Morning News Briefs: Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Judges Order New NC Legislative Maps, Special Election

Federal judges have told the North Carolina legislature to redraw its own districts by mid-March to replace ones the court struck down, and to hold a special election under redrawn maps in November 2017.

The ruling Tuesday means those elected to the state House and Senate a few weeks ago and who see their districts changed would serve just one year, not two.

The same three-judge panel last summer said nearly 30 legislative districts were illegal racial gerrymanders but decided it was too late to hold elections under new maps.

Attorneys representing legislative mapmakers wanted more time to redraw maps for the next usual election in 2018. Those lawmakers now say they'll appeal Tuesday's decision. A lawyer who successfully sued over the districts says a special election is best to protect the rights of North Carolina residents.

Appeal On Contested Votes Heard By NC Election Board

The North Carolina State Board of Elections will meet today to consider a dispute in the governor's race between incumbent Republican Pat McCrory and Democrat Roy Cooper.

The board scheduled Wednesday to hear the appeal of a Republican attorney who wants more than 90,000 Durham County votes recounted by hand because of alleged irregularities in the election night count. The Durham board unanimously rejected the request of Tom Stark two weeks ago, saying there was no evidence the tallies were wrong.

Cooper leads McCrory statewide by 9,800 votes with a handful of counties yet to complete their counting. Cooper has declared himself the winner and his campaign says McCrory should concede. McCrory could still seek a statewide recount if he trails by Cooper by 10,000 votes or less.

Deadly, Destructive Wildfires Ravage Tennessee Tourism Town

A Tennessee tourist mecca is emerging from the smoke, charred and vacant.

During wildfires Monday night, many buildings in Gatlinburg were burned to their foundation. Hotel fire alarms eerily echoed through empty streets lined with burned out cars Tuesday evening.

Three people were killed. The fire destroyed at least 150 buildings, including iconic homes and a resort. Other buildings and attractions remained largely intact, including the Dollywood amusement park in nearby Pigeon Forge.

Wildfires have been burning for several weeks across the drought-stricken South. But Monday marked the first time homes and businesses were destroyed on a large scale.

NC's Hurricane Matthew Panel Holds Last 2 Regional Meetings

North Carolina's Hurricane Matthew Recovery Committee is holding its final regional meetings this week.

The committee will meet Wednesday at the East Carolina University Heart Institute Building in Greenville and again Friday at Lenoir Community College in Kinston.

The committee will hear from local residents. They will also be discussing various issues such as long-term plans for communities damaged by the October storm and developing recommendations to address needs that government programs don't meet.

The committee previously met in Robeson, Edgecombe and Cumberland counties.

President Emeritus Of Elon University Dies At Age 92

James Earl Danieley, president emeritus of Elon University and who was considered to be a strong advocate for higher education, has died. He was 92.

A statement from the school said Danieley died at his home in Burlington on Tuesday.

Danieley served as dean of the college before being named the sixth president of then-Elon College in 1957 at age 32, making him one of the youngest college presidents in the nation at the time. During his 16-year term, he guided campus improvements in academic standards and faculty credentials.

Danieley retired from the presidency in 1973 and returned to teaching. He served as director of planned giving from 1987 to 1992 before going back to the classroom. He retired last spring.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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