Duke Energy CEO Says Utility Avoiding LGBT Law Fight
The CEO of Duke Energy Corp. says the utility is staying out of the fight over North Carolina's law limiting protections for LGBT people because its business is regulated by state officials.
The largest U.S. electricity company has stayed out of the business backlash against the law known as House Bill 2. The NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference this week decided to withdraw championship competitions from North Carolina, saying the law allows discrimination against LGBT people.
CEO Lynn Good said in an interview with The Associated Press that the company is committed to diversity, but that she's in a regulated industry and responsible for keeping the lights on.
NC Education Lottery Raises $634 Million In Fiscal 2016
The N.C. Education Lottery is reporting it raised $634 million in fiscal year 2016 to help support education programs in North Carolina.
Final but unaudited results show overall lottery revenues of $2.39 billion and earnings of $634 million. Lottery revenues grew 21 percent higher than the previous year while earnings increased 22 percent.
Executive Director Alice Garland said the record sales were bolstered by the increasing popularity of the lottery's instant games and the world-record $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot in January.
The new results were reported Tuesday to the quarterly meeting of the N.C. Education Lottery Commission.
Former House Speaker Boehner Joins Reynolds Board
Former House Speaker John Boehner, an avid smoker, is joining the board of tobacco giant Reynolds American Inc.
The Ohio Republican was the nation's highest-ranking smoker before he left office last October.
Boehner will now serve as a Class 2 director and serve on the board's corporate governance committee.
A Boehner spokesman praised Reynolds American for striving to speed the decline in tobacco use among young people and reduce the harm caused by smoking.
Franklin Graham 'Outraged' Over ACC Move To Pull Out Of NC
Evangelist Franklin Graham has sent a letter to the commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference saying he's "outraged" at the decision by the league to pull its championship games out of North Carolina over a state law limiting protections for LGBT people.
The Charlotte Observer reports the son of the Rev. Billy Graham sent a letter to ACC commissioner John Swofford. Copies were sent to the presidents of the 15 member schools.
In the letter, the younger Graham called on Swofford not to make "political pawns of student-athletes."
Fugitive Refuses Extradition To North Carolina, Ordered Held
A fugitive from justice wanted in connection with the slaying of a police officer in North Carolina was ordered held in Rhode Island after refusing to waive extradition back to the state.
Thursday's proceedings in Warwick District Court mean that it will now be up to authorities in North Carolina to seek the return of 23-year-old Irving Fenner.
Fenner was arrested in Coventry, RI on Wednesday following a statewide manhunt. He's wanted on charges of first-degree murder stemming from the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Shelby police Officer Tim Brackeen on Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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