Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign up.
Soggy Alberto Triggers Mudslides, Threatens Dam Failure, Residents Evacuated
Mudslides triggered by the soggy remnants of Alberto forced evacuations below a dam and closed Interstate 40 in the western mountains of North Carolina on Wednesday.
About 2,000 people were evacuated after emergency managers said the Lake Tahoma dam in western North Carolina was in danger of "imminent failure." Heavy rain triggered landslides at the dam, and the National Weather Service said "evacuees are being asked to flee."
Just before dawn Wednesday, McDowell County Emergency Management deputy director Adrienne Jones told The Associated Press that the dam had not failed, but an engineer who had inspected the scene was concerned enough to order the evacuation until the dam could be examined in daylight.
Jones said about 200 of the evacuees were in three shelters, set up in Marion, Old Fort and Glenwood.
A Flash Flood Warning remains in effect for portions of the Carolinas.
Budget Changes Heading To North Carolina Senate For Floor Vote
North Carolina budget changes for the coming year are up for their first floor vote.
The full Senate scheduled debate and the first of two required votes Wednesday on the nearly $24 billion spending plan. House debate and floor votes won't begin until Thursday.
The measure adjusts the second year of the two-year budget approved last June. Higher-than-expected tax collections contributed to large average raises for teachers, troopers and correctional officers, as well as a one-time bonus to state retirees.
Democratic legislators are unhappy with the measure and several policy provisions, but they're prohibited from offering amendments.
Budget Item Would Let City Taxes Go To Schools
All North Carolina municipalities could use their property tax revenues to help fund public schools if the budget bill considered by legislators becomes law.
The budget provision is linked to an effort by several Mecklenburg County communities interested in operating their own charter schools, but the language within the spending plan to use tax collections for education would apply to any town or city statewide.
Currently only county commissions or a handful of municipalities that have their own school districts can spend tax revenue on schools. Several Democrats urged Republicans to slow down on granting the new authority, calling it a major change. But the budget bill can't be amended.
North Carolina Legislative Session Challenge Rejected By Judges
A panel of North Carolina trial court judges has rejected arguments by a government reform group and local residents that a special session of the General Assembly two years ago violated the state constitution.
The case centers on the December 2016 session in which Republicans passed laws tilting the balance of power toward the legislative branch and away from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper just two weeks before he was sworn in.
Common Cause and other individuals said that the session was illegal because legislators called it so quickly that the public didn't have the time to "instruct their representatives."
In a ruling released Tuesday but dated last week, the judges wrote that the plaintiffs failed to show their constitutional rights were violated.
12 Protesters Arrested At Statehouse
Twelve protesters were arrested at North Carolina's Legislative Office Building as part of a demonstration calling for gun control, poverty relief and other social justice measures.
General Assembly Police Chief Martin Brock confirmed the number arrested Tuesday and said each was being charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
The protesters were part of a group of about 100 who gathered to hear speeches as part of the Poor People's Campaign led by the Rev. William Barber.
Panel Backs Judicial District Changes In Mecklenburg County
North Carolina legislators have taken another step toward redrawing judicial election districts, although the changes would only apply in the state's most-populated county.
A Senate elections committee voted Tuesday to remap boundaries for Superior Court districts in Mecklenburg County and to create identical boundaries for District Court boundaries in the county.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad