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Legislature Passes Bill To Reduce Size Of NC Appeals Court
The General Assembly has passed legislation to reduce the number of North Carolina Court of Appeals judges from 15 to 12, sending the measure to the governor.
The House and Senate both gave their final approval to the Republican legislation on Tuesday.
The measure would phase out the three judgeships as vacancies arise through retirements or resignations. The proposal also would allow more matters be appealed directly to the state Supreme Court.
Republican Lawmakers Dilute Democratic Governor's Powers
Republican legislators have for a second time voted to dilute the power of North Carolina's new Democratic governor to run elections.
The state House and Senate voted separately Tuesday to trim Gov. Roy Cooper's power to oversee elections by appointing a state and county elections board that settles disputes and enforces ballot laws. The state elections board has since 1901 had five members appointed by the governor, with the majority being members of the governor's party.
Republicans would lead the new eight-member elections board during presidential and gubernatorial election years.
A judicial panel ruled last month that lawmakers' first effort to take away Cooper's control over elections was unconstitutional.
Senate Bill Punishing 'Sanctuary' Policies Passes Committee Vote
Legislation that would punish so-called “sanctuary cities” in North Carolina has passed a key committee vote and will continue to move through the chamber.
While the state already has a moratorium on sanctuary policies, Senate Bill 145 enforces financial punishments on jurisdictions that don't follow federal immigration laws.
According to the News and Observer, the ACLU spoke out against the bill. The advocacy organization says the measure breaks federal privacy laws by potentially forcing universities to share a student's immigration status with law enforcement.
But Republican Sen. Jerry Tillman suggested that not having such a measure would create a “safe haven for criminals.”
NC Senate Confirms 3 More Of Governor's Agency Heads
North Carolina legislators continue to approve new Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's choices to run state government agencies.
The Republican-run state Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved three more of Cooper's choices to run the state environment, commerce and cultural resources departments.
The Senate cleared Michael Regan to head the Department of Environmental Quality. Tony Copeland was approved as commerce secretary and Susi Hamilton as natural and cultural resources secretary. That means eight of the 10 agency heads Cooper has picked have sailed through Senate confirmation.
Western North Carolina Wildfire Grows
The U.S. Forest Service says a wildfire in western North Carolina is growing.
Forest Service spokeswoman Lisa Jennings said Tuesday the McDowell County fire is about 10 percent contained.
The fire has burned about one square mile on private land and in the Pisgah National Forest. No injuries have been reported.
The fire began Sunday in the North Cove Community. Jennings says the fire is threatening 35 homes and 10 other buildings in the community north of Marion.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.