Morning News Briefs: Monday, August 8, 2016

McCrory Won't Use Disaster Fund Money For HB2 Lawsuits

Gov. Pat McCrory's administration says money transferred from a disaster relief fund to his office won't be used to defend House Bill 2 in court as legislators directed it should.

Instead, McCrory's top lawyer said late Friday the governor will keep using other available funds from agencies to cover those outside legal expenses.

The General Assembly passed a bill moving $500,000 from the disaster fund to McCrory for the expenses, but McCrory let it become law without his signature because he wanted funds to come from Attorney General Roy Cooper, who won't defend the law.

North Carolina's Religious Objection Law In Court

Roughly 5 percent of North Carolina's magistrates are refusing to marry same-sex couples for religious reasons, and lawyers for the state say people suing in federal court have no standing to challenge these opt-outs as unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn scheduled a hearing for Monday in Asheville on a motion to dismiss their lawsuit altogether.

Separately, Republican legislative leaders and some magistrates also want to be added as defendants going forward, saying they don't trust Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper to defend the state law.

Officials To Discuss Forsyth Bond Referendum

Forsyth County Commissioners are discussing several projects at a public hearing Monday for a fall bond referendum. Most of the money would be used for infrastructure improvements in the county's public schools.

It's a list of around $430-million in projects. Those include bonds for improvements at Forsyth Technical Community College and county Parks and Recreation. The bulk of the money would be invested in Winston-Salem Forsyth County Public Schools for repairs and the construction of six new school buildings.

If their request is approved, school officials estimate a person who has a home valued at $150,000 can expect to pay around $50 more a year in property taxes. Voters in Forsyth County will have the final say on the Nov. 8th ballot.  

Sheriff Alters Procedure For Trump Rally After Past Violence

A North Carolina sheriff's office has changed its procedures for an upcoming Donald Trump rally after an altercation at a previous one.

A lawyer representing the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office tells The Fayetteville Observer that it will be ready for a Trump campaign visit on Tuesday.

During a Trump appearance in March, a man in the audience hit a protester as he was being led out. That man faces assault and other charges.

Reporter Arrested At Protest Says Police Went Too Far

A reporter arrested as he took photos of other protesters being arrested at an Asheville sit-in says it raises issues whether police really want to be transparent.

Mountain Xpress reporter Dan Hesse was arrested July 22 after police ordered 17 protesters to leave the Asheville Police Department. They were asking for racial justice.

Asheville Police spokeswoman Christina Hallingse says about half the protesters left. Hesse stayed to take photos for his alternative weekly publication.

Hallingse told the Citizen-Times of Asheville that there is no exemption that allows a reporter to ignore a lawful order and not be arrested.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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