Here are some of the stories we're following today:
Stokes County Votes For 3-Year Fracking Moratorium
Stokes County commissioners have voted to place a moratorium on frackng for three years. The commissioners say they will use that time to study land-use rules aimed at protecting the environment.
The unanimous vote comes despite state legislation that attempts to take control over fracking projects away from local governments.
Commissioner Leon Inman told the Winston-Salem Journal that a moratorium was the most the county could do. Inman said an outright ban would not be successful.
The Energy Modernization Act of 2014 gives local governments a small window to regulate fracking as long as they don't entirely ban it.
The Stokes moratorium allows the county to deny issuing local zoning permits for oil-and-gas development for three years.
Wos Successor: DHHS Will Cooperate With Federal Prosecutors
North Carolina's new state health secretary says his agency is cooperating with federal prosecutors looking for possible criminal wrongdoing.
Rick Brajer spoke Monday, three days after news that prosecutors issued subpoenas to the Department of Health and Human Services to gather information about high-priced work agreements former DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos reached with four contractors.
Prosecutors also want information about a former agency director singled out in a State Auditor's report that found at least $1.6 million in wasteful spending tied to temporary help to launch a new Medicaid billing system.
Brajer succeeded Wos as DHHS head in mid-August. He says he accepted the position before the subpoenas were received in late July.
Quick-Moving Fetal Tissue Bill Goes To Governor
North Carolina legislators plan to make it illegal law to sell the remains of aborted fetuses in the state.
The state House gave final approval to the measure 79-29 on Monday, less than a week after the idea surfaced in a Senate committee and got that chamber's approval.
The legislation now heading to Gov. Pat McCrory's desk is a response to videos by a group showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing how they provide aborted fetal organs for research.
Planned Parenthood says the videos were edited and misleading. Planned Parenthood in North Carolina says it's never donated fetal tissue, let alone sold it. Selling fetal tissue would violate federal law.
The legislation also would prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving certain state funds aimed at family planning, pregnancy prevention or similar programs.
Clinton Heading To Charlotte For Fundraiser For Her Campaign
Hillary Rodham Clinton is heading back to North Carolina to raise money for her presidential campaign.
The former first lady and secretary of state is expected Tuesday evening at the Charlotte home of Erskine and Crandall Bowles.
Like a previous event in Raleigh in July, the invitation seeks donations of $2,700 per person. That's the maximum allowed for individuals during the primary campaign. A special reception with the Democratic nominee front-runner is available to those who help raise at least $15,000.
Erskine Bowles was the White House chief of staff during part of President Bill Clinton's second term. The investment banker later served as University of North Carolina system president. Crandall Bowles is a longtime textile company executive.
Duke Energy, Agency Set For Court Fight Over $25.1M Fine
Duke Energy and state environmental regulators are set to begin court hearings today on the state's $25.1 million fine against the Charlotte power company.
Lawyers for both sides failed to negotiate a settlement Monday to the record fine issued over groundwater contamination at the retired Sutton electric plant outside Wilmington. Coal ash has been seeping for years from the plant's unlined dumps.
Duke Energy officials say the fine, the state's largest ever issued for environmental damage, was crafted by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources to give political cover to Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, a former Duke employee, from charges of cronyism.
The environmental agency says the size of the penalty was calculated based upon the years of contamination that have taken place.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad