Morning News Briefs: Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Greensboro Offers Up Bond Referendums

The city of Greensboro is placing four separate bond referendums on the November ballot. The total spending package is around $126 million. A large portion of the money would be used for community and economic development. That includes new streetscaping and lighting in the downtown area.

Larry Davis, the city's budget director says Parks and Recreation would also get a boost if voters approve the measure.

The other two Greensboro bond issues address Housing and Transportation.  

Davis says if they all pass, a person who has a home valued at $150,000 can expect to pay around $50 more a year.

Early Voting Expands In Davidson County

Election officials in Davidson County have made changes to their early voting schedule for the general election, giving voters more time to get to the polls.

Early voting meetings have become contentious across the region since a federal court found a slew of changes to the state's voting laws passed in 2013 were unconstitutional.

But the Dispatch of Lexington reports that in Davidson County, the decision to expand the hours passed unanimously. The three-member Board of Elections voted to increase the period by a total of 140 hours compared to 2012.

Early voting in Davidson County begins Oct. 20 at the Board of Elections office in Lexington.

Four more locations across the county will be available starting Oct. 24.

Pence Returns To North Carolina

Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence wants to discuss North Carolina's economy, so he's visiting two plants in the state.

The Indiana governor planned to begin Wednesday morning by going to Charlotte Pipe and Foundry to speak about manufacturing. Then Pence is heading to Wilmington, where he will tour Carolina Marine Terminal. He'll also hold a rally in Leland at Manufacturing Methods, which bills itself as a "factory for hire" to engineer and fabricate parts.

Cooper, McCrory Talking North Carolina College Prices

Gov. Pat McCrory and Democratic gubernatorial challenger Roy Cooper came to the same city to discuss the price of college in North Carolina.

Cooper and McCrory visited Greenville on Tuesday afternoon. McCrory was at East Carolina University talking to students and ECU's chancellor. The attorney general met at a cafe with current and former students from ECU and Pitt Community College.

McCrory talked about portions of the budget he signed that freeze undergraduate in-state tuition rates for students when they enter school each fall, and lowers and caps undergraduate tuition rates at three campuses in fall 2018.

Cooper says the state could shift money from corporate tax breaks to college affordability programs. He also wants to lower student debt and make loan details easier to understand.

Edwards Fills Rest Of Ex-North Carolina Sen. Apodaca's Term

The Republican already running in November to succeed former Sen. Tom Apodaca will now serve the remainder of Apodaca's term through the end of the year.

Gov. Pat McCrory appointed business owner Chuck Edwards to the 48th Senate District seat covering Henderson and Transylvania counties and part of Buncombe County. Local GOP activists last week picked Edwards to complete Apodaca's two-year term after Apodaca resigned July 15. Apodaca had already announced last year he wasn't seeking re-election.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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