SOURCE: News & Observer Blogs (Raleigh,NC)AUDIENCE: 87,029 [provided by Nielsen//NetRatings]

DATE: 06-07-2013HEADLINE: Morning Memo: As storm approaches, House set for major tax vote

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Submitted by John_Frank on 2013-06-07 05:19

TODAY AT THE STATEHOUSE:As a tropical storm hits Raleigh, the House will meet in its first full Fridaysession this year to debate a tax bill that represents one of the most expansive policy changes in decades. Atthe same time, appropriation subcommittees will meet to roll out the House budget, meeting before and aftersession. The Senate adjourned until Monday. The House action precedes what is expected to be a busy timenext week in Raleigh with budget and taxes, among dozens of other bills, moving quickly as the legislaturenears adjournment toward the end of the month. Top GOP lawmakers will rush from the statehouse toCharlotte for the state Republican Party convention. Gov. Pat McCrory will hold a reception at the conventionthis evening.

NEW NUMBERS SHOW TAX BILLS AFFECTS:The median North Carolina family would get a modesttax break while wealthy taxpayers may see a significant cut under a sweeping bill primed for a landmarkHouse vote Friday. (Read more below.)

***Special Friday Dome Morning Memo edition. Read more about the tax plan on the House floor below anda recap from President Barack Obama's visit.***

WHAT THE HOUSE TAX PLAN MEANS:A married couple with two children making $40,000 a yearwould get an estimated $40 tax break when the legislation is fully implemented, according to a new legislativeanalysis. If the same family earned $250,000 a year, it would see a roughly $1,700 break. The tax cutincreases to at least $12,500 if the family makes $1 million.

All single taxpayers would see a tax break with the size increasing with income. At $40,000, the tax cut isabout $200, while the break for those making $100,000 would be about $1,000, the analysis estimated.

The numbers set the stage for a House debate on what bill sponsors are calling the biggest tax cut package inmore than a decade and their top legislative priority.Full story and chart showing bill's affects.

OBAMA MAKES SECOND TRIP TO N.C.:A half-dozen eighth-graders at Mooresville Middle Schoolshowed President Barack Obama how they use their "smart" whiteboards by marking up a poem read at hisfirst inauguration. Circling a metaphor on the board automatically updated an iPad Mini in a classmate's hand.Then Obama told the country he wants every school in the U.S. to have access to the same level oftechnology.

From the gymnasium of a school that has garnered national attention for its tech savvy, Obama unveiledThursday a plan to connect nearly every U.S. classroom to high-speed broadband and wireless Internet overthe next five years. He said it would use money already budgeted and would not require authorization orapproval by Congress. And he billed it as a way to boost graduation rates and turn out students more preparedfor tech-related careers. "In a country where we expect free Wi-Fi with our coffee, why shouldn't we have it inour schools?" Obama said. "These are the tools our children deserve, and there's no reason we can't do this."

GOP SPIN:Despite the raucous reception, Obama's visit to Mooresville was something of a trip into hostileterritory. Iredell County voted 65 percent for Republican candidate Mitt Romney in last year's election.Mooresville's eight districts went 67 percent for Romney, state voting data show. And North CarolinaRepublicans criticized the trip before Air Force One even touched down. State party Chairman Robin Hayesand U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Cherryville Republican, held a conference call to describe the trip as a

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distraction from scandals in Washington, like the investigation into whether the IRS targeted conservativegroups. They also challenged his record on job creation. "While we welcome the president once again to thestate of North Carolina, his record of achievement has not been one of success for average NorthCarolinians," McHenry said. "His economic record speaks for itself. We have a sluggish growth rate, andmany challenges."Full story.

BLAST FROM THE PAST -- Gov. Bev Perdue makes statement on president's visit:From the statement: Wemust make our schools an integral part of the broadband and technology transformation because thistechnology is real, it is available, and its capacity to improve education is profound, said Perdue, who iscontinues to be active in improving connectivity and digital learning across the country. Having a 21st centurytechnology infrastructure for all learners no matter their age should be the one effort on which we all agree aswe continue to better prepare our students and workers for the worldwide knowledge economy."

It continued:

While in office, Perdue led the School Connectivity Initiative that connected all school districts to MCNC'snetwork through a public-private partnership with MCNC and the N.C. General Assembly. Perdue wasinstrumental in leading MCNC's $144 million expansion of the North Carolina Research and EducationNetwork (NCREN) through the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative. That historic project for the stateis set for completion on June 21. Using no state funding, MCNC raised $40 million in private matching fundsto attract NTIA grants totaling $104 million to fund the massive fiber build. MCNC's efforts throughNCREN's high-speed network are being seen and used first-hand by President Obama today in Mooresville.

NOTED:GOP Gov. Pat McCrory snubbed President Barack Obama on Thursday but Republican Rep. RobertBrawley didn't. Obama visited a school in Brawley's district, so he went home for the Mooresville event andmissed the legislative session.

ICYMI -- Time magazine's setup piece on Obama and North Carolina:From Zeke Miller -- On ThursdayPresident Barack Obama will take his second trip back to North Carolina since the November election. Thevisit to the swing state he won by a hair in 2008 but lost last time around is to announce a new program calledConnectED, a five-year initiative to bring high speed Internet to 99 percent of American students. But therepeat state visit "one of only a handful so far in the second term "also highlights the Democratic Party'sfrustrations in North Carolina, its toehold into the South.Full story.

EMAIL SUBJECT LINE: From a reader interested in the tax debate:Where are the Democrats? Goodquestion. Democrats have not presented their own tax plan nor endorsed one in the mix. But they have pushedrepeatedly for renewal of the earned income tax cut, or EITC. The reader provided a link to the N.C.Democratic Party platform, which addresses tax reform in resolution No. 54, though it appears largely aimedat the national level. The resolution begins: WHEREAS, for too long Democrats have needlessly lost the taxissue battle to GOP tax cut promises. Now Americans see the chasm those cuts created between the richestand the rest. It is time for the Democrats to go on the offensive with their own, fair and progressive tax cutplan.

McCRORY TOUTS JOBS:From the News & Record -- For the second day in a row, Gov. Pat McCrory cameto Guilford County to salute a local company that's bringing manufacturing back to the United States.

McCrory told media, company employees and elected officials that manufacturing will bring this region'seconomy back from the recession. "Manufacturing is back in Greensboro, manufacturing is back in NorthCarolina and we have to have manufacturing back in the USA," he said. "This area was built onmanufacturing," he said. "We can't live off the service industry alone."Full story.

McCRORY AIDE DEFENDS HIS BOSS:From The Winston-Salem Chronicle: Kevin Daniels defended hisboss " Gov. Pat McCrory " last week against critics who say the state has become increasingly regressivesince McCrory took office earlier this year. Daniels, McCrory's former director of Community Affairs and

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now program director for the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service'sAmeriCorps, spoke at a May 30 fundraiser hosted by the Wharton Gladden Foundation at Spring HouseRestaurant, Kitchen & Bar. He said McCrory, a former Charlotte mayor, has been hard at work trying toimprove the lives of all North Carolinas by improving the economy. Since January, he has announced thecreation of close to 5,000 jobs, which is impressive, and it's all across the state; it's not just focused on onearea," said the New York native. "When you look at the work that the governor's doing, he's providingleadership in that he did what he said he was going to do: he's going in and he's creating jobs."

When asked about the regular demonstrations the state NAACP now stages at the General Assembly to protesta litany of new laws " which are only enacted after the governor signs them " that the civil rights organizationsays are designed to suppress the black vote, deny defendants their right to a fair trial and otherwisedisenfranchise communities of color, Daniels was diplomatic. "I think that they are expressing theirconstitutional right to assemble," he said, "and I support that."Full story.

EDITOR'S NOTE:The Morning Memo returns to the guidance of N&O State Government Editor MaryCornatzer next week to accommodate my mandated furlough. Send her news and tips todome@newsobserver.com.

DON'T MAKE A BEER RUN YET:As the beer columnist at the N&O, I get a lot of questions about the twobeer bills the state legislature sent to Gov. Pat McCrory this week. Most folks want to know how quickly theirfavorite bottle shop or Whole Foods will serve growlers, as allowed under House Bill 829. Or other folks wantto know when the Durham Bulls will serve Carolina Brewery and Foothills in the stands at baseball games.The short answer: not right away.

The legislation is effective upon the governor's signature. But both bills ask the N.C. Alcohol BeverageControl Commission to put in place rules before they take effect. In the case of growlers, the commissionmust adopt rules about sanitation of growlers being filled by Jan. 1. For in-stand beer sales at professionalsporting events, the commission must approve rules about the suspension of alcohol sales in the latter portionof professional sporting events in order to protect public safety at these events.

It's unclear how long it will take the ABC Commission to make the rules. It can create temporary ones incases like this and later go through the formal rule making process, which can take six to eight months, saidAgnes Steves, a spokeswoman.

MAJORITY OF N.C. VOTERS FAVOR NULLIFICATION?So says a new Civitas poll that should beconsidered with a truckload of salt. The question -- Should states have the right to block any federal laws theydisagree with on legal grounds? -- came within a larger poll about gun regulations. It found 51 percent supportnullification, 47 percent are opposed and 7 percent unsure. The 4 percent margin of error on the surveyconducted by National Research is 4 percent, so really N.C. voters are split about evenly. Wonder what aquestion about secession would say? Maybe next month ...

SOON AFTER RENOVATIONS, STATE SENATE WANTS TO CLOSE MUSEUM:The state spent $2million two years ago renovating the N.C. Museum of Forestry in downtown Whiteville, so supporters weresurprised by a move in the legislature to cut the museum out of the state budget. The state Senate budget omitsthe $357,000 needed to operate the museum, which was developed to showcase the forest environment and itscultural and economic roles through state history.

Jim High, a founding member of the Friends of the N.C. Forestry Museum and owner of Whiteville'snewspaper, the News Reporter, said the proposal is oddly timed. "We've just gotten this place to where it is adestination point," he said. "This museum gives folks a reason to visit here, to see our museum and walk thestreets of downtown."

Sen. Andrew Brock, the Republican co-chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Natural andEconomic Resources, said the Forestry Museum's cutbacks resulted from "relatively low attendance and

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relatively high per-visitor operating costs."Full story.

PERSONNEL FILE:Jim Crawford, an Oxford Democrat who served 28 years in the state House ofRepresentatives, and Louis Wetmore, a Hickory Republican, took their seats Thursday as Gov. Pat McCrory'snewest appointees to the state Board of Transportation, DOT said.

Wetmore, a registered investment adviser for OmniStar Financial Group, succeeds Bob Collier as the board'sDivision 12 representative. Collier, a Democrat and former board chairman, resigned in January. Crawfordwill serve as the board's at-large member for rural transportation, replacing Democrat Tripp Sloane. Hebecomes the board's second resident of Division Five, which also includes Wake, Durham and four othercounties. Division Five's primary representative is Republican Michael C. Smith of Raleigh, a McCroryfundraiser.More here.

REP. BLUST DEFENDS 'CAMERON CRAZIES' REMARK:State Rep. John Blust, a GreensboroRepublican, writing a letter to the editor in response to an editorial about Moral Mondays: I wish to respond toyour June 5 editorial "Loud and clear." This latest of your almost daily diatribes against Republicans in theGeneral Assembly extolled the virtues of the Monday protesters. You particularly took me to task forcomparing them to the Cameron Crazies, who attempt to intimidate opponents of Duke basketball bysurrounding the court and shouting and chanting all game long. I believe it is an apt metaphor.

The protesters come to the legislative building once a week expressly to make noise, get in the way and getarrested. You want me to listen to those who shout the loudest here, rather than pay attention to the manymore people who cannot come here? When you say we should "listen," you really mean that we have anobligation to agree with the 1,000 protesters here rather than the 70,000 people back home?

When the protest leader tells a cheering crowd the Republicans are out to "crucify voting rights" (when voterID has the support of about 70 percent of North Carolinians), he is not looking for constructive dialogue.Shouting the loudest does not make the protesters right.Full story.

FOXX NOMINATION COULD ADVANCE SOON:Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx's nomination as U.S.transportation secretary could move forward next week. The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce,Transportation and Science will begin work Monday on the nomination, said U.S. Sen. John Thune of SouthDakota, the ranking Republican on the committee. At a confirmation hearing last month, both Democrats andRepublicans praised Foxx.Full story.

A SUNDAY READ:The folks at the Institute for Southern Studies penned a piece in American Prospectmagazine published online this week. It's the third in a series about the end of the Solid South. From the piece:In 2016 and beyond, North Carolina will be fertile ground for Democratic presidential campaigns.Republicans, though, will maintain their advantage in most of the state's legislative and congressional seats fora few more election cycles. After that, they will have to moderate their message "and policies. ConservativeRepublicans know that they're working on borrowed time. That knowledge is spurring them to push publicpolicy further and faster to the right while they still can. What happens when a state becomes moreprogressive and more conservative at the same time? North Carolinians are finding out.Take a read here.

1370603357 Morning Memo: As storm approaches, House set for major tax vote The News and ObserverCopyright 2011 The News and Observer . All rights reserved.

Highlights: NC, NORTH CAROLINA, North Carolina, N.C, MCNC, Research and Education Network,NCREN, Golden LEAF, Rural Broadband Initiative, North Carolina

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SOURCE: Raleigh (NC) News & ObserverAUDIENCE: 626,716 [provided by Nielsen//NetRatings]

DATE: 06-12-2013HEADLINE: HOLLY SPRINGS: Holly Springs sets groundwork for Internet service

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Holly Springs sets groundwork for Internet service

Published: June 12, 2013

2013-06-13T00:31:31Z

By Andrew Kenney The_News_and_Observer

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By Andrew Kenney "akenney@newsobserver.com

HOLLY SPRINGS " The town plans to lay up to 16 miles of high-speed data lines between town facilities anda high-speed regional network, and the project could form a backbone for commercial and residential Internetservices.

Holly Springs would pay an estimated $1.5 million to bury the two underground fiberoptic rings within a year.The lines would connect town facilities to each other and to a regional hub known as the N.C. Research andEducation Network.

As described by town staff and consultants, it's cheaper for the town to build its own data infrastructure thanto pay for upgrades from its private provider, Time-Warner Cable.

"With the fiber investment, we're able to contemplate services that in a million years we'd never be able tobuy," said Joanne Hovis, president of CTC Technology & Engineering, in a presentation to the Holly SpringsTown Council last week.

The town paid CTC about $21,000 to prepare a business case about the project.

The findings: The project would multiply connectivity speeds between government facilities, and it likelywould be cheaper than buying network service from a private provider.

Even with construction costs, a town-owned network could provide "gigabit" service between governmentfacilities for about $100,000 per year less than a private provider.

The new network may even cost less than 10 years of the town's current lower-speed network service.

With the new construction, town facilities would be able to communicate with each other, and potentially tothe Internet, at speeds up to 20 times faster than they get now.

Eventually, private companies could extend lines from the town-installed "backbone" to individual residencesand businesses. However, this could require millions of dollars in investment.

Green lights

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The Town Council liked the idea that Holly Springs would be in control of its communication technologies.

"Right now we're held captive by a very limited source for these services, and that's not going to change overthe years," said Councilman Tim Sack.

With better network speeds, some said, the town could bring in new technologies. It could monitorhigh-definition security cameras remotely, or install more "virtual desktops," which allow the town to buy onecentral server instead of dozens of individual computers for employees.

The town also could increase speeds on the fiber later by installing relatively cheap new technology at theends of the cables.

"Fiber is universally considered a future-proof investment," Hovis said.

Other governments across the region are considering similar initiatives.

Cary has joined governments and universities from Raleigh to Winston-Salem. Together, the N.C. NextGeneration Network hopes to find a private partner who would build a "gigabit" network, in part by usingexisting fiber-optic lines, underground conduits and data centers.

That initiative is now in talks with private companies who could help build out the project.

Holly Springs' network could come online next year. The council will give further consideration to costs at aJune 18 meeting.

Kenney: 919-460-2608 or twitter.com/KenneyOnCary

Copyright 2013 The_News_and_Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,rewritten or redistributed.

(c) 2013 www.newsobserver.com and wire service sources. All RightsReserved.http://www.newsobserver.com

Highlights: NC, NORTH CAROLINA, N.C, Research and Education Network

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Wilson (NC) Daily Times06/17/2013"Middle school students face iPad restrictions"Audience: 13,365Author: Stephanie CreechSource Website: www.wilsontimes.com

Monday, June 17, 2013 11:40 PM

Middle school students face iPad restrictions

Dropping Greenlight Internet service to save $72K per year

By Stephanie Creech

Times Managing Editor

Middle school students will not be allowed to download applications on their school-issued iPads ontheir own starting next school year.

This is one of the changes Wilson County Schools is making affecting the use of iPads at the middleschool level.

Students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades were issued iPads to use at school and at home forthe first time this school year.

The change was recommended during advisory group meetings during which input was gatheredfrom teachers, parents and principals.

Daniel Vogelman, assistant superintendent for technology and accountability, told the WilsonCounty Board of Education Monday the concern was that applications students downloaded werenot always educational in nature.

Vogelman said it's possible students could have their ability to download applications restored ifthey demonstrate responsibility when it comes to academics and behavior.

The school district's technology team is creating what's known as an iTunes U site online whereresources that will benefit students, teachers and parents can be found.

This summer, the district has a group of middle school teachers writing digital units for almost allcontent levels.

Students and parents will be taught how to access the site and the resources. Vogelman describedthe site as something that will be a great benefit for students.

As iPads were distributed throughout the middle schools this year, Wilson County Schools hostedinformational meetings and later workshops for parents on the iPads and how they work and howthey can help their children.

Next school year, the parent workshops will be revamped and held possibly either before or afterParent Teacher Organization meetings. The workshops will be held at each individual middle schoolinstead of at only one location.

School officials hope holding the workshops at the individual schools will help increase parent

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participation.

Wynn Smith, executive director of technology, said they have heard a lot concerns from parentsabout not being able to help their children with math. One of the workshops this year will helpeducate parents on how to find math resources online.

Vogelman also pointed out that as teachers get adjusted to their iPads and integrating moretechnology into the classroom that things are going to become easier. Vogelman said they want tobe able to sit down and help parents understand the resources that are out there.

Middle school students will also be gaining access to more electronic books on Follett. The district isbuying fiction and nonfiction books and housing them on Follett. Students can go to the site anddownload the books. It works like a virtual library. However, because the books are electronicstudents can actually highlight sections and even take notes online.

About 350 books have been selected thus far by media center coordinators at the middle schoollevel.

Middle school teachers have received training locally and from Apple this school year on use of theiPads.

About 300 teachers completed a summer technology conference last week sponsored by thedistrict. The sessions were taught mostly by teachers for teachers.

WIRELESS UPDATE

Work will start this summer on implementing wireless Internet service at eight schools andupgrading existing wireless service at Wells Elementary School.

The eight schools affected are Elm City, Gardners, Lee Woodard, Lucama, Rock Ridge,Stantonsburg, Vinson-Bynum and Winstead elementary schools.

Earlier this year, the district installed wireless Internet at Daniels Learning Center, Darden, Elm City,Forest Hills, Speight and Springfield middle schools, Beddingfield and Fike high schools.

Wireless service was previously installed at all other schools in the district.

Wilson County Schools is changing its Internet provider.

As of July 1, Internet service will be provided by North Carolina Research and EducationNetwork at no cost.

The district will still pay the city of Wilson's Greenlight for Wide Area Network service and NCRENwill use Greenlight to push the network into schools and school offices, according to Vogelman.

This change will save the district about $72,840 per year based on the cost for Internet service forthis school year.

Vogelman said the change allows the district to keep its good partnership with Greenlight.

Other technology changes made this year include moving from a Novell to a Windows operatingsystem, moving to the state-run Zscaler filtering system and changing from Groupwise to Gmail foremail service.

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Changing to Zscaler will save the district roughly $36,194 per year.

The district will be able to save around $1,500 per year because of the decision to convert fromGroupwise to Gmail for its email service. The district no longer has to manage its own emailservers.

creech@wilsontimes.com

265-7822

(c)The Wilson Times, Wilson, North Carolina.

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Highlights: NC, NORTH CAROLINA, North Carolina, Research and Education Network,NCREN

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