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Override Of GenX Funding Bill Veto Complete
An environmental bill that includes some money to address the discharge of a little-studied chemical into a North Carolina river will become law despite Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's objections.
The Republican-dominated General Assembly completed an override of Cooper's veto Wednesday by a Senate vote of 30-9.
The measure gives $435,000 to help Wilmington-area utilities and a university respond to treat and remove from the Cape Fear River the chemical GenX, which was dumped into the river for years until recently.
Cooper and his allies said the money would not address broader water-quality needs in the state and asked for $2.6 million for two Cabinet agencies.
The measure also repeals a ban on Outer Banks stores providing plastic bags to customers.
Judicial Election, Runoff Changes On Agenda At Legislature
North Carolina legislative leaders want to send to Gov. Roy Cooper's desk a bill that would eliminate judicial primary elections next year only, while reducing permanently the threshold necessary to avoid primary runoff any other time.
The elections measure is among those House and Senate members are likely to debate and vote on before a special General Assembly session wraps up as soon as Thursday.
GOP leaders say not having judicial primaries in 2018 could give lawmakers more time to fashion new election districts for judgeships and local prosecutors. Judicial candidate filing also would be delayed.
Judicial District Maps Clear Committee
A redraw of North Carolina election districts for trial court judges and local prosecutors has cleared a key committee and is headed to the House floor.
The House Rules Committee voted Wednesday night for the new boundaries for District Court and Superior Court seats and for district attorneys. Although portions of the maps have been tweaked over the years, there hasn't been a statewide rewrite since the 1950s.
Dixie Classic Fair Worker Dies After Jumping From Taxi
Winston-Salem police say a worker at the Dixie Classic Fair died Tuesday morning after jumping out of a moving taxi.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports 41-year-old Michael Jason Curl of Hickory died from injuries after he jumped from the cab on Deacon Boulevard.
Cab driver Badara Gaye says Curl refused to pay his fare after arriving at the fairgrounds, then jumped out of the rear passenger window of the moving Lincoln Town Car.
Gaye continued driving and radioed the incident to dispatchers, unaware of the severity of Curl's injuries.
Investigators initially believed Curl was the victim of a hit-and run.
Gaye has cooperated with authorities and will not face any charges.
Johnson C. Smith University Names Leader
Johnson C. Smith University has named a new president.
The Charlotte school said in a news release Wednesday that Clarence Armbrister will become the university's 14th president on Jan. 1.
Armbrister is currently president of Philadelphia's Girard College, an independent college preparatory school for students from economically disadvantaged families.
He will replace Ronald L. Carter, who steps down Dec. 31 after leading the school for nine years.
Johnson C. Smith is one of the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, offering a private liberal arts education to about 1,600 students.
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