Morning News Briefs: Monday, February 6th, 2017

Greensboro Redistricting Law In Court

A lawsuit over changes to Greensboro's political districts heads to federal court Monday. The city wants to stop a law that shifts more than just boundary lines.  

The 2015 law makes sweeping changes to how the city's leaders are elected, removing at-large council members and giving the mayor a vote only in tie-breaking situations.

The law also made Greensboro the only city in the state to require legislative approval to change its structure.

The News & Record of Greensboro reports that the city has won an early round even before the case gets in full swing. Last week, Judge Catherine Eagles ruled the city wouldn't have to wait until 2021 for a referendum on how city voters pick their council.

Sports Official: HB2 Could Cost North Carolina NCAA Events

The executive director of a North Carolina sports group says the state could lose dozens of NCAA championship events if legislation limiting protections for the LGBT community isn't repealed.

Scott Dupree, executive director of the Raleigh Sports Alliance, tells The Charlotte Observer that cities, colleges and universities have submitted 133 bids to host events through 2022. He said that represents more than $250 million in economic impact.

Dupree said sources at the NCAA have said committees representing different sports will begin eliminating bids from North Carolina if House Bill 2 remains on the books.

New Treasurer Again Requests Funding Retiree Health Benefits

North Carolina's new state treasurer is back on the political stage urging other elected officials to set aside money to prepare for future state employee health care benefits.

Republican Dale Folwell was elected in November, and now leads a debt affordability panel for the General Assembly. He persuaded enough people on the panel to begin making annual contributions toward addressing a liability of $38 billion. Folwell tried to press the issue a decade ago while in the state House without much success.

The proposal the panel recommended could ultimately cost hundreds of millions of dollars annually. That worries some who believe it could handcuff budget-writers seeking immediate spending.

North Carolina Water Authority Says Service Back To Normal

A water emergency is over, and North Carolina's flagship university is open again after a broken water main and problems at a water treatment plant.

The Orange Water and Sewer Authority said Sunday operations are back to normal and the utility's water storage tanks are full. Water testing Sunday confirmed the municipal utility's water is safe to drink.

The authority also said it was canceling a boil-water advisory for one Chapel Hill neighborhood.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said the campus reopened Sunday morning, water restrictions were ended and classes and offices will return to a normal schedule Monday.

Western North Carolina Forest Fire Now 90 Percent Contained

Forestry officials in western North Carolina say a fire which burned in private land and in the Pisgah National Forest is now 90 percent contained.

The Asheville Citizen Times reports U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lisa Jennings said the Sugar Cove Fire, which had been burning since last Saturday, is not expected to grow any more. But Jennings also said it's not a time for residents to be complacent, since abnormally dry weather continues across western North Carolina and the spring fire season is getting ready to start.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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