Teachers Seek More Money For Education
A group of teachers and parents met in Greensboro Monday to lobby for more funding for public schools.
The Teacher Truth Tour is a statewide effort to urge lawmakers to prioritize education spending in their upcoming budget. Forsyth County Schools social worker Ronda Mays says there's not enough for teachers or students, and she says all public school employees are suffering.
Education funding already makes up over half of the state's budget, and it's a centerpiece of this year's spending plan. Lawmakers are considering a proposal that would give some teachers up to a five percent boost in pay. They're also planning to increase slots for pre-K programs.
Winston-Salem Budget Passes
The Winston Salem City Council has approved a budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
The budget, totaling just over $442 million dollars, passed on a 6-2 vote.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports homeowners will see a three and a half percent property tax hike.
The city plans to focus on improving employee salaries and creating a police recruitment program.
More Consolidation Ordered For North Carolina LGBT Law Cases
A federal judge has agreed to further consolidate lawsuits seeking to defend a North Carolina law that limits protections for the LGBT community.
Judge Terrence Boyle on Monday allowed a group called North Carolinians for Privacy to combine their lawsuit with cases brought by state leaders. That means legal efforts that started as three separate lawsuits will be heard as one case.
Gov. Pat McCrory and state legislative leaders have argued in court that the federal government overreached when it declared the state law was discriminatory.
Two other cases challenging the law are being heard in a separate federal court. Those cases were filed by the Department of Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union.
North Carolina LGBT Law Protesters Reunite For Orlando
Opponents of North Carolina's law limiting antidiscrimination protections for LGBT people gathered to mourn 49 victims of the shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub and condemn state policies they say are responsible for furthering bigotry.
The state NAACP held a vigil "against hate and discrimination" Monday in Raleigh on the Bicentennial Mall between the office of Gov. Pat McCrory and the Legislative Building.
Clergy and civil rights advocates called for the crowd of about 200 to unite against GOP-driven policies restricting LGBT protections and tightening voter identification requirements.
North Carolina Opens Access To Overdose Reversal Drug
North Carolina becomes the third state to provide unlimited access to a prescription drug that's already saved more than 2,000 people statewide who were overdosing on heroin, OxyContin or other opium-based drugs.
Gov. Pat McCrory signed a law Monday that creates a statewide standing order at all pharmacies to prescribe naloxone to anyone.
Supporters say the state health director's order could help friends or family save a drug abuser's life. The injection or nasal-spray is covered by Medicaid and many private insurance plans.
The director says the drug has reversed more than 2,000 overdoses since 2013.
US Rep. Pittenger Prevails In Tight North Carolina Primary
Republican U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger has prevailed in his tight congressional primary after a recount did little to change the results.
State elections officials said machine recounts concluded Monday in the counties that make up the 9th District, and the totals changed by less than a handful of votes. Pittenger's victory margin is around 130 votes over Mark Harris. More than 26,000 people voted in the three-way primary.
Harris, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, said in an email that he spoke to Pittenger to congratulate him on his win. Harris had asked for the recount late last week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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