#1 Candidates, candidates, candidates! – With just one day left before the March 15th primary, the presidential hopefuls are blanketing the state hoping to energize their base and win over any undecided voters.
GOP Frontrunner Donald Trump started the final day of campaigning in Hickory. In tow with Trump: former presidential hopeful and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
It’s no surprise, the Donald drew his share of protesters outside the venue at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Here’s one picture shared by @clairehermann on Twitter:
Diversity makes America great. #TrumpRally #Hickory #LoveTrumpsHate pic.twitter.com/tDLVPPxYHf
— Claire Hermann (@clairehermann) March 14, 2016
Down the road in Charlotte, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will be holding a rally this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at PNC Music Pavilion. The Democratic Party presidential candidate will discuss a wide range of issues, including college affordability, immigration reform and the need to take on a rigged economy held in place by a corrupt campaign finance system.
Former Bill Clinton kicked off his support for Hillary in Greenville early this morning. Hillary Clinton plans an evening event in the Queen City – taking the stage at 9:15 p.m. at the Grady Cole Center.
# 2 Tuesday is Primary Election Day — Five states — North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri — all have voters going to the polls on Tuesday.
Remember the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Don’t remember where to go? Polling locations can be found here: http://vt.ncsbe.gov/pollingplace_search/
# 3 There’s still time to have your say about the Coal Ash Clean-up – This month the N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is holding a series of hearings to receive comments on the draft proposed coal ash risk classifications for Duke Energy’s fourteen coal ash sites.
High-priority sites will be the first to receive attention, while several leaking coal ash pits considered as “low” priority could simply be capped and left in place.
This week’s hearing are set for Monday and Wednesday at the following sites:
Monday:
6 p.m. | Rogers Energy Complex, Boiling Springs Town Hall, 114 E College Ave, Shelby
6 p.m. | Rogers Energy Complex, Isothermal Community College Auditorium, 286 ICC Loop Rd, Spindale
Wednesday:
6 p.m. | Mayo Power Station, Person County Government Building, 304 S Morgan St, Roxboro
6 p.m. | Roxboro Power Station, Person County Government Building, 304 S Morgan St, Roxboro, NC 27573
The draft proposed coal ash risk classifications and related documents are available online at: http://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/coal-ash-nc/draft-classifications.
A map of draft classifications for each coal ash impoundment, can be found here.
#4 – International expert on Fracking visits NC – Coal Ash is not the only environmental issue that needs to be on your radar this week. The good folks at FrackFree NC are promoting a visit by Dr. Anthony (“Tony”) Ingraffea, who is is known internationally for his work on geologic fracturing and the failure of gas wells, leading to contamination in groundwater.
He will present “Shale Gas/Oil: Latest Evidence on Leaky Wells and Methane Emissions, and Implications for Energy Policy” at UNCW, NCSU, and ECU. Dr. Ingraffea’s expert testimony was key to a $4.2 million judgement for two PA families with wells contaminated by Cabot Oil and Gas.
• Monday, March 14: UNC Wilmington, 5:30 – 7:00 PM public presentation, UNC-Wilmington, McNeil Hall, Room 1005.
• Tuesday, March 15: NC State University, 2:30 – 4:00 PM, Environmental Health Program: free public presentation, James B. Hunt Library, Lecture Hall, Room D.
• Wednesday, March 16: East Carolina University, 12:00 – 1:30 public presentation, Mendenhall Student Center, Great Room 1.
#5 – NCAE holds 2016 Convention — With the General Assembly’s short session set to begin April 25th, the NCAE holds its annual convention this week.
Educators no doubt will be talking about working conditions, compensation, and what they hope will come out of the summer session.
The 2016 NCAE Convention will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 460 North Cherry St, Winston-Salem, NC on Friday and Saturday.
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