Morning Headlines: Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Spellings' First Day As UNC President Incites Protests

Margaret Spellings has started her job as University of North Carolina system president, and students at six campuses walked out of class to protest.

The protests occurred during Spellings' first day on Tuesday. Students at UNC-Chapel Hill, Appalachian State University, N.C. A&T State University, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro and UNC Wilmington assembled for protests.

Spellings is a former U.S. secretary of education for President George W. Bush. Students and faculty have raised questions about her background, including her tenure as education secretary during the implementation of the No Child Left Behind law.

NC OKs $1B Duke Energy Gas Plant; Decision On Rates Later

North Carolina electricity regulators say Duke Energy Corp. can replace an Asheville coal-burning power plant with two units fueled by natural gas that will produce 50 percent more electricity.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission on Monday approved construction of the $1 billion early conversion of the coal-burning plant to cleaner natural gas. The country's largest electric company will pass along the costs to customers.

North Carolina Police Look Into Excessive-Force Claim

Police in North Carolina's largest city say they are investigating allegations of excessive force after a videotape surfaced showing an officer apparently punching a man repeatedly.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department spokesman Rob Tufano said Tuesday that the department's internal affairs unit is gathering information, interviewing witnesses and reviewing video footage.

Police ID Black Man Fatally Shot By Officer

The State Bureau of Investigation is confirming the identity of a black man who was fatally shot by a police officer.

The agency says 24-year-old Akiel Denkins, of Raleigh, was killed and that agents have talked to his mother, Rolonda Byrd. She had earlier complained that authorities had not told her that her son had been killed and that they wouldn't let her see his body.

Event Helps Seniors Apply For Food Stamps

An enrollment fair is coming up this week to help seniors and the disabled apply for food stamps. The Urban League of Winston-Salem has received funding from the National Council on Aging to enroll 500 people in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP by the end of April.

The enrollment event is Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Hanes Hosiery Recreation Center in Winston-Salem.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.