Company Aims To Restart Pipeline As Early As This Weekend
Executives at a pipeline company say their goal is to restart the line as early as this weekend after an explosion and fire shut down gasoline shipments to millions across the South.
The deadly explosion sparked a geyser of fire Monday and closed off the vital pipeline, raising fears of another round of gas shortages and price increases. It's Colonial Pipeline's second accident and shutdown in two months.
NAACP, NC Back In Court, This Time Over Voter Challenges
North Carolina's chapter of the NAACP will be in federal court as it tries to stop local election boards from purging voter rolls through a process that the group says disproportionately targets blacks.
The emergency hearing on the lawsuit will be Wednesday in Winston-Salem.
Voters are being removed because of challenges filed by individuals, which the NAACP says is illegal under federal law less than 90 days before an election. However, state officials say the process is legal under state law.
Burned GOP Office In Orange County Re-Opening Nearby
A local North Carolina Republican Party office building burned when authorities say a flammable device was thrown through a window is re-opening in a new location just days before Election Day.
Republican Party leaders planned an open house Wednesday morning at the Orange County GOP office in Hillsborough. The site is a few hundred yards away from the location that investigators say was firebombed a couple of weekends ago.
Black Caucus Urges Senator To End Judges Freeze
The head of the Congressional Black Caucus says U.S. Sen. Richard Burr has created a judicial emergency in North Carolina by blocking President Barack Obama's judicial appointments in the state, where there's been a vacancy for nearly 11 years.
Democratic U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina pounced after Burr reportedly took credit at a private Republican gathering for blocking Obama's federal court nominees. Burr also vowed to keep Hillary Clinton from filling U.S. Supreme Court vacancies if she is elected.
Butterfield said in a statement that Burr's obstruction goes against democracy and the U.S. constitution.
Butterfield also criticized Burr for joking about Clinton's photo appearing without a bullseye on the cover of a gun magazine.
McCrory Hurricane Relief Timetable Includes Special Session
Gov. Pat McCrory has unveiled a quick timetable to recommend Hurricane Matthew relief for eastern North Carolina that would require a special session of the General Assembly later this year. But McCrory says the actual recovery will be long and hard.
McCrory spoke at Tuesday's first meeting of a panel of elected leaders, business people and citizens examining the damage. They are also figuring out what needs must be addressed beyond what the federal government and Congress will provide. A separate panel of emergency management officials also is coming up with ideas.
McCrory expects a special session in early December once Congress approves a supplemental assistance package.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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