Adams Says She's Running For 12th District Re-Election
U.S. Rep. Alma Adams of Greensboro says she will run for re-election in the 12th Congressional District even though redistricting shifted its boundaries exclusively to in and around Charlotte.
The North Carolina General Assembly approved Friday a new congressional map that reworked the 12th, which had been largely in Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Charlotte. The new map has her living in the Republican-leaning 13th District. Congressional candidates don't have to live in the district they are running in.
Some Mecklenburg County Democrats are interested in running for the 12th seat. Adams says Charlotte shouldn't lose its seniority and influence with a new representative.
Ross Positioned Well Among 4 Democrats Seeking US Senate
Four Democrats running for Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr's seat say they would focus more on the needs of everyday North Carolina residents than he does.
One of the four — former state Rep. Deborah Ross — seems positioned best approaching the March 15 primary campaign. Ross had a big cash advantage over rivals Kevin Griffin, Ernest Reeves and Chris Rey entering the new year. She also has support from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
The other three candidates are promoting their strengths. Rey is the mayor of Spring Lake and has collected endorsements from local government leaders.
Design Plans For Future Asheboro Bypass Will Be Discussed At Public Meeting
A major tourist attraction in North Carolina could soon get a boost from a new roadway project. The state Department of Transportation will discuss design plans for the proposed U.S. 64 Asheboro Bypass during a public meeting Tuesday. The project includes a connector for the North Carolina Zoo.
The more than 16 mile four-lane highway will ease traffic congestion around the city of Asheboro and provide interchanges at key highway and interstate locations.
The plan will also create a direct route to the North Carolina Zoo. Deputy Director Mary Joan Pugh says it makes them more competitive.
The Asheboro Bypass will cost more than $240 million dollars to build. State and federal monies are funding the project.
NCDOT says it's eyeing early summer to start construction. The roadway is expected take around three years to complete.
The NCDOT public meeting will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Randolph County Community College's corporate training center on Industrial Park Ave. in Asheboro.
Regulators Hear Pros, Cons Over Duke Energy Natural Gas Plant
North Carolina electricity regulators are collecting information on a huge natural gas-burning power plant Duke Energy wants to build in Asheville.
The North Carolina Utilities Commission meets today to hear the reasons Duke Energy wants to build the power plant to replace a coal-burning plant.
Environmental groups oppose building the plant they say is unneeded and passing along the nearly $1 billion cost to electricity customers. Opponents say Duke Energy is overstating the projected need for electricity in the North Carolina mountains to get the plant built.
The meeting comes one week before a deadline set by state legislators last year for regulators to decide whether to approve construction.
Number Of Fatal Drug Overdoses In North Carolina Increases
Officials say fatal drug overdoses in North Carolina have jumped from 2002 to 2014.
The Charlotte Observer reports federal data shows that overdoses killed as many as 16 people per 100,000 residents in the state in 2014 compared to about nine people per 100,000 in 2002.
While all 100 counties in North Carolina saw overdose deaths rise, the problem appears most acute in the mountains and foothills.
Experts say growing addiction to prescription painkillers is driving the trend.
A 2014 report from the North Carolina Program Evaluation Division says those drugs, also known as opioids, killed more people in the state in 2010 than alcohol, cocaine and heroin combined.
The report also found that overdose death rates were generally higher in places where doctors wrote the most prescriptions for opioid drugs.
Sports Roundup
-Denny Hamlin gave Joe Gibbs a Daytona 500 win with the closest finish in history. The margin of victory was 0.010 seconds.
- The Charlotte Hornets extended their winning streak to a season-high five games, with a 104-96 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
-In college hoops, Wake Forest routed Boston College 74-48.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.