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After Fraud Probe, New Primary May Replace GOP Candidate
Legislation quickly passed through North Carolina's legislature last week would prepare a path for Republicans to dump their nominee in a still-undecided U.S. House race marred with ballot fraud allegations.
If the state elections board decides ballot irregularities or other problems cast the true outcome into doubt and force a redo, the legislation would require new primary elections in the 9th Congressional District race, in addition to a new general election.
That would allow Republicans another look at Mark Harris, the Republican who led Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes in unofficial results.
North Carolina Governor Vetoes Latest Voter ID Legislation
North Carolina's governor has vetoed legislation implementing a voter photo identification mandate added to the state's constitution in a recent referendum.
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has repeatedly opposed voter ID legislation and put his veto stamp to the latest bill Friday. An override is likely because Republicans in the GOP-dominated General Assembly have been united in supporting the legislation finalized last week.
The bill fills in details to carry out the constitutional amendment approved by voters last month requiring photo ID for in-person voting. The legislation greatly expands the number of qualifying IDs and exceptions compared to legislation blocked earlier this decade.
North Carolina System Tests For Lead At Its Oldest Schools
Tests show water fixtures at 41 of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's 89 oldest schools had unsafe levels of lead, and officials say those fixtures have been removed, blocked off or filtered as soon as the high levels were detected.
The Charlotte Observer reports the school system has completed a second round of testing to identify drinking fountains and other school water sources leaching unsafe levels of lead.
Most of the more than 3,000 fixtures tested within safe levels. Those schools not tested yet among the system's 175 schools were generally built after Congress banned lead in water pipes, fixtures and solder in 1986.
Second Earthquake In 4 Days Centered In Eastern Tennessee
An earthquake centered in eastern Tennessee also was felt in three other states.
The U.S. Geological Survey website says the epicenter of the magnitude 3.0 earthquake early Sunday was about two miles southeast of Mascot, near Knoxville. It also was felt in parts of Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina.
No injuries or damage are reported.
It's the second earthquake in eastern Tennessee in the past week. A magnitude 4.4 earthquake on Wednesday was centered near Decatur.
Silly, Sassy And Stubborn: Ruthie The Chimp Dies At NC Zoo
A chimpanzee that lived at the North Carolina Zoo for nearly 40 years has died after suffering congestive heart failure for about a year.
Zoo officials say 47-year-old Ruthie was euthanized Thursday. Zoo officials said she was known for being silly, sassy and stubborn.
She had arrived in 1980 and was one of the animals that lived longest at the zoo in Asheboro. A chimp named Maggie also arrived in 1980, and C'sar the elephant came in 1978.
Ruthie was diagnosed seven years ago with heart disease, which was treated with medicine. Her condition advanced to congestive heart failure in October 2017.
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