National Weather Service Warns Of 2 Rounds Of Winter Weather
The National Weather Service says it's concerned about two approaching systems that have the potential to bring winter weather to the state going into the weekend.
A briefing by the NWS office in Raleigh on Tuesday said very light snow in the forecast Wednesday could lead to adverse travel conditions. The briefing also notes a storm expected to reach the state late Thursday could drop a mixture of wintry precipitation and heavy rain before it clears out on Saturday.
With the potential for frozen precipitation, the N.C. Department of Transportation says work crews in two divisions covering 10 central counties are standing by to begin treating roads with anti-icing material.
Study Points To Greensboro As Most Inclusive City In NC
The City of Greensboro is the most inclusive place in North Carolina for the LGBT community. That's according to the Human Rights Campaign, which studied eight cities across the state.
The organization based its latest Municipal Equality Index on several criteria.
The 2015 index rated more than 400 American cities on LGBT policies: things like non-discrimination laws, access to services, and inclusiveness for all municipal employees.
On a scale of zero to 100, North Carolina averaged 49 points. But Greensboro scored 85, making it easily the highest-rated city in the state.
Cathryn Oakley is the report's author. She says Greensboro's housing discrimination law is one of many factors that make the city stand out. And she says leaders everywhere are starting to address these issues.
Not every North Carolina city fared so well, though. Winston-Salem scored 33 points. Fayetteville scored just 23.
Teacher Raises For Some Or All The Likely Debate Again
North Carolina's elected officials appear headed toward a familiar debate over teacher pay as the legislature reconvenes in about three months.
Gov. Pat McCrory said Tuesday he expects to focus any pay proposal he'll offer upon giving differentiated pay to teachers who take on additional responsibilities or instruct high-in-demand subjects.
McCrory pushed the differentiated pay idea in 2014 but lawmakers have been slow to embrace or fund it.
Rep. Craig Horn of Union County told reporters he expects across-the-board raises for all teachers, with differentiated pay next in line.
The extent of any pay package likely will depend on how far state revenues exceed budgeted expectations. Right now collections are $120 million above what was anticipated.
McCrory and Horn attended a meeting Tuesday of the governor's Education Cabinet.
SBI Director Collier To Retire, Citing Personal Reasons
The first director of the State Bureau of Investigation since the North Carolina crime investigation agency moved to a Cabinet-level department is stepping down April 1.
SBI Director B.W. Collier announced Tuesday he was retiring, citing personal reasons. A news release says Collier needs more time to devote to his family. No other details were given.
Collier is a longtime SBI agent and was director of Alcohol Law Enforcement when Gov. McCrory appointed him to become acting director in August 2014. That occurred when the legislature shifted the SBI out from under Attorney General Roy Cooper to McCrory's Department of Public Safety.
McCrory later appointed Collier as the permanent director for an eight-year term. The legislature confirmed that appointment. The governor is supposed to nominate Collier's successor.
Exhibit Marks 800th Anniversary Of Magna Carta Sealing
The 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta is being commemorated in North Carolina with an exhibition at the State Capitol.
Images of the Magna Carta along with documents and manuscripts from the rare collections at the Library of Congress are captured on 12 banners in the exhibit, which runs through Jan. 30.
The American Bar Association and the Library of Congress produced the exhibit titled "Magna Carta Enduring Legacy 1215-2015."
King John issued the Magna Carta to deal with a political crisis he faced. It established for the first time that everyone, including the king, was subject to law. It remains a cornerstone of Anglo-American jurisprudence even though its most of its words have been rewritten, deleted or repealed since then.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.