Voters Tell Supreme Court No More Waiting For New Maps
Voters who successfully sued to throw out nearly 30 North Carolina legislative districts are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to preserve a lower court ruling demanding new boundaries be drawn quickly and special elections be held in the altered districts this fall.
The voters' attorneys filed a response with Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday to a request by Republican legislative leaders to block a three-judge panel's order directing the remapping by March 15.
The special House and Senate elections also could cut two-year terms for several dozen legislators in half. GOP leaders already are appealing the lower court decision declaring the districts illegal racial gerrymanders.
Man Exposed To Cold Is NC's 2nd Storm Death
State officials say an 85-year-old man who died from prolonged exposure to cold is North Carolina's second fatality from the winter storm.
Gov. Roy Cooper said in a news release Monday that the Surry County man died Monday after falling outside his home and being exposed to the cold.
Meanwhile, officials say the State Highway Patrol responded to 1,650 accidents and more than 3,600 calls for service from Friday evening through Monday morning.
Cooper said 63 of 115 school districts closed Monday while several others opened late. Power outages hit a peak of about 30,200 and had dropped to about 1,600 customers Monday.
GOP Congress Members Ask That Cooper's Medicaid Push Be Rejected
Nearly all of North Carolina's Republican congressional delegation has asked Medicaid's chief regulator that he ultimately reject Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's request to expand the health care program through the federal health care overhaul that President Barack Obama championed.
Nine GOP members signed a letter Monday making points similar to what Republican General Assembly leaders made late last week to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in asking that it deny Cooper's request. They say state laws and the North Carolina Constitution prevent Cooper from requesting Medicaid expansion — which requires state spending — without the consent of the legislature.
Highway Patrol Commander Retires; Cooper Names Acting Chief
North Carolina's Highway Patrol chief for almost the past four years has retired, and Gov. Roy Cooper has named an acting commander to carry out his duties.
Cooper's office announced commander Col. Bill Grey retired Monday after more than 25 years with the patrol. He was elevated to commander in March 2013 by then-Gov. Pat McCrory.
The acting commander is Maj. Charles "Vic" Ward, who joined the patrol in 1990 and most recently led field operations across a portion of eastern North Carolina. He's a Whiteville native.
NC Charter School: 160 Of 399 Students Didn't Earn Diplomas
A charter school in Durham is reporting that 160 of its 399 graduates received diplomas between 2008 and 2016 with no evidence that they met all requirements.
Officials with Kestrel Heights said Monday that two principals and a counselor who were working at that time aren't employed with the school now.
The report comes after an initial review released in December showed that more than 50 students received diplomas they didn't earn over the past three years.
The State Board of Education has recommended that the Durham County District Attorney's Office determine whether it should investigate.
North Carolina's Newest Business Court Hears 1st Case
The newest North Carolina Business Court is hearing its first case in Winston-Salem.
The court is located at Wake Forest Law and will hear its first case Tuesday in the courtroom located in the Worrell Professional Center. The case involves a lease for a funeral home.
Judge James Gale of Greensboro will hear the case.
North Carolina also has business courts in Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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