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Budget Given Final OK, Heading To Cooper
The North Carolina General Assembly has finished voting on its two-year state government spending plan. The measure's next stop is Gov. Roy Cooper's desk, where he'll be hard pressed not to veto it.
The House gave its final approval Thursday to the budget bill by a vote of 77-38. The Senate completed its voting Wednesday.
Cooper and fellow Democrats have blasted the Republicans' budget agreement as irresponsible and a failure because it doesn't provide enough education funding and gives tax cuts to the wealthy and to corporations.
Part of the spending package would also hamstring the governor's ability to sue lawmakers.
First-Degree Murder Presumed In Domestic Slayings Approved
North Carolina legislators have agreed that certain people accused of killing a current or former intimate partner should face the most serious crime and possibly the ultimate punishment if convicted.
With a final House vote, the General Assembly gave final approval Thursday to a measure named for a Fuquay-Varina woman shot to death in 2014 by the father of her child. "Britny's Law" now heads to Gov. Cooper's desk.
North Carolina Lawmaker Calls Out 'Jihad Media'
A North Carolina state senator has referred to several news outlets on Twitter as "jihad media" for their reporting on state and national stories.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports GOP Sen. Dan Bishop used the term in response to a tweet from a reporter from the newspaper about budget cuts to the state attorney general's office. Bishop wrote, "Petty, jihad media, carrying water as always."
Bishop later used the term to criticize The Associated Press for its coverage of Georgia's 6th District congressional special election won by Republican Karen Handel. He also targeted CNN.
Fall Hearings Set As Duke Energy Seeks 15 Percent Rate Hike
Utilities regulators plan to hear from consumers and experts this fall about whether to allow a 15 percent increase in the electricity bills of 1.3 million North Carolina customers.
The North Carolina Utilities Commission on Thursday released a schedule for September and October hearings as it considers Duke Energy Progress's request to add $18 more per month to the typical household bill of $105. The subsidiary of the country's largest electric company operates in much of eastern North Carolina and around Asheville.
Wake Forest's Collins Drafted By Atlanta Hawks
Looking to bolster its front court after dumping Dwight Howard and facing the possible loss of Paul Millsap, the Atlanta Hawks drafted Wake Forest power forward John Collins with the No. 19 pick in the NBA draft.
The 6-foot-10 Collins was the Atlantic Coast Conference's most improved player as a sophomore, averaging 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.