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Morning News Briefs: Tuesday, April 4th, 2017

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Another GOP Redistricting Map Ruled Unconstitutional

North Carolina's Republican-dominated legislature has suffered another redistricting defeat following a federal judge's ruling that the map it drew for local council boundaries in one of the state's largest cities is unconstitutional.

The judge ruled Monday that the lines drawn in a 2015 state law for Greensboro's council violates the U.S. Constitution. District Judge Catherine Eagles says there's uncontroverted evidence GOP lawmakers packed Democratic votes into districts so that Republicans could win other seats.

Gathering Highlights Support For Immigrants In The Triad

A group of faith leaders and community advocates gathered Monday night to show support for immigrants in the Triad. The event's focus was on those who have been recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The non-profit Faith Action International House says 9 people from Greensboro have been detained in 2 separate ICE raids over the last several weeks. Their legal status wasn't immediately available. The immigrants are currently being held in South Carolina and Georgia.

Medicaid, Immigration Advocates At NC Legislature

Medicaid, immigration and victims' rights are among issues that activists visiting North Carolina's Legislative Building want to draw attention to as the session moves into April.

Several events are scheduled Tuesday at the General Assembly to address these topics and promote legislation.

A coalition of organizations and individuals seeking the expansion of Medicaid coverage planned a lobbying day and news conference. Immigrants and their allies also are holding their own advocacy day in part to oppose legislation they say would harm immigrants.

A bipartisan set of legislators scheduled a news conference to back a constitutional amendment designed to expand the rights of crime victims. And women's rights groups planned to speak for legislation they say would repeal current laws impeding abortion access and block a new restriction for the procedure.

Traffic Stop Teaching In Driver's Ed Coming Before Committee

Legislation requiring North Carolina driver's education materials to direct motorists how to act if pulled over by police is getting a General Assembly hearing.

The House Transportation Committee scheduled a Tuesday meeting to debate the measure, which was introduced by members of both parties in light of recent deadly encounters between officers and drivers nationwide.

The proposal would direct the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association, state Highway Patrol and a group representing police chiefs to be involved in developing the traffic stop instruction for the driver's license handbook and school driver's education curriculum.

Redemption: Tar Heels Take NCAA Title, 71-65, Over Gonzaga

Justin Jackson delivered the go-ahead three-point play and North Carolina scored the last eight points for a 71-65 win over Gonzaga and a title that heartbreakingly eluded the Tar Heels last year.

It was an ugly affair, filled with 44 fouls and 52 free throws but, ultimately, the contest with the result the Tar Heels (33-7) simply had to have.

This was their redemption season, and they closed the deal a year after losing on a 3-pointer at the buzzer to Villanova.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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