Long Lines Reported As Early Voting Opens In NC
Early voting began on Thursday in North Carolina, with long lines reported at some sites.
Expected waiting times grew to over one hour in Forsyth County. The Charlotte Observer reports that the line was two hours long and growing at University City library.
At least one polling site is open in each of the state's 100 counties. The early voting period covers 17 days, running through November 5th.
People can register to vote at early-voting centers and vote at the same time.
Election Day is Nov. 8, and early voting continues through Nov. 5.
Flood Victims Face Major Challenges As Early Voting Begins
With in-person, early voting underway in North Carolina, many victims of Hurricane Matthew may find it difficult to cast their ballots.
Nearly two weeks after the storm triggered severe flooding in the state, some roads and bridges remain washed out, and many people are still out of their homes or just trying to put their lives back together.
Some of the most heavily damaged areas are largely Democratic with a high concentration of black voters, and there are concerns that the disarray may depress turnout and sway the outcome of the White House race in the battleground state, where polls suggest a close race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Trump Visit Marks 4th Day In NC For Top Candidates
Donald Trump is coming back to the North Carolina mountains for a rally in the presidential battleground state.
The Republican presidential nominee will address a midday crowd in Fletcher — just outside Asheville — at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center.
His visit will make it the fourth day in a row that a major-party candidate for president or vice president is campaigning in the state.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine spoke at get-out-the-vote events in Asheville on Wednesday and in Charlotte and Durham on Thursday. Meanwhile Trump running mate Mike Pence held events on Tuesday in Fayetteville and Wilmington.
Hillary Clinton will be in Raleigh and Charlotte on Sunday.
NC Requires Plan For Coal Ash Swept Away By Flood
North Carolina regulators say Duke Energy must create a formal plan for handling coal ash swept away from a power plant during Hurricane Matthew's flooding.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality sent a letter on Thursday informing Duke Energy that it must submit a post-flooding plan for the H.F. Lee plant near Goldsboro. The plan must include more measurements of flooding damage, and indicate how much coal ash escaped.
The letter doesn't specifically address cleanup, but DEQ spokesman Mike Rusher says the state is still evaluating whether or not enforcement actions are needed.
NC Revenue Collections Up 3 Percent In 1st Quarter
North Carolina revenues are ahead of what was anticipated so far this fiscal year to carry out the current state government budget.
Economists with Gov. Pat McCrory's budget office and at the General Assembly say collections of taxes, fees and other revenues are $158 million ahead of projections through the first three months of the year, or Sept. 30. That represents a 3 percent jump in revenues.
On Thursday, McCrory's office attributed the uptick to wage growth and employment gains, which means more money is being received in tax withholdings from employee paychecks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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