Latest news with #Budd
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
House Judiciary panel approves controversial concealed weapons bill
(Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Monitor) The North Carolina House Judiciary 2 Committee voted 6-5 along party lines Tuesday to pass a bill to allow the permitless carry of concealed firearms, one of the most controversial topics of the current legislative session. Senate Bill 50, 'Freedom to Carry NC,' would allow individuals who are U.S. citizens, at least 18 years of age, and not otherwise prohibited by law, to carry concealed weapons without applying for a permit. It's backed by Republican leadership and would make North Carolina the 30th state to approve of so-called 'constitutional carry.' Having previously cleared the Senate, the bill now proceeds to the House Rules Committee for further consideration. Though the Judiciary 2 Committee has only 10 members — six Republicans and four Democrats — House Minority Leader Robert Reives II (D-Chatham, Randolph) took the unusual step of using his position as a committee 'floater' to attend the meeting and narrow the margin. 'Nine states have allowed constitutional carry at age 18, North Carolina would be the 10th that this bill became law,' primary sponsor Rep. Danny Britt (R-Hoke, Robeson, Scotland) said. One amendment to the legislation increases the public safety employee death benefit to $150,000. Another calls for the University of North Carolina Board of Governors to develop a scholarship program for any child of a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or first responder who is permanently and totally disabled as a result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty. These scholarships would be available for children between the ages of 17 and 28. The bill received opposition from a several lawmakers and members of the public. No one other than Britt spoke in favor of the measure. Rep. Ya Liu (D-Wake) is the mother of two teenagers. She said there's a huge difference between individuals at the age of 18 and 21. At schools, students like Liu's son conduct drills for active shooter and lockdown situations. 'Our children are scared,' Liu said. 'We shouldn't accept it as a way of life, that they have to live with this.' Rep. Laura Budd (D-Mecklenburg) said this morning she told her 15-year-old son on the way to school that SB 50 was on the committee hearing docket today. He was shocked that an 18-year-old at his high school, potentially his classmate, would be allowed to buy a gun, according to Budd. She added that 18-year-olds in the United States can't drink a beer or rent a car. 'But yet, when it comes to something as a lethal as a gun… we want to lower the age and remove more restrictions,' Budd said, pointing out the irony. Anne Enberg, a local legislative leader for Moms Demand Action, said bills like SB 50 won't make communities safer. Enberg brought up a poll conducted by Everytown for Gun Safety in September that found 77% percent of likely North Carolina voters were against removing permit requirements from concealed carry laws. 'We should be looking for solutions that make us safer, not bills that would push crime and public safety's staff in the wrong direction,' she said. John Vanmeter-Kirk is a rising second-year student at North Carolina State University, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, and a lifelong Raleigh resident. He said he was speaking in front of the committee because SB 50 would put his home and community in danger. On Sunday, Vanmeter-Kirk noted, two North Carolina communities experienced mass shootings: one in Hickory and one in Asheville. 'Two innocent North Carolinians are dead, numerous injured, my community torn apart by senseless gun violence that could've been prevented,' Vanmeter-Kirk said. 'Even after two North Carolinians are dead, you're considering this incredibly dangerous bill that will only lead to the loss of more North Carolinians, dishonoring the memory of those we lost two days ago.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Improvements, full closure Blue Ridge Parkway postponed to accommodate Helene recovery
NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Following a request from a North Carolina senator, the planned full closure of the Blue Ridge Parkway to make repairs has been postponed. This week, the U.S. Department of Interior said it will pause the multi-year Great American Outdoors Act project underway on the Parkway. This is to accommodate continuing recovery needs from Hurricane Helene on the country's most-visited national park site. The department's action was in response to Sen. Ted Budd, who requested the delay until after the peak visitors' season. Helene ravaged the region last fall just as the season began, forcing an initial full closure due to debris and heavy damage to the roadway, and much of the the road remains closed to this day. Nearly 200 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway reopens as long-term work remains in North Carolina 'Communities in Western North Carolina were hit hard by Hurricane Helene, and as we begin to rebuild, closing the Blue Ridge Parkway at this juncture would only set us back,' Budd said in a statement. 'The Parkway serves as a lifeline to small businesses and recreation access across the Appalachian Region — bringing tourists, supporting local businesses, and keeping our economy moving. I'm grateful the Trump administration recognized our state's needs following a letter I sent last month. This is the right decision to prioritize the near-term recovery of our region while still ensuring the resurfacing project is completed in the future.' The full rehabilitation project and associated closures are now scheduled to take place in 2026, and the overall project to be completed in 2027 or later. At that time, full closures is slated for a nearly 20-mile stretch between Blowing Rock and Beacon Heights. The National Park Service is working closely with the Federal Highway Administration to make necessary project modifications. 'The National Park Service honors the important relationship between the Parkway and the many communities it connects over its 469-mile passage through North Carolina and Virginia,' the DOI said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Leader Live
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
The Wurzels release AI-written single called Wurzel Me Up
The band, who are best known for songs such as The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key) and I Am A Cider Drinker, said they decided to use the technology to help them as they had not written a song for a while. Singer Pete Budd, 84, said: 'We realised that it was a long time since we had written a new pop tune. We needed some 'cutting-hedge' technology.' The band's longest-serving member, Tommy Banner, 85, added: 'We decided to explore this new artificial world to see if it could help us analyse our catalogue of Wurzel songs and give us some lyrical inspiration for a new release.' Budd added he realised there were genuine concerns with AI over plagiarism and copyright issues. He added: 'Stars like them young'uns (Sir) Elton (John) and Macca (Sir Paul McCartney) are right to be concerned, we don't agree with plagiarism in any form without some form of renumeration and so, in this case, we have strived to only plagiarise ourselves.' Formed in 1966, the band are known for playing up to West Country stereotypes, and have had eight UK hit singles and three UK top 40 albums. The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key), known for its line: 'I've got a brand new combine harvester and I'll give you the key', reached the top of the UK singles chart in May 1976, while its follow-up, I Am A Cider Drinker, reached number three in the same year. The band is currently made up of Budd and Banner with bass player Sedge Moore; keyboard player Louie Gribble; and drummer Leigh Delamere.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Wurzels write song using artificial intelligence
Folk band The Wurzels have released a new single written by artificial intelligence (AI) called Wurzel Me Up. The Somerset band, best known for songs such as The Combine Harvester and I Am A Cider Drinker, said they had decided to use the technology as they had not written a song for a while. Singer Pete Budd, 84, said: "We realised that it was a long time since we had written a new pop tune. We needed some 'cutting-hedge' technology." The band's longest-serving member, Tommy Banner, 85, added: "We decided to explore this new artificial world to see if it could help us analyse our catalogue of Wurzel songs and give us some lyrical inspiration for a new release." More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset Budd added he realised there were "genuine concerns" with AI over plagiarism and copyright issues. He added: "We don't agree with plagiarism in any form without some form of remuneration and so, in this case, we have strived to only plagiarise ourselves." Formed in 1966, the band have had eight UK hit singles and three UK top 40 albums. The Combine Harvester reached the top of the UK singles chart in May 1976, while follow-up, I Am A Cider Drinker, reached number three in the same year. The band is currently made up of Budd and Banner with bass player Sedge Moore, keyboard player Louie Gribble and drummer Leigh Delamere. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Wurzels' story featured on town's heritage trail Wurzels frontman Adge Cutler remembered 50 years on Wurzels drummer dies after contracting Covid
RTÉ News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
The Wurzels release AI-written single called Wurzel Me Up
Comedy folk band The Wurzels have released a new single written by artificial intelligence (AI) called Wurzel Me Up. The English band, who are best known for songs such as The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key) and I Am A Cider Drinker, said they decided to use the technology to help them as they had not written a song for a while. Singer Pete Budd, 84, said: "We realised that it was a long time since we had written a new pop tune. We needed some 'cutting-hedge' technology." The band's longest-serving member, Tommy Banner, 85, added: "We decided to explore this new artificial world to see if it could help us analyse our catalogue of Wurzel songs and give us some lyrical inspiration for a new release." Budd added he realised there were genuine concerns with AI over plagiarism and copyright issues. He added: "Stars like them young'uns Elton (John) and Macca (Paul McCartney) are right to be concerned, we don't agree with plagiarism in any form without some form of renumeration and so, in this case, we have strived to only plagiarise ourselves." Formed in 1966, the band are known for playing up to English West Country stereotypes and have had eight UK hit singles and three UK top 40 albums. The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key), known for its line: "I've got a brand new combine harvester and I'll give you the key", reached the top of the UK singles chart in May 1976, while its follow-up, I Am A Cider Drinker, reached number three in the same year. The band is currently made up of Budd and Banner with bass player Sedge Moore; keyboard player Louie Gribble; and drummer Leigh Delamere.
