Morning News Briefs: Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Pence Visits Winston-Salem

GOP vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence made a campaign stop in Winston-Salem Tuesday, hoping to court swing-state voters.

For the most part, Pence was calm and measured when speaking about his political experience in Indiana and his fiery running-mate, Donald Trump.

He saved his strongest emotions for bashing Trump's opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton. He attacked her repeatedly over long-running controversies, including the attack on the Benghazi compound and her use of a private email server while Secretary of State.

Pence referred to Trump as the “Dealmaker-in-Chief,” echoing a theme of strong trade negotiations that Trump raised during a speech here last month.

Rep. John Bell Elected North Carolina House Majority Leader

A two-term Wayne County lawmaker is the North Carolina House majority leader for at least the next few months.

House Republicans meeting privately Tuesday in Raleigh elected Rep. John Bell of Goldsboro to the post, which was vacated with this month's resignation of Rep. Mike Hager from the House. Bell most recently was majority whip.

Rep. Michael Speciale of New Bern also ran Tuesday for the majority leader's job.

NC To Receive Federal Funding To Combat Opioid Abuse

North Carolina will receive almost $950,000 to improve access to treatment for opioid use.

The News and Record of Greensboro reports the state is one of 11 identified as having dramatic increases in heroin and opioid use, as well as high rates of admission for treatment of drug abuse.

The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Opioid Initiative, which was launched in 2015.

The program is focused on improving opioid prescribing practices, expanding access to treatment for drug abuse and increasing the use of naloxone to reverse overdoses.

Tropical Weather Expected To Drench North Carolina Coast

The National Hurricane Center says the Outer Banks will likely be drenched as a tropical weather system blows by. But forecasters say the storm isn't expected to surpass tropical-storm strength as it lashes North Carolina beaches through Wednesday.

Officials expected heavy rains of up to 5 inches and winds of up to 45 mph.

Business owners on North Carolina's Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands say they've experienced a drop in foot traffic. But by late Tuesday, many tourists had decided to brave the weather. Large waves also attracted surfers from out of town.

Stuck In Labor Day Weekend Traffic? Don't Blame DOT Projects

The state Transportation Department is suspending most construction on major routes for the Labor Day holiday.

DOT officials say many projects along interstate, North Carolina and U.S. routes will be on hold from 6 a.m. Wednesday until midnight Monday.

DOT officials also advise that the department and the Governor's Highway Safety Program have already launched the annual Labor Day "Booze It or Lose It" campaign, which focuses on enforcement of impaired driving laws through Sept. 5.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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