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Judges Block New North Carolina Elections Law
A panel of North Carolina judges is temporarily blocking enforcement of a new law approved by Republicans that would reduce the Democratic governor's authority over state and local elections.
A majority on the three-judge panel agreed late Friday that the law set to soon take effect should be set aside for now while Gov. Roy Cooper and GOP legislators make further legal arguments.
The order agreed Cooper is likely to suffer irreparable harm if the law is enacted. Cooper says the law is unconstitutional in removing his power to administer elections.
Lawmaker Wants NC To Help Sex Trafficking Victims
A lawmaker wants North Carolina to spend $56 million to help sex trafficking victims and to train students and law enforcement officers to recognize signs of the crime.
Rep. Bill Brawley tells the Charlotte Observer that when he managed an apartment complex he was unaware of sex trafficking. Drugs, prostitution and at least one indictment for trafficking took place during that time.
He says he realized later that probably a dozen other women were being trafficked. Brawley says that now, legislators tell him they're aware of trafficking but aren't sure what to do about it.
According to the anti-trafficking Polaris Project, more than 8,000 cases were reported nationwide in 2016. In North Carolina, 181 cases were called in to the National Human Trafficking Hotline last year.
NC Chief Justice Speaking Out For "Raise The Age"
The head of North Carolina's court system wants to build momentum for legislation ending the practice of 16- and 17-year-olds being automatically tried for crimes as adults.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Martin will speak at a Legislative Building news conference Monday to back a "raise the age" measure that has bipartisan and law enforcement group support.
North Carolina will be the only state in the country that automatically prosecutes teens as adults since New York legislators agreed in April to a two-year phase out of the practice.
Board Considers Water Line For Neighbors Of Coal Ash Ponds
A county board could OK an agreement with Duke Energy Corp. for a multi-million-dollar water line that the company is required to provide to neighbors of coal ash ponds.
The Salisbury Post reports the Rowan County Board of Commissioners will discuss the water line to be built near Buck Steam Station when it meets Monday. The almost $5 million line will cover more than 150 homes.
A state law requires the company to install by October 2018 either new municipal water lines or a household water treatment system to homes within a half mile of coal ash sites.
NC County Board To Discuss Grant To Reopen Rural Hospital
The board of commissioners of a rural North Carolina county plans to discuss a grant that would help reopen the hospital that closed almost two years ago.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports the Yadkin County board will discuss a Golden LEAF Foundation grant when it meets Monday in Yadkinville.
A for-profit hospital operator closed Yadkin Valley Community Hospital in May 2015. About 150 hospital employees lost their jobs.
Last month, the foundation awarded the county a grant of almost $449,000. The grant requires a 20 percent county match of $112,000, and it must be spent within three months of the award unless the foundation agrees to an extension.
Davidson College Turning Former Mill Into Innovation Center
A private college in North Carolina is planning to turn a former mill into a center for entrepreneurs and innovation.
The Charlotte Observer reports Davidson College is building The Hub@Davidson in the former Bridgeport Fabrics building.
Workers have gutted the 1920s-era structure, and construction on the first 6,000 square feet is expected to start this summer.
Davidson College President Carol Quillen said in a statement that the school plans to use the former mill to connect with and help to grow technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in the Lake Norman area.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.