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Cooper Defends Spending Increase As 'Catch Up'
Gov. Roy Cooper is defending his proposals to increase state government spending next year by more than 5 percent and to issue hundreds of millions of dollars in new debt without the approval of voters.
Cooper told reporters Wednesday in Durham that it's time to "catch up" on spending investments in education from a child's early years through college, including teacher raises. The new Democratic governor has framed his two-year spending plan as one that would ultimately make the state a national leader in graduation rates and pre-kindergarten.
The governor also wants to issue $350 million in debt for university and state government building projects. Cooper says it's fiscally responsible during a time of low interest rates.
Bipartisan Effort Will Address North Carolina's Opioid Problem
Republican lawmakers and North Carolina's new Democratic attorney general are getting behind a plan to address the state's opioid abuse problem.
Attorney General Josh Stein and the legislators scheduled a Legislative Building news conference Thursday to unveil their proposal. The legislation is expected to focus on improved rules to prescribe and dispense opioid drugs like OxyContin and funds for treating opioid abusers and helping them get clean.
NC's Blue Cross In Profit As ACA Policies Fall, Costs Rise
North Carolina's largest health insurer says it turned a $185 million profit in 2016 by cutting its exposure to the sicker-than-usual customers who bought medical coverage through the federal health care law that President Donald Trump promises to repeal.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina reported Wednesday its profit represented 2.4 percent of the $7.8 billion revenue that premiums generated.
The company said it logged a $38 million loss last year on policies issued in line with former President Obama's health overhaul law. The company's Affordable Care Act policies lost more than $400 million the previous two years.
Virginia School Board: Court Should Delay Transgender Case
The Virginia school board that wants to keep a transgender teen from using the boys' restroom at his high school is calling on the Supreme Court to delay consideration of the case to allow the Trump administration to weigh in.
A delay also could allow time for Senate confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
The Gloucester County school board says in a letter to the court that the justices should decide whether the federal anti-sex discrimination law for education applies to high school senior Gavin Grimm and other transgender students.
But the board says the court should get input from the Trump administration before hearing the case.
Macon County Man Pleads Guilty To Setting Wildfires
Court documents say a Macon County man has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of setting wildfires on U.S. Forest Service land.
The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that a criminal complaint says 49-year-old Keith Mann of Franklin pleaded guilty Wednesday to one charge in connection with wildfires that burned a total of 16 acres in October. He had been arrested in November.
The U.S. attorney says Mann could face between five and 20 years in prison.
During last fall, 27 fires burned in the Nantahala National Forest. Just one was caused by a lightning strike.
Infant In Halifax County Dies From Flu Complications
Health officials in Halifax County say an infant has died of complications from the flu.
A statement from county's public health system said it wouldn't release any additional information.
So far this flu season, North Carolina has reported 44 deaths. Of those, 40 have been adults, and 64 percent of the adult deaths have involved people 65 years old and older.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 34 infant deaths associated with the flu during the current season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.