Morning News Briefs: Thursday, August 4, 2016

Kaine Focuses On Economy In Greensboro Appearance

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine made a campaign stop in Guilford County Wednesday. Kaine focused on jobs and the economy.

Around 500 people packed into the depot of the Greensboro Transit Authority to hear Sen. Kaine's speech. The theme of the day was Hillary Clinton's plans for the economy. That includes providing more support for small businesses.

Kaine also said North Carolina is an even more attractive target for Clinton's presidential campaign after a federal court ruling throwing out a voter ID law that judges said was designed by state Republicans to depress minority participation.

He told the crowd that the court ruling last week means an additional 100,000 voters could cast ballots this fall.

Pence Holding "Town Hall" Campaign Event In North Carolina

Republican nominee for vice president Mike Pence is campaigning again in North Carolina, a battleground state running mate Donald Trump probably needs in his column to win the White House this November.

The Indiana governor planned to participate in a "town hall" meeting Thursday morning in downtown Raleigh before heading to campaign events in Norfolk, Virginia, later in the day.

High Court: School Can Block Transgender Teen From Boys Room

The U.S. Supreme Court says a Virginia school board can block a transgender male from using the boy's bathroom at his school until it decides whether to intervene in his case.

The high court agreed Wednesday to allow the Gloucester County School board to bar Gavin Grimm from the bathroom that matches his gender identity until the justices decide whether to review an appeals court ruling in his case.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided in April with Grimm, who argued the policy barring him from using the boys bathroom violated federal education discrimination law.

Duke Energy Says Stormwater Spilled From Coal Power Plant

Duke Energy says up to 50,000 gallons of stormwater runoff spilled from a coal-fired power plant in Rutherford County and into the Broad River.

The utility said in a news release that none of the water came in contact with the nearly 8 million tons of coal ash on the site, although it did come in contact with unburned coal stored at the Rogers Energy Complex near Mooresboro.

Duke Energy says the water does not appear to have harmed the Broad River, and the utility has reported the spill to North Carolina environmental officials.

Rockingham County Official Facing Embezzlement Charge

A Rockingham County official has been arrested on an embezzlement charge.

The  Rockingham County Sheriff's Office says the county's Chief Information Officer David Whicker was charged Wednesday with felony embezzlement by a public official or trustee.

Deputies say they received a tip last week accusing 35-year-old Whicker of selling county items at a pawn shop in Kernersville.

Rockingham County Manager Lance Metzler says Whicker, of Walkertown, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning, click here to sign-up