Morning News Briefs: Thursday, February 9th, 2017

New Senate Confirmation Law On Hold

A North Carolina court has temporarily blocked a state law passed by the GOP-controlled legislature that strips the Democratic governor of his some of his powers.

The law required Senate confirmation for the governor's Cabinet members, which previous governors haven't needed. The law was approved in December, just two weeks before Roy Cooper took over as governor.

A three-judge panel released the order Wednesday, just before state senators scheduled a hearing with the secretary of Cooper's veterans' affairs department to come before a committee to answer questions.

Republican lawmakers say the state Constitution gives the senators "advice and consent" powers over gubernatorial appointments. Cooper says the law is unconstitutional.

Voters Sue, Claiming NC Ballot Protests Libeled Them

Four North Carolina voters are suing a political activist they say falsely claimed they voted illegally last November because they were felons or voted in other states.

The libel lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Greensboro by the liberal Southern Coalition for Social Justice. It said William Clark Porter's false characterization led the four plaintiffs to face "ridicule, contempt or disgrace."

Porter filed three of numerous post-election challenges by Republicans and allies contesting results in 52 of the state's 100 counties as then-Gov. Pat McCrory fought to overcome an Election Day deficit.

House Bill Would Penalize NC ‘Sanctuary Cities'

A bill filed in the North Carolina House would cut off state funding for “sanctuary cities.”

The bill proposed by Republican legislators would penalize cities that refuse to enforce federal immigration policies.

The News and Observer reports the state would withhold tax revenues from beer and wine sales, telecommunications and natural gas from local governments that violate the state's ban on sanctuary city policies established in 2015.

The bill also includes provisions that crack down on immigrants in the country illegally.

UNC Board Size Reduced In Bill Approved By House

There is broad support in the state House to reduce membership on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors from 32 to 24.

The House voted by a wide margin Wednesday for the measure, which would decrease the number when House and Senate members elect people to the board this year and in 2019.

Bill sponsor Rep. David Lewis of Dunn says the change would result in more efficient and effective work by the panel, which oversees the UNC system's 17 campuses. UNC system President Margaret Spellings has suggested the 32-member board is unwieldy.

Legislators, Gay Rights Groups Press Again For HB2 Repeal

North Carolina legislators and representatives of gay rights groups are trying again to make the case that House Bill 2 should be repealed and replaced with legislation to protect LGBT people from discrimination statewide.

A news conference scheduled Thursday at the Legislative Building against HB2 comes as worries increase by some that the law will prevent the state from being awarded NCAA championship events for the next five years. A sports marketing group told lawmakers this week the NCAA is supposed to start considering host bids very soon.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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