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Another Voter ID Law Challenge Filed In Federal Court
The North Carolina NAACP and several local chapters have sued in federal court challenging a new voter photo identification law. They contend it suffers the same discriminatory flaws as a 2013 voter ID law struck down previously by federal judges.
The civil rights groups filed the lawsuit Thursday and announced details at a Raleigh news conference. It came a day after Republican legislators overrode Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of their voter ID bill. Some voters filed a separate state court lawsuit challenging it right after Wednesday's override.
State Board: Sheriff Candidate Shouldn't Have Been Sworn In
Election officials say a local North Carolina sheriff's candidate shouldn't have taken office while formal protests in the race are pending.
State board spokesman Pat Gannon confirmed Thursday the Columbus County elections board was told this week not to issue a certificate in the race between incumbent Lewis Hatcher and challenger Jody Greene.
Results showed Greene ahead by less than 40 votes. The county board dismissed protests and in early December, Greene was sworn in. But Gannon said Hatcher should still be sheriff for now, citing the state constitution.
Gannon also said the state board is collecting documents and information related to Columbus County absentee voting this fall. Columbus abuts the 9th Congressional District, where absentee balloting in Bladen and Robeson counties is already being investigated.
Cooper Documents Go To Lawmakers Questioning Pipeline Memo
Gov. Roy Cooper's administration says it's provided thousands of pages to Republican legislators about a $58 million side deal Cooper's office reached with utilities planning to build a natural gas pipeline.
Cooper's office announced Thursday the electronic posting of the documents.
GOP leaders sent multiple requests for information this year about last January's memorandum of understanding reached with Atlantic Coast Pipeline developers. The governor's office called legislators' demands a political fishing expedition, largely rebuffed until now.
Governor Announces 4 Companies Bringing Nearly 700 Jobs
Gov. Roy Cooper says four companies are bringing nearly 700 jobs to North Carolina.
In a series of announcements Thursday, Cooper's office said Cognizant, a leading provider of information technology, consulting and business process services, is expanding its Charlotte operations with 300 jobs. Cognizant currently employs more than 960 people in Charlotte.
The governor's office also announced LGM Enterprises LLC will create 145 jobs and launch a company at the North Carolina Global TransPark in Lenoir County. LGM operates a jet charter service and plans to launch a plant that paints and refurbishes aircraft.
Catawba County is getting 237 jobs through Isotopen Technologien München, a group of specialized radiopharmaceutical companies, and Shurtape Technologies, a manufacturer and marketer of adhesive tape and consumer home and office products.
Former Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers Dies At Age 71
Jim Rogers, the former chairman and CEO of Duke Energy, has died. He was 71.
Randy Wheless, spokesman for the Charlotte-based utility, confirmed through family members that Rogers died Monday at his home in Louisville, Kentucky. The cause of death wasn't known.
Rogers became president and CEO of Duke Energy after its 2006 merger with Cincinnati, Ohio-based Cinergy, which he had headed for 11 years. He retired at the end of 2013, stepping down as part of a settlement with the North Carolina utilities regulator, ending an investigation into the company's takeover of in-state rival Progress Energy.
Rogers co-chaired fundraising campaigns to create downtown museums, and had a role in helping Charlotte host the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
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