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Thousands Still Without Power After Winter Storm
Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency that he says will help utility crews restore electricity more quickly to the state's western Piedmont, foothills and mountains after a winter storm.
Cooper issued the statewide declaration Sunday. It waives certain truck restrictions on roads so that vehicles can gain easier access to areas where power lines fell due to freezing rain, ice and fallen trees.
More than 36,000 Duke Energy and electric cooperative customers in North Carolina were still without power Monday morning. The most outages still remaining are in Forsyth and Rockingham counties.
Rallies Held At Confederate Statute In Winston-Salem
Dozens of supporters and protesters of a Confederate statute in Winston-Salem took opposite sides of a downtown street, as the monument's days at its current location could be numbered.
About 50 people who want the century-old statue next to the old Forsyth County courthouse removed rallied Sunday afternoon. Across the street, 40 people who want the statue to remain gathered at the monument for a prayer and flower-laying event.
The city of Winston-Salem has given the United Daughters of the Confederacy until Jan. 31 to move its statue or face legal action. The group has promised opposing removal efforts.
City officials say they're worried the statue is a safety concern because of recent topplings of Confederate statues in Durham and Chapel Hill.
Judge Blocks Trump Birth Control Coverage Rules In 13 States
A U.S. judge in California has blocked Trump administration rules, which would allow more employers to opt out of providing women with no-cost birth control, from taking effect in 13 states and Washington, D.C.
Judge Haywood Gilliam on Sunday granted a request for a preliminary injunction by California, North Carolina, 11 other states and Washington, D.C. The plaintiffs sought to prevent the rules from taking effect as scheduled on Monday while a lawsuit against them moved forward.
California and the other states argue that the changes would force women to turn to state-funded programs for birth control and lead to unintended pregnancies.
US House May Review Disputed North Carolina Election
A U.S. House committee is signaling that Congress may ultimately resolve the nation's last undecided congressional race.
The head of the House Administration Committee on Friday asked North Carolina elections officials to preserve all original notes, recordings or documents used in investigating allegations of ballot fraud in the state's 9th District.
Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren of California says the U.S. House may also investigate and ultimately determine the rightful winner of the disputed seat.
Sworn statements by voters and other witnesses have suggested mail-in ballots could have been altered or discarded.
Republican Mark Harris holds a narrow lead over Democrat Dan McCready.
Republicans Largely Keep GOP Veterans In Top Committee Spots
Republicans running the North Carolina General Assembly for another two years largely have kept veteran GOP lawmakers in top committee spots.
The House Appropriations Committee has three senior chairs in Reps. Linda Johnson of Kannapolis, Donny Lambeth of Winston-Salem and Jason Saine of Lincolnton.
Saine was senior co-chairman of the House Finance Committee the past two years. Now that panel will be led by Reps. John Szoka of Fayetteville, Mitchell Setzer of Catawba and Julia Howard of Mocksville. Rep. David Lewis of Dunn remains rules committee chairman.
In the Senate, second-term Sen. Paul Newton of Mount Pleasant is a new finance committee co-chairman, with Sens. Ralph Hise of Spruce Pine and Jerry Tillman of Archdale.
Open Restrooms, Trash Pickup Happening At Outer Banks Parks
Some basic maintenance is returning to portions of national parks along North Carolina's Outer Banks, even as most services stay shuttered due to the continuing federal government shutdown.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore announced it had re-opened restrooms this weekend at Whalebone Junction in Nags Head, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton, and near the visitor center on Ocracoke Island. Money usually generated from park entrance, camping and other fees are helping pay for the open and cleaned restrooms.
The federal government's news release also said trash would be removed from garbage cans at several visitor areas at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial.
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