NC Governor, Under National Lens, Fights For Re-Election
North Carolina is deciding whether to turn Gov. Pat McCrory out of office after he helped implement the state's recent rightward political shift.
Voters are choosing Tuesday between McCrory and Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper. The law McCrory signed last March that limited LGBT rights became a big issue in the race. Cooper wants House Bill 2 repealed and says it's hurt the state's economy and reputation.
McCrory has defended the law and focused his campaign on the state's recovering economy and finances, which he attributed to lower income taxes and sound budgeting. Cooper says tax cuts most helped the wealthy and made it harder to boost education spending and teacher pay.
Judge To Watch For Signs Of NC Voter Suppression
A federal judge says she sees no evidence that Republicans and presidential candidate Donald Trump want supporters to intimidate North Carolina minority voters on Election Day.
U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles said after an hour-long hearing Monday that she'll keep an eye on what happens Tuesday. She could consider sanctions if there's a coordinated effort to turn away voters in minority neighborhoods.
A lawsuit filed by North Carolina's Democratic Party last week is similar to cases in five other crucial swing states that could decide whether Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton become the next president.
Federal courts have rejected similar complaints in Ohio and Arizona.
Candidate's Widow New Nominee For NC House Seat
The wife of a North Carolina legislative candidate who died over the weekend will serve his two-year term if he wins Tuesday.
The state Democratic Party announced Democratic leaders in a coastal House district voted unanimously Monday to make Tess Judge the nominee. Judge is the widow of Dare County Commissioner Warren Judge, who died on Saturday. The party's news release quotes Warren Judge's campaign manager as saying Tess Judge accepted the nomination.
Warren Judge had been running against another Dare County commissioner, Republican Beverly Boswell, and his name will remain on the ballot.
Wildfires Continue To Plague Western North Carolina
Wildfires continue to burn across western North Carolina as the region awaits a break in the recent run of dry weather.
The North Carolina Forest Service has issued a ban on open burning in 25 counties.
The latest fire erupted Saturday above Party Rock in Lake Lure. Firefighters from the N.C. Forest Service are battling the blaze, which is estimated to be 60 acres.
Crews are also fighting a 30-acre fire on Rumbling Bald Mountain since Saturday. The Rumbling Bald Climbing Access Area of Chimney Rock State Park remains closed as a result.
Fires also continue to burn in the Nantahala National Forest, leading to emergency closures, including the Appalachian Trail, which is now closed from Rock Gap to the Nantahala River.
Hornets Roll Over Pacers 122-100 Behind Strong First Half
Kemba Walker had 24 points and 10 assists to help the Charlotte Hornets beat the Indiana Pacers 122-100 on Monday night for their best start in franchise history.
The Hornets (5-1) scored on their first 12 possessions and led by as many as 21 in the first quarter.
Charlotte tied a 23-year franchise record with 75 points in the first half on 56.5 percent shooting. The team's starters were 17 of 25 from the field before intermission as the Hornets built a 20-point lead and never looked back.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning, click here to sign-up.