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Redistricting Session To Begin, But Will It Be A Short Run?
North Carolina lawmakers are gaveling in a special session demanded by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to redraw General Assembly districts following a U.S. Supreme Court decision this week. But the formal meeting may not last very long.
Cooper signed a proclamation directing lawmakers convene Thursday afternoon to begin a session that runs simultaneously with the legislature's current work session. Republican leaders consider the directive a stunt.
There are also questions whether he had the legal authority to tell the lawmakers the "extra session" must end in no later than two weeks.
Gun Rights Bill Gets Initial OK From House
A North Carolina bill that would allow someone to carry a concealed handgun without a permit in certain places has received tentative approval in the House.
After over an hour of debate, members voted 65-54 Wednesday in favor of the proposal. It would make the permit no longer necessary only in locations where it's currently permissible to openly carry a handgun. Gun purchases still require a permit.
Members are expected to cast a final House vote on the bill Thursday.
Bill Upholding "Casino Nights" Clears North Carolina House
Legislation spelling out when and where nonprofit groups can operate casino-style games for charity in North Carolina has cleared one General Assembly chamber.
The House voted 78-38 on Wednesday for the measure, which would sanction "game nights" at facilities that legally serve alcohol, such as restaurants, bars and social clubs. The nonprofits could hold four such events annually and award only chips — not cash — for conversion to raffle tickets.
Police: Man Stabs Wife, Daughter To Death In High Point
Police say a man killed his estranged wife and daughter during a triple-stabbing at a gas station in High Point.
According to a statement from High Point police, 48-year-old Andrew Jackson Allen, Jr. was arrested Tuesday on two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
The News & Record of Greensboro reports officers responded shortly after 9 p.m. to a report of three people being stabbed in the parking lot of a gas station. Police say Jackson had stabbed his wife, 45-year-old Vickie Bradshaw Allen, and daughter, 21-year-old Andrea Mae Allen, to death. A family friend, 16-year-old Robert Seay, suffered serious injuries that aren't life-threatening.
Police say a "domestic-related incident" happened before the stabbing.
Lowe's To Lay Off About 125 Workers, Move Jobs To India
Home improvement retailer Lowe's says it's laying off approximately 125 information technology workers, the third round of job cuts this year.
Chief Information Officer Paul Ramsay said in a memo that the affected workers were notified Wednesday. He said the Mooresville, North Carolina-based company has spent the last several years planning a strategic IT workforce team to respond better in what he called "this highly competitive 24/7 retail environment."
Some of the jobs will be relocated to Bangalore, India.
CIAA Title Game Won't Return To NC Until 2020
An athletic conference that moved its football title game out of North Carolina last year won't bring it back before 2020. The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association relocated the game over concerns over a law that limited protections for LGBT people.
The title game had been held in one of three North Carolina cities for more than 20 years prior to the passage of HB2. The law sparked a wave of big games leaving the state, including the NBA's All-Star match-up in Charlotte and a host of Atlantic Coast Conference tournament games.
The CIAA followed suit in September, announcing that the football game would be held in Virginia instead of Durham. Although the legislature passed a compromise bill that rolled back elements of HB2 in March, the CIAA says the game will remain in Virginia through 2019.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.