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North Carolina GOP Chairman, Major Donor Face Bribery Charges
North Carolina GOP Chairman Robin Hayes and investment firm founder Greg Lindberg are among four people facing federal bribery and wire fraud charges.
In federal indictments, prosecutors say that in a series of clandestine meetings in closed restaurants and small airport terminals, the insurance magnate and his associates offered North Carolina's insurance commissioner Mike Causey money for special treatment.
Hayes also was charged with lying to the FBI. The 73-year-old former congressman announced Monday that he wouldn't seek re-election as party chairman, citing health problems.
Lindberg — largely unknown politically until his contributions started flowing heavily in 2017 — has given more than $5 million to North Carolina candidates, party committees and independent expenditure groups.
Civil Rights Groups Call For Withdrawal Of Bill To Consolidate Council Wards
The Winston-Salem chapter of the NAACP and the city's Urban League are calling on lawmakers to withdraw a bill they say is discriminatory.
The city is currently divided into eight council wards, each with its own elected city council member. House Bill 519, sponsored by Reps. Donny Lambeth and Debra Conrad, would change that to five wards, and three council members would be elected from the city at-large.
President and CEO of Winston-Salem's Urban League, James Perry, says three wards that would be consolidated under the plan are currently represented by black city council members, D.D. Adams, Vivian Burke, and Annette Scippio.
Forsyth County Republican Donny Lambeth, one of the bill's co-sponsors, says the move would put the city in line with other municipalities across the state, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. The proposal would also reduce terms of office for council members and the mayor from four to two years.
North Carolina Charter School To Allow Belted Shorts, Pants
A North Carolina charter school that required girls to wear skirts has revised the policy after a federal judge ruled it amounted to unconstitutional sex discrimination.
Charter Day School officials sent a letter Tuesday telling parents it would add belted shorts and pants in the appropriate school color as alternatives to the girls' current uniform options of shorts, jumpers, and skirts.
The school in Leland said it wanted to avoid diversions as litigation over the clothing policy continues.
The kindergarten through eighth-grade school is about 10 miles west of Wilmington.
Cherie Berry, The 'Elevator Lady,' Won't Seek Re-Election
The woman known as North Carolina's "elevator lady" is punching the last buttons on her career as state labor commissioner.
Republican Commissioner Cherie Berry announced Tuesday she would not seek re-election next year, 20 years after she was first elected to the job. Berry brought wide recognition to her otherwise little-known post by putting her photo on inspection certificates inside 28,000 elevators statewide. With it came the nickname "elevator lady" or "elevator queen." The ubiquitous photo also led to a Twitter parody account and even a song.
North Carolina Commissioners Table 'Gun Sanctuary' Idea
A North Carolina board of commissioners has tabled a plan to declare its county a 'gun sanctuary.'
The Pender County Board of Commissioners voted on Monday to table the resolution after hearing from at least a dozen opponents, some of whom said passing the resolution would encourage a disregard for the law and deter tourism.
Man Recently Diagnosed With Cancer Wins $250K Lottery Prize
State officials say a man recently diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer has won $250,000 in the North Carolina Education Lottery.
The last of four Carolina Black tickets was a winner for Charlotte resident Richard Beare. The retired mechanic says he rarely plays the lottery and had only stopped at a QuikTrip because his wife asked him to get a Powerball ticket since the jackpot was so high.
However, it was the scratch-off ticket that got Beare the money. He admits he had to get the store clerk to explain how to play the scratchers. The game netted him $176,876 after taxes.
Beare also says in a statement that he plans to take his wife to Italy while he can still enjoy himself.
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