Tag Archive for: #govroycooper

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Warren County Site Of Upcoming Forum To Discuss Environmental Justice

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People can soon comment on an environmental justice initiative outlined in Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 292. Warren County has been selected as one of three sites across the state to hold a forum to hear comments from the public about environmental issues.

The order reestablished an Environmental Justice Advisory Council and calls on state agencies to develop and track goals to improve environmental justice in North Carolina.

The Advancing Environmental Justice initiative aims to ensure that everyone, no matter their race, income, or location, has access to clean air, water, and soil, according to information at https://publicinput.com/NCEJ. The program focuses on helping communities that are most affected by pollution and climate change, such as communities of color, low-income neighborhoods and indigenous groups.

“Environmental justice means equal access to a healthy environment for all,” said Dr. Virginia Guidry, the council co-chair and Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch head at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. “Equal access requires meaningful involvement in decision making that affects our health, well-being and environment.”

The order called for the creation of a mapping tool to provide information about environmental justice issues and help the public identify areas that need attention. People can explore the interactive map, which includes climate, demographic, environmental, transportation and health data and more.

The order also encouraged public participation, giving everyone a chance to voice their concerns and contribute to the decision-making process regarding environmental issues. Several opportunities are on the horizon.

A statewide virtual meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1 via GoToWebinar. This initial meeting will serve as the public launch of the initiative, providing an overview of the goals and objectives and giving communities the chance to offer input.

Warren County will be one of three sites to host in-person forums during August. Warren County’s is Aug. 15; the other forums will be held in Asheville on Aug. 8 and Duplin County on Aug. 22. An in-person Environmental Justice Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24 in Halifax County. Specific locations for these meetings will be posted on the public input page once determined, according to a press release from NCDOT.

“The Governor’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council, pursuit to Executive Order 292, is committed to helping state agencies leverage spatial analytic tools and data-driven strategies and tactics to reduce exposures to life-threatening environmental contaminants and the over-concentration of noxious facilities and locally unwanted land-uses in the state’s historically marginalized communities,” said Dr. Jim Johnson, the council co-chair and the William R. Kenan Jr. distinguished professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, and director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center.

More information on the environmental justice initiative in North Carolina can be found on the governor’s webpage.

$25,000 Reward Offered For Information About 2018 Homicide

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A $25,000 reward is being offered by the state of North Carolina for information about an almost five-year-old unsolved murder in Vance County.

Gov. Roy Cooper’s office made the announcement Thursday in connection with the death of 22-year-old De’Cedric Tyquon Alston.

In the late evening hours of Feb. 22, 2018, Alston was shot multiple times while driving his vehicle near the 1100 block of Warrenton Road in Henderson. He was transported to the hospital and later died from his injuries.

Anyone having information concerning this case should contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200, Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925 or the State Bureau of Investigation at 919.662.4500.

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North Carolina to Move Into Phase 2.5

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper today announced that after a summer of hard work to slow the spread of COVID-19, North Carolina will take a modest step forward move into Phase 2.5 starting this Friday, September 4, 2020, at 5 p.m.

Phase 2.5 means the following for North Carolina:

  • Mass gathering limits will increase to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors from the current limit of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors.
  • Playgrounds may open.
  • Museums and aquariums may open at 50% capacity.
  • Gyms and indoor exercise facilities, such as yoga studios, martial arts, and rock climbing, as well as skating rinks, bowling alleys, indoor basketball, volleyball, etc., may open at 30% capacity.
  • Bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, indoor entertainment facilities, amusement parks, dance halls will remain closed.
  • Large venues remain subject to the mass gathering limits.

In addition, NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen issued a Secretarial Order allowing for outdoor visitation at nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities. To participate, nursing homes must meet several requirements, including, but not limited to, not having a current outbreak, having a testing plan and updated written Infection Control or Preparedness plan for COVID-19, and having adequate personal protective equipment.

The Secretarial Order is effective as of September 4, 2020, at 5 p.m. and remains in effect through September 22, 2020.

“Safer at Home Phase 2.5 continues our state’s dimmer switch approach to easing some restrictions,” said Governor Cooper. “We can do this safely only if we keep doing what we know works — wearing masks and social distancing. In fact, a new phase is exactly when we need to take this virus even more seriously.”

Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shared an update on North Carolina’s data trends. Dr. Cohen explained that North Carolina has seen stability in our key metrics.

“As we take modest steps forward today, it’s important to remember that moving forward doesn’t mean letting up on slowing the spread of the virus. Our progress is fragile and we need to maintain focus on the 3Ws especially as we head into flu season,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, MD.

Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness continues to decline.

Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases is stable.

Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive is stable.

Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is declining.

Although these numbers are still stable or declining, they remain high. In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to be able to adequately respond to prevent virus spread. These areas include:

Laboratory Testing

  • The state continues to have testing capacity and lab turnaround times are averaging two days. However, fewer people are getting tested. Anyone who has symptoms or has been exposed should get tested. There are supports available to help people who may face challenges in being able to miss work or safely stay home.

Tracing Capability

  • The state continues hiring contact tracers to bolster the efforts of local health departments.

Personal Protective Equipment

  • North Carolina’s personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.

Mask mandates and other prevention methods remain in effect and are even more important to contain the virus, Cooper said. Read the Executive Order here.

Governor appoints VGCC President to commission

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— courtesy of VGCC News Release on 11-27-17

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has appointed Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of Vance-Granville Community College, to the Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound, Basic Education. The Commission, which the governor created through an Executive Order, will focus on the critical importance of North Carolina meeting its duties under the state constitution as underscored by the landmark court rulings in Leandro v. North Carolina and Hoke County Board of Education v. North Carolina.

The new commission includes experts from a wide range of fields that are relevant to education and student and school success. Dr. Williams was appointed as the representative of North Carolina community colleges. The commission will focus on key areas highlighted in the original Leandro ruling, including:

• staffing each classroom with a competent, well-trained teacher,

Dr. Stelfanie Williams (VGCC Photo)

• staffing each school with a competent, well-trained principal, and

• identifying the resources necessary to ensure that all children, including those at risk, have an equal opportunity to obtain a sound basic education.

The commission is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Nov. 30 in Raleigh. Its goal is to develop recommendations for specific actions necessary to achieve sustained compliance with the constitutional mandates established in Leandro.

“I look forward to the opportunity to work with the other leaders on this commission to identify concrete steps that our state can take to improve public education for all our young people in all corners of North Carolina,” President Williams said. “The success of our great state depends on strong K-12 schools, working in partnership with strong community colleges and universities.”

Williams became the sixth president of VGCC in 2012. Since then, she has focused the college strategically on educational excellence, continuous improvement, employee and student engagement in college life, and institutional stewardship. During her tenure, the college has added seven curriculum degree programs, secured the largest grants in the college’s history, the second-largest private donor gift, and held six consecutive highest-yielding annual golf tournaments for scholarships. With a focus on student success, the institution has improved completion rates, graduating the largest classes ever in 2015 and 2016, and initiating a private donor-sponsored college promise program called the “VanGuarantee” in an effort to make college more accessible for students with the greatest financial need.

Prior to leading VGCC, Williams served as faculty and in several administrative capacities at other North Carolina community colleges. She also currently serves as adjunct faculty for the North Carolina State University College of Education. Williams holds dual baccalaureate degrees from Duke University, a graduate degree from Western Carolina University, and a doctorate from North Carolina State University. In 2014, she was awarded the I.E. Ready Distinguished Leadership Award by North Carolina State University.

The Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound, Basic Education is the second education-related panel for which the VGCC leader has been selected in recent months. Dr. Williams was appointed to the “My Future NC” Commission by the president of the University of North Carolina, Margaret Spellings; the acting president of the North Carolina Community College System, Jennifer Haygood; and the state superintendent of public instruction, Mark Johnson.

–VGCC–