Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign up.
Senate Budget Crossing Finish Line, Talks With House Next
The Senate's version of how North Carolina state government should operate for the next two years is almost done.
The chamber scheduled debate Friday for the second and final vote on the spending plan drawn up by Republicans. The GOP-controlled House already approved its spending plan four weeks ago, so the next step is for the two chambers to negotiate a final deal. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper could veto that plan if it doesn't provide more things to his liking.
North Carolina Elections Director, Top Lawyer Exiting Roles
The professionals in charge of protecting North Carolina's elections for more than five years are being replaced.
State elections director Kim Strach and top elections attorney Josh Lawson leave their jobs Friday.
Strach was ousted earlier this month from the job she's held since 2013. Strach was promoted to the job under Republican former Gov. Pat McCrory, but the elections board is now back in Democratic hands following lengthy litigation.
Lawson decided to quit when Strach was fired. He's being succeeded by his deputy, Katelyn Love.
Lawmakers Delay Proposed Ban On Smokable Hemp
A proposed ban on smokable hemp has North Carolina farmers worried as the state Senate agriculture committee considers legislation that would expand industrial hemp farming, which was originally established as a pilot program in 2015.
Farmers argued at a hearing Thursday that banning smokable hemp would hurt the lucrative hemp industry at a time when many farmers in the traditional tobacco-farming state are struggling due to hurricanes and decreased tobacco prices.
But the State Bureau of Investigation pushed to ban smokable hemp, saying it's difficult for law enforcement to discern smokable hemp from marijuana.
Guilford County Schools Gets $10.1 Million Tornado Settlement
Guilford County Schools has secured an insurance settlement of just over $10 million for three tornado-damaged schools.
The News and Record reports the three elementary schools–Erwin Montessori, Hampton and Peeler Open–have been sharing space with other district schools since shortly after the tornado struck in April of 2018.
The settlement comes after about a year of negotiations with the school's insurance company.
The district will use part of the proceeds to design a new Hampton-Peeler School for East Greensboro. The rest of the funding will come from a future bond issue.
ACC Baseball Tourney Slated For Charlotte In 2020
The Atlantic Coast Conference's 2020 baseball tournament will be held in Charlotte.
The league said in a news release Thursday that the selection culminated a yearlong process involving the conference's baseball committee and was approved by the league's membership.
The tournament, to be played at BB&T Ballpark from May 19-24, is scheduled for the same week as NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 and its festival in downtown Charlotte. The tournament is returning to the Charlotte area for the first time since 2001.
Ava Gardner Festival Returns To NC For 1st Time In 5 Years
The Ava Gardner Festival is returning to North Carolina for the first time in five years.
The Wilson Times reports the festival is scheduled to return Friday and Saturday at the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield.
Gardner was born in 1922 in Grabtown, a community outside Smithfield. She died Jan. 25, 1990, at the age of 67 and is buried near Smithfield.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad