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Voters Who Sued Over NC Maps Back Expert's Changes
Voters who successfully sued over North Carolina's 2011 legislative districts say federal judges did the right thing directing an outside expert to recommend more changes to boundaries amended last summer but that could still be unconstitutional.
Attorneys for these voters filed Wednesday a document designed to counter arguments of Republican lawmakers who say it was wrong for the judges to hire a special master for remapping recommendations.
Democrats Walk Out After Governors's Rep Turned Away
Democrats on a North Carolina legislative committee looking at potential changes to judicial election districts and the selection of judges walked out of a meeting after a Republican committee leader declined to hear from a retired judge that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper sent to speak on his behalf.
The Senate panel had asked for a representative of Cooper's administration to attend its meeting Wednesday to offer the governor's perspective on proposals being discussed. Cooper offered recently retired Wake County Superior Court Judge Don Stephens. Committee co-chairman Sen. Dan Bishop said Stephens couldn't speak because he wasn't part of the administration.
New Partnership Will Focus On Home Health Care For Terminally Ill Children
A new partnership among local agencies will allow home health care for terminally ill children to continue. This comes after Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro announced it would stop these services at the end of November.
Cone Health will lead the effort, which includes a new clinic to treat seriously ill children. Other partners will provide in-home care and support services.
Cone Health says the new clinic will open in the coming weeks and home services are available now for families to access.
Forsyth County Man Convicted Of Murder; Race Deemed A Factor
A Forsyth County man has been convicted in a fatal shooting in which prosecutors say race was a factor.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports a Forsyth County jury on Wednesday found 55-year-old William Ryan Marks guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of 31-year-old James Naylor in December 2015. The victim was a black man who lived in a home with the ex-wife of the defendant, who is white.
Winston-Salem Man Sentenced After Neighbors Shot, Killed
A Winston-Salem man has been sentenced to at least 25 years in prison for the 2016 shooting death of two of his neighbors.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports Forsyth Superior Court Judge David Hall said 33-year-old Zachary Wilson Hobbs could serve up to 31 years for the June 2016 shooting deaths of 37-year-old Steven Richard Salsman and his girlfriend, 33-year-old Meghann Rae Stubbs.
Hall gave Hobbs credit for spending nearly 18 months in jail as he awaited his court hearing. Hobbs will be eligible for parole after he serves the minimum sentence.
Daytime Lane Closures To End On Business 40 Work
Contractors are ending the daytime closures on the Business 40 Improvement Project.
The N.C. Department of Transportation said in a news release that the contractor doubled its shifts over the last month, accelerating the work from 45 days to 16 days to aid drivers. The news release said the work was spurred by incentives and weather conducive to the construction.
The contractors will resume nighttime only closures of the inside lanes along a portion of Business 40 in Winston-Salem from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting Thursday. They also will continue the up-and-over nighttime traffic pattern along eastbound Business 40 at Peters Creek Parkway, as needed for preliminary work on the Business 40 Improvement Project.