McCrory Declares State Of Emergency To Help Speed Power Restoration
Gov. Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency in North Carolina, a move aimed at allowing utility crews to expedite power restoration efforts.
The declaration announced Thursday waives vehicle weight and service time restrictions to let the crews get to the affected areas.
Just under 17,000 North Carolina customers were without power as of 5pm Thursday. Many of the outages were in Forsyth, Gaston and Mecklenburg counties. Hundreds of customers in Winton-Salem remain without service.
According to the governor's office, emergency management officials have reported no serious storm-related injuries or deaths.
The weather service on Thursday confirmed that it was a tornado that touched down in Granville County northeast of Durham. The weather service is also checking reports of tornadoes in Cumberland, Moore, Sampson and Vance counties on Wednesday.
Civil Rights Museum Official Steps Down
A top administrator has left the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro. The departure comes after a tumultuous period for the organization.
Bayard "Bay" Love was hired last March as chief operating officer and director of development. Museum officials say he was part-time and resigned to pursue other opportunities.
The museum has faced financial issues since its founding in 1994. The City of Greensboro offered to take over the organization in 2014, but the museum's board dismissed the proposal. The city has loaned the museum more than $1 million to help it stay afloat.
Guilford School Board Agrees To Sell Immaculate Heart Of Mary School
The Guilford County Board of Education has approved selling the old Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, just two years after buying it.
The board voted unanimously Thursday to declare the property as a surplus. The News and Record of Greensboro reports High Point University will buy the school for $1.86 million dollars, which is about $100,000 more than the board paid for the property in 2014.
The original plan was to relocate the Academy at Central high school in the building, but there wasn't enough space for a cafeteria and media center. The board couldn't find the funding for renovations, which will cost close to $9 million dollars.
The sale is contingent on the board first offering the property at fair market value to the county commissioners.
Rep. Ralph Johnson Suffers Stroke
Democratic Rep. Ralph Johnson, who is facing a primary race for his North Carolina House District 58 seat, has suffered a mild stroke.
Johnson's campaign released a statement saying that Johnson remained hospitalized Thursday afternoon. The statement says that Johnson is "alert, conscious and eager to get back to work for the people of the 58th district."
Amos Quick, vice president of the Guilford County Board of Education, is challenging Johnson in the March 15 primary.
The statement says Johnson is canceling all scheduled public appearances at this time.
Speaker Gauging Special Session Interest With Charlotte Vote
North Carolina's House speaker is asking fellow Republican colleagues whether they want a special legislative session to address this week's Charlotte City Council vote involving transgender people and public accommodations.
Speaker Tim Moore wrote to House Republicans seeking to gauge their interest in returning before the next regularly scheduled work period April 25 to respond to Charlotte's ordinance, which takes effect April 1.
Some GOP leaders are unhappy with a part of the ordinance that would allow transgender people to choose public restrooms corresponding to their gender identity.
Wednesday's email obtained by The Associated Press has Moore writing he would ask Senate leader Phil Berger to join him in calling a special session if Moore gets at least 72 House responses in favor.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.