tobacco industry and can you face those challenges that you just now mentioned.

Well certainly we can face both of them from a position of strength. We don't believe the Food and Drug Administration has the regulatory authority to take over the tobacco industry. Every other FDA director prior to Casler has told Congress just that that it's not a food it's not a drug it's not a cosmetic. Cigarettes don't belong under the FDA. We will hold that line and we will try to make our point with the public and with policymakers and government as ferocious try to ban smoking nationwide in public. The public opinion is running enormously against the clit the ministration banning smoking everywhere in public. The responses to Osho have been extraordinary We have several more months of hearings to go and we hope that at the end of those hearings will either modify its proposal withdraw it or work out something that everyone can find much more accommodating. And Mr. Lorry I know it continues to be an ongoing situation and we will keep our viewers posted as well. We thank you so much for joining us this evening via satellite from Washington D.C..

Well thank you. We want to hear from you. Simply call out your 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. That's a message to 9 1 9 5 boys 9 7 0 4 3 0 1. Try out Internet address. That's you and see TV at aol dot com. And please give us a daytime phone number in case we need to follow up and you can use that same address for more information about the North Carolina Zoo. Just send us a self-addressed stamped envelope. And tomorrow night on North Carolina now our guest will be Congressman Mel Watt and I'll take you to an electronic town meeting being held by Governor Jim Hunt and Maria lung broke we'll profile one of North

Carolina's most famous and loved celebrities. Andy Griffith looks like a wonderful show tomorrow night so we hope to see you back here at 7:30 Don't miss it. That's all for now I'm wide rickets marry the hard shark. Good night.