Morning News Briefs: Thursday, January 12th, 2017

NC Legislature Adjourns, Returns In 2 Weeks

The North Carolina General Assembly will be run by the same Republican leaders who held the top chamber positions during the past two years.

The House on Wednesday elected Rep. Tim Moore of Cleveland County to a second two-year term as speaker, while Senate leader Phil Berger of Rockingham County enters his fourth term at the post. Each was the nominee of their respective Republican caucus and had no announced opposition.

All House and Senate members have also been sworn in. They'll get down to legislative business when they reconvene Jan. 25.

Winston-Salem Residents Warned Of Gasoline, Kerosene Mixup

The City of Winston-Salem issued an urgent alert Wednesday night after a house fire was linked to a kerosene and gasoline mix-up at a local convenience store.

Authorities warned that anyone who purchased what they believe was kerosene from the Akron Market Citgo station on Glenn Ave in the past 10 days shouldn't use it.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that firefighters discovered the problem after responding to a house fire.

Teacher Removed From Class For Using Racial Slur Suspended

A Cumberland County teacher was suspended for a second time after officials investigated a report that she used a racial slur to refer to a student.

The Fayetteville Observer reports Victoria Maultsby, who taught English at Pine Forest High School, was suspended without pay last week. Superintendent Frank Till Jr. isn't saying what prompted the latest action, but said Maultsby has a right to appeal the suspension.

Oliver Smithies, 2007 Nobel Prize Winner In Medicine, Dies

Genetics researcher Oliver Smithies, who won the Nobel Prize for medicine in 2007, is dead at age 91.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Smithies' death Wednesday. School officials were told of his death on Tuesday by his wife, Dr. Nobuyo Maeda.

Smithies won the Nobel Prize for developing a technique used to manipulate genes in mice. The advance enhanced genetic research to better understand cancer, obesity, heart diseases and other diseases.

No. 11 UNC blows big lead, holds off Wake Forest 93-87

Justin Jackson hit a huge 3-pointer with 1:03 left and No. 11 North Carolina did just enough to hold off Wake Forest 93-87 on Wednesday night.

Jackson finished with 19 points for the Tar Heels (15-3, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), while Kennedy Meeks added 18 points and 11 rebounds.

UNC twice blew second-half leads when it was in control, first letting a 19-point lead slip to one and then losing much of a nine-point margin in the final 4 minutes.

But Jackson's 3 finally gave UNC the push it needed, with Isaiah Hicks and Kenny Williams each hitting key free throws in the final minute to keep UNC out front.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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