North Carolina Sues Carolinas HealthCare System Over Costs
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state against Carolinas HealthCare System, saying it has illegally reduced competition and limited the ability of consumers to find better health care deals.
The lawsuit was filed jointly on Thursday with the U.S. Department of Justice in U.S. District Court in Asheville.
According to the complaint, Carolinas HealthCare System used its market power to keep consumers from taking advantage of better prices at other hospitals and from getting access to less expensive insurance. State and federal officials want the court to bar the practices.
Senate Spokeswoman: Coal Ash Veto Override Vote Unlikely
North Carolina legislative leaders have backed off — at least for now — trying to override Gov. Pat McCrory's veto of a bill that reinstitutes a state coal ash commission and sets a timeline to get piped drinking water to people living near ash pits.
A spokeswoman for Senate leader Phil Berger said Thursday an override vote was unlikely and that efforts were being made toward a resolution with the governor that, in part, would avoid more litigation.
House Committee Approves Industrial Hemp Research Study
North Carolina lawmakers are pushing a proposal to authorize the cultivation of industrial hemp with the goal of allowing researchers to begin planting next spring.
The House Agriculture Committee approved a bill Thursday allowing for state land grant universities to grow hemp under the guidance of a nine-member commission and the Department of Agriculture.
Teachers Critical Of Gov. McCrory To Issue "Report Card"
North Carolina's traditional school year is over, so some teachers say it's time Gov. Pat McCrory gets graded for his performance on public education and other issues.
A group called Organize 2020 scheduled a news conference Friday on the grounds of the old Capitol building, where McCrory keeps his office. The group says it will release a "report card" on McCrory's efforts related to students and other topics that's expected to include poor or failing grades.
Replica Guns Pose Threat
Replica firearms are being seized by Winston-Salem police officers at a growing rate. The fake weapons are turning up in many real crimes.
In the past three years, Winston-Salem police officers have confiscated 280 BB guns and airsoft rifles. During that same amount of time, these faux weapons have been used in 600 crimes.
The Winston-Salem Police Department released the statistics to show the potential danger of replica firearms.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports that last year alone, these types of guns were used in 99 serious crimes like robberies and assaults - a 482 percent increase over the previous year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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