Kevin Siers, Charlotte Observer

Recommendations Would Give Health Care To More Children, Increase Access To Child Care

Gov. Mike Easley said today his 2008-09 budget proposal will recommend spending an additional $31 million to help those who often are overlooked by society but are the most in need. The budget the governor will present to the General Assembly next week will provide additional funds for: health insurance for children in need through the Health Choice program; assistance to those at the greatest threat of foreclosure on their homes; increased aid to those in need of child care; and job-site inspections and assistance to workers in the state’s poultry industry.

from the Associated Press

Gov. Mike Easley said Thursday that he's disappointed in the state Labor Department's response to reports of mistreatment of immigrants who work in the poultry industry.

"I think the Department of Labor has to be more aggressive," said Easley, a Democrat. " I didn't see the level of concern that needs to be there."

In a 40-minute interview with The Charlotte Observer, Easley discussed the newspaper's series in February that said a North Carolina poultry company disguised the number of injuries that its workers suffered on the job. He said he didn't speak out right away in order to give state agencies time to fashion their own response to workplace safety issues.

RALEIGH – Governor Mike Easley today announced that North Carolina’s Learn and Earn Initiative has been named among the top 50 programs in the 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards competition sponsored by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School. The program was selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants to represent the best in government innovation from local, county, city, tribal, state and federal levels. The top finalists will be announced in June and will compete for a $100,000 award.

GOV. EASLEY APPOINTS HUGHES TO FILL HOUSE SEAT

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced the appointment of Sandra Spaulding Hughes to the North Carolina House of Representatives 18th District seat. Hughes was appointed to fill the unexpired term of former Representative Thomas Wright. Hughes was recommended by the 18th House District Democratic Executive Committee. The 18th District includes parts of New Hanover and Pender counties.

Gov. Mike Easley has proclaimed April the “Month of the Military Child” in recognition of the thousands of children of military parents in North Carolina who also sacrifice during times of extended deployments. Overseas deployments since 2001 have put additional stress on military families, including the more than one million children in America who have at least one parent currently serving on active duty.

“These children are a source of pride and honor to us all,” said Easley. “It is only fitting that we take time to celebrate their spirit and let our men and women in uniform know that while they are taking care of us, we are taking care of their children.”

Gov. Mike Easley today announced a three-part plan to return accountability to the state’s mental health system and make it more responsive to the needs of patients and their families. He will ask the legislature to give the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services clear authority over the local management entities (LMEs) created by the 2001 reform legislation, change the law to require all deaths in hospitals be reported to the state, and expand the state’s mobile crisis teams that provide hospital services across the state.

“Secretary Dempsey Benton needs to be the one to evaluate the LMEs, to appoint the LME directors, and be able to fire the LME directors, and to do that in a timely fashion. He does not have that authority today,” said Easley. “We need to allow the secretary to reduce the number of LMEs to avoid variations in quality of care and to make it possible to hold these programs accountable. It also would reduce significantly the administrative cost.”

Greensboro-High Point Named Top Small Metro Region; Two Rural Communities Also Take Top Spots

Gov. Mike Easley announced today that North Carolina placed first in the nation in Site Selection magazine’s annual ranking of states with small metropolitan areas having the most new and expanded corporate facilities. The Greensboro-High Point area in Guilford County was named the No. 1 small metro region. Lexington-Thomasville in Davidson County and Statesville-Mooresville in Iredell County swept the first- and second-place spots for rural areas.

“The latest Site Selection ranking proves that it is not just the large cities that benefit from North Carolina’s investments in education, workforce development and the state’s top-ranked business climate,” Easley said. “As industries recognize they can find the 21st century training programs and qualified workers they need in all communities across the entire state, we gain jobs and effectively compete to lead in the global economy.”

$1 Million Fund Will Help Companies Develop Cutting-Edge Green Technologies

Gov. Mike Easley announced that small business owners and entrepreneurs can apply today for the new North Carolina Green Business Fund grants. These competitive grants will help small businesses develop promising green and alternative energy technologies to bring cutting-edge, environmentally-friendly products and services to the marketplace.

“The Green Business Fund helps encourage the growth of North Carolina’s clean energy economy,” Easley said. “These grants will tap our state’s entrepreneurial talent and help North Carolina’s small businesses develop innovative technologies that are critical to our future growth.”

The General Assembly approved creation of the Green Business Fund last year and directed $1 million for the first round of grants. North Carolina-based small businesses with 100 or fewer employees can apply for grants to pursue original, pioneering ideas that are both good for the environment and good for the economy. A company can receive a maximum of $100,000 per grant. Deadline for grant applications is April 30, 2008.

Raleigh News and Observer

Gov. Mike Easley has questions about the safety of manufactured homes.

Easley sent a letter Thursday to the head of the state Manufactured Housing Institute seeking information on formaldehyde levels in manufactured homes. The institute is an advocacy and lobbying group.

Easley sent the letter in response to a finding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that manufactured homes used to shelter Gulf Coast hurricane victims contain dangerously high levels of formaldehyde that can cause burning eyes and breathing problems for people with asthma.

Easley has asked the state Board of Education to direct school systems to check temporary classroom buildings for toxic fumes.