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Earlier Hearing Date On New Legislative Districts Denied
A federal judge won't move up a court hearing on whether two dozen legislative districts drawn by an outside expert should replace those approved by the Republican-controlled legislature for the 2018 elections.
U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Eagles denied Tuesday this week's motion by attorneys for GOP legislative leaders asking for a hearing by a three-judge panel set for Jan. 5 to happen no later than Dec. 22.
The attorneys said it would give legislators more time to appeal any ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court or for the General Assembly to act when it reconvenes Jan. 10. Candidate filing begins in mid-February.
Cooper Seeks 'Obamacare' Deadline Extension
North Carolina's governor is asking the federal government to extend the enrollment period for Affordable Care Act insurance.
The state is among 39 served by the federal HealthCare.gov website, and the deadline for signups on the site is Friday. Most states that run their own health insurance websites have later deadlines.
Gov. Roy Cooper sent a letter this week to the federal Department of Health and Human Services saying a one-week extension until Dec. 22 would benefit people around the country.
The Democratic governor said North Carolina has the third-highest enrollment on the federal marketplace, but he fears enrollment could be hurt by a shorter signup period this year.
4 Indicted In Case Of Missing Money From County Office
A grand jury has indicted four people in connection with the disappearance of more than $2 million from a North Carolina register of deeds office.
The News & Observer reports that among the four indicted is Laura Riddick, the former register of deeds in Wake County. Riddick is accused of six counts of embezzlement over $100,000.
In March, District Attorney Lorrin Freeman and county manager Jim Hartmann called on the State Bureau of Investigation to look into the register of deeds office.
Hartmann said workers in the register of deeds office found "irregularities" in January as they were trying to improve cash-handling systems.
Panel Grants Conditional OK On Key Pipeline Approval
A panel of Virginia environmental regulators has granted a conditional permit for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline contingent on getting more information about the project's water quality impacts.
The Virginia State Water Control Board voted 4-3 Tuesday to approve a key Clean Water Act permit. The board is charged with determining whether there is reasonable assurance water along the route won't be contaminated during construction.
Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Bill Hayden says the permit won't take effect until several additional studies are reviewed and approved by the department. They include an erosion and sediment control plan and a stormwater management plan.
Second Juvenile Arrested After Shot Fired At High School
A second juvenile has been arrested in what police say was a gang-related shooting at High Point Central High School.
Fox8 News reports that a 15-year-old High Point Central student who is currently on suspension was taken into custody on Tuesday. The juvenile was charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
Another 15-year-old who is not a student at the school was arrested on Monday.
According to police, the shot was fired Monday afternoon near the school cafeteria. The high school was placed on lockdown, as was a nearby middle school. No one was hurt.
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