Lawmakers Trying To Clear Decks Before Adjourning For Year
The North Carolina General Assembly did some heavy lifting this week and passed significant legislation on Medicaid, economic development incentives and the 2016 primaries.
As the eight-month session moves toward adjournment next week, legislators have taken up a host of bills that some lawmakers and advocacy groups want to see acted upon before everyone goes home.
The legislature gave final approval to a measure making it a crime in most cases for someone to use GPS devices to track others against their will.
The Senate passed a bill making it a felony to sell the remains of aborted fetuses. The House also decided to remove a contentious provision in a bill that would transfer deer farming regulations from the Wildlife Resources Commission to the Agriculture Department.
Legislators Vote For All North Carolina Primaries In March
The General Assembly has agreed to hold all primary elections in North Carolina on March 15.
The Senate and House voted separately Thursday for the negotiated agreement, which would ensure North Carolina voters will increase their influence in the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees. Primaries usually have been held in May.
The move also accelerates the decision-making process for potential candidates for other offices, from governor and U.S. senator to state legislator and county commissioner. The candidate filing period would begin Dec. 1.
The bill now goes to Gov. Pat McCrory's desk. McCrory has not expressed his views on the bill.
Emails Suggest Tata's Departure Was As Abrupt As It Seemed
Emails sent to and from Tony Tata's account suggest the former North Carolina transportation secretary's resignation involved little planning.
Tata resigned July 28, citing family issues and a burgeoning book-writing career. An agency spokesman said then that Tata had left the building within about 80 minutes of the announcement.
Emails obtained Thursday by The Associated Press through a public records request show Tata was scheduled for events through Aug. 13.
Tata says his resignation letter was accurate and that his schedule was prepared months in advance.
Tata attended an event in Gibsonville and emailed DOT employees fearful of looming job cuts the day before his resignation. He didn't attend a meeting of Gov. Pat McCrory's agency heads starting just two hours before the governor announced Tata's resignation.
Man Who Tried To Drown Kids Facing Murder Charge
A North Carolina man accused of trying to drown his children is now facing a murder charge after his 3-year-old daughter died in a hospital.
Durham Police spokeswoman Kammie Michael said Thursday that Alan Tysheen Lassiter is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 3-year-old Calista Lassiter.
It was three days ago that, according to police, Alan Lassiter tried to drown the girl and her sister in a pond at an apartment complex. An off-duty sheriff's deputy said Calista was entirely underwater when he pulled her from the pond Sunday night.
Lassiter was originally charged with three counts of attempted murder for trying to kill the girl, her sister and their brother. He is currently jailed under a $2 million bond.
Archaeologists Work At Capitol Square Delayed By Weather
Plans by archaeologists to conduct a field investigation at Capital Square in Raleigh have been postponed by bad weather.
Officials announced late Thursday morning that the work planned to run through Saturday is being delayed by weather.
The square has been excavated in the past, but officials said ongoing research is needed to learn more about the ground's buildings and inhabitants.
The work will be rescheduled. When it is, visitors are expected to be able to watch archaeological techniques, such as ground-penetrating radar. They'll also be able to speak with investigators about the project.
The effort is to be carried out by the State Capitol in conjunction with the Office of State Archaeology, UNC-Greensboro archaeology and geography departments and a private cultural resource management firm.
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