Morning Headlines: Friday, April 8, 2016

U.S. Civil Rights Commission Will Advocate For Residents Near Coal Ash

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is backing Stokes County residents worried about the impact coal ash basins are having on their community.

A three-member Commission advisory panel heard testimony Thursday on the possible effects of the Duke Energy-owned basins on minority and low-income areas.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports the commission chairman told attendees it will advocate for their rights, both locally and in Washington.

State Holds Public Meetings On Medicaid Reform

Scores of residents showed up Thursday to voice their opinions on the state's plans to reform Medicaid.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services held a public hearing in Greensboro, bringing together state health leaders, medical providers and family members of Medicaid recipients.

The News and Record reports critics complained that the state is refusing to participate in Medicaid reforms made possible by the Affordable Care Act.

Another hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Winston-Salem.

Spellings: UNC System Will Follow HB2

Leaders of the state's public colleges and universities are still investigating how North Carolina's HB 2 law will impact their campuses.

UNC system president Margaret Spellings says they must follow the state's new requirements.

Spellings said in a memo to chancellors that the state's 16 college campuses and the N.C. School of Science and Math must label multi-occupancy changing facilities for single-sex use.

She says schools may provide single-occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities that are gender-neutral.

Audit Uncovers Millions Misreported In Duke Energy Merger

A new audit has found millions of dollars worth of misreported costs associated with a merger involving Duke Energy.

Duke Energy and Progress Energy merged back in 2012 to become the nation's largest electric utility.

A new audit by The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission found over 130 million dollars in improperly stated costs associated with the deal.

According to the News & Record, the commission cited several financial reporting errors ranging from a half million to $90 million.

Duke Energy is trying to figure out how much money customers should get back. The process is expected to take several months.

Advocates Of Unemployed Urge Reverse Of Jobless Benefit Cuts

Advocates say benefit cuts approved two years ago are leaving laid-off workers with unemployment benefits that are too small and are gone too quickly to keep struggling families out of poverty.

George Wentworth of the National Employment Law Project said Thursday the 1,200 workers facing layoffs from Freightliner truck factories near Charlotte and 350 cut at the MillerCoors brewing plant in Eden will find a smaller safety net.

Advocates want state lawmakers to increase jobless benefits before a new recession hits the country. Gov. Pat McCrory's office didn't respond when asked whether the governor plans to propose higher unemployment benefits.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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