North Carolina Now; Episode from 1999-03-26

It's Friday, March 26th, tonight bolstering the ethical standards of the state highway patrol. In North Carolina, now. Good evening, I'm Arita Matre. If you're watching us from the mountains this evening, we hope you've managed to plow yourself out of all that snow by now. Just think spring, warm weather can't be too far behind. On tonight's edition of North Carolina now, we'll learn the status of various Native American tribes in our state. A professor from UNC Palmbrook and the author of a new book about American Indians shed some light on the subject. Plus, Barclay Todd takes a look at how the state highway patrol is trying to improve its public image, following a series of controversies involving previous commanders. But first, we check in with Legislative correspondent John Basin to see if any controversy is brewing down there at the General Assembly.

Thanks for joining us tonight, John. I'm Arita. Now lawmakers had been in the mood the last couple of years to cut taxes, but now I understand there are some members who want to raise a particular tax in some areas. That's right, Marita. This week in the House Finance Committee, there were two bills calling for the legislature to allow counties to raise a local option sales tax. And there are, in fact, many more counties than just those two that are seeking this authority from the legislature. What's happening in most of these counties is that the politicians there, the county commissioners and other folks don't want to raise property taxes and they're looking for other ways to raise revenue. In fact, I understand that roughly three-quarters of the county commissions across the state are on record in one way or another asking or wanting the General Assembly to give statewide all counties the authority to raise their sales tax by one cent. And so this does kind of run counter to the tax cutting the General Assembly has done in recent years what's even more interesting is that the two bills that came up in committee this week were sponsored by Republicans who, of course, have led the push for tax cuts

over the last four years. But they're representing their local county commissions and the county commissions say, please, legislature, give us this authority. On the other side, I should say, rather that right now it doesn't look particularly good for those bills to pass because the Democrats who've just taken over in the House aren't that interested in coming in and leading a push to raise taxes after the four years of taxes being cut before them. And moving on to another topic, the House is trying to make it an impossibility to operate casino boats off the coast of North Carolina. What's the status of that legislation? I'm ready to that bill pass the House this week. It is drawn to do everything the state can do to discourage operators from starting these casino boat operations in North Carolina. They're already leaving ports in South Carolina going three miles out and gambling once they get outside the limit there of the state's control. Officers here in North Carolina, at least on the House side, have decided that they want to discourage that from happening. And they've drawn a bill that does everything it possibly can to keep that from happening.

They had one of the things they had in the bill was a $10,000 annual fee for the casino boat operators to get an ABC permit. Well, they decided they'd actually take that out of the bill. That's not a way to allow it make it easier for the casino operators to run their business. In fact, what they've done by taking the ABC permit fee out is to make it illegal for them to serve alcohol on the boats until they get three miles out. So that's one more way they're trying to discourage these boats from starting in North Carolina. That bill goes over to the Senate now and we'll see what the Senate wants to do with it. The executive director of the Child Fetality Task Force was a guest on North Carolina now this week and he talked about legislation that his organization is trying to push through requiring children to wear bicycle helmets. And I understand this caused a great deal of debate and controversy in a committee meeting this week. There are actually two committee meetings and the second one which happened on Thursday. Things got a little testy between those who question whether the state should actually mandate that kids have to wear these helmets and folks like the director of the Child Advocacy

Institute and some other supporters of this bill who say, without a law, not enough parents are going to get their kids into helmets and they've got a lot of statistics that show that kids wearing helmets are much much much less likely to be killed or injured seriously coming into an accident than kids who are not wearing helmets. And John, we have a story coming up about the state highway patrol but I wanted to ask you the status of the inquiry checking out whether African American motorists are actually stopped more by law enforcement officers than white motorists we discussed it a couple of weeks ago. What's going on there? Well, the bill has passed. The Senate is over in the House. In fact, this week it had its first committee meeting in a House Judiciary Committee. They'll continue working on it. The bill, as you say, seeks to get the highway patrol and other state-wide law enforcement agencies to keep track by race of the people they stop. Even people that they just give an oral warning to.

And the feeling is that there's a perception in the black community that black motorists get pulled over more often and what the supporters of the bill say is that these statistics that will be collected will either dispel that or confirm it. And of course, supporters of the highway patrol and there are many say that it will probably dispel that myth, at least that the highway patrol is doing that. But the bill is now on the House side and that much closer to passage. Okay, John, I know you're a diehard Carolina fan so I won't ask you about the basketball game this weekend. ACC. Thanks for the information. In recent years, the state highway patrol has had to investigate three of its top commanders for alleged violations of department rules and regulations. Now the patrol is working to put into play several new policies, including some which address ethical conduct among officers and the command. As producer Barclay Todd reports, the patrol is seizing the opportunity to take a hard look at itself.

Next month, Governor Jim Haunt appointed a new commander to head the state highway patrol. The appointment of Colonel R.W. Holden comes at a time when patrol is taking both an internal and external look at all of its rules and regulations. The self-examination is partly in response to the resignations of three former commanders. The most recent departure was the early retirement of 35-year veteran Colonel E. W. Horton. Horton left amid allegations that he accepted free bricks to build his home in 1995. It was Horton himself who in 1996 revised the patrol's gifts and gratuity regulation to read that members shall neither solicit nor accept from any person, business or organization any bribe or gift or gratuity. As written today, the state troupe can accept no gift or gratuity from any person. While this policy may seem clear-cut, troopers like Sergeant Jeff Winstead say, because it's

so strict, it can put officers in a difficult situation. You wouldn't dare want to get anywhere near a situation where you were put in a position of accepting any gift or gratuity from anyone that was doing business with the state or anyone that might seek to influence you or to have you perform some service or not perform some service. But you wouldn't want a policy written to the point that, gee, your next door neighbor couldn't give you a birthday present. Prime control and public safety secretary Richard Moore, who oversees the highway patrol says in light of the recent ethics concerns, there will likely be changes to the gifts policy. However, Moore would not go into detail about possible changes. He does say any changes must be clear enough that every trooper understands and must have safeguards against any appearance of impropriety. Our goal is to institutionalize a high ethical standard.

Because the last thing we want to have happen is we have an embarrassing situation. We have someone who made a very poor choice. And then it's at the forefront of everyone's mind. And then it disappears. Because that's not fair to the person coming along and that's not fair to the people in North Carolina. And I really think that what happened to Colonel Horton was more of an isolated instant than a systematic problem or the need for a systematic change. But we will look at everything and we will always continue to strive to do best we can. The patrols re-evaluation of all of its procedures and rules is being shaped by its application for national certification from the commission on accreditation of law enforcement agencies or Kalea. The patrol is in the second phase of a five-phase process which requires an agency to examine all of its procedures and regulations, including those involving gifts and gratuities and bring them into Kalea's standard.

The patrol's newly appointed commander, 29-year veteran, Colonel R.W. Holden said, clarifying the patrol's gist policy for rank-and-file troopers will be one of his first priorities. We're looking at other policies that other people have. We're doing some training in reference to all people to ensure that our people understand the awesome responsibilities that they have and making sure that they don't get themselves involved in a situation where the public's trust in fact would be somewhere hampered. As far as a gratuity policy for higher ranking troopers, Secretary Morris considering developing guidelines similar to that for other state cabinet members. At the higher levels of patrol, we're going to institutionalize the same threshold levels that cabinet members and other board members and appointees have in the 100 administration right now. And those are 100 and 200 dollar trigger levels and fill out a form every year. As for patrol troopers, they say they would like a policy that's clear and concise, one that's also realistic.

That's all we're looking for. A good, simple, reasonable policy. And the enforcement of that new policy is something that the patrol is also investigating. Secretary Morris says he doesn't foresee one set of penalties, but that each situation would be reviewed on a case by case basis. We'll still ahead on the program a comprehensive look at the Native American population in our state. But first, here's Mitchell Lewis with a summary of today's statewide headlines. Good evening, Mitch. Thanks, Marita. Good evening, everyone. U.S. Senator Jesse Helms has introduced federal legislation to make the removal of Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic official U.S. policy. Helms, who is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says there are individuals and organizations in Serbia, other than Milosevic, that can be a force for democratic change in that country. Helms says further coddling of the Yugoslav president by the White House could lead to increasing uncertainty and danger in the region.

The Helms bill is similar to a measure signed last year by President Clinton in support of group seeking to overthrow Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. A military judge has ruled the trial of a second Marine Corps aviator will proceed without delay. The judge says he can find no evidence to show the government lacks sufficient evidence to prosecute Captain Joseph Switzer. Switzer faces charges of obstruction of justice and connection with the deaths of 20 people in the Italian Alps last year. Switzer was the navigator of the U.S. Marine Corps jet involved in the gondola cable accident and is accused of destroying a videotape that he shot before the cable car incident. The jet's pilot, Captain Richard Ashby, was acquitted of manslaughter charges in connection with the 20 deaths. An environmental group is asking Caroline a power in light to withdraw its request for expansion to its Sharon Harris nuclear plant in Wake County. CPNL wants to use the plant to store spent fuel rods, but activists are concerned about the risk of an accident. Nuclear scientists joined members of the Environmental Watchdog Group North Carolina Waste Awareness

Reduction Network today to release a technical report analyzing the company's proposal. According to NC1, the report confirms concerns that the chance for a severe accident, though small, is very real, if the fuel rods are stored at the plant. Two members of the State Coastal Resources Commission are reconsidering their memberships in environmental groups, warnings from the state board of ethics about possible conflicts of interest, are prompting the members' reconsideration. At stake, all the positions held by pricey Harrison and Melvin Shepard. Harrison is on the board of the Southern Environmental Law Center and Shepard is president of the Coastal Federation. A state attorney says any CRC member who sits on the board of an advocacy group should not participate in discussions or vote on an issue in which the group is involved. Five Western North Carolina counties will start receiving daily ozone forecasts this spring by joining the ozone action program. Bunkham, Madison, Haywood, Henderson, and Transylvania counties have been added to the program. The Triangle Triad and Charlotte areas already participate.

The program is designed to make people more aware of ozone levels so they can take steps to reduce air emissions, and in some cases guard their health. And now for a look at tomorrow's weather, Saturday highs will range in the 30s and 40s statewide. Bloody skies are forecast to cover the state with a chance for morning rain in the east. In business news, Charlotte-based First Union has entered into a multi-billion-dollar asset management joint venture. The partnership will team First Union with Chicago-based Everand Capital. Everand is a financial services holding company with more than $63 billion under management. First Union will control a 95 percent stake in the new venture and will contribute its ownership interest in Evergreen Mutual Fund and Mentor Investment Group. The new alliance will handle more than $70 billion in assets. The deal requires regulatory approval and is expected to close in four months. IBM's latest annual report shows steady increases in software and services revenues, but the company's personal computer business posted a nearly $1 billion loss last year.

The global price cutting in the PC market has been a benefit to consumers, but is taking its toll on personal computer manufacturers. Big blue chose this latest annual report to break out earnings numbers by the business segment for the first time. A former RJ Reynolds tobacco company executive has admitted to helping smuggle nearly $700 million worth of cigarettes on Canada's black market. Leslie Thompson is the first tobacco industry executive charged in the federal government's four-year investigation into tobacco and alcohol smuggling. Thompson pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in a federal court in upstate New York. The former RJR tobacco executive could face up to seven years in prison. The former RJR tobacco company executive has admitted to helping smuggle nearly $700 million

worth of cigarettes on Canada's black market in upstate New York. The former RJR tobacco company executive has admitted to helping smuggle nearly $700 million worth of cigarettes on Canada's black market in upstate New York. North Carolina's Native American population is approaching $100,000. There is a new book out that provides insight into the lifestyles of the various Indian groups and their relationship with the land. The book is called American Indians in North Carolina. The author is a professor of geography at the University of North Carolina at Palmbroke. Dr. Tom Ross, professor Ross, thanks for being here tonight. Okay, thank you for having me.

I certainly appreciate it. You bring a different perspective to this book being a geography professor, you're not a history professor or sociologist. So how does a geography professor write about American Indians? We look at the present condition, we look at the population, economic condition, cultural changes that are taking place and how the Indians are adapting to the changing times. And what role does geography play in the lifestyle of the Indians who live in North Carolina? The Indians are predominantly, have been historically predominantly, farmers in the past century or so. But now it seems more and more they're moving into the service industries as they have access to higher education. So we're looking at a changing economic condition where there are now considerable numbers of Indians in the middle class and even some in the upper class in terms of socioeconomic levels. Let's talk more about the current condition of Native Americans in North Carolina because I know a lot has been written in the past, giving a historical perspective of the Indians

that live in our state. But your book looks at the current condition of Native Americans. What is their current condition? Well, the current condition. That's a big question. It is a big question. In terms of the population, it is a population that is one of the fastest growing in the state. In terms of economic conditions, it's also one that is undergoing significant changes with some of the groups that are present in the state. Not all of the Indian groups are experiencing the same amount of economic prosperity. We try to look at the cultural adaptations and that is a very big factor. In fact, down in Robinson County, we're right now having a somewhat of a conflict over who's going to be the governing body of the tribe of Lumbies down there. When we look at the condition, we see an expanding population, one that is a better educated

population as a whole, but yet with pockets of extreme poverty. Why is the economic conditions improving for some and not for others? The more education they get, the better off they are economically, and those without access to higher education, or those without access to any public education beyond the Ethernife grade, are not doing very well economically. That's standard for the population in general, the better the education, the better you do economically. There's a difference between the segments of population, black, Indian, and white in terms of the education. You look at all people in North Carolina who claim or refer to themselves as being Native American. Why the need in this book to take such a broad view of this population? I've been in North Carolina since 1969, and my first exposure to Indians was with Cherokee.

Then I came down to the Robinson County and ran into 35,000, 40,000 Lumbie Indians. I hadn't never heard of them before. As I stayed in the state, and as I was teaching in the state, I kept hearing about other Indian groups, and I tried to find information about them, written information, and it was not there. Over the years, I have put together a course at Pennbroke. It's about American Indians in the U.S. and I have some very good students in that class. So I asked them, I said, why don't we get together and go out here and do some research and find out where the Indians are and just who they are. And that's what we did. Your book touches upon some tribes or Indian nations that haven't been written about before. Give us an example of what some of those tribes are. Okay, most of the tribes could have been written about in some of the local media.

But in terms of any scholarly type publication, we would have to include the Okanechi. We would include the Indians of Person County. There hasn't been much about the Kohari. There hasn't been much about the Hollowasuponi. There hasn't been much about the Wacomal Siuon. And perhaps even less about the Maharan. So for the first time in a single volume, we've tried to provide a snapshot of what the Indian culture is like in the state and that it is very different over the state. In addition, I also looked at the population data that said 80,000 people in 1990 claim to be Indian. They did not necessarily affiliate with any of the tribes I have just mentioned. But it's people who say, well, I've got a grandmother who's Indian, therefore I am Indian. And we have 80,000 people in the state.

We had 80,000. We've got, oh, perhaps 100,000 now as we speak, which is about twice what was in the state when the first European contact was made. And I just wanted to find out about them and see who is an Indian. In so many cases, we would not recognize a person who claims to be Indian as an Indian. I mean, they are very light, complexion in some cases. I mean, there's a big range of who is Indian or what an Indian looks like. There is no perfect picture of what an Indian looks like. I found that out traveling around the state. Well, Dr. Ross, hopefully your book will shed some light on this. It's very informative. Thank you. I appreciate you being here tonight. Oh, it was a pleasure being here. Thank you for having me. Again, the name of the book is American Indians in North Carolina. The author is Thomas E. Ross. It's published by Kero Hollow Press. And we'd like to mention a few other items before we close out our week here at North

Carolina now. First, we'd like to recognize the 20th anniversary of the National Humanities Center based in Research Triangle Park. For all of today and into tomorrow, the Humanities Center will be hosting a conference and celebration to commemorate the milestone. The scholarly organization is the nation's only independent institute for advanced study in human thought and culture. The Center took the opportunity today to announce the endowment of two new fellowships, one of them in the name of distinguished North Carolinian, John Hope Franklin. In recognition of your service to this center, to humane scholarship, and to your country. I know of no one who has done more to illuminate the history of our country, been more firmly committed

to social justice, or provided a better example of humanistic scholarship at its very best. And we can't leave here tonight without rooting on the Duke Blue Devils, both the men and the women's basketball teams. This is the first time since 1983, and only the second time in tournament history that the men's and the women's teams of any one school have gone on simultaneously to the NCAA Final Four. The Lady Blue Devils are playing Georgia at this very moment, and the men will suit up Saturday night to play Michigan State. Hopefully, we'll have a double dose of good news to celebrate next week. And finally, we'd like to mention this is the last weekend. The Festival 99 will be here Saturday and Sunday in an effort to meet our goal of two and a half million dollars. We'll see you for Festival tomorrow night and Sunday, and again on Monday for another edition of North Carolina now.

Have a great weekend. Good night.