Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign-up.
Democrats Target Several House Republicans On HB2 Amendment
Efforts have failed to approve legislation doing away with North Carolina's so-called "bathroom bill." So Democrats are now targeting Republican legislators who have spoken publicly about the need for repealing the law known as House Bill 2.
The state Democratic Party announced Wednesday it's running, for one week, digital ads critical of five House GOP members. The ads urge each identified lawmaker be held "accountable."
The five were among Republicans voting Tuesday to block debate on an amendment to repeal the law, which also limits LGBT rights. A House GOP leader said the amendment didn't comply with rules requiring it be relevant to the original bill considered. Democrats argue the votes were tantamount to opposing repeal.
2 More Cooper Secretaries Look Headed For Confirmation
Two more members of Gov. Roy Cooper's Cabinet appear headed for confirmation after relatively straightforward Senate hearings.
Senate committees recommended unanimously Wednesday that Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon and Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks be confirmed to their posts. Floor votes were expected Thursday.
Hooks and Trogdon had been subpoenaed to appear before separate Senate policy committees. Questioning was generally friendly and their qualifications were praised.
Citizens' Group Aims To Investigate CIA Rendition Program
A citizen's group plans public hearings in North Carolina on a government program of secret CIA interrogation sites where suspected terrorists might be tortured.
The group of academics, retired military officers and ministers announced their aim Wednesday to investigate and focus attention on the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" program that was started after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Retired Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, a former top aide to Secretary of State Colin Powell, hopes the North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture will prevent the Trump administration from restoring secret foreign prisons and harsh interrogation.
State Senator Responds To Critics With GIF Of Defecating Dog
A North Carolina state senator who's running for mayor of Charlotte has had his Twitter use restricted by his campaign manager after he posted an animated image of a defecating dog in response to critics of his LGBT stance.
WFAE in Charlotte reports campaign manager Dakota Cary confirmed the tweet was sent Tuesday by Democratic state Sen. Joel Ford.
The offending tweet was a response to criticism from local activist Matt Comer, who attacked Ford for his record on LGBT issues. Comer said Ford later called to apologize.
Case Against UNC On Hold
After a series of legal starts and stops, the NCAA case tied to UNC's academic scandal is facing another delay, as a woman at the center of the case is now willing to speak to investigators.
The NCAA first brought allegations against UNC in May 2015 of academic fraud within the school's Department of African and Afro-American Studies.
The NCAA has filed a series of Notices of Allegations over the past several years. But progress on the investigation has been slow.
Now, a retired office administrator for the department in question, Deborah Crowder, says she's willing to talk. Last week she filed an affidavit defending the quality of the department's courses. Her lawyer says the NCAA “falsely charged her with wrongdoing.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad