North Carolina Asking US Supreme Court For Redistricting Delay
Attorneys for the state of North Carolina want the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and stop the enforcement of a lower court decision directing new congressional districts to be drawn by Feb. 19.
Legislative leaders said late Tuesday they're asking Chief Justice John Roberts to issue a stay. The request was disclosed soon after the court that struck down the 1st and 12th Congressional Districts refused to change its original order. A three-judge panel last Friday decided the majority black districts were racial gerrymanders and can't be used anymore.
The emergency stay from the state says a delay is needed because there's little time to draw districts and absentee balloting is already under way for the March 15 primary.
NC Regulator Fines Duke Energy Nearly $7M For Coal Ash Spill
North Carolina environmental regulators say they're fining the country's largest electric company nearly $7 million for pollution related to a big spill of liquefied coal ash in 2014.
The Department of Environmental Quality said Tuesday that Duke Energy's $6.6 million fine is for violations surrounding the February 2014 coal ash spill at the company's Dan River power plant in Eden.
The agency says the civil penalties could be increased because this fine covers violations Duke Energy admitted when it pleaded guilty to federal pollution crimes nine months ago. The company agreed to pay $102 million in fines and restitution.
Duke Energy said in a statement that it's reviewing whether to challenge the fine. The company says water quality in the Dan River returned to normal quickly after the spill.
Drug Testing Of Welfare Applicants, Recipients Under Way
Drug testing of North Carolina welfare recipients and applicants is finally happening at social service offices.
The 2013 law says that social services can direct someone they suspect is using drugs to take a test to get benefits.
A presentation to a General Assembly committee Tuesday said fewer than 90 tests had been performed starting in August through the end of December, with about 20 testing positive for illegal drugs. Work First's ongoing caseload is about 17,000.
Gov. Pat McCrory had vetoed the law because he said it was punitive and potentially intrusive and there was no money to develop the program. The legislature overrode the veto and later funded the program. A test costs $55.
Division of Social Services Director Wayne Black says there's no indication testing has discouraged Work First applications.
Mccrory, Sprayberry Talking To Federal Emergency Council
Gov. Pat McCrory and his top first responder to hurricanes and snowstorms are meeting with emergency management leaders to talk about how North Carolina emergency officials prepare for the worst.
The governor and state Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry were slated to address FEMA's National Advisory Council meeting today in Raleigh.
The council is comprised of local and state government leaders as well as private-sector and nonprofit representatives. It meets occasionally to better federal emergency management coordination.
The meeting will be at State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh.
Events To Mark Anniversary Of Deaths Of 3 Muslim Students
A Muslim advocacy group is urging people to participate in three events honoring three college students who were shot to death in Chapel Hill last year.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations says events on Wednesday are planned for UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University. An event is also planned at The Light House, a Raleigh community center designed to honor the three Muslim students, serve as a small-business incubator, provide after-school programs and counter what the group calls growing Islamophobia.
An interfaith food drive in honor of the students continues through Feb. 20 at the Islamic Center of Raleigh.
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.
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