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Judges Hear Voting District Arguments
Three federal judges have heard arguments about how race was used to make the recently redrawn state legislative districts. Now outside experts may be brought in to help with the process.
The plaintiffs - a group of North Carolina voters - agreed that overall the new maps were better than an earlier set of maps that were thrown out for being racially gerrymandered.
But they argue there are some districts that still haven't been sufficiently changed. Attorneys for Republican legislative leaders say they didn't use race at all when drawing them, a claim at least two of the judges greeted with some skepticism.
The judges asked both sides to reach consensus on a list of three specialists that could be used to redraw the maps in the event that they agree with plaintiffs that they need to be redrawn again.
County Will Ask Supreme Court To Review Prayer Ruling
Rowan County will ask the Supreme Court to review a ruling barring it from opening its meetings with Christian prayers.
The First Liberty Institute, representing the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, filed papers Thursday with the high court asking it to consider the case.
In July, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond ruled 10-5 against the county. The judges said that while prayer itself is not unconstitutional, the commissioners' practice of leading the prayers themselves and inviting the audience to join, always in the Christian faith, violated the First Amendment by establishing Christianity as a preferred religion.
2 Employees Killed In Foiled NC Prison Break
Authorities have identified two employees killed during an attempted inmate escape from a North Carolina prison.
The state Department of Public Safety says in a news release 35-year-old Justin Smith and 50-year-old Veronica Darden were killed Thursday during the attempted breakout from Pasquotank Correctional Institution in Elizabeth City.
Authorities say Smith was a correctional officer at the prison's sewing plant, where Darden trained inmates. Details of their deaths weren't released.
Prison officials say inmates started a fire at the prison sewing plant. Authorities said three other employees remained hospitalized, and four inmates were treated for injuries.
The prison houses nearly 900 adult, male felons in both high-security and minimum-custody buildings. Minimum-security prisoners work outside the walls on road gangs for the county recycling department and performing other community labor.
Jury Out On Fate Of Cottages Owned By Author John Grisham
The jury is still out on the fate of four century-old cottages located in North Carolina on property owned by bestselling author John Grisham.
The Herald-Sun of Durham reports Grisham got permission this week from a town commission to demolish the homes in Chapel Hill. The Historic District Commission voted to delay demolition by 365 days, the maximum time that state law allows.
Grisham, the commission and Preservation Chapel Hill are searching for someone who will move the cottages.
The Cat Wins! Student Prevails In Fight Over Support Animal
A North Carolina university has reached a settlement with a disabled student who wanted to keep her emotional support feline in her dorm room.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports Laura Auman filed a federal discrimination complaint last year against North Carolina State University, saying she was told she couldn't keep her cat Kifree in her residence hall. Auman argued that her assistance animal constitutes a reasonable accommodation for a disability.