Morning Headlines: Thursday, February 11, 2016

More Waiting On Congressional Maps With Roberts' Request

North Carolina voters and legislators will be kept guessing for at least several more days on whether the state's current congressional districts can be used in the March 15 primary or have to be redrawn before votes are cast.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said Wednesday lawyers who so far successfully sued to overturn the 1st and 12th Districts have until next Tuesday to respond to the state's emergency request to let the current boundaries remain for next month's primary.

The wait increases the chance the General Assembly will have to reconvene before the court rules to draw new districts. That's because a lower court ordered the General Assembly to draw new boundaries by Feb. 19 after it found race played too large a role in mapmaking.

No Early Voting At WSSU

Winston-Salem State University will not host an early-voting site on campus this March.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections on Wednesday voted 3-2 to approve an early-voting plan submitted by the local election board's Republican majority.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports the Forsyth County Board was unable to reach a unanimous decision in December. A plan to add WSSU's Anderson Center divided the local board.

Also on Wednesday the state board voted 4-0 on a plan that requires Watauga County to offer early voting at Appalachian State University's Plemmons Student Union.

Report Finds Handful Of Charter Schools On Money Watch List

Only about 4 percent of North Carolina's more than 150 charter schools are on a financial watch list tracking taxpayer money going to the non-traditional public schools.

State Department of Public Instruction officials said Wednesday there are six charter schools with financial problems severe enough that they are receiving taxpayer money on a month-to-month basis. The State Board of Education last week voted to close a seventh – Crossroads Charter High School in Charlotte.

There also were six charter schools in so-called disciplinary status at this point last year. Four of those six have since been closed.

Charter schools can use taxpayer money with more flexibility than regular public schools. A state audit last year said Kinston Charter Academy mismanaged money for years before leaving taxpayers with debts.

Piedmont Native Wins Music Educator Grammy

A Durham music teacher has won a Grammy for Music Educator of the Year.

Philip Riggs teaches music at the North Carolina School Of Science and Mathematics.

The Mt. Airy native graduated with a music degree at Appalachian State University, and got his Master's from UNCG.

Riggs has worked everywhere from Reagan High School in Forsyth County to Ledford in Lexington. He's taught in Durham since 2008.

Riggs was selected from a field of more than 4500 nominees.

He'll be attending the awards ceremony Monday in Los Angeles;  Riggs will also be receiving $10,000.

UNC Event Marks Anniversary Of Deaths Of 3 Muslim Students

Students and faculty at the UNC School of Dentistry have commemorated the lives of three college students who were shot to death in Chapel Hill last year.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports at least 200 people gathered on Wednesday in the atrium of the dental school to hear remembrances from the family members of the slain students and others.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said events were also planned for N.C. State University and at the Light House, a Raleigh community center designed in part to honor the three Muslim students.

Killed last Feb. 10 were 23-year-old Deah Shaddy Barakat; his 21-year-old wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha; and her sister, 19-year-old Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha.

Authorities have charged 46-year-old Craig Stephen Hicks with three counts of first-degree murder.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.