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Morning News Briefs: Thursday, July 6th, 2017

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Carrboro, Raleigh Among First To Step Up For Sunday Mornings

Some North Carolina local governments are stepping up to the bar quickly to start Sunday morning alcohol sales after Gov. Roy Cooper signed legislation late last week authorizing such action.

The Raleigh City Council voted Wednesday for an ordinance giving Alcoholic Beverage Control permit holders in the city limits the ability to serve drinks at 10 a.m., instead of noon currently. Carrboro's Board of Aldermen passed a similar ordinance Monday. The changes by the two municipalities start this weekend.

North Carolina Lawyer Convicted Of Embezzlement From Clients

A disbarred lawyer who had offices in three major North Carolina cities has pleaded guilty to charges that he embezzled about $100,000 from clients.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that 47-year-old Devin Ferree Thomas of Charlotte entered the plea in Winston-Salem on Monday to six counts of embezzlement.

Thomas had been a personal injury lawyer with offices in Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Raleigh.

Forsyth Superior Court Judge David Hall ruled that Thomas must serve 10 days in jail, as well as 50 hours of community service and five years of supervised probation.

Bond Set For Man Accused Of Supporting Islamic State

A federal magistrate judge has set bond for a North Carolina man accused of lying to authorities about wanting to fly to Syria to support the Islamic State group.

Online records indicate Alexander Samuel Smith remained jailed Wednesday after bond was set at $25,000. WBTV reports that if Smith posts bond, the court would require GPS monitoring and make him surrender his passport and stay in North Carolina.

Smith, 29, pleaded not guilty to two charges of making false statements to the government. Defense attorney Kevin Tate emailed that Smith asserts his innocence.

Greensboro Drivers Can Now Feed The Meter On Their Phones

Drivers looking for parking in downtown Greensboro will now be able to leave their quarters at home. Instead, they can pay directly from their phones.

The system, called Parkmobile, applies to both meters and city-owned surface lots.

Those without smartphones can call a toll-free number to use the service.

Besides the metered spaces downtown, the app can also be used at several lots, along with spaces on Commerce Street and on the campus of NC A&T State University.

Shaw University President Resigns, Takes Position At Howard

Shaw University has announced that its president is stepping down to take a position at another school.

The historically black university in Raleigh said in a news release Wednesday that Tashni-Ann Dubroy is resigning to become executive vice president and chief operating officer at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Dubroy was appointed to the role of president at Shaw in May 2015. The university credits her with improving fundraising and budgeting while overseeing an enrollment increase.

Georgia Bishop Chosen To Lead In Eastern North Carolina

An auxiliary bishop in Georgia has been chosen to lead Roman Catholics in eastern North Carolina.

Pope Francis has selected Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of Atlanta to take over as the new bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh.

The 58-year-old Zarama is from Colombia and will become the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh. Zarama is to be installed at the new Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral on Aug. 29.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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