National Weather Service Warns Of Severe Weather, Tornadoes
The National Weather Service is urging central North Carolina to be on guard for the threat of severe weather.
Forecasters says the likelihood for pockets of straight-line wind damage today is "a near certainty." The risk for one or more tornadoes in the area is fairly high.
The weather service also says that with the system bringing severe weather during school hours on Wednesday, schools and universities should take time to review their severe weather safety plans and review their tornado sheltering procedures.
With the prospect for severe weather, Gov. Pat McCrory advised the state's seven Urban Search and Rescue Teams and seven hazardous materials Regional Response Teams to be on standby.
Governor Wants Transgender Restroom Rule Blocked
Gov. Pat McCrory wants North Carolina's legislature to prevent Charlotte and any other local government in the state from making regulations allowing transgender people to use restrooms or locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity.
The Republican governor said Tuesday he was "disappointed and saddened" by the Charlotte City Council's vote Monday night that expanded a nondiscrimination ordinance relating to public accommodations. He says the action upsets the right to privacy that people expect. He says people expect others in their restroom or locker room to have the same anatomy as they do.
McCrory says he calls it "an extreme regulation that changes the basic norms of society."
House Speaker Tim Moore said earlier Tuesday that he would work with McCrory and legislators to correct Charlotte's action.
Clinton Endorsed By Dozens Of North Carolina Legislators
Dozens of Democrats at the North Carolina General Assembly are supporting Hillary Clinton for president.
House Minority Leader Larry Hall and Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue were among lawmakers speaking at an endorsement news conference Tuesday, three weeks before the North Carolina presidential primary.
Clinton's campaign says 43 of the 61 Democratic legislators have endorsed her, including all current female Democratic members. Those backing Clinton include Sens. Josh Stein and Terry Van Duyn and Reps. Mickey Michaux and Susan Fisher.
Blue said in a campaign statement the former secretary of state and first lady is "battle tested" and ready to build "ladders of opportunity" for the middle class to succeed.
An Elon University Poll of North Carolina likely voters last week showed Clinton ahead of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Judge Wants Lawyer Comments On NC Congress Map Soon
A federal judge has set a quick schedule for attorneys to argue why North Carolina's new congressional map should be used in the rescheduled June primary or rejected.
U.S. District Judge William Osteen served on the three-judge panel that this month struck down the 1st and 12th Districts and ordered new boundaries from the General Assembly by last Friday.
Lawyers for voters who challenged the two districts asked this week for an expedited review and suggested judges draw their own map if they don't like the new boundaries.
Osteen instead directed Tuesday that voters' attorneys file objections by Feb. 29 to the map and the congressional primary schedule. The state has until March 7 to respond to those objections. The plaintiffs would have until March 9 for the last word.
Clemmons Man Wins Maya Angelou's Limo In Auction
A Clemmons man has won writer and poet Maya Angelou's personal limousine in a raffle.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports that the non-profit organization The Children's Home raffled off Angelou's limo as a way to raise money for the orphanage. Brian McGrail won the 1985 Lincoln Continental limousine that had been donated to the Children's Home by Angelou's estate.
Tickets were bought from as far away as South Carolina, Indiana and Missouri.
Jenny Taylor of The Children's Home says the raffle raised $5,300, which will be used to provide therapeutic activities for children in the home's care.
McGrail has volunteered many fall weekends at The Children's Home. He says he bought a ticket for each of his three children.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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