Winston-Salem Voters May Consider Bond Referendum
A bond referendum aimed at improving Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools could be on the November ballot. The school board has compiled a list of around $325 million worth of projects.
The district hasn't had a bond referendum for large-scale school construction in about ten years. But since then, enrollment has increased by more than 6,000 students, especially in the western and southern parts of the county.
The money would also be used to build replacement schools for Brunson Elementary, Paisley Middle, Konnoak Elementary and Lowrance Middle School.
Several other buildings throughout the district would see capital improvements and repairs, as well as technology upgrades.
The proposed list isn't final. The school board will hold several meetings inviting the public to comment.
Man Dies In Weekend Shooting In Winston-Salem
Police are investigating after a weekend shooting in downtown Winston-Salem left a man dead.
Police received a call about a shooting early Saturday morning and found a man wounded in a street.
Police issued a release saying the victim, identified as 35-year-old Robert Bradford Hall of Lexington, died later Saturday at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
No arrests have been made in the incident.
It was the first homicide in Winston-Salem this year.
McCrory In Post-Super Bowl Crash
Gov. Pat McCrory sustained minor injuries after the vehicle he was riding in was rear-ended shortly after the Carolina Panthers' Super Bowl loss.
California Highway Patrol Officer Ross Lee said the vehicle was traveling on State Route 237 around 8 p.m. Sunday after leaving Levi's Stadium when it was hit from behind by a Mercedes.
McCrory's press secretary says the car the governor was riding in was totaled.
The governor's office said in a statement McCrory experienced "minor pain" but was able to continue to his destination in another vehicle.
Lee said McCrory declined treatment.
After the 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos, McCrory issued a statement congratulating Panthers Coach Ron Rivera and the team for making it to the championship and for "putting North Carolina in the national spotlight."
Company With SC Plant Says New Duke Plant In NC Not Needed
An energy company with a power plant in the South Carolina Midlands says a new Duke Energy plant near Asheville is unnecessary.
Columbia Energy says it can provide more than 500 megawatts of power for the Asheville area from its Gaston, South Carolina, plant.
The North Carolina Utilities Commission last week agreed to allow Columbia to intervene in the commission's consideration of a proposal by Duke Energy Progress to build an Asheville plant.
Columbia Energy wrote the commission that it can provide the needed power to Duke.
But Duke says building two gas-fired units in Asheville remains its best option and that new electrical capacity needs to be generated locally.
The commission is expected to rule by March 1 on allowing construction of the new plant.
Domestic Violence Laws Remain High Priority For Legislators
Domestic violence has remained a high-priority topic in North Carolina's legislature and courts in the decade since the passage of a sweeping law to enhance victim protection.
A recent ruling by the North Carolina Court of Appeals regarding court procedures in domestic violence cases illustrates how the laws evolve. Lawmakers moved quickly to amend state law to address one part of the ruling, while domestic violence advocates hope another issue from the ruling is resolved soon.
Separate from that, legislators passed several domestic-violence related measures in 2015, including one authorizing development of a statewide program for electronic filing of requests for protective orders.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.