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Farmers, Police Spar Over North Carolina Smokable Hemp Ban
Rapidly growing sales of hemp are poised to help North Carolina farmers who are still transitioning away from once-profitable tobacco plants. But they're up against complaints from police officials that say smokable hemp makes enforcing marijuana laws more difficult.
The conflict between farmers and law enforcement is over legislation that would ban smokable hemp after next year's elections. A state House committee approved the measure, delaying the proposed ban for a year. They're hoping that tests will be developed to better distinguish legal hemp from illegal marijuana.
An official from the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police says the plants are too similar for street officers to tell the difference.
Greensboro Police Official To Discuss Opioids In Washington
A Triad deputy police chief is traveling to Washington, D.C., to discuss the opioid crisis with U.S. House lawmakers.
The Greensboro Police Department said in a news release that Deputy Chief J.E. Hinson will be part of a presentation on Thursday morning about the opioid crisis and how law enforcement agencies are dealing with it.
The department says it has equipped all patrol officers with Narcan to treat opioid overdoses. The department also uses community meetings and social media outreach and allows people to dispose of prescription drugs at its locations.
Hurricane Victims Frustrated With Slow Housing Recovery
North Carolina hurricane survivors are frustrated with the slow spending of federal long-term housing recovery funds.
A May report from the General Assembly's government watchdog agency showed that federal housing funds for Hurricane Matthew victims were delayed due to administrative mistakes and inexperience. As of July, over two years since Matthew made landfall, North Carolina had spent about 6 percent of those funds.
The federal recovery funds for 2018's Hurricane Florence still need to undergo a lengthy process before the state receives them
Triad Woman Indicted On Manslaughter Charge In Overdose Death
A Triad woman has been indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a man who overdosed on heroin.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports 29-year-old Kelsea Jewel Harris also was indicted Monday on charges including obstruction of justice and delivery of heroin. She's accused of selling 56-year-old Kevin Paul Flaherty the heroin that led to his 2017 death.
She's also accused of not providing any medical aid once Flaherty passed out.
Organs Of Man Who Died At NC Beach Donated To Save Dozens
The family of a man killed in a freak beach accident says his organs are being donated to save the lives of dozens of people.
Lee Dingle's parents told WSOC-TV that his organs will be donated to 55 people in all.
Lee Dingle's wife, Shannon Dingle, said on Twitter she had no doubt her husband would want his organs donated. She said the decision was difficult, but she "had an extra reason to say yes," as donor tissue was used to reconstruct her knee ligaments in 2017.
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