Morning News Briefs: Monday, January 23rd, 2017

North Carolina Legislature To Feature Clashes With Governor

The North Carolina General Assembly returns this week to begin its two-year session in earnest, with Republican leaders already at odds with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

Cooper and House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger have clashed, with competing lawsuits to block Cooper's proposed Medicaid expansion and the governor's challenge to recent GOP laws limiting gubernatorial powers.

Big topics facing the Legislature include passing a two-year budget and deciding again whether to repeal House Bill 2, a law limiting LGBT rights. This year's work period is likely to end sometime this summer.

Tens Of Thousands Of Women Protest Trump Across NC

Officials say marches and rallies organized by women against President Donald Trump and attacks on women's rights brought tens of thousands of protesters to Raleigh and Charlotte.

Organizers of the demonstrations in North Carolina's two largest cities said Saturday's turnout was much bigger than expected. Police had to close more roads than they anticipated in both cities.

Several thousand people showed up at separate rallies in Greensboro, Wilmington and Asheville.

Police reported no arrests or other problems.

Boone Hit With Anti-Trump Graffiti

Several businesses in Boone have been hit with graffiti including profane statements about President Donald Trump.

Boone Police Chief Dana Crawford said in a news release Saturday night that the graffiti was found in several locations. Graffiti was also spray-painted on a parked police car. The vandalism included anti-Trump and anti-police messages as well as the words "Black Lives Matter."

Crawford decried the vandalism and said the damage to private and public property affects locals more than anyone else.

Sierra Nevada Brewery Issues 36-State Recall Of Select Beers

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has announced a recall of certain 12-ounce bottles of its pale ales, IPA's and other beers after detecting a packaging flaw that could cause a piece of glass to break off into the bottle.

In a statement Sunday, it said the recall applies to eight different types of its craft beers purchased in 36 states across the Midwest, the South and East Coast.

The recall was issued after quality inspections at the company's brewery in Mills River, North Carolina.

The recalled beers were packaged between Dec. 5, 2016 and Jan. 13, 2017.

North Carolina Has Monday Deadline For FEMA Hurricane Help

Monday is the deadline for North Carolina residents affected by Hurricane Matthew to register for federal assistance.

Several-dozen North Carolina counties affected by the storm are in an area that has been declared for individual assistance. Registering with FEMA is the first step toward determining eligibility.

A FEMA website says that people have until just before midnight on Monday night to register.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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