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Morning News Briefs: Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Corine Mack, the head of the Charlotte chapter of the NAACP, speaks at a forum in February, 2015. Screen shot from YouTube.

NAACP Head Says Shooting Victim's History Doesn't Matter

A local president of the NAACP says the history of the black man killed by a Charlotte police officer doesn't matter because the officers who confronted him didn't know anything of it before he was shot to death.

Chapter President Corine Mack also said Tuesday that blacks typically are "demonized" after being killed by police.

Court documents say Keith Lamont Scott had a restraining order filed against him a year ago when he threatened to kill his wife and her son with a gun.

Keith Scott's wife filed the order Oct. 5, saying that law enforcement officers who encounter him should be aware that he "carries a 9mm" gun. Police have said Scott had a handgun when they approached him at an apartment complex last week.

NC Sen. Hartsell Indicted On Campaign-Related Counts

A longtime North Carolina state senator has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from allegations he spent more than $200,000 in campaign funds over several years for his personal benefit.

The 14-count fraud and money laundering indictment against Sen. Fletcher Hartsell of Concord was handed down Tuesday. A Wake County grand jury three months ago indicted the Republican on counts of filing false campaign reports.

Tuesday's indictment alleges he took money from his campaign account and funneled it to his law firm and a corporation he owned with his wife.

Clinton Makes Raleigh Her First Post-Debate Stop

Hillary Clinton visited North Carolina a day after the first presidential debate to talk about her economic policies. 

The Democratic nominee took a few jabs at Republican candidate Donald Trump during a stop at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh. The two squared off in a contentious debate Monday night. 

Clinton also renewed her criticism of House Bill 2, saying the law is costing North Carolina economic opportunities.  

The latest poll from High Point University shows Clinton is leading Trump in North Carolina by the slimmest of margins, 43-to-42 percent.

Clinton Outspending Trump In NC

The presidential candidates shared the television screen Monday night during their first debate. But outside of that debate, the Clinton campaign is ruling the airwaves in North Carolina.

The Clinton campaign is far outspending the Trump campaign when it comes to television ads. For every Trump ad aired in North Carolina, the Clinton campaign has aired 5, according to a report from WRAL.

Broadcast television commercials are usually the most expensive cost for a campaign. Clinton has spent $9.3 million in North Carolina since June. Trump has spent $1.7 million.

Even when ad money from outside groups on behalf of the candidates is factored in, the spending gap is still wide.

More Than 100 Animals Taken From Cabarrus County Puppy Mill

More than 100 animals have been seized from what law enforcement officials call an illegal puppy mill in Cabarrus County.

The Cabarrus County sheriff's office got an anonymous tip about the animals and went to the site Monday.

Deputies found about 105 dogs, 20 cats and three goats in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

The Humane Society of the United States was called to help in the rescue.

Sheriff's Lt. David Taylor says the investigation is just beginning. No arrests have been reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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