VIDEO POKER PACKING UP? YEAH RIGHT.
Video
Poker magnate Robert "Bobby" Huckabee is rumored to be selling
his gambling machines and could be looking to get out of the video poker
business. Federal investigations into illegal campaign contributions and
pressure by a watchdog organization may have played a part in the clean-up
of an operation that has it's base here in New Hanover County. Last year,
Democracy
North Carolina, a nonpartisan campaign watchdog, found that people
connected with video poker had donated heavily to state politicians, particularly
House Democratic Speaker Jim Black.
One of those donors, Pamela H. James, Huckabee's sister, at first denied
making a $1,000 contribution to Black in a phone interview with The News
& Observer, then said in a second phone interview that she had. Ms.
James also made a hefty contribution to the campaign of New Hanover County
Sheriff Sid Causey. New Hanover County leads the State in the operation
of "speakeasy" type of video poker establishments and unlike
other neighboring counties has made no arrests.Many local speakeasies
have become targets for armed robbery recently, due to the large amount
of cash usually on hand. BREAKING NEWS:
Wildflower Consignment located at 1930 Carolina Beach
Road is yet another Video Poker "Speakeasy" that was reportedly
robbed of the money kept inside the machines by suspect who smashed his
way in thru the front glass door. According to the police report a total
of 4 machines were destroyed. Law specifically states that no more than
three machines are allowed in a business at one time. Total loss reported
at over $23,000.
Video Poker "Speakeasies" Robbed Jerry's Refinishing behind the Stop and Go located at 17th and Market was held up my armed gunmen.Police asked around to find out what sort of business it was, apparently the owners removed the machines prior to the police being called about the robbery. Whachadoodles on Carolina Beach Road was also robbed by armed gunmen. Several of these fake storefront video poker businesses have been robbed in the past year. Some machines hold more than $2,000 each. Customers of these establishments should be warned of the potential for serious harm. Neighboring businesses should be told who their neighbors are so they can take precautions. For pictures of some of these "speakeasies" click here
SUNDAY'S NEWS & OBSERVER ARTICLE
Wilmington Police Getting Tough on Pedestrian and Vehicular Obstacles in Efforts to Curb Drug Activity
People loitering around on sidewalks or street corners looking for customers can be cited for standing around and being in the way.
The Wilmington Police Department are taking advantage of a City Ordinance making it a violation of city code to obstruct traffic. When a suspected drug dealer hangs around looking for a sale he is in violation of City Code if he impedes traffic, pedestrian or motor vehicle traffic. See how this helps fight drug sales.
UNC
WHITEWASH REPORT SUGGESTS A SOLUTION TO PLACATE UNC ALUMNI, DONORS AND
PARENTS
"We are committed to doing everything that is feasible,
that is reasonable, in order to provide a safe environment on each and
every campus of this university," UNC President Molly Broad said.
Very few universities in the United States investigate applicants' past
criminal behavior. Such background checks in the UNC system are
expected to be rare, officials say, with perhaps a handful each year across
the system. They will be done only when a student's application
prompts questions.
Just because an applicant has a criminal background does not necessarily mean his application will be rejected. In most cases, an applicant would be given an opportunity to explain his history, and a threat assessment might be conducted, UNC officials said.
How about making it a crime, just as it is a crime to lie on a bank loan, to lie on an application or to conspire with some to lie or cheat or cover -up or aid and assist - as a favor, or to simply hold accountable the person or persons that pulled strings to get Curtis Dixon in to the university in the first place. Who helped Dixon, a high school drop out, get ahead on the acceptance list over the many hundreds of others who were rejected that semester?
How was that addressed? How was John Peck's violent past not known by the Campus Police after Christen Naujoks made her initial complaint?
Were the numerous drug arrests brought up? The heroin overdose and death of student and President of the UNCW Sailing Club, James Irby had been in and out of rehab, were University officials aware of his criminal behavior?
How was the issue of drugs and alcohol addressed as it pertains to the victimization of women?
How was the UNCW women's swim team hazing incident not a talking point when women, under the drinking age, were made to make sexually suggestive comments and portray sexual acts of oral copulation, in public to total strangers, following it up with phone-sex calls to male students while being encouraged to drink alcohol and humiliate themselves?
UNCW Final Task Force Report 62 page .pdf file
Local attorneys help man on Death Row who killed two police officers
Members
of one of the slain officers's family were clearly emotional Wednesday
as details of the trial were recounted in court.
"To be honest with you, it's like starting over,” said
Burnette’s father, Tommy. “It reminds you of the first day
we came to court initially."
CHARLOTTE,
N.C. -- A decade after being sentenced to death for the murders of two
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers, Alden Harden went back to court
to continue his legal battle to save his life.
Harden, 43, does not deny that he killed police officers Andy Nobles and
John Burnette in October 1993. But during a hearing Tuesday, his attorneys,
Margaret Ciardella of Hampstead and Nora Hargrove of Wilmington, argued
that he killed them in self-defense during a struggle.
Downtown
Bar-owner is right it is their responsibility,
Good for civic minded Ian Moseley,
who owns Level 5, Mosely said bar owners would have to take action for
any type of solution to work. Part of the problem lies with the bar and
club owners who sell alcohol practically at cost, making their profit
on admission prices, he said. Cut-rate prices just fuel the problem, he
said.
“From this point on we’re going to have to step up,”
Mr. Moseley said.
Noting the absence of some owners, Chief Evangelous said he favored a
partnership with the bars to find a solution, and asked for attendees
to sign up for future communications. If some don’t participate,
they’ll be made to get on board, he said.
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