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Judges To Hire Expert To Aid Evaluating NC Districts
A federal court plans to hire an outside expert as they consider whether the state's legislative districts should be redrawn. Two Triad districts are among those targeted.
A three-judge panel will appoint Nathan Persily, a Stanford University law professor, to evaluate the districts and redraw them again if necessary.
The judges had given both sides in the case a chance to come together to recommend a slate of possible experts, but they couldn't reach an agreement.
The announcement comes as the court considers whether maps redrawn by the General Assembly over the summer are racially gerrymandered.
Second Early-Voting Site Opens In Watauga County
A long-contested early-voting site on the campus of Appalachian State University opened Thursday. Watauga officials have argued over the site for quite some time.
The Watauga Democrat reports that the site was cleared by the state Court of Appeals after a Superior Court ruling had kept it closed.
Watauga Democrats have argued that the site is popular and easily accessible to students and employees of the University. Republicans have argued the site is not needed.
The student union is the second early voting site in Watauga County, along with the Watauga County Board of Elections office.
Charlotte Cleaning Up After Sewage Spill
Nearly 5 million gallons of sewage has spilled into a creek in Charlotte.
Charlotte's water system said the spill occurred when a tree broke a 36-inch, underground pipe after storms Monday.
The water system says the spill flowed into Mallard Creek near the University of North Carolina Charlotte.
Crews have controlled the leak but said it could take two to three days to repair the pipe.
Health officials say the spill does not pose any immediate threat to downstream drinking water or recreational waters.
Suspect Arrested In North Carolina Home Invasion Deaths
A North Carolina sheriff says a man has been arrested in connection with a home invasion in which four people were shot and killed.
Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp says that 25-year-old Matthew Simms of Enfield was arrested Thursday and charged with four counts of first-degree murder.
Earlier in October, Tripp said the killings may have been gang-related and that the home may have been targeted.
How Many Horseshoe Crabs? Regulators Want To Find Out
Interstate fishery regulators will soon begin work on a new effort to get a handle on the population health of horseshoe crabs on the East Coast.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission says its assessment of the horseshoe crab stock will begin this month.
Horseshoe crabs are economically important in part because of their role in medicine.
The crabs are also used as bait. Harvesters collected more than 1.6 million pounds of them in 2015.
The commission says the stock assessment will evaluate the population's health and help inform management measures.