Morning Headlines: Friday, September 11, 2015

Here are some of the stories we're following today:

Community Meets To Discuss Hunger

More than 160 people got together yesterday at the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter for a conversation on food insecurity in the Triad.

The  Triad is among the worst regions for food insecurity in the country, and North Carolina among the worst states.

But residents at Thursday's community conversation want to change that. Using small group discussions, attendees worked to come up with ideas to help close the hunger gap. They included better food education outreach, neighborhood gardens, and mobile grocery stores serving food deserts.

(Note: WFDD was a co-sponsor of this event).

More North Carolina Magistrates Say No To Same-Sex Marriages

A supervising judge says magistrates in a northwestern North Carolina county are refusing to perform same-sex marriages, citing the state's religious exemption law.

WLOS-TV in Asheville reports four McDowell County magistrates have recused themselves from performing the ceremonies. Magistrates from a neighboring county are substituting.

Supervising Judge Randy Poole said that, by law, the McDowell magistrates cannot perform any kind of marriages for six months if they refuse to wed gay couples.

North Carolina Budget Deal Within Reach

Top legislative leaders are still not done with a final North Carolina budget deal that would end a stalemate that began in June.

House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger met several hours Thursday afternoon but didn't reach a deal. Berger says talks would resume Friday morning.

Even with a Friday agreement, it would be next week before the two chambers release budget documents and actually hold their two required votes needed before the legislation goes to Gov. Pat McCrory.

New Contractor Linked To Discredited Company

A newly formed highway construction company has landed more than $27 million in new government projects across the Carolinas despite its deep ties to a discredited North Carolina paving firm barred from bidding on state contracts.

Lynches River Contracting sprang into existence after Drew Boggs pleaded guilty last year in a scheme involving $88 million in highway projects. With Boggs Paving banned from bidding, brother Chris Boggs signed paperwork creating Lynches River and later gave control to family trusts.

Emails obtained by The Associated Press show officials in both Carolinas expressed concern about the connection. But both allowed the company to bid earlier this year.

Advocates Say Report Backs Keeping North Carolina Solar Laws

Solar power advocates say a report affirms the need to extend North Carolina's tax credit on renewable energy investments and to avoid rewriting a mandate on alternate energy sources by electric power companies.

Environment North Carolina held a news conference Thursday to discuss its report, which found North Carolina ranked fourth-highest nationwide in total solar electric capacity. The study also says North Carolina and other states with the highest per-capita solar electricity have strong policies promoting it.

A 2007 law now requires 6 percent of electricity sold originate from sources like solar panels and wind farms. Opponents want to prevent the percentage from increasing as the law requires and to let the tax credit expire this year.

Panthers Make Kuechly NFL's Highest-Paid LB

A person familiar with the situation says Luke Kuechly has agreed to a five-year, $62 million contract extension with the Carolina Panthers, making him the highest-paid middle linebacker in the NFL.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because the move hasn't been announced.