Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign-up.
North Carolina NAACP Leader Of Protest Movement To Step Down
The Rev. William Barber, who led the state NAACP in blocking North Carolina's attempts to limit voting rights and fiercely supported gay rights, said he's stepping down as state chapter president. He says he'll now focus on a poor people's campaign similar to what the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was building when he was slain.
Barber gained prominence in launching "Moral Monday" protests in North Carolina this decade and trained others in more than 20 states in such peaceful civil disobedience. But he said Wednesday that after 12 years as an NAACP state leader, he wants to focus on the new campaign and "a national call for a moral revival."
Cooper Sends Letter To Trump Administration Over Matthew Aid
Gov. Roy Cooper has written the Trump administration and congressional leaders to express disappointment over the failure to meet the state's request for $900 million in Hurricane Matthew recovery funds.
A statement from the Democratic governor's office Wednesday said Cooper worked with North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and Reps. David Price and David Rouzer on compiling a request to Congress. This week, state officials learned that of the $900 million requested, the state will receive $6.1 million.
House Votes To Override Cooper Veto On Hog Lawsuit Awards
Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of legislation limiting monetary damages in civil lawsuits filed by neighbors of hog and poultry operations over their smells could soon be canceled.
Enough House members voted Wednesday to agree to override the measure, which still needs a Senate vote before it would become law despite Cooper's objection. The bill restricts compensatory damages against farming and forestry operations sued by residents complaining about animal waste and other odors to the value of lost property or the rental value of properties.
Teens Tried As Adults? North Carolina Eyes Bill
Legislation that would end a practice of automatically prosecuting 16- and 17-year-olds for crimes as adults is advancing in the North Carolina House.
A House judiciary committee unanimously agreed Wednesday to advance the "raise the age" legislation. The proposal is an effort to stop North Carolina from becoming the only remaining state that automatically tries teens as adults since New York lawmakers agreed in April to a two-year phase out of the practice.
Senate Budget For North Carolina Budget Heading To Floor
The North Carolina Senate's budget proposal for state government for the next two years is on track to pass the chamber.
The measure was scheduled for Senate floor debate and the first of two required votes Thursday. Senate committees considered and approved the Republican measure Wednesday.
The bill would spend $22.9 billion for the next fiscal year. GOP leaders are highlighting teacher pay raises, individual and corporate income tax cuts and more money in the state's rainy day reserve. Lawmakers benefited from a projected revenue surplus in the current fiscal year.
3 Red Wolf Pups Join Pack At North Carolina Zoo
The North Carolina Zoo has announced the birth of three red wolf pups.
A news release issued by the zoo on Wednesday said the pups, born April 18, marked the first litter of 2017 in the North American population of red wolves born in human care.
The zoo said the pups were born to Raydar and Haley, the same red wolves who had a single pup last May at the zoo.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.