Morning News Briefs: Thursday, December 1, 2016

NC Elections Board Orders Durham Recount

North Carolina's elections board has ordered Durham County to recount tens of thousands of ballots cast during early voting, reversing the decision of the county board a couple of weeks ago.

The state board's 3-2 decision Wednesday evening after close to three hours of arguments could delay further final results in the governor's race. Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who trails Democrat Roy Cooper by more than 10,000 votes, supported the recount request filed by a GOP attorney.

The board's three Republican members voted to reverse the Durham board's previous decision to throw out the protest.

Wednesday's hearing focused on alleged irregularities in the election night tallies.

McCrory Still Aims For December Session On Matthew Recovery

Gov. Pat McCrory says he's still aiming to call the General Assembly back to Raleigh in the second week of December to approve legislation so that North Carolina residents in the bleakest situations following Hurricane Matthew stay finanically covered this winter.

McCrory said Wednesday at a hurricane recovery meeting in Greenville that he's working on both short- and long-term proposals for recovery following the early October storm and resulting floods.

The governor said legislators need to act quickly because it's possible that displaced families living in hotels could soon be homeless.

No Charges In Scott Shooting

The Mecklenburg County district attorney says the officer who fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott acted lawfully.

Scott's death in September sparked protests in Charlotte that lasted several days and sometimes turned violent.

District Attorney Andrew Murray's report, which is posted online, says Scott drew a gun from an ankle holster after being confronted by police.

Scott's family says they have yet to decide whether or not to file a lawsuit.

Authorities arrested four people as about 100 protesters walked around Charlotte following the decision. Police say the protests were otherwise calm.

Court Agrees Some NC Sex Offender Limits Unlawful

A federal appeals court has upheld lower court rulings that found portions of North Carolina law restricting where registered sex offenders can gather are unconstitutional because they're overly broad or vague.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, on Wednesday affirmed the federal lower court decisions, which the state appealed.

One provision successfully challenged by several registered offenders who sued in 2013 prohibited them from going to places where minors gather for educational, recreation or social programs. The other restriction prevented them from being within 300 feet of certain locations where children are cared for or supervised.

The legislature last summer approved replacements for the challenged laws while on appeal. The appeals court didn't consider the amended laws.

Recovery Begins As Rains Help Put Out Tennessee Wildfires

After nearly 24 hours of drenching rain helped quench a series of devastating wildfires in eastern Tennessee, local officials began turning to cleanup and recovery efforts.

Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Werner said officials were discussing the possibility of re-opening the town Friday, which would give business owners and residents their first look at the damage in a city that's been closed since Monday night.

Werner was one of several city officials managing the crisis while dealing with personal losses. He lost his home and his business.

Officials discovered three more bodies Wednesday, raising the death toll to seven. Three other people who had been trapped since the wildfires began were rescued.

Possible Tornadoes Track South Of I-85 In Carolinas

A series of severe storms tracked from Greenville, South Carolina through Charlotte damaging some homes and knocking down trees. No injuries were reported.

Tornado warnings were issued Wednesday evening as the storms rapidly moved just to the south of Interstate 85.

The National Weather Service says at least one building was damaged in south Charlotte and a tractor trailer was blown over.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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