North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 02/08/1995

Tonight using herbs to improve your health. Funny

thing I married a hard charge. Thanks for joining us tonight you will have a look at the effects of the legislative crime session last spring and what additional crime bills are expected this session. Well also have a conversation with Representative Cerebro area of the North Carolina House to discuss some recent somewhat controversial proposals she's made to reform the welfare system. Also tonight we present part three in our look at alternative medicine practices which examines the use of herbs to prevent disease. But first crime and safety. Last year at this time legislators were preparing to come to Raleigh to hold a special session on crime. They ended up passing dozens of anti-crime measures. Now a year later many lawmakers are saying that last year's efforts didn't go far enough. They want to build more prisons and pass even more anti crime laws. Adam Hochberg reports. When legislators last year held a special session to deal with crime they did it with people like Andre green and mine green is 13 years old and a

convicted sexual offender. Last month in Wake County he became the youngest person in modern North Carolina history to stand trial in adult court. The situation made possible by a law the legislature passed last year that allows children as young as 13 to be tried as adults. Way they do it unanimously that the defendant guilty of first degree sexual deviants. This is the 20 C as his mother looked on trembling in the courtroom. Green was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting a neighbor a few quaver arena under the old law Greene would have been sent to a youth prison until he was 18 then released. Now under the new law he won't be eligible for parole until he's 40. A future over a man that we need you now might not be here to see him anymore and I don't think you can stop me now. Yeah I remember watching all of you and changing for dinner between me as you know them. He's not just a kid I mean this he knows to do stuff like that who cares you know he could

buy the things he did he was a you know 25 year old man things he do. I mean who cares how old he is the love that allowed Andre green to be prosecuted as an adult was one of dozens that legislators passed last year to battle crime but their crime fighting efforts are far from over. Both legislators and Governor haunch are proposing more tough laws this year. Now we made some important gains in the special session last year. We've got to do more to keep violent criminals behind bars really well. The governor plans to ask the legislature to build Thirty eight hundred new prison beds to toughen sentences for violent felonies and to repeal the prison population count. So more inmates can be kept behind bars. Meantime legislators have come up with some crime fighting ideas of their own for size county Republican Michael Decker thinks the crime rate would go down if North Carolinians were allowed to carry concealed weapons. I carry a gun whenever I go on vacation and I have one at

home and I frequently take it with me when I go somewhere and at times I've just put it in my pocket because it's the you know it's the closest thing to put it in. But the average citizen in North Carolina is the one that you know is feeling the fear in because of the rise in crime. And they're the ones who need the ability to do this. But with all the ideas being talked about at the legislature this year on how to battle crime there's one idea that some observers say isn't being talked about enough how to prevent young people from becoming criminals in the first place. This is Haven House a program in Wake County designed to help teenagers in trouble here young people get counseling tutoring and love again. Haven House and programs like it around the state don't have as much money as they need for each young person at Haven House. There are seven on a waiting list I believe. Obviously since it's been my life's work that the more young people we can get to right now. I

know that will prevent those young people a circumstantial number of them from ever needing prison cells when they get to be an adult. Last year during a special legislative session on crime the whole debate was framed around the question of balance how much emphasis should be put on punishment methods like lengthening prison terms and how much should be put on crime prevention methods like helping these children. This year though lawmakers and the public seem to have only one focus. Punishment or what has gotten the attention of most of the community is those cases where young people have done some pretty horrible things. And the response has been well let's lock that child up for many years to prevent him from doing that again. But we have to realize is that you know a person who done that horrible crime certainly and many of the other kids are having problems if we do put them someplace they're going to come back out in the community unless we've dealt with their problems. Whatever set him off in the first place will be there only in probably in a more dramatic fashion.

As for Andre green the 13 year old sex offender reader wonders whether there might have been a way to help him before he committed his brutal crime. And what's this child's going to be like in 20 30 years with 20 was it 20 years he's able for parole 20 or 30 year old when he's 40 some would be 47 years. Well I don't want to be around him when he comes out. A spokeswoman for Governor Hunt says the governor will ask the legislature to continue funding for one childhood crime prevention program the so-called S.O.S program designed to help young people stay out of trouble. But she says the governor will not ask for an expansion of that program. In part three of our look at alternative or complementary medicine tonight we look at something healthy that we perhaps use without really knowing it. And that is herbs as producer Rick Ryan staff and I found herbs are being used primarily for healthy living and prevention of disease using techniques handed down in folklore. When it comes to our health we normally think of our doctor. We wouldn't ordinarily think

of say a plant an alternative when you think of alternative medicine in North Carolina. Perhaps we should think of as Phil this is where there seems to be a rebirth of a more natural lifestyle which includes the use of herbs. Oh we're returning to our heritage. When people talk about alternative health they really a lot of our Earth people are thinking well this is really not the altar this is Titor tradition that's been here for years and years it's a tradition that grandma used to never go to a pharmacy. She found it in the woods in the back. But folks here at the Western North Carolina farmer's market are finding it a lot easier to gather their herbs. This is where the experts and growers come to sell their wares and the buyers come to learn. Every year this has been a growing and growing event. We started out doing this five years ago in the spring with just a few Herb growers a few enthusiasts. As the

word has gotten out about her she's just spread and spread and more people are just hungry for knowledge about what is going on with herbs that have always been there. They're in their woods in their back garden. They think about cooking with herbs but now they're beginning to realize that they can use herbs in medicinals in soaks in all kinds of things in their own health care and health and preventive health is a big item right now. This customer says she's using herbs for her health in a variety of ways. Seasoning and cooking. Because I was on a salt free diet and couldn't flavor the food with salt so we started using herbs for flavoring and outright. That's the message of this woman Peggy Ellis. The lady invited us to join her for a more in-depth explanation of herbs. And she took us along for an herb walk. A class she teaches. And then we have Rosemary we have a lot of call in areas that people just think of as using them for cooking purposes but they're very

medicinal and have a lot of rich history behind them. As how they are used for the body. Rosemary is traditionally used. Medicinally for increasing memory and it's a really good anti-oxidant Peggy was raised eating organically and had always had a healthy lifestyle. She was in fact involved in a more western medical field radiology. But then she encountered something unexpected that got her involved with herbs due to a condition that I got while I was in radiology school of rheumatoid arthritis. I was set on the path of searching for an alternative to my condition because I was not getting the results that I wanted and needed for the excruciating pain that I was experiencing. Peggy's story is not uncommon. For years doctors in France and Germany have been prescribing herbs to patients for prevention and treatment of illnesses. Yet

here in the US that's not been true. Although herbs are widely used here they have not been incorporated into Orthodox practice due to lack of scientific research on their effectiveness. But that's changing. In 1992 the National Institutes of Health set up the office of alternative medicine to study such topics. After all 25 percent of prescription drugs in our country come from plants. Still there's a lot of investigating to be done before herbs will be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for medicinal purposes. There's not a lot of research in America. There is in Europe that can be drawn from quite extensively. Once again we go back to economics. There are not a lot of drug companies that will foot the bill to prove the efficacy that the that the standards have been set by the FDA. They come out patent. An herb that grows in the wild to make into a medicine so they're not going to bother.

That's why it's important to do your homework before using herbs. Just because they're naturally occurring doesn't mean they're safe. We really don't know that much about them. And unless we have good sound scientific proof what they will do and even more importantly what the possible toxic effects may be if their effects are unknown. Then we would be cautious not to embark on that without the scientific information which is needed with the correct guidance from herbal experts like Peggy Ellis though you can safely blend Western and alternative medicine which can complement each other very well. And using herbs will encourage you to look at your mind body and spirit holistically. I don't work with people just with plants. I would prefer somebody to come up to me and say I'm experiencing a cold How do I need to change my lifestyle instead of I have a cold what do I take because I don't want people to think that they can take herbs as they do drugs and treat it allopathic like you need to look

out what is it that you created for a cold to come into your system. Did you overwork did you not get enough sleep. Learning about and using herbs is just one way of taking responsibility for your own health and maybe even changing your lifestyle in order to prevent disease. Again it is vitally important to use herbs safely and appropriately That's why we recommend that if you decide to try herbs get as much information as you can. If you'd like to contact the herbalist in our story Peggy Ellis call her the number on your screen 7 0 4 6 8 4 3 9 1 8. We also recommend that you speak with your primary care physician. He or she may direct you to a qualified expert in your community. If you'd simply like more information about herbs and medicinal plants call your agricultural county extension office. They can provide warnings and safeguards. Michel Louis is up next with today's top news stories and right after that I'll talk with Representative sure a berry about welfare reform. Don't go away.

Thank you. Good evening I'm Michel Louis with a summary of today's tough North Carolina news stories. Today at the General Assembly the Senate unanimously passed a bill that would remove the state's prison cap in September of 1996 and its original form the bill would have repealed the cap in the fall of 1995. But lawmakers were informed by the Department of Corrections that the earlier repeal date would flood the system with inmates. It did not make room for if we tried to remove the cap today. We would have to find places for several thousand prisoners

and we don't have it here so it mean we'd have to try to find some space elsewhere outside the state of North Carolina a great call. That cost has been estimated at about seventy five million dollars compared to the 15 million dollars it would cost to remove the cap next fall. The Senate bill will now be sent to the house which is working on its own version of the same legislation. The House has not yet decided between the two possible dates to remove the cap. Republicans have picked up another seat in the state house. Republican Cindy Watson has been declared the winner of the tenth district. Watson lost a special precinct election in Duplin County but still emerged as the overall winner balloting in the Faison precinct was held for a second time because of a voting mix up in the November election early precinct results showed incumbent Democrat Vance Alphen with a two hundred thirty six to one hundred forty nine advantage over Watson. But the unofficial results for the three county district brought the unofficial vote total to four thousand six hundred sixteen to four thousand five hundred ninety

nine in Watson's favor. An investigation into charges of voting irregularities in North Carolina's Fourth Congressional District got underway today in Capitol Hill on Capitol Hill rather. The House Oversight Committee is reviewing Republican Robert Anderson's claims of voter fraud and his defeat by longtime congressman Charlie Rose and arson charges that his last arose was the result of fraud bribery and other voting irregularities. The committee can dismiss Anderson's challenge declare the seat vacant and allow the state to call a second election or declare Anderson the winner and seat him. Any action requires approval by the full house. Governor Jim Hunt was on hand this morning to help announce the new William C. Friday fellowships for human relations which are named after the former president of the University of North Carolina system. These fellowships are a fitting tribute to my friend Bill Friday and to his great leadership from North Carolina Bill Friday has truly made a difference for our state. Standing up for the needs of children and our young

people. The wild acres Leadership Initiative and the Blumenthal foundation will award annual fellowships to 20 North Carolinians who will each receive up to fifteen thousand dollars over a two year period. The participants can use the money on so-called action projects that would help improve the quality of life in the state. The tradition in this state is that each one of us gives back in public service some part of ourselves because we all profit so greatly from what the state has given each of us. Program participants also will attend six retreats focusing on leadership skills human relations and other topics. It was a bitterly cold day in Boone today. The high there hit only 13 degrees with 15 to 25 mph winds pushing wind chills were below zero. It was snowing there through much of the day. The rest of the state had partly cloudy or cloudy skies with high temperatures ranging from the low 20s to the upper 30s. Tonight it will be clear and cold across the

state with lows in the single digits in the mountains. Lows elsewhere will be in the teens. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny statewide with afternoon clouds forming in the western part of the state. Highs will be in the 40s everywhere except in the northern mountains. Their highs will be in the upper 30s. Glaxo has issued its formal offer to buy rival drug maker Berle's welcome. Welcome now has 21 days to try and find another suitor if welcom fails to do so its largest shareholder will sell out to Glaxo Glaxo announced its 15 billion dollar offer last month. Welcom has been seeking better offers since then but so far no firm bidders have emerged. Both companies have their U.S. headquarters in Research Triangle Park. Sara Lee is closing its apparel plant in Morgan to next week. The move will put 500 people out of work as of February 17th the company is closing the plant because of a drop off in the market for sweatshirts and sweatpants. Another airline is setting up shop at RTU

ValuJet will start service from Raleigh-Durham International Airport on March 15th RTU director John Brantley says Northwest Airlines may also be planning additional service at the airport. The stock market was mixed today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down two points to close at thirty nine thirty five point thirty seven gainers lead decliners by 11 to 10 on a volume of three hundred nineteen million shares. The Standard Poor's 500 index was ahead fractionally and the Nasdaq composite index rose nearly five points. And now for some stocks of North Carolina interest. Thank you.

Earlier today I spoke with a state legislator who has in previous legislative sessions been the point person for Republican efforts to reform the welfare system. Now Representative Sheree Berry from Catawba County heads the committee where all those bills will be considered. Representative Berry thank you so much for making time for us this evening. You're the chairman of the welfare reform and Human Resources Committee both the new name of that committee and your selection as chairman imply a strong agenda for reforming the system. Does the system need to be changed and do the voters agree with you. I don't think that there's doubt in anyone's mind that our current welfare system is broken and desperately needs to be fixed. Yes I believe that public opinion is on the side of that issue. You've co-sponsored several bills yourself one fairly comprehensive one contains provisions to give

no aid payments or approved stamps to women who have children out of wedlock unless the child is the result of rape or incest or unless the mother marries someone who will support the child or gives it up for adoption. Some would say this is too radical an approach and it punishes the child for the parents this day. What's your response to your critics. If you take that as a stand alone item in the bill I can understand how someone may think that's a very harsh stance. But if you couple it with the other provisions in the bill which clearly state that that mother and child are still eligible for Medicaid and the wick program and that the money not paid out as cash benefits to those re sapience will be given to the cantus in the form of a block grant that they can use to address their specific situations. Then I think that you will see that it's not quite as harsh as it appears to be. What types of services did you have the counties to provide them with those block grants of you would be

specific. We're not really putting a limit on what the counties could do other than to say we don't want you to give cash benefits to the individuals. It can be anything else that the county deems appropriate and necessary for the health and well-being of mothers and children. Thank you. Day care nutrition programs. It could be residential homes. It could be any program for preventing teenage pregnancy anything the county really wants to do and that they have found to be successful within their own area. To address that issue they would have freedom to do so. Per the need for the name yes. A similar law has been effect for two years in New Jersey and it's now being reviewed by the federal courts to see if it's constitutional or if it violates federal so Security Act any court action would affect also your bill and the federal bill that does the same thing. Do you expect a favorable favorable decision from the courts.

I'm hopeful that there will be a favorable decision to allow states to try these types of reform ideas. I think that there are a lot of ideas now being presented here in North Carolina that are arguably constitutional and arguably non constitutional so it will be up to the courts to decide on it. Your bill also says that if a family on AFDC has another child they will get no additional benefits have you thought about whether this might result in more women having abortion. I don't believe that it will. We have seen a decrease in the number of abortions in the state of North Carolina and I think that that's a result off probably public opinion and education. And I don't believe that this will have that sort of impact. If conservative Republicans saw it that way do you think that you might lose support for the bill from them. I don't believe that the Republicans are seeing that provision of the bill in that light because we have seen a decrease in the number of abortions and I think we'll see that

trend continue. You're also targeting fathers of children on welfare to get them to pay support. How would this be done and why is it so important. It's important because two parents need to be responsible for the children. There are too many instances where not only fathers but now see some mothers are not being financially responsible for their children. And when that happens the rest of society taxpayers we have to take up the slack for those people. And it's only ride that the responsible people support the children. The way we're going to accomplish that is to say to a person if you're not paying your child support and you're not paying it because you're unemployed and you can't find a job we will provide a community job for you in community service and you will perform the number of hours that you get

when you divide your child support payment by the minimum wage. So they would do that number of community service hours in a month to pay back the community for the community's outlay of cash on their behalf. If they refuse to do their community service then we would take away any privilege that the state grants with a license and that could range from recreational type licenses hunting fishing driver's license occupational licenses like doctors lawyers contractors whatever any license granted by the state that grants a privilege we would withhold that privilege from the person until they began to pay their child support. Serious and serious well it's a serious matter. Your comprehensive bill is somewhat different from the one introduced by Rep or Representative David Redwine who chair the welfare reform study commission. His bill requires that the state and county social service agencies make agreements or contracts with families

receiving aid that certain benefits will be given for a certain period of time in order to move that specific family off welfare. A case management system would be used so each family would get a plan more or less tailored for them and then they have to stick to it or be cut off. Now what's wrong with that approach in your eyes. Other states have tried that idea and wat we have saying and looking at the bill in a preliminary method is that we would need to probably increase the number of caseworkers we currently have five times the number. Also if you will look further at the bill I think you'll see sections in the bill that were included in a bill that Republicans introduced in 1993 and again during the crime session. And we're moving towards each other. And some of these bills. Representative Barry thank you so much for being with us and making time for us tonight. We want to keep in touch with you so simply call our viewer comment line at 9 1

9 5 4 9 7 8 0 way 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 UN CTV at aol dot com and please give us a daytime phone number in case we need to follow up. A special programming note for you tomorrow on you and CTV will provide extensive live coverage of the governor's state of the state address to the General Assembly. That's live coverage beginning at noon with John Bass and Elizabeth Hardy and Maria Lundberg. Then tomorrow night on North Carolina now we will provide extensive excerpts from that speech plus an interview with Republican speaker Harold Breaux Baker who will give his views on the speech. We'll also present the final edition of our series on alternative medicine with a look at the healing power of touch. Now that's tomorrow night 7:30 and 11:30. We'll see you back then. Good night.