To Diffuse Protests, UNC Board Opens Limited Public Comment
North Carolina's public university governing board is trying to diffuse protesters by giving anyone an opportunity to vent their issues with the 17-campus system.
University of North Carolina leaders said Monday they're starting public comment sessions at the end of their meetings.
A handful of the 32-member governing board's members will listen to up to an hour of public comments following each meeting, starting this Friday.
US AG Lynch To Laud NC Police Updates Under Federal Eye
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is encouraging a North Carolina police department's efforts to become more community-friendly.
Lynch is scheduled to visit Fayetteville Tuesday to celebrate the police department's improvements in policy and oversight.
Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock in 2014 asked the U.S. Justice Department for input on how it could operate better. The federal agency made dozens of suggestions in December and noted the racial disparity in police traffic stops is declining.
Republicans Seek To Combine North Carolina LGBT Lawsuits
North Carolina's Republican leaders are seeking to combine separate lawsuits over a state law limiting protections for the LGBT community.
Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore on Monday asked to combine their case with a similar lawsuit filed by Gov. Pat McCrory against the federal government.
Their move follows McCrory's separate request last week to move his lawsuit to another federal court so it can be combined with a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice. The judge assigned to the Justice Department lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder, notably sided with state officials in a voter ID case in April.
Duke Energy Signs 2nd Deal To Get Electricity From Pig Poop
Duke Energy Corp. is taking a second step into pig poop.
The country's largest electric company is announcing a deal today to collect methane gas from animal waste and convert it into fuel for two of its existing electricity plants.
The Charlotte-based utility said its 15-year deal with Wilmington-based Optima KV should capture enough methane to power about 880 homes a year. Duke Energy announced a similar, larger deal in March.
Rowan-Salisbury Board Repeals Pepper Spray Policy
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education has repealed a controversial plan to allow students to carry defensive sprays and disposable razors on campus.
The board had approved the use of these items earlier in May, citing the need to protect students.
Board of Education Chairman Josh Wagner says several liability issues came up the day after that vote was taken.
A side issue tying the decision to the North Carolina law that determines which bathrooms transgender individuals may use also thrust unwanted attention on the policy. Board member Chuck Hughes said the use of pepper spray or mace could help female students wary of who follows them into bathrooms.
The board said that issue did not play a role in adopting the policy.
The rule allowing pepper spray was repealed on Monday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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