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NC Ex-Regulator: No Favors For Indicted Donor
North Carolina's former top insurance regulator says he never performed favors for a big-money donor charged with trying to bribe his Republican successor.
State Democratic party Chairman Wayne Goodwin spoke to The Associated Press on Friday in his first interview since federal bribery and conspiracy charges were lodged against donor Greg Lindberg and state Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes. They're accused of trying to bribe state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to go easy on the oversight of Lindberg's insurance companies.
Goodwin hasn't been accused of a crime. But Causey told the AP that when Goodwin was insurance commissioner, Lindberg insurance companies were allowed to move far more money out of claim-paying reserves than previously.
Goodwin says he trusted the recommendations of financial experts on his staff and acted within the law.
More Money Heading To NC Fishermen Harmed By Florence
More money is heading to North Carolina commercial fishermen whose landings were harmed by Hurricane Florence.
The state Division of Marine Fisheries is sending out 1,000 checks totaling $7.2 million to compensate fishermen whose harvests fell in October and November due to the storm's aftermath. Another 680 checks valued at $3.2 million already were distributed for September harvest reductions.
The compensation comes from a state hurricane relief package approved by lawmakers and Gov. Roy Cooper. The federal government also declared a disaster for the state's marine fisheries industry, which can provide more aid to fishermen.
Six People Shot Outside Winston-Salem Club
Six people were shot outside a downtown Winston-Salem nightclub Sunday morning.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports police responded to a call in front of the Nova Lounge on Cherry Street at 1:30 a.m.
Officers discovered three victims of apparent gunshot wounds outside the club. While on the scene, police learned of three more victims also suffering from gunshot wounds.
All were taken to local hospitals. None of the injuries are considered life-threatening.
An initial police investigation says a disturbance among club patrons led to gunfire.
North Carolina University Starts Campaign To Expand Access
A North Carolina university is launching a fundraising campaign it hopes will expand access to education on its campus.
Elon University says in a news release that it is in the public phase of Elon LEADS, a historic campaign with a goal of raising $250 million by May 31, 2022. The school says that more than half of the campaign will be dedicated to creating and supporting new scholarships.
Feds Deny Protection For Most Eastern Hellbender Salamanders
Federal officials have decided not to list the eastern hellbender salamander as an endangered species. Conservation groups disagree with the decision.
The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced its decision Wednesday.
Agency officials said most populations aren't in danger of extinction. Those populations include eastern hellbenders living in several southern states that include North Carolina.
The amphibian grows up to two feet long and is found in streams in the western North Carolina mountains.
Environmental groups say the species has been imperiled by pollution and habitat destruction. The salamanders are listed on the state of North Carolina's endangered species list as a species of special concern.
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