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Cooper: Budget Will Have 5 Percent Average Teacher Raises
Gov. Roy Cooper says his upcoming two-year budget proposal will contain sizeable pay raises for teachers as part of his effort to get their salaries up to the national average by the early 2020s.
Cooper announced his idea Monday at a Charlotte public school. He says the spending plan will include average 5 percent raises for the next school year and another 5 percent increase for the year after that.
Cooper says the $813 million investment wouldn't require tax increases.
UNC Board Bill Approved, Going To Cooper's Desk
Legislation pushed by Republicans reducing the University of North Carolina's governing board is heading to Gov. Cooper's desk, despite arguments by black Democrats worried about the diversity of the panel overseeing the system's 17 campuses.
The Senate voted 38-7 to approve the measure that trims the UNC Board of Governors from 32 voting members today to 24 members in mid-2019. This summer it would drop to 28 members as House and Senate elect fewer candidates for the posts.
FBI Assessing Threat Against Muslims Made During Meeting
The FBI says it's looking into reports of death threats made against Muslims during a meeting of conservative activists in North Carolina.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations on Monday asked federal authorities to look into a meeting last week in Kernersville where a group listened to a guest speaker talk about the Muslim Brotherhood.
In audio posted on alternative newspaper Triad City Beat's website, someone says, "Any recommendations on how we can stop this? Because my only recommendation is to start killing the hell out of them."
The comment follows a conversation about Muslims who the speaker suggests are trying to take over the United States.
In a statement provided to news outlets, the FBI said it's tracking down the meeting's participants to gauge the severity of potential threats.
Currituck County Considers Ban On Solar Farms
Currituck County officials are considering a ban on solar farms, citing the loss of agricultural land, jobs and wildlife habitat as among the reasons.
The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City reports county commissioners will hold a public hearing Monday on the proposed ban, which the county planning board has recommended.
Currituck's planning director, Ben Woody, says residents believe the solar farms hurt neighborhood aesthetics and property values.
Small Town's Feathers Ruffled In Fried Chicken Festival Flap
A bill to make a Fayetteville festival that hasn't been held yet North Carolina's official fried chicken festival is ruffling feathers in Rose Hill which has held a jubilee to honor the deep-fried bird for five decades.
Bill McMillan suggested the Fayetteville event and didn't know about the Rose Hill festival. He told the News & Observer of Raleigh he didn't mean any harm, and plans to talk to the Rose Hill organizers over a plate of fried chicken.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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