Here are some of the stories we're following today:
House Clears NC Unemployment Bill Raising Contact Mandate
North Carolina's unemployed could soon have to contact more potential employers weekly to keep receiving jobless benefits in legislation nearing final General Assembly approval.
The bill clearing the House on Thursday increases the contacts recipients must make weekly from two to five. Current law requires contacts be performed on two separate days. The proposal doesn't contain such a restriction.
Mixed News For NC Incumbents
New poll numbers focus on North Carolina politicians, with mixed news for incumbents.
The new numbers show Gov. Pat McCrory's approval rating to be among the lowest he's had while in office. Only 35 percent of voters approve of the job he's doing, according to a survey by Public Policy Polling - and he's even struggling to find support among his fellow Republicans.
McCrory will face re-election next year, and he currently trails Democrat Roy Cooper by about three percent.
The numbers for the General Assembly are even worse than McCrory's, with only 15 percent approval.
U.S. Senator Richard Burr's approval rating was 31 percent.
NC Sen. Burr Worried About Anti-Terror Strategy, Technology
North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr says the war on terrorism won't be successful unless U.S. strategy changes from simply containing terrorist groups overseas to a more aggressive policy that also brings Middle East allies into the fight.
Burr spoke Thursday about economic and physical security for the country and North Carolina during a luncheon speech inside a downtown Raleigh skyscraper.
The Senate's new Intelligence Committee chairman told an audience of more than 100 people current methods to defeat militants like the group calling itself Islamic State won't work because they are recruiting more fighters than the numbers being killed.
Burr also opposed congressional action two months ago limiting access by national security agencies to some phone records, calling it an obstacle to effectively preventing terror attacks.
Lightning Strike Hospitalizes 16 Soldiers In North Carolina
A lightning strike has hospitalized 16 soldiers on an Army training exercise in North Carolina.
Master Sgt. Patrick Malone, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division, says 60 soldiers were gathered to discuss the day's training when lightning struck nearby around 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Malone said 15 soldiers were hospitalized overnight for observation at an Army hospital, and another was taken to a different hospital for heart monitoring. Two others were examined and returned to duty without staying overnight.
None of the injuries is considered life-threatening.
Woods Opens Wyndham With His Best Round In 2 Years
Tiger Woods had his best round in more than two years Thursday, shooting a 6-under 64 in the first round of the Wyndham Championship.
Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton, William McGirt and Tom Hoge shared the first-round lead at 62.
It was Woods' lowest score on the PGA Tour since a 61 in the second round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2013.
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