Navy: Wind Farm Opposed By GOP Lawmakers Won't Harm Radar
The Pentagon says it disagrees with Republicans in North Carolina who claim a $400 million clean energy project slated to power data centers for Amazon.com Inc. poses a threat to national security.
Congressman Walter Jones and state lawmakers have asked the incoming Trump administration to either kill the nearly completed wind farm or require major changes. They say the facility will interfere with a Navy radar installation that scans for aircraft and ships hundreds of miles offshore.
Navy spokesman Lt. Chika Onyekanne tells The Associated Press the military's studies have determined the wind project is unlikely to affect its mission.
EPA Sends 'Letter Of Concern' To Regulators Over Hog Farms
The civil rights office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has sent a "letter of concern" to North Carolina regulators in light of a two-year investigation targeting health problems affecting minority communities near large-scale hog operations.
The 25-page letter to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality says it has not done enough to reduce stench, flies and other problems caused by the facilities.
EPA also said it has "grave concerns" about reports from minority neighbors of threats and intimidation against those who have complained. The federal agency also faults North Carolina for not having an anti-discrimination policy in place, as required by federal law.
Cooper Hopeful On Medicaid Expansion Despite Trump, Lawsuit
Gov. Roy Cooper says he's still hopeful North Carolina will expand Medicaid coverage even with Donald Trump entering the White House and litigation saying Cooper can't seek it on his own.
Cooper told reporters Thursday that his goal is to find options to make more citizens healthier and inject federal expansion funds into the state. Trump backs efforts on Capitol Hill to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law that offers expansion.
Cooper's administration filed paperwork about expansion, but Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore sued, worried that expansion would get approved before Obama leaves office Friday.
NC Rep. Hamilton Picked For Cooper Cabinet Agency
Gov. Roy Cooper has plucked another Democrat from the General Assembly to serve in his Cabinet.
Cooper announced Thursday that Rep. Susi Hamilton of Wilmington is his choice to become secretary for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. That's the agency in charge of state parks, historic sites, the State Archives and preserving land.
Hamilton began serving in the legislature in 2011 and was re-elected in November. Her new job ultimately means New Hanover County Democrats will choose someone to fill out the rest of her two-year term.
Cooper also announced state conservation group leader Reid Wilson would be the department's chief deputy.
Republicans Quickly Kill Virginia Transgender Bathroom Bill
A transgender bathroom bill similar to North Carolina's has been killed by Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly.
A GOP-controlled panel quickly dispatched the legislation Thursday without debate. Both Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Republican leaders objected to Del. Bob Marshall's bill, which would generally prohibit individuals from using a bathroom of the opposite sex in government-owned buildings. Marshall, an outspoken conservative, accused fellow lawmakers of breaking their campaign promises and oaths of office.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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