Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign up.
North Carolina Partisan Gerrymandering State Trial Begins
A North Carolina state court trial on whether legislative districts are illegal partisan gerrymanders starts just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it wasn't the purview of federal courts to decide if boundaries are politically unfair.
A three-judge panel prepared for two weeks of arguments and testimony beginning Monday.
Common Cause, the state Democratic Party and voters challenged House and Senate maps that Republicans drew in 2017. They say the lines maximized GOP advantage beyond what political geography can explain and want new boundaries for 2020.
GOP legislators say legislative elections are competitive, and Democrats simply want judges to create a favorable political outcome they couldn't achieve at the ballot box.
Cooper Seeks Formal Say Opposing Constitutional Amendments
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper wants to formally urge a North Carolina appeals court to uphold a ruling that struck down two state constitutional amendments approved by voters last year.
Cooper's attorney asked the state Court of Appeals on Friday to accept his legal brief arguing why the February decision by Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins should be affirmed. Collins voided amendments requiring photo identification to vote and lowering caps on income tax rates.
Former Finance Director Is New Head Of NC Democrats
The former finance director of the North Carolina Democratic Party will now step into the group's top job.
The party said in a statement Saturday that Meredith Cuomo will serve as its new executive director.
The statement says Cuomo has nearly two decades of experience working to elect Democrats in North Carolina. She has overseen multimillion-dollar budgets and much of the party's day-to-day work.
She was also previously the finance director for the N.C. Senate Democratic Caucus.
Superintendent's Lawyer Is Next State GOP Executive Director
An attorney for the North Carolina schools chief is the state Republican Party's next executive director.
Party Chairman Michael Whatley announced on Friday that Jonathan Sink will begin work July 22. Sink succeeds Dallas Woodhouse, who announced in the spring he was leaving after 3½ years as executive director.
Sink has been general counsel to Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson. He previously worked for state House Speaker Tim Moore and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system.
26 Swift Water Rescue Teams Get New Equipment
As hurricane season bears down, several swift water rescue teams in North Carolina have received new equipment that will help them save people in disasters.
State officials said in a news release that 26 teams recently received new gear, thanks to more than $2 million in funding from the state.
They say the new equipment will enhance what the teams already have or will replace aging equipment.
Chef Vivian Howard To Return To Television With New Series
The North Carolina chef and television host known for the award-winning "A Chef's Life" is returning to PBS next year.
Vivian Howard will be back on television with a new show titled "South by Somewhere." The six-part series will explore the intersection of Southern food with the cuisines of other cultures.
During its five seasons on the air, "A Chef's Life" received a Daytime Emmy for outstanding culinary program, a Peabody and other awards. It focused on Chef and the Farmer, the restaurant that she and her husband, Ben Knight, own in Kinston.
"South by Somewhere" is scheduled to premiere with six episodes in PBS's winter/spring season next year.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad