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Fire Officials: Five fires intentionally set along Nations Ford Road

Eyewitness News confirmed that five early morning fires in Southwest Charlotte were set intentionally.  Fire officials said the fires started around 4:30 am along Nations Road Ford and spanned across four hours. 

Firefighters said the worst of the damage was from a fire they responded to at Ford’s Used Tire around 6 a.m.  They estimated the fire caused $30,000 dollars worth of damage and said it’s likely the owner won’t be able to reopen.  Fire officials said two other fires were set inside dumpster behind Waddell High School. 

 Investigators are now looking at surveillance video from Waddell and nearby businesses that may have captured the fires being set.  The Charlotte Fire Department is asking anyone with information about the intentionally set fires to give them a call.

_{Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:16:46 -0500}

Gov. Perdue explains decision not to run again

For the first time since her stunning announcement that she would not seek re-election, Gov. Bev Perdue explained her decision to the media Saturday night.

Gov. Perdue spoke to reporters before addressing a Democratic Party-sponsored dinner in Greensboro.

After nearly three days of silence, Perdue spoke for only about 10 minutes and answered only a handful of questions. But she told Eyewitness News she believes it's in the best interest of her party not to run for re-election because it puts her in a better position to work with Republicans and generate more funding for education.

Perdue said she wants to keep fighting for a three-quarter-cent sales tax increase in next year's budget.

"The sales tax issue is not a political issue. We need revenue; the state needs revenue. The cuts have been Draconian," Perdue said.

There are just 15 weeks to go until the May primary. Some Democrats already have announced their intentions to take Perdue's place, while several more political leaders said they're still thinking it over.

Eyewitness News asked Perdue about the questionable timing of her decision.

"You waited until just about three months before the primary before making this decision. Doesn't this put your party now at a disadvantage?" asked Eyewitness News reporter, Jeff Smith.

"I don't think that it puts anyone at a disadvantage. In fact, it might be an advantage because it allows people to get really excited and enthused quickly rather than dragging it out," responded Perdue.

Perdue added she couldn't help when she made her decision.

She also said that even though she cleared her schedule and cancelled public appearances, she hasn't been avoiding the public or the media since her announcement.

"Thursday afternoon after I made my announcement, I actually just wanted to go home and regroup. I was in New Bern. I was surprised none of you came to see me or call me there. I answered my phone," Perdue said.

The Governor said she will travel the state and push for the sales tax increase.

Eyewitness News also asked if Perdue plans to retire from politics after she leaves the governor's mansion.

"I don't know what I’m going to do after this year," Perdue said.

The race to replace Perdue is growing.

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts told Eyewitness News she's giving thoughtful consideration to a gubernatorial run.

Charlotte Mayor Antony Foxx also is considering a run for the Democratic nomination.

Earlier Saturday in Greensboro, NC Rep. Bill Faison formally announces his candidacy. The Orange County Democrat said when it comes to fixing problems with education and job creation, he's the man for the job.

Faison joins Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton in the race, meaning there will definitely be a Democratic primary in May.

Dalton joined the race within hours of Perdue's announcement.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory who plans to announce his candidacy Tuesday.

_{Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:09:26 -0500}

NC’s Speaker of the House ‘resigns’ from ‘progressive liberal media’

In an odd statement from Rep. Thom Tillis, the State Speaker of the House told media Saturday he was “embracing (the) reality” of a media allegedly controlled by the left-wing.

Jordan Shaw, Tillis' spokesman, said Eyewitness News was the first news agency to inform him of Rep. Tillis' email.

Shaw does not think this message was targeted directly at the media and said all of his supporters received the email Saturdaymorning. Tillis also posted a link to the statement on his Facebook page.

“His message is in response to some stories that have had a tangible bias in them,” Shaw said.

According to Shaw, Tillis has had some “heartburn” from the media in the past and believes that some reports are left-winged and show clear bias. Shaw said his job puts him in a hard position. There are a collection of reporters who work directly with the elected officials in Raleigh every day and he thinks there are examples of press bias.

He also said, “There are examples of the press doing what we think they should do, which is reporting the facts.”

Shaw said Tillis will not sugarcoat what he feels and also enjoys being in conversation on social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook.

"The phrase 'I resign myself to the fact that the press is going to be biased' is just a phrase, and nothing else. In the end, Tillis is not resigning from his position; but he is allegedly resigning from accepting that the media reports unbiased stories," Shaw said.

Around 2 p.m. Saturday, Shaw said he had spoken with Tillis who told him the resignation was a "tongue-in-cheek effort at a joke."

“Speaker Tillis is a very outspoken and direct person,” Shaw said.

Shaw initially attributed the released from Tillis as having been potentially triggered by an interaction, possibly even with the press. However, he later said Tillis told him nothing had triggered the statement, he was just using his website, Facebook and Twitter to engage as many people as possible on a Saturday.

"It's just his personality," Shaw said.

Tillis has not issued a subsequent statement outlining what a resignation from the media means for the Speaker’s office. He has committed to a phone call interview Saturday afternoon.

Here is his statement:

"Friends, 

I have concluded that most (but not all) of the mainstream media will not report on a balanced basis.  Either through deadline calls, sloppy reporting, and/or momentary memory lapses, many will continue to report with a bias towards a liberal or progressive liberal stance.  You need only peruse their blogs, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts to see clear evidence of this.  The continued partisan and sometimes ruthless antics of the left aided by some in the mainstream press, will continue to threaten or stifle legitimate efforts to improve the situation in North Carolina for all involved. 

Therefore, effective today, I have resigned myself to embracing this reality and making the best of it.

Wait a minute, you weren't thinking something else were you?  In fact, my resignation has inspired me to adapt an old joke I heard years ago--all in fun.

A newspaper reporter saw a man walking out of the Democratic National Convention when he saw a vicious pit bull had broken away from its owner.  The dog was charging a small child who would have almost certainly been killed but the man grabbed the dog and threw it over a ledge to its death.

The reporter rushed up to the man and said, "Sir, you are a true hero.  Tomorrow the headlines will read BRAVE DEMOCRATIC ACTIVIST RISKS LIFE TO SAVE TODDLER."

The man said "Actually, I'm a republican."

The reporter said "Okay but it still was brave so we will run with LOCAL CITIZEN ADVERTS DOG BITE."

The man said "That is very nice of you but in the spirit of full disclosure I must tell you I am the republican Speaker of the House in North Carolina and I'm just leaving a peaceful protest at the Democratic Convention."

The reporter looked at the man, closed his notebook, and walked away.

The next morning the headlines read "RIGHT WING EXTREMIST PROTESTER KILLS FAMILY PET."

Have a great weekend,  Thom T."

The statement was posted on Tillis' website, Facebook page and sent to media outlets across the state.

_{Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:10:35 -0500}

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