Centennial Campus

Trivia with Tolson

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:08:04 -0400

Norris Tolson won't be winning Trivial Pursuit anytime soon.

In a brief speech at Centennial Campus this morning, the president of the N.C. Biotechnology Center and former state secretary of revenue made two mistakes discernible to the average pop culture junkie.

First, he compared the creation of the biotech center to a catchphrase from the old "Mission: Impossible" TV show: "I love it when a plan comes together." Except, that line was from "The A-Team."

Then, he ended the speech by saying he wanted to follow Nike's motto and "Just get it done."

Um, Nike's motto is "Just do it." "Git-r-done" belongs to this fella.

Easley dedicates biotech center

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:31:32 -0400

Gov. Mike Easley dedicated a new biotech facility at Centennial Campus.

The 82,500-square-foot facility will provide hands-on training for college students with commercial-grade biopharmaceutical equipment.

Easley said the goal was to provide "every child in every community" with the opportunity to earn more money in the growing biotech industry.

"We are opening the door of opportunity to thousands and hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians across this state to be able to participate in a growing industry," he said.

Students will be able to earn degrees in biomanufacturing sciences.

The training center is a partnership between N.C. State, the state community college system, the Department of Commerce and the Golden LEAF Foundation, which provides grants from the state's tobacco settlement.

Easley noted North Carolina is behind only California and Massachusetts in biotech funding.

"I just want the governator out there to know that we are hot on his trail," he joked.

Etheridge supports biofuels

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:36:21 -0400

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge is promoting North Carolina ethanol.

The Lillington Democrat was in Raleigh today, visiting a lab at N.C. State's Centennial Campus that aims to produce the biofuel from poplar trees.

Currently, corn is the most cost-effective source, but Dr. Vincent Chiang believes that by genetically modifying the trees, he can make them competitive.

Etheridge said that that cellulosic ethanol could help reduce dependence on foreign oil.

"The young drivers are more likely to accept it," he said. "But as it becomes more available, I think all drivers will accept it because Americans want to wean themselves off the Middle East."

On his way out, Etheridge told Chiang that he is "as important as our top generals" to national security.

Why Wake did well in the budget

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:06:09 -0400

Wake County did pretty well in this year's budget.

The capital projects list includes $25 million for the Green Square project in downtown Raleigh, $17 million for planning of a new Jim Hunt library on Centennial Campus and $627,281 for a State Capital Visitors Center, among other things.

Rep. Deborah Ross credited several factors for the money.

First, the Raleigh Democrat served as a conferee on capital improvements, giving Wake a strong voice in the process. But she said it also helped that people like former Gov. Jim Hunt were pushing for the different projects.

Also, she said that House Speaker Joe Hackney was more concerned whether a project had matching funds and how detailed plans were than previous speakers.

"There was more funding based on merit and less based on giving people perks," she said.