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Vice President Kamala Harris Offers Leg Up For Small Businesses in North Carolina

I actually had a ‘fan out’ moment when I got to talk to the second most powerful person in our country — Vice President Kamala Harris. What I learned after…

Kamala Harris at the Dem Candidates Attend Forum On Wages & Working People

Kamala Harris made history as the first woman, first Black American, and first South Asian-American vice president when she was elected into office in 2021. Prior to her vice presidency, she was the Attorney General of California and District Attorney of San Francisco. Harris was born in Oakland, California, and is the daughter of immigrants. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a breast cancer scientist, and her father, Donald Harris, is an economist and professor at Stanford University. Kamala is a Howard University and University of California Hastings College of Law graduate. She married Douglas Emhoff in 2014 and shares his two children, Ella and Cole, from a previous relationship.

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

I actually had a 'fan out' moment when I got to talk to the second most powerful person in our country -- Vice President Kamala Harris. What I learned after my initial nervousness is she is such a cool, down-to-earth, yet smart woman who wants the best for the citizens of this country.

Vice President Harris was in the Carolinas (Durham, to be exact) to announce tens of millions of dollars that will be available to historically underserved entrepreneurs in North Carolina. It's all a part of the Biden Administration's strategy (The American Rescue Plan) to invest in American small businesses. Harris is particularly passionate about small businesses run by minority women. The woman she calls her 'second mother' ran a nursery school.
A White House news release says the Biden-Harris Administration is wrapping up their tour on investing in America by awarding $32 million to women and minority-led businesses. An additional $60 million is coming from the private sector. With these funds, 10 businesses in Durham's Historic Black Wall Street will be able to get up and running or scale their businesses. Harris stresses that it is important not just to provide loans to these businesses, but to offer the capital most entrepreneurs don't often have.
In the end, entrepreneurs – including Black-, Hispanic-, veteran- and women-led businesses, as well as those in rural areas – will have a better shot a building and sustaining a business. Harris says under their leadership, applications for new small businesses have grown their strongest over the last three years. And Black business ownership has grown at the fastest pace in 30 years.
To learn more about getting a small business loan, visit sba.gov.

10 Strange Laws Only In North Carolina

A Charlotte resident who likes to go outside his home in the nude is apparently stirring up his neighbors. And creating questions as to what is legal and not legal in the Tar Heel State regarding nudity in public.

For the record, there are general laws on the books that prevent people from exposing themselves. As for the resident who was seen hanging outside his home in the nude is well within his rights. Technically, there is nothing police can do. The man, also known as the "naked neighbor" was in his own yard.

However, if that same man had traveled to a nearby park in the nude, things would have gone differently for him. According to North Carolina law, anyone who shows their private parts in a public place is in violation of the states indecent exposure law.  The state defines private parts as male and female genitalia. That does NOT include buttocks or breasts.

The NC law on indecent exposure is pretty clear --  no being naked, showing your genitalia in a public place.  But, what about the NC laws that most don't likely know even exists? Or even are aware that they are illegal?

Let's take a look at a few NC laws on the books that could land you in trouble IF you don't know about them. Keep in mind, these are laws ONLY in the Tar Heel State.

Happy Hours are illegal

This one may surprise, especially as many 'happy hour drink specials' you hear advertised. But,  labeling it or calling it a "Happy Hour" in NC is illegal. The trick here is Happy Hour specials can only be offered for 'food.'

Rollerblading in the sun is illegal

This may be one of the craziest laws in North Carolina! It's next to you can't rollerblade on a state highway. This law actually makes sense. You wouldn't want to be involved in a hit & roll:)

The town of Forest City requires you to call Town Hall before entering the city in a car.

According to Forest City Town Hall, the law dates appeared just after horse and buggy days. And when automobiles first surfaced. The idea was to prevent the early, noisy cars from scaring horses tied in town. Clearly, they forgot to update the record books.

Bingo cannot exceed five hours

The Fayetteville Observer has learned bingo night in North Carolina cannot go into the wee hours of the night. It's on law books that the number of bingo sessions sponsored by an exempt organization are limited to two sessions per week. And those sessions cannot exceed five hours each.

The law does not apply to bingo games conducted at fairs and other exhibitions.

A marriage can be voided in cases of impotency.

Here's one that's really surprising and tragic in some cases. If you live in NC and marry someone and either you or that person does not have the capacity to have ordinary sexual intercourse or are impotent where the impotency is permanent and incurable, the other party can go to court to void the marriage. That's a NC law. Wow.

It is illegal to NOT pay taxes on drugs you deal

Just because your business is illegal, doesn't mean you can avoid 'Uncle Sam.' Even if you deal in unauthorized substances, including alcohol, North Carolina law says you still have to pay taxes. Rates vary depending on weight.

Small font can send you to jail

This pertains to restaurants that offer outdoor seating. They must post a menu outside to be readable by those in proximity, but it can't be read by those on the street. By the way, you cannot drive your car on the sidewalk to get a better view of the menu.

Before North Carolina got its own lottery, it was illegal to be in possession of a lottery ticket

Thank goodness North Carolina now has a lottery. But before, just having a lottery ticket was a crime. It could have gotten you a $2,000 fine if you were caught with one.

North Carolina is the only state in the country where alcohol is controlled by two governing bodies

It's still a hard pill to swallow for visitors or recent transients, but North Carolina is the only state in the country where alcohol is controlled by both the ABC and a council of more than 160 local boards. This law has been on the books for a while, too with no hint of going away.

It is illegal to sing off key

If you've gone to Karaoke to sing, you've likely broken this law already. In North Carolina, it's against the law to sing off key! This wacky law dates back to the 19th century. Legend has it a Lumberton, NC man was fined for singing loudly and poorly.

JD DivaAuthor
Janine “JD” Davis: JD The Diva is the spicy, bold, and highly energetic radio and TV personality you hear hosting the midday shift (10 am till 3 pm) each weekday at V 101.9. An award-winning 30-year radio and news journalist, Janine brings her unique style of delivering entertainment, news, and inspiration to the airwaves. From her quick-witted ‘dirt’ on celebrities to the live Facebook mix show featuring JD and her best dance moves to JD’s Inspirational Moments where she shares personal battles and triumphs, JD keeps listeners engaged and entertained. When she’s not on air, you can find JD getting involved in the community and embracing Black-owned businesses and stories online. She enjoys writing about small Black-owned businesses, our HBCUs as a grad herself, and all things supporting women.