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Congressman's Death Triggers Election, Glut Of Candidates
U.S. Rep. Walter Jones Jr.'s North Carolina congressional seat was expected to be up for grabs soon, but it happened more quickly than most people anticipated.
Months after the Republican announced his 2018 campaign would be his last, Jones' health faded. He died in February at 76.
Jones' death drew people from a broad political spectrum to praise his commitment to his constituents, his faith and his willingness to buck party leadership, such as when he opposed the Iraq War.
It also drew over two dozen candidates from four parties into an off-year special election to replace him in the GOP-leaning 3rd Congressional District.
The primaries are April 30.
With 17 Republican and six Democratic candidates, one or two runoffs could be required in July before a September general election.
North Carolina Schools Move To Keep Athletics, Nutrition Rules
North Carolina's statewide school board is moving to preserve rules about how school buses operate, charter schools run and administrators are held accountable.
The State Board of Education meets Tuesday to act to keep the rules from disappearing after a deadline next month. The step is needed after a state Supreme Court decision last year determined that the General Assembly can have the school board's rules reviewed and approved.
The rules now in play involve interscholastic sports, concussion safety requirements, model teacher contracts, nutrition standards and establishing school bus routes.
Forest Campaign Tells Of Contribution From Indicted Donor
The campaign for North Carolina's lieutenant governor has acknowledged it failed to report an in-kind donation from an entrepreneur indicted on bribery and other charges.
The News & Observer published a Facebook photo showing Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who plans to run for governor in 2020, speaking to a group at Greg Lindberg's Durham residence in 2017.
Forest campaign spokesman Hal Weatherman told the newspaper when it reported on the photo that campaign finance laws don't require Forest to disclose the use of a residence for a fundraiser. On Monday, Weatherman said the campaign should have reported $3,761 in catering services provided by Lindberg.
Lindberg, state GOP Chairman Robin Hayes and two others are accused of planning to bribe a former insurance commissioner in exchange for special treatment.
Worker Killed In Winston-Salem Road Construction Accident
Labor investigators in North Carolina are looking into an accident at a road construction site in which a truck driver was killed.
Winston-Salem police said in a news release that 37-year-old Amory Alexis Glover was attempting on Monday to unload soundproof wall slats being erected along U.S. Highway 421 at Peace Haven Road on the west side of Winston-Salem.
According to police, as Glover was removing straps securing the slats, one of them fell off the truck and landed on him. The news release says he died at the scene. The accident occurred at around 9:20 a.m.
Glover was identified by police as a self-employed truck driver working out of South Carolina.
Nonprofit To Support 3 National Parks Along Outer Banks
A nonprofit is beginning to support the three national parks along North Carolina's Outer Banks.
Outer Banks Forever says in a news release that it will work with Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
The group will focus on several areas, including expanding ways to get children into national parks and preserving local history.
The group will mark National Park Week on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting in Kill Devil Hills hosted by the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce.
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