Morning News Briefs: Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Board Throws Out Election Protests, Results May Still Be Delayed

Democrat Roy Cooper's lead over Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has increased further as more counties complete counting, but that doesn't necessarily mean a final official result is imminent.

A series of electoral obstacles and litigation means the state board won't certify Election Day winners on Tuesday as state law directs.

More than a dozen counties have yet to finish counting their ballots, although a few others performed their canvasses Monday, extending Cooper's advantage to well over 9,000 ballots.

McCrory's re-election bid received another significant blow Monday evening when the Republican-controlled state board rejected GOP-sponsored voter protests in 52 counties.

Dallas Woodhouse is the executive director of the N.C. Republican Party. He released a statement that said in part, “It is clear most aspects of the 2016 election are ready to be concluded."

North Carolina Election Board Sets Durham Appeal Date

A Republican's request to have votes recounted by hand in Durham County after equipment failure on election night will be heard Wednesday by the North Carolina Board of Elections.

The board announced Monday the hearing time for the appeal of the protest rejected earlier by the Durham County board. The protest covers 94,000 ballots — most of them cast during early voting — that could affect close races for governor and state auditor.

Fewer People Attend NC Furniture Market Since HB 2

Fewer people are attending a world-renowned furniture market in North Carolina, where state law defines which bathrooms people can use and limits legal protections for LGBT people.

Attendance at the High Point Market's fall event dropped 2.4 percent compared to October 2015. The spring event also drew about 1,000 fewer registered attendees than in April 2015.

High Point Market Authority CEO Tom Conley didn't respond Monday when asked how much of the decrease might be blamed on calls to boycott events in North Carolina over House Bill 2.

Officials: Several Gatlinburg Buildings On Fire

Emergency officials in Tennessee say a wildfire has set 30 structures ablaze in Gatlinburg, including a 16-story hotel, and is at the edge of the Dollywood theme park.

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spokesman Dean Flener says in a news release Monday night that mandatory evacuations were underway for areas in and around Gatlinburg, including the south part of Pigeon Forge, where Dolly Parton's theme park is.

Flener says strong afternoon winds fanned the wildfire on land in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to move quickly onto private property.

TEMA says no deaths have been reported.

Family Of NC Man Killed By Officer To Meet With Prosecutors

An attorney for the family of a man shot to death by a North Carolina police officer two months ago says they are scheduled to meet with prosecutors to discuss the case.

Attorney Charles Monnette said Monday that the family of Keith Lamont Scott is scheduled to meet with Mecklenburg County prosecutors on Wednesday morning. That's when an announcement is expected on whether charges will be filed against Officer Brently Vinson in Scott's death on Sept. 20. The shooting set off several days of unrest and protests across Charlotte.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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