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Hayes Defeats Challenger To Remain NC GOP Chair
The chairman of the state's Republican party has been re-elected.
The vote came during the state GOP convention in Wilmington. Robin Hayes defeated Jim Womack, the Lee County party chairman, to earn a two-year term.
Womack challenged Hayes after Democrats picked up a few major seats in 2016 - notably winning races for governor and attorney general. Still, Hayes prevailed, winning 62 percent of a weighted vote, party officials said.
Former NC Gov Urges GOP To Pass New Law Requiring Voter ID
Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory is urging state lawmakers to pass a new voter ID law because he said he knows "a lot of noncitizens" voted last fall.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports McCrory urged GOP legislators Saturday at the state Republican Party convention to pass a law limited to requiring voters to show identification.
The U.S. Supreme Court last month ruled against reinstating North Carolina's voter ID law, which also changed ballot registration and early voting requirements.
McCrory also criticized Gov. Roy Cooper's lawsuits challenging new laws by Republican legislators curbing the governor's power.
Medicaid Overhaul Manager Next State Health Plan Leader
State Treasurer Dale Folwell has swiftly made his choice to lead the health insurance program for North Carolina state employees, teachers, retirees and their dependents.
Folwell announced Friday that former state Medicaid overhaul manager Dee Jones is the next executive administrator of the State Health Plan. She succeeds Mona Moon, who resigned abruptly last week. Moon said Folwell should fill the job with someone more closely aligned with his goals and management style.
Judge Upholds $1.5M Award In Whistleblower Lawsuit
A federal judge has upheld a jury's $1.5 million award to a North Carolina fire investigator who said she was fired after complaining about the safety of construction work at an office building.
The Charlotte Observer reports that Friday's decision by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank Whitney is a further setback for the city of Charlotte.
A jury decided May 11 the Charlotte Fire Department fired Crystal Eschert in 2014 in retaliation for her concerns about the renovations.
LabCorp Worker Alleges Discrimination In Federal Lawsuit
A Laboratory Corporation of America worker says in a lawsuit that the company discriminated against him because of his race and passed over him for a raise because he complained to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The Times-News of Burlington reports Dwayne Muhammad said in the lawsuit that he received a written reprimand for insubordination after a supervisor said he refused to make new controls for a test when he'd done so. Muhammad said the same supervisor told him his job was not to be logical or analyze, but "to obey."
After filing his complaint, Muhammad said he was passed over for a $1,000-per-year raise. Muhammad is black. The supervisors identified in the lawsuit are white.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.