Morning News Briefs: Friday, September 9, 2016

North Carolina Board Ends Work On Early Voting

North Carolina's elections board has wrapped up work resolving how early in-person voting will occur this fall, while trying to comply with a federal court ruling that demanded more early voting days.

The state board met for more than 10 hours Thursday, approving plans in 33 counties where local boards couldn't agree on early voting sites, times and dates over a 17-day period starting in late October.

The GOP-led state board retained Sunday voting in several counties, but generally declined to expand or eliminate it. The board also expanded voting hours in big counties surrounding Raleigh and Charlotte to handle presidential-year turnout.

McCrory: Business Lobby Group Helped Shape LGBT Law

Gov. Pat McCrory says the state's main business lobby helped write a state law limiting protections for LGBT people that also included unrelated, employer-friendly restrictions on the minimum wage and workplace discrimination lawsuits.

McCrory's assertion contradicts the head of the state's Chamber of Commerce and his aides, who have denied a role in shaping the legislation called House Bill 2.

The Republican governor said the chamber helped write HB2 during an event Wednesday focused on startup companies.

Business critics of the law have said they suspected the chamber agreed to stay quiet about the LGBT focus because the legislation also included provisions the business lobby liked.

2 Men Arrested, Charged With Hacking Senior US Officials

Two North Carolina men have been arrested and charged in connection with a network of computer hackers that allegedly targeted CIA Director John Brennan and other senior government officials.

Federal prosecutors said 22-year-old Andrew Otto Boggs of North Wilkesboro and 24-year-old Justin Gray Liverman of Morehead City were arrested Thursday.

Prosecutors say Boggs and Liverman were members of a hacking group called "Crackas With Attitude."

Beginning in October, the hackers gained access to personal online accounts of senior U.S. government officials. The officials are not identified in a 37-page affidavit.

Earlier this year, British authorities arrested a 16-year-old boy who they said used the name "Cracka" to target Brennan and others.

NC Man Convicted Of Murder As Teen Won't Be Tried Again

A North Carolina prosecutor has dismissed charges against a man convicted of murder as a teenager and imprisoned 28 years ago, saying there's not enough evidence to re-try the case.

New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David said Thursday that his office will not prosecute 43-year-old Johnny Small for murder a second time.

Last month, a Superior Court judge ruled there wasn't enough evidence to justify Small's conviction for the 1988 murder of Pam Dreher in Wilmington.

The judge released Small on house arrest and gave prosecutors the option of trying the case again.

Broncos Win Super Bowl Rematch Over Panthers 21-20

Denver's dominant defense came up big against Cam Newton again and the Broncos escaped with a 21-20 victory over the Carolina Panthers Thursday night when Graham Gano missed a 50-yard field goal with four seconds remaining.

Newton was sacked three times and clobbered all night long, but appeared to have done just enough to get a measure of revenge for a bludgeoning seven months earlier in Super Bowl 50, when Von Miller stripped the ball and the Lombardi Trophy from his grasp.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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