Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign-up.
HB2 Repeal: Who's Satisfied?
North Carolina politicians are rolling back a law that blocked some anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people, but it isn't yet clear if it's enough to coax back businesses and sporting events that have skipped the state.
Initial reactions were largely muted on Thursday's compromise repeal. Advocates say it still leaves gays, lesbians and transgender people vulnerable to discrimination.
Consultants who advise companies looking for a good place to build operations are divided whether the changes are enough to burnish North Carolina's attraction for IT, biosciences and financial firms.
NCAA Plans To Review 'Bathroom Bill' Deal
The NCAA plans to review a deal to roll back HB2 before it makes a decision on whether to bring neutral-site championships back to the state.
NCAA President Mark Emmert told reporters Thursday that the association's board of governors will have to discuss the new legislation before deciding whether they're comfortable hosting neutral-site championships in the state again.
He said that process could take several days or more.
Bill Detailing How NC Must Save For Emergencies OK'd
North Carolina legislators have sent to Gov. Roy Cooper more detailed ground rules about how state government must save money for the next fiscal emergency.
The General Assembly on Thursday gave final legislative approval to a bipartisan measure that directs how much money must be put annually into the state's "rainy day" reserve and restricts how the money inside can be spent. Some uses would require support from two-thirds of both House and Senate members.
There's nearly $1.5 billion in the reserve right now and state law sets a goal for what it should contain. This measure directs state budget experts to set a fund target based on possible fiscal emergency scenarios.
Changes In Store For Say Yes Program
The Guilford County Say Yes to Education program is making big changes to sustain its college scholarship program. The changes include new income-based eligibility and requirements for how long students are enrolled in the school system.
Eligible students with an annual family income of $40,000 or less will receive 100 percent of what's called 'last dollar scholarships' to bridge tuition costs after financial aid - if they have been enrolled in Guilford County Schools since the ninth grade.
Students with an annual family income of more than $100,000 dollars will not be eligible for the program.
Say Yes Guilford officials say the new criteria will be in place for all eligible students beginning next school year.
2 Copies Of Quran Stolen From Charlotte Airport Chapel
Someone has taken two copies of the Quran from the chapel at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and left a note criticizing the Islamic holy book.
The Rev. Alice White told The Charlotte Observer she discovered the copies were gone Tuesday.
The Christian Pentecostal minister said a man in the chapel greeted her by name when he saw her name tag. She said when she returned later the Quran had been replaced by a letter telling her she was not a chaplain if she did not believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible and reject the Quran.
No arrests have been made.
An Islamic Center in Charlotte will provide replacement Quran copies.
Final Four Teams Begin Preparations For Semis In Arizona
The Final Four teams have begun their preparations in Arizona for the last three games of March Madness.
South Carolina, Gonzaga, North Carolina and Oregon are in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale ahead of two semifinal games this weekend.
This is the Tar Heel's 20th trip to the Final Four, and they'll be the most experienced team. South Carolina and Gonzaga are making their first appearances, while Oregon hasn't been to a final four since they won the first NCAA tournament in 1939.
North Carolina faces off against Oregon on Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad