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Court Temporarily Delays Order Voiding North Carolina Amendments
A North Carolina appeals court has set aside temporarily a trial judge's ruling that voided two constitutional amendments because some district boundaries for lawmakers who placed them on the ballot had been previously declared racial gerrymanders.
The state Court of Appeals on Wednesday granted Republican lawmakers a temporary delay of the February decision by Wake Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins. He threw out amendments that voters approved in November mandating photo voter identification and lower caps on income tax rates.
Collins agreed with the NAACP that the 2018 legislature was "illegally constituted" and so lacked authority to propose alterations to the North Carolina Constitution.
Pitching A "Bold Future," Cooper Unveils 2-Year Budget Offer
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper says his budget proposal offers North Carolina the chance for a "bold future" by expanding Medicaid, raising teacher pay, replacing school buildings and helping rural communities recruit business.
Cooper unveiled a two-year spending plan on Wednesday in which state government would spend 5.4 percent more next year compared to this year.
Cooper says there are no tax increases save for extending an insurance tax on Medicaid health care plans that would cover the state's portion toward his long-held goal of expanding Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of people.
School Safety, Mental Health Bills Get Legislative Support
The North Carolina House has advanced legislation designed to improve school safety from both outside the school building and from within.
The House overwhelmingly gave initial approval on Wednesday to a wide-ranging measure piggybacking on safety improvements approved by legislators last year following the Florida school shootings.
The bill would require threat assessment teams assigned to each public school to assess risks for students and staff and intervene when necessary. Student-to-student counseling programs also would be required in all middle and high schools. And school police "resource" officers would have to meet minimum training standards with the 2020-21 school year.
The House also gave its final approval to separate measures directing agencies to recommend a mental health screening process for school children and to require student instruction on civic responsibility.
Field To Succeed Late Rep. Jones Getting Very Crowded
The slate of candidates seeking to succeed the late North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones Jr. is getting mighty crowded.
The State Board of Elections reports that 17 people have signed up as of late Wednesday to run in the 3rd Congressional District special elections — 11 Republicans, four Democrats and one each from the Libertarian and Constitution parties. Filing began Monday and ends Friday afternoon.
The GOP candidates include three current state legislators, a former state Republican Party leader and a recent 3rd District challenger to Jones, who died last month.
Court: $700M Judgment Against North Carolina Still Unpaid
A North Carolina judge has affirmed that a court judgment issued more than 10 years ago stating school districts are owed over $700 million in civil penalties from several state agencies is still nearly all unpaid.
The order signed Wednesday by Wake Superior Court Judge Vince Rozier ends a lawsuit filed last summer by the North Carolina School Boards Association and many local boards.
But Rozier's ruling makes clear he can't direct how and when the General Assembly should pay because of constitutional limitations. The school districts hope the new litigation will revive efforts to get lawmakers to repay the $730 million.
3 North American River Otters Kidnapped From Sanctuary
A North Carolina animal sanctuary says three North American river otters were taken from the facility, and officials say they are at a loss as to why the animals were taken.
The Charlotte Observer reports a news release from the North Carolina Animal Ed.ventures Sanctuary in Coats says the three otters disappeared last Thursday. Sanctuary director Cory Freeman said the otters named Sigmund, Nessy and Ned were missing and their enclosure gate was open.
Officials say it's the third time that animals have been taken from the sanctuary, which is 40 miles south of Raleigh.
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