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North Carolina Democrats Formally Accuse Tillis Campaign, GOP
The North Carolina Democratic Party has filed a formal complaint against U.S. Sen Thom Tillis' campaign committee and the state Republican Party stemming from work performed by Cambridge Analytica.
Cambridge Analytica is the firm that ex-employees allege vacuumed up data from tens of millions of Facebook users to try to influence the 2016 presidential race for Donald Trump. The firm was paid by Tillis' campaign and the state GOP during the 2014 elections.
State Democrats alleged Wednesday in the Federal Election Commission complaint that Tillis' campaign and the state Republican Party violated the law because Cambridge Analytica hired foreign nationals that performed key work for them. The complaint also accuses them of receiving illegal contributions from a super PAC.
More Money, Training For School Police Officers Recommended
Another set of proposed school safety measures recommended by North Carolina legislators seeks more money and mandated training for police officers assigned to campuses, as well as more building vulnerability reviews.
A House subcommittee examining school and student safety improvements following the Florida school shootings in February voted Wednesday to advance several pieces of proposed legislation. The panel also recommended more study on allowing non-public schools to have armed security and on details for law enforcement to supplement school-based officers with volunteers.
Another subcommittee examining mental health and student support needs agreed last week that more school counselors, nurses, social workers and psychologists need to be hired.
Gov. Cooper Seeks $60M For Workforce Training
Gov. Roy Cooper wants North Carolina college students at risk of dropping out because of financial emergencies to get a fiscal boost to complete their degree.
Cooper unveiled the idea Wednesday while discussing the workforce training initiatives he'll put in his proposed budget adjustments for the legislature to consider when it reconvenes this month. He wants $60 million for three facets of the "NC Job Ready Fund."
Cooper's office says $20 million for "Finish Line Grants" would provide up to $1,000 per semester for community college, University of North Carolina system or private college students close to graduating but in need.
Jury Summons Printing Error Stalls Trials In Triad
Court officials say a printing error affecting jury summonses has stalled multiple trials in Guilford County.
County Clerk of Courts Lisa Johnson-Tonkins tells The News & Record she and court officials received a memo Tuesday that the printing company tasked with printing summonses hadn't done so for the week of April 29.
By Tuesday, court officials already knew something was amiss, as none of the expected 120 jurors had turned up at the High Point courthouse, and only 15 of the 200 expected had shown up at the Greensboro courthouse.
The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts will have to pay for witnesses' reimbursements and rebookings.
Judge Accepts $10M Settlement In NC Islands Power Outage
A federal judge has accepted a settlement that would allow those who lost power for days last summer on two North Carolina islands to divvy up more than $10 million.
A federal judge on Wednesday approved a plan under which PCL Civil Constructors would pay $8.1 million to businesses and $2.25 million to permanent residents and renters on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.
Late last July, underwater electric transmission cables were inadvertently cut, prompting the mandatory evacuation of 50,000 visitors from the two Outer Banks islands.
The outage lasted from July 27 until Aug. 3. A class-action lawsuit said those on the islands suffered financial loss, stress and anxiety.
NC State, Auburn Announce Home-And-Home Series
North Carolina State and Auburn have agreed to a two-game basketball series.
The schools jointly announced the series Wednesday. The Tigers will visit Raleigh on Dec. 19, and Auburn will host the Wolfpack in 2019-20.
Both teams reached the NCAA Tournament last season, with NC State finishing 21-12 and Auburn going 26-8.
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