Temperatures Warming In North Carolina, Problems Remain
Temperatures are warming in most of North Carolina, but there are still problems from the weekend storm that brought snow, sleet and freezing rain to much of the state.
Duke Energy reported more than 32,000 customers were without service in North Carolina early Tuesday. The biggest problems were west of Winston-Salem in Wilkes County, as well as in the Raleigh-Durham areas.
Schools are opening 2 hours later than usual in at least 10 counties, mostly in the eastern part of the state.
Forecasters warn more winter weather will move into the western part of the state Tuesday night and early Wednesday. Up to 3 inches of snow is possible around Banner Elk and Waynesville.
Strong thunderstorms are possible in the Raleigh-Durham area Tuesday.
Dozens Speak At NC Redistricting Hearing
Dozens of North Carolina residents spoke out yesterday about congressional districts that federal judges ordered the General Assembly to redraw by Friday.
A redistricting panel took comments Monday in Raleigh and five other sites from Asheville to Wilmington.
The hearing is part of a plan to draw new boundaries after a federal three-judge panel this month called the 1st and 12th Districts illegal racial gerrymanders. Republican lawmakers have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let current boundaries be used while the ruling is appealed.
Most commenters fell into three categories — citizens who blasted Republicans for drawing the current boundaries, Republicans who believe the boundaries are fair and legal and others who want an outside commission to take over mapmaking.
There were few specifics provided on how the new map should look.
New North Carolina Supreme Court Election Option In Court
A lawsuit challenging a new option to elect some North Carolina Supreme Court justices is getting a hearing before a three-judge panel.
The Superior Court judges scheduled a Raleigh hearing today over the constitutionality of a law the General Assembly passed last year for what's called a "retention election." Supreme Court justices who are initially elected in competitive elections can subsequently agree to face an up-or-down vote on whether they will remain in office for an eight-year term.
A former Court of Appeals candidate and two voters sued, saying the method is a referendum and fails to meet the state Constitution's mandate that justices be elected by voters. Lawyers for the state disagree and want the lawsuit dismissed.
Associate Justice Bob Edmunds faces a retention election this November.
Lynch A Contender For SCOTUS Nomination
Several names are being tossed around as possible replacements for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. One Supreme Court expert thinks U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is a leading contender for the nomination.
Her nomination would not only face Republican scrutiny, but also a quirk of state history: There hasn't been a Supreme Court Justice from North Carolina in more than 200 years.
In making the case for Lynch as the nominee, Tom Goldstein, the publisher of SCOTUSblog, sees advantages both political and practical. He says she's well-liked by the administration, would have the political advantage of being a minority woman, and has already been through a recent vetting process to become the attorney general.
But he notes that there are a handful of others who would bring many of the same advantages.
Lynch's Tar Heel connections may not help her when it comes time for Senate confirmation. Both North Carolina U.S. Senators – Republicans Thom Tillis and Richard Burr – voted against her for her confirmation to be attorney general.
4 Democratic US Senate Candidates Scheduled For TV Debate
All four Democratic U.S. Senate candidates seeking to replace Republican Richard Burr have agreed to appear in a television debate next week.
WRAL-TV reports that all of the Democrats will participate in the half-hour debate at the station on the evening of Feb. 25. The candidates are Kevin Griffin of Durham, Ernest Reeves of Greenville, Chris Rey of Spring Lake and Deborah Ross of Raleigh.
Their primary election is March 15. In-person early voting begins March 3.
Burr is in a primary with three other Republicans. There are no televised debates planned for the GOP field. Libertarian Sean Haugh is also running for the Senate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.