Bank Of America Broadening Parental Leave Benefits
Charlotte-based Bank of America is offering employees more paid time off after the birth of a child.
The bank says the changes make it more competitive with other companies. The changes apply to both full and part-time workers, giving parents flexibility, with the option to break up those weeks over a 12-month period. The expanded program begins next week.
J.P. Morgan Chase, Netflix and Facebook have also increased paid parental leave for its employees in recent months.
McCrory, Senator Suggest Tweaks To HB 2 Possible
Gov. Pat McCrory and a key state senator are suggesting some tweaks are possible down the road for a new state law restricting local government action on LGBT protections. The legislation has received calls for repeal from gay-rights groups and corporations nationwide.
In a video message this week defending his decision to sign the law, McCrory offered to "work on solutions that will make this bill better in the future." He didn't provide suggestions but re-affirmed the law was needed to ensure privacy for people using restrooms and locker rooms.
Senate Rules Chairman Tom Apodaca said in an interview Wednesday some small changes were possible.
North Carolina Bathroom Law Could Be Decided In Virginia
The fate of North Carolina's new law governing restroom use by transgender people could be determined in Virginia, where a school board ordered a high school student out of the boys' room.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond could rule any day now in the case of Gavin Grimm, who was born female but identifies as male.
North Carolina plaintiffs are making similar discrimination claims while suing their state's new law, which directs schools and government agencies to designate group bathrooms based on biological sex.
State Economists Predict $237M More Revenues Than Expected
State government economists have further upgraded North Carolina's revenue picture for the rest of the fiscal year and into the next.
Gov. Pat McCrory's budget office and the legislature's fiscal research agency projected Wednesday the state will have $237 million more than planned when they drew up the nearly $22 billion state budget for the year ending June 30. That's higher than a $120 million surplus counted through last December. Strong individual income tax collections are contributing to the revenue growth.The economists also say the upgrade will mean McCrory has about $180 million to work with when he proposes adjustments to the fiscal year budget starting July 1.
Johnston Now McCrory's Permanent Administration Secretary
The acting chief of a North Carolina Cabinet department is sticking around longer at the position.
Gov. Pat McCrory announced Wednesday that Kathryn Johnston is now his permanent secretary of the Department of Administration. Johnston filled in at the job starting in February after the governor appointed then-Secretary Bill Daughtridge to the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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