Morning Headlines: Thursday, June 23, 2016

Carolinas Border Redraw Bill Among Nine Signed By McCrory

Legislation designed to resolve tax, education and property issues associated with redrawing the North Carolina-South Carolina border has been signed by Gov. Pat McCrory.

McCrory's signature Wednesday — combined with South Carolina's similar legislation approved this month — clears the way to enforce the original 18th-century boundary again starting in January.

McCrory's office said he signed nine bills Wednesday. Others require "beach bingo" operators to be licensed and make it easier for veterans considered "partially disabled" to use special parking spots for people with disabilities.

Budget Negotiations Getting Down To Final Sticking Points

Budget negotiations are getting down to the short rows at the North Carolina General Assembly.

House and Senate Republicans have been talking for the last two weeks about differences in their competing legislation to run state government for the next 12 months.

Legislative leaders say they've resolved most of the differences, and it's gotten to the point where Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore are involved to unstick the remaining issues.

Clinton Says Nation Needs Better-Paying Jobs

Hillary Clinton drew thousands of people for a speech in Raleigh Wednesday. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee outlined her plans for the U.S. economy in an address just hours after Donald Trump questioned her credentials to be president.

Clinton said the nation needs better-paying jobs, debt-free college, steps to allow companies to share their profits with workers, assurances Wall Street and corporations pay their fair share in taxes, and policies to help families.

Clinton said the nation needs to "make sure that our economy works for everyone, not just for the rich or the well-connected."

The former secretary of state said she is offering an alternative to Trump, whom she says is spouting "reckless ideas that will run up our debt and cause another economic crash."

Protesters Demand LGBT Law Repeal This Session

Opponents of North Carolina's law preventing local governments from passing anti-discrimination protections and directing which bathrooms transgender people can use say they will blame the General Assembly for future violence against members of the LGBT community if lawmakers do not abolish the law before the session adjourns in a few weeks.

Between 300 and 400 people attended a "rally against hate" late Wednesday between the Legislative Building and the old Capitol building where Gov. Pat McCrory keeps his office. Protesters called for a full repeal of the law and increased protections for members of the LGBT community.

Interactive Map To Provide North Carolina Hog Lagoon Sites

Environmental groups have joined to produce an interactive map revealing the locations of more than 6,500 animal feeding operations across North Carolina.

The interactive map points out swine and cattle operations, as well as more than 3,900 poultry operations, which the groups say had been shielded from residents.

The maps were constructed over more than three years by researchers from Environmental Working Group, Waterkeeper Alliance and North Carolina Riverkeeper organizations. Included are manure lagoons from swine operations, detailing how close they are to streams, rivers and other public water sources.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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