Hood Says Mississippi Settles Some Tobacco Claims For $15M

Mississippi's attorney general says the nation's largest tobacco company will pay the state $15 million to settle claims that it was underreporting the number of cigarettes that it was shipping to the state.

On Monday, Attorney General Jim Hood announced the settlement with Reynolds American of Winston Salem. Reynolds American succeeded two companies that Mississippi raised claims against — R.J. Reynolds and Brown & Williamson.

Wilkes County Deputy Shot And Wounded, Suspect Killed

A Jonesville man has died after exchanging gunfire with law officers during a standoff that also wounded a Wilkes County sheriff's deputy.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said in a news release that 60-year-old James M. Barrett exchanged shots with deputies responding to a domestic dispute involving Barrett on Monday morning in Ronda. Authorities say Barrett was shot, then fled into nearby woods before being caught. He later died. No other details about Barrett's death have been released.

Trial In NC Voter ID Case Pending After Legislative Moves

A North Carolina judge is deciding whether a state lawsuit challenging voter ID requirements should keep going after changes to the law last week by the General Assembly.

WRAL reports lawyers representing voters and civil rights organizations on one side and the state and the General Assembly on the other side appeared Monday before Superior Court Judge Michael Morgan.

The judge gave attorneys from both sides until July 2 to argue whether the lawsuit should go forward. A trial is set for July 13.

Report Says NC Could Save Money Selling Vacant Properties

North Carolina legislators will investigate vacant and underused state properties after receiving a report saying the state could earn millions by selling them.

A report released Tuesday by a non-partisan government evaluation agency said the Department of Administration's State Property Office kept poor inventory of its more than 9,000 properties and had no system to determine which ones are not being used.

300x250 Ad

300x250 Ad

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

Donate