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NC Senate Passes Voter ID Measure
The state Senate has given its final approval for photo ID requirements for in-person voting.
This is the first effort for the legislature to put into practice a constitutional amendment requiring photo ID. Voters approved that mandate this month in a statewide referendum with 55 percent of the vote.
Two previous voter ID measures passed by Republicans this decade failed. One was vetoed by then-Gov. Bev Perdue, a Democrat. Another one was blocked by federal judges who found the legislation unfairly discriminated black voters.
This latest version is less restrictive than that in part because it allows many more types of photo identifications, including student IDs from public and private colleges.
The measure now goes to the state House, where it's likely to be debated next week in the ongoing lame-duck session before new members are sworn in.
GOP Senator's Opposition Likely Sinks Trump Judicial Nominee
A second Republican senator, Tim Scott of South Carolina, has said he will vote against President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as a district judge in North Carolina, likely dooming the prospects of Thomas Farr filling the nation's longest court vacancy.
Civil rights groups such as the NAACP have heavily criticized Farr for his work defending state laws found to have discriminated against African-Americans. Farr is nominated to serve as a district court judge in North Carolina.
Scott announced Thursday that he would not vote for Farr, joining Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona and 49 Democratic lawmakers in opposing the nominee.
North Carolina Elections Board Back To Weigh Congress Race
A North Carolina congressional race result still hasn't been finalized as elections officials examine potential absentee ballot irregularities.
The state elections board meets Friday and is likely to again consider the certification in the 9th Congressional District. Board members delayed that certification earlier this week, citing an investigation.
Totals show Republican Mark Harris leading Democrat Dan McCready by about 900 votes. McCready conceded the race weeks ago, but the outcome isn't official.
Legislature Finalizes How To Spend $300M In Hurricane Relief
Nearly $300 million in additional state spending to address North Carolina's recovery from Hurricane Florence has received quick and unanimous approval from the legislature.
The package takes money lawmakers already set aside last month for hurricane recovery and distributes it. The bill gives $240 million to the Agriculture Department to run a program making payments to farmers with destroyed crops and livestock from Florence and Hurricane Michael. Another $10 million helps commercial fishermen.
There's also $25 million for public school repairs and lunch program damages and $18.5 million for beach renourishment and other coastal projects.
Lawmaker: Incentives Change Could Soon Mean HQ In North Carolina
A lawmaker says making taxpayer-funded payouts more generous to corporations that move high-paying jobs to North Carolina could soon result in a big business relocation.
The General Assembly gave final approval Thursday to a measure more than doubling the per-job payment the state can make to companies that meet job creation and investment levels. The per-job annual cap will rise to $16,000 after Gov. Roy Cooper signs the legislation.
Bill supporters say it will help attract companies with high-salaried executives, and legislators shepherding the bill say one corporate headquarters they didn't identify by name could soon move to the state because of it.
Immigrant Deported After Seeking Refuge In North Carolina Church
Federal authorities say a Mexican immigrant who sought refuge in a North Carolina church for nearly a year has been deported.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Bryan Cox said that Samuel Oliver-Bruno was removed from the U.S. to Mexico at 8:45 p.m. Thursday.
Oliver-Bruno had spent 11 months in a Durham church before leaving last week to have his fingerprints taken as part of an application to remain in the U.S. to support his son and ailing wife. He was arrested at an immigration office where he went for the screening as part of his application.
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