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Consultant Unaware How Ballots Were Collected, Harris To Testify
A North Carolina political contractor hired to run the campaign of a Republican congressional candidate said he had no idea that ballots were being collected by unauthorized persons.
Red Dome Group founder Andy Yates on Tuesday discussed his work for Mark Harris at a state elections board hearing that is examining balloting in the 9th congressional district.
Yates testified that when he joined the campaign, Leslie McCrae Dowless was already working for Harris to boost mail-in ballots in rural Bladen and Robeson counties.
Dowless has been accused by the state elections director of running an illegal and well-funded ballot-collection operation for Harris.
Earlier, several people testified that they were paid by Dowless to collect absentee ballots and in some cases fill in incomplete ballots.
Mark Harris is expected to testify before the elections board Wednesday.
Republicans Pitch Keeping Court Of Appeals At 15 Judges
Some North Carolina Republicans want to repeal a 2017 law that reduces the number of Court of Appeals judges from 15 to 12 as retirements and other vacancies arise.
A state Senate judiciary committee Tuesday voted unanimously to keep the court's size at 15.
Bill sponsors say approving the measure should end a lawsuit filed by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper challenging the law. The state Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments in the case for early next month. A trial-judge panel actually sided with Republicans last year. Registered Democrats comprise a majority on the Supreme Court.
Republicans Unveil Plan To Aid Small Business With Insurance
Senate Republicans are offering their own solution to help North Carolina small businesses offer reasonably priced health insurance that includes many state and federal coverage requirements.
Their measure filed Tuesday would help loosen restrictions for what are called "Association Health Plans," thanks in part to a U.S. Labor Department ruling last year.
Under the legislation, these plans would be expanded so companies, sole proprietorships and the self-employed could band together for health insurance with leverage similar to larger companies. The bill also would allow businesses of different industries and across state borders to be in the same plan.
Bill co-sponsor Sen. San Bishop of Charlotte says consumer protections include a pre-existing condition coverage mandate.
4 Republicans Already In Running To Seek Jones' Old Seat
More Republicans have announced they are seeking an eastern North Carolina congressional district seat now open following this month's death of U.S. Rep. Walter Jones.
State Reps. Michael Speciale and Phil Shepard announced Monday their plans to seek the GOP nomination in the 3rd Congressional District. State Republican Party Vice Chairwoman Michelle Nix has formed a campaign committee. And Phil Law, who ran unsuccessfully against Jones in the 2016 and 2018 GOP primaries, already said he's running, too.
Schools Superintendent Johnson Announces "NC2030" Goals
North Carolina's elected public schools chief is holding up the goal of making the state the best to learn and teach in by 2030.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson announced on Tuesday evening details of his "NC2030" plan at a Raleigh event attended by educators and business and community leaders.
The strategy includes improving pre-kindergarten programs, encouraging interest in trade and high-demand fields and providing more training to early-career teachers.
He also seeks teacher pay raises of at least 5 percent and substituting high-pressure testing for personalized learning to evaluate proficiency. Many items require legislative approval.
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