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Governor, Groups Ask Judges To Block Referendums
Legal motions by Gov. Roy Cooper and interest groups to keep constitutional amendments proposed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly off November ballots are back in court.
A three-judge panel scheduled arguments Wednesday on requests by Cooper, the state NAACP and Clean Air Carolina to block referendums while lawsuits they filed challenging ballot language continue.
Cooper focuses on two amendments that if approved would shift power over filling judicial vacancies and controlling boards and commissions from the governor to the legislature. The other groups also want stopped amendments to mandate photo identification to vote and to lower the income tax rate cap.
North Carolina GOP Leaders To Appeal Judicial Race Court Ruling
North Carolina legislative leaders will challenge a trial judge's decision allowing a state Supreme Court candidate accused by some of masquerading as a Republican for electoral mischief to appear on the ballot with a GOP designation.
Spokesmen for Republican House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger said Tuesday the legislators plan to appeal Monday's ruling in favor of candidate Chris Anglin to the state Court of Appeals.
Voting Felonies Dropped For 5 From North Carolina Under Plea
Five North Carolina residents accused of illegally voting during the 2016 election have had felony charges dropped under plea deals.
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice issued a statement saying the five entered Alford pleas to misdemeanor obstruction of justice charges on Monday in Alamance County. Alford pleas acknowledge prosecutors have enough evidence to win conviction on a given charge.
The five originally faced felony charges of voting while serving probation. North Carolina requires convicted felons to complete any probation or parole before voting rights are restored.
A state audit of the 2016 elections found 441 felons voted before having that right restored. More than two-thirds were black.
Local Groups File Federal Discrimination Complaint Against WSFC Schools
A federal complaint alleges racial discrimination is taking place at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and the Board of Education. At issue are building conditions at an elementary school.
The Action4Ashley Coalition filed the complaint. It hinges on how the district responded to concerns over mold and air quality at Ashley Academy. The school is in the eastern part of the city and serves a predominately black and Latino population. For years, teachers and community members say they've voiced their concerns about poor building conditions, and say it's causing a high rate of absent children and teacher illnesses.
Local NAACP Chapter president Rev. Alvin Carlisle says he believes priority is given to projects that serve the more white, affluent community.
The Winston-Salem Forsyth County school system says it can't comment on pending legal proceedings. But officials say they've made several improvements at Ashley Academy in recent months.
Greensboro Council Approves Panhandling Ordinance
Greensboro City Council has approved a new ordinance regulating panhandling in the city.
The News and Record reports the board passed the measure in a 5-4 vote Tuesday night. Members also rescinded a similar ordinance it had passed just three weeks ago.
The new measure prohibits anyone from blocking or impeding sidewalk access, bans solicitation in city parking garages and parking lots, and bans “harassing conduct” in public places.
One reason for the special meeting was a federal lawsuit filed by three residents and a Washington, D.C-based non-profit against an ordinance approved in July.
They had argued a measure to curb “aggressive” solicitation was unconstitutional.
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