North Carolina Now; Episode from 1999-06-16

It's Wednesday June 16th. Tonight, the world's best golfers prepare to tee off in North Carolina now. Hello, I'm Arita Matraya. Thanks for joining us on this Wednesday evening on tonight's edition of North Carolina now. We'll focus on a program designed to give minority entrepreneurs help in competing in the business world. And competition of another kind is about to get underway in the sand hills. The 1999 US Open begins tomorrow at Pinehurst course number two. Tonight will profile the makeup of that course and what makes it so challenging for the world's best golfers. But at first tonight, a conversation with a state lawmaker who hails from Pinehurst. Republican Richard Morgan of Moore County was recently elected House Minority Leader, filling the leadership role vacated by Leo Dottrey, who has stepped

aside to concentrate more time on his gubernatorial campaign. Representative Morgan has served five terms in the house and represents the Pinehurst area. Representative Morgan, thanks for taking the time to be with us tonight. Delighted to be here, Maridan. Be on your show and have an opportunity to talk with you. Well, we will certainly talk about the US Open in just a moment, but let's talk about matters of state government first. And your role as House Minority Leader, what do you plan to be your focus? Well, I'm particularly honored and pleased that my colleagues would and the Republican ranks would choose me to be their leader. And what I want to do is shift the focus in our party from perhaps the harsh and inflammatory language of being against issues to talking about what Republican legislators and Republicans are for to reach out to talk about real people issues and certainly make an effort to try my best to close the gender gap and reach out to get women to come

back to our party that of recent have been leaving. We're going to take note of that in our recruiting process. I'm excited about that opportunity. Actually, I use an awful lot of times in my speeches that I'm the only male member of the House Republican Women's Caucus and have a certificate to that effect. Mr. Covey was a guest on our program last week, the newly elected State GOP chair. And he talked a great deal about the focus of the Republican Party is putting on regaining the House. What role will you play in that effort? I hope to play an important role and look forward to working with Bill Covey who I've known for many, many years and have the highest degree of respect. We have met several times the chairman and I and representative Julia Howard, who is the House Minority

Whip, to talk about just that subject. I plan to travel and travel with Bill Covey. Bill having been a congressman brings to our party a good background, particularly causing him to have an interest in the legislative side of things. And he has said to me and to other Republicans that he wants to make that the number one priority to regain the House of Representatives. I respect him, look forward to working with him. We'll be traveling an awful lot together to recruit candidates and to try to get them elected in the year 2000 elections. Give us an update on the progress of the state budget. I know that the House released its version of the budget a couple of weeks ago and now we're waiting for the Senate to come out with their version. The Senate has had their budget or the Senate has received the House budget.

The budget originated this time in the House. It switches each session of the general assembly as to who prepares the budget first. The Senate, I understand, their committee has passed out the budget. The next stop will be on the Senate floor and then back to the House for concurrence or non concurrence. The House would be then expected to not concur and we would go to conference. That's where we are in the budget process. We're waiting to receive the Senate budget. One of the big money issues that the general assembly is going to be asked to look at is the request from the University of North Carolina to be able to put out bonds to cover some capital expenses that they had this six to seven billion dollars worth in bonds. And the general assembly has to approve that. What do you think the chances are of that getting through?

Well, we have received the president of the university system, President Mollie Broad, who respect very much and the state treasure to come to our caucus and give the presentation on the bond request. Members are looking at those requests. The concern, Maria, is that when you have a 6.7 billion dollar bond package, certainly we recognize that there are so many needs within each one of the university campuses that we recognize the dollars are needed. But the concern expressed to me from some members has been to authorize the bonds without a vote of the people. And that is a natural concern and one that that we must ask and deliberate on. And you would expect that

as as prudent stewards of the taxpayers dollar. So we're continuing those discussions and I expect to meet with the president as earliest tomorrow to have further discussions about that very subject. Representative Morgan, there are so many more issues I'd like to get to but we're going to have to skip over those because I know we want to talk about the U.S. Open. What a great coup this is for your hometown. Oh listen, you know, to be in Pinehurst right now is to just be in a dream. I'm so proud of the community, the volunteers that have gotten together to make this week successful. The ease of travel. They've got everything laid out just right to go into the tents and along the fairways it's like entering Disney World. It's the biggest thing that has ever hit this state. Creating better than $200 million in revenues for our area alone. And Maria

hundreds of millions of dollars for the state of North Carolina. North Carolina has never seen anything like the U.S. Open and I'm so proud to represent that area when I talk to my colleagues in the house including the speaker. I tell them I have the best district in the world to represent and you know they don't argue with me particularly this one. Well hopefully we can get rid of a little bit of that rain but in the meantime I thank you so much for being here and and have fun at the U.S. Open this weekend. Okay. Thank you. Representative Morgan's hometown is of course in the world spotlight this week the 1999 U.S. Open officially gets underway tomorrow morning at 6.30 when the first of the golfers tease off at Pinehurst course number two. As Doug Wilson tells us it's a perfect setting for the best golfers in the game. From Scotland where the game of golf has its roots to Pinehurst where its spirit thrives every day.

If I had to pick one I'd probably pick this one as my favorite course. Pinehurst is special I think any avid golfers probably come here and if they haven't come here they've always dreamed of come in here. Course number two is just one of eight golf links at the Pinehurst Resort but the area had very humble beginnings. Scottish golf professional and architect Donald Ross came to Pinehurst in the fall of 1900. He designed and completed nine holes of course number two opening in 1901. The second nine was finished in 1907. Sand putting greens were standard until they were replaced with grass in 1935. Ross continued to shape and mold number two until his death in 1948. At that time it was already ranked as one of the finest courses in the world. All the great players Walter Hagen Ben Hogan and Jack Nicholas have played number two but more importantly

have appreciated Ross's genius of golf course design. This golf course is not contrived there's no high banks and there's no sharp edges it just rolls with the land and of course in those days when a golf course was built by Mule and man and you couldn't move a lot of dirt you took one mother nature had and then you tried to improve on it and that's exactly what Donald Ross did. Now number two in all of its beauty is set to host the U.S. Open but why did it take until 1999. The United States Golf Association awarded the championship to Pinehurst when a new strain of grass was developed for number two's greens. It's called Penn G2 a very dense upright bent grass that will withstand the North Carolina heat in June from all indications it has passed every test. One of the major factors is scoring well at any U.S. Open is to avoid the rough it's about two to

three inches right now but this rough is different it's bermuda grass and it's a lot harder to escape from than regular rye grass on the northern courses. It's going to be about five to six inches for the U.S. Open so in some cases the pros are just going to have to be content to just chip the ball back into the fairway. And number two's fairways are very generous in all few surprises on this course except for the greens. Willie McCray has been at number two for 56 years he's cadded for and given advice to players such as Gene Sarasin, Julius Boros and Tommy Bolt. And what's your advice and what's the hardest part about playing number two? It's the green. The main thing is try to hit it in the middle of the green because the green is made like a bowl and if you go to the right too much to the right it rolled off and go too much left it rolled off. Hit it short it's going to roll off. Hit it too hard it's going to roll

the back. Everything you got to be sort of a middle of the green. Golf course is about a hundred yards in when you try to light the ball on these greens and if you shoot for the pin all day you will be chipping and putting the ball up slopes all day. The pace of the U.S. Open greens will frustrate a number of golfers. It's like putting on the hood of your car and trying to stop the ball close to the hole. The U.S. GA uses a device called a stint meter to determine the speed of the greens. The higher the number calculated the faster the ball will roll. Brad this is a famous stint meter can you just explain to me how fast the greens will be during the open and what's this for. The stint meter is a device to measure the speed of the greens and the U.S. GA has indicated that they want it to be in 10 and a half feet. So what we do with this we lay a ball in the in the not chair in the stint meter and we raise it to a height where the ball will roll out and measure that distance and they're rolling pretty close to 10 and a half feet

right now. And what's it going to be for the open. 10 and a half to 11. So that's pretty fast. It's quick. Number two usually plays to a par of 72. However for the open the U.S. GA has turned two par fives into par fours. Number 16 is now a 489 yard brute along with the par four eighth which is just four yards shorter. Par has been reduced to 70 and at 7175 yards it will be the fourth longest course in U.S. open history. This setup will be different the holes don't bend as much and they're straighter and I think it's more of a driver's course so there's not going to be a lot of irons off the tee or three woods trying to work the ball just to hit the ball in the fairway and in play for position. I think it's going to be hit your driver and if you're driving it well then of course you've got a better chance of hitting the greens. Who will win on this majestic golf course. Two facts are certain. He will be the final champion

of this century and the first United States open winner crowned at Pinehurst. The open runs through Sunday June 20th. The state commerce department expects the U.S. open to generate at least 80 to 90 million dollars with some projections reaching upwards of 160 to 180 million dollars. While coming up on North Carolina now a look at economic development of another kind. But first here is Mitchell Lewis with today's statewide news summary. Good evening Mitch. Thanks Marita. Good evening everyone. Topping the news, preparations are being made for members of the state senate to begin debating the proposed budget bill. Today the senate appropriations committee approved a spending package similar to the one agreed upon earlier by the House. Both plans are identical for about 85% of the proposed spending. However the senate version would

allow university boards of trustees to raise their tuition by $250 this year and another $250 next year. The plan would also bring back a proposal to let counties increase the exemption for older property owners without state approval. The full senate is expected to take up discussion on the budget beginning tomorrow. In a first of its kind decision the state court of appeals has upheld a ruling that drunk drivers who kill someone in an accident can be tried for first degree murder. The decision comes as the result of a Forsyth county case in which a drunk driver was found guilty of first degree murder in the deaths of two wake forest university students. The case was the first in the country in which that type of ruling was made. The court's interpretation of that law could also be applied to speeding motorists who are negligent in accidents causing fatalities. North Carolina health insurers could soon be required to cover contraceptives in their plans. The state house has approved a bill which would require companies to offer prescription benefits to include birth control pills. The proposal also

covers other contraceptives approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The measure will be sent to the senate for concurrence if approved North Carolina residents could be covered as early as next year. More restrictions would be placed on politically active groups under a bill passed by the state senate. The proposal would require such organizations to comply with state campaign finance laws. Issue advertisements that educate voters without endorsing certain candidates are not subject to state regulation. However lawmakers have raised concern over advertisements in which political groups masquerade their ads as issue ads. The bill would also place restrictions on groups that spend more than $3,000 within 60 days of an election to put out flyers and ads in which a candidate is clearly identified. If you plan to travel the blueridge parkway anytime soon you will have to take a detour through McDowell County. A major rock slide has closed the parkway between little Switzerland and Crabtree Meadows. The slide left a pile of rocks 30 feet high, 60 feet long and 12 feet tall. One of the rocks was the size of

a 3,000 square foot home. Officials aren't sure how long the parkway will be closed. And now for a look at tomorrow's weather, highs across the state will range from the upper 60s to low 80s. Most areas can expect cloudy skies with continued showers throughout the day. In business news problems continue to arise when North Carolina tobacco companies, 34 American Indian tribes have filed a lawsuit against more than a dozen tobacco companies, including Tar Hill-based RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris. The tribes are accusing the tobacco companies of deliberately targeting Indians and want the companies to repay the cost of treating what they claim are smoking-related illnesses. The move comes only two weeks after 20 tribes filed a billion dollar federal lawsuit claiming they were left out of last year's settlement between the states and the tobacco industry. Hog farmers in North Carolina and across the nation with small and medium-sized operations are getting financial help from the government. The Agriculture Department plans to pay out about 125 million dollars to hog farmers over the next month.

The move is a way to help farmers who have been hit by pork prices that have dipped below the cost of production for most operations. The Agriculture Department plans to keep the money away from factory farms by limiting subsidies to the first 2,500 hogs a farm sold in the last half of 1998. The Dow Jones was up about 190 points today. Now here's a look at the rest of what happened on Wall Street today. When we hear of economic development, we tend to think of major multinational corporations

capable of pouring millions of dollars into the economy. But economic development also involves individual entrepreneurs looking for their own small slice of the economic pie. Tonight's Sonya Williams takes a look at the state's minority economic development effort and the impact it's making throughout North Carolina. Copying isn't just a job but a way of life for Jackie Samuels. She's the owner of the Copy Center, a full service digital printing company in Rowland. I worked for Xerox Corporation for 19 years. It's an African-American female, and I worked for a Fortune 500 company and I made them a lot of money. And as one thing that always recognizes why couldn't we, as a people, have a bigger piece of the pie in terms of economics in this country. And if we're going to be able to have sharing more economical decisions in this country, we have to own businesses. So Jackie bought the Copy Center from two of her former clients,

but with her new business came some old problems. Because of its state-of-the-art equipment, the Copy Center was heavily in debt. We knew we needed some help because this company didn't have a mission statement. It hadn't defined their values. And as you're looking at the direction of where you want to go, we didn't have a roadmap. That's when Jackie turned to one of her clients, the North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development for help. The institute is a non-profit organization that provides policy analysis, technical assistance, and other support to women and minority-owned businesses across the state. They came at a time when really I was very frustrated because of the overvaluation that I was faced with with the business. And plus when you're organizing a business and you're restructuring it, you kind of run out of steam and you run out of energy. So the first thing they did is they recommended a strong business attorney for me. So they helped me find legal assistance to go out and go back and renegotiate the purchase agreement.

Jackie is just one of the 400 minority business owners, the institute helped last year. Its president Andrea Harris says, historically, minority-owned businesses have faced some disadvantages, but that's slowly changing. Positively, there's tremendous growth in terms of the number of minority-owned firms. Still, they've faced problems in access to capital, they've faced problems in access to broader market opportunities, and they mostly are first-generation businesses. So they have to go through the management learning curve. The institute helps link these businesses to other financial and educational resources in the community, but these efforts are just a part of what the state is doing to promote minority economic development. The Department of Commerce works closely with other organizations to help boost the economic opportunities of both minorities and citizens in rural areas. We have a state tax credit package, the benefit of which is larger to those areas, again,

that are not as prosperous as some of the other areas in our state. North Carolina has a lot of advantages that distinguish it, and one of the advantages is it has one of the largest numbers of minority credit unions, some 14 local credit unions, and we think that this capital delivery mechanism is really important to our smaller towns and communities in providing access to capital, both for consumer purposes, and some of the credit unions through the leadership of this technical assistance center, the minority credit union support center, or also moving into the area of mortgage lending and some small business lending. North Carolina ranks among the top 10 states in the country for economic development. Commerce officials say, as long as there are disparities among races and communities, the state should be doing more to close the economic gap.

Our state, economic development board, has set widely shared prosperity as one of its several goals. I think it's very important that all of the people and all the regions in our state have an equal opportunity to prosper. We can't be a great state if we have a cluster of counties in any region, be it urban or rural that is not doing well. And honing in on those regions has been the state's priority for the last decade, and statistics show the effort is working. For example, a 1997 survey showed that the number of minority and women-owned businesses increased from 19,000 in 1991 to 29,000 in 1997, and this growth has had a ripple effect in communities and in the state. If you target your resources, particularly when they are limited, that you can make a difference in both growing businesses as well as growing people in terms of employment that allows them to sustain themselves and their families.

I've been able to hire some employees who were living in public housing, and through their employment at the copy center, they were able to get out of public housing, you know, have more for their families, and then what I've gotten in return is a commitment and a value from an employee that I probably wouldn't be able to have gotten from, maybe the kid right out of college. And it's these kinds of results the state is working for since 1993, minority-owned businesses have won over $600 million in state contracts and nearly 200 million in construction services. And while North Carolina continues to open new doors for minority and rural communities, it will take long-term efforts to close the remaining economic gap. Rural and minority development programs are helping. I think the best thing that you can recognize in life is what your gifts are, and if the institute hadn't come with the gifts that they provide in terms of the strategic planning and helping me focus on the marketplace, we could have taken this great opportunity and lost it because we have an opportunity to become a leading company in this industry and without them,

I would be very, very honest and say that I wouldn't be able to make it. Well, minority and rural economic development programs focus on minorities officials. Say the programs are open to all races. And that wraps up tonight's edition of North Carolina and now have a great evening and we'll see you back here tomorrow. Good night.