Federal Judge Upholds North Carolina's Voting Overhaul
A federal judge is dismissing lawsuits challenging a North Carolina election law that requires voters to show photo identification when casting ballots. U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder's ruling Monday leaves in place the state law that requires those voting in person to show an accepted type of photo ID, eliminates same-day registration, and ends out-of-precinct voting.
The U.S. Justice Department, the North Carolina NAACP chapter, and voters had sued. They argued the law was passed to discriminate against poor and minority voters in violation of the Constitution and U.S. Voting Rights Act.
Schroeder ruled that while North Carolina had a sordid racial history, the plaintiffs didn't show that the law hampered the ability of minority voters to exercise political power.
LGBT Debate Spurs Arrests At North Carolina Statehouse
A day of protests and arrests around North Carolina's statehouse marked what's likely to be weeks of impassioned debate over a law limiting protections for LGBT people.
Officers arrested 54 protesters who came to voice their opposition to the law Monday as lawmakers returned to Raleigh to start their legislative session. The state's Republican leaders said they don't plan to repeal HB2, a stance likely to stoke further demonstrations over the several weeks they're slated to meet.
The arrests capped a day of dueling demonstrations that included a large protest in favor of the law. Thousands rallied outside the Legislative Building to thank lawmakers for enacting HB2.
Spellings Tours Triad Universities
UNC System President Margaret Spellings is spending time in the Triad as she wraps up a tour of all 17 campuses.
Her all-day visit Monday to UNC-Greensboro was her 14th stop on a statewide tour.
The News and Record reports Spellings talked to students and faculty about college access and cost, and academic success.
When asked about the controversial House Bill 2, she reasserted her belief that while the law has cast a chill over student and faculty recruiting, state institutions need to comply.
Spellings will visit Winston-Salem State University Tuesday, and wrap up her tour at the UNC School of the Arts on Friday.
Court: Law Doesn't Bar Suits Against Cigarette Manufacturers
Connecticut's highest court has ruled that lawsuits against cigarette manufacturers aren't prohibited by an exemption in liability law, bolstering the case of a smoker who got cancer and won a $28 million judgment against a tobacco company.
The decision was released Monday. The Connecticut Supreme Court was asked to decide the issue by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, which is considering R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.'s appeal of the award.
1 Dead, 2 Injured After Small Plane Crash In Boone
Police say a local man is dead and two other passengers hospitalized after a small plane crashed in Boone.
Police said the plane crashed early Monday afternoon at the Boone Golf Club.
The two survivors were flown to hospitals in Winston-Salem and Johnson City, Tennessee, for treatment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.