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Cooper Vetoes Republican Budget Changes
Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed the state budget adjustments approved by the Republican-led legislature.
Cooper vetoed the measure Wednesday before announcing the move at a news conference. The nearly $24 billion plan came to his desk late last week, and he had until this Monday to act.
Republicans have veto-proof majorities, and votes last week indicated they have margins to override his budget veto for the second consecutive year.
Cooper criticized GOP leaders for not spending more on school safety initiatives and for failing to give teachers average pay increases that are higher than what he sought.
North Carolina Constitution Party Recognized As Official Party
There's another new official political party in North Carolina that can field candidates in November's general elections.
The state elections board voted Wednesday to recognize the Constitution Party of North Carolina after group members collected more than 12,000 valid signatures from registered voters. The Constitution Party joins the recently recognized Green Party in North Carolina.
Tornado-Damaged Schools Will Not Reopen For Next School Year
Officials say schools damaged by a tornado in Greensboro will not reopen for the next academic year.
Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras told families at meetings Wednesday that students will not return next academic year to three elementary schools damaged in the April tornado.
School officials are working with the district's insurance company to determine what it will pay for the damage. They didn't say what work needs to be done to the buildings.
Triad Apartment Rentals Are Getting More Expensive
A new report shows the cost to rent an apartment in the Triad is on the rise.
Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point all saw increases in the average rent price for an apartment over the past year. That's according to a report from the research firm Yardi Matrix.
Greensboro has the highest monthly rent at around $860 a month.
Researchers say size and location can have an impact on the overall cost of an apartment. In Winston-Salem, the average is $811, and in High Point, it's around $798.
Doug Ressler with Yardi Matrix says rent prices are expected to continue to rise in the Triad.
Charter School Creation For 4 Towns Gets Final Approval
Four North Carolina municipalities now have the authority to apply for and to operate charter schools.
The General Assembly gave final approval Wednesday to the measure following a House vote giving the option to the Charlotte-area towns of Matthews, Mint Hill, Huntersville and Cornelius.
Elected officials in the towns requested the right to build non-traditional public schools and give enrollment preferences to students living in their town limits. They say the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system has failed to build new local schools while others remain overcrowded.
Opponents say the measure sets a precedent for other towns to seek the same authority and will exacerbate racial segregation in classrooms.
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