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GOP Vows To Fight Ruling On North Carolina House Districts
A federal court's decision to strike down North Carolina's congressional map has cast uncertainty over the state's 2018 U.S. House races.
The state's Republican leaders have vowed to seek a delay to the court's order that they draw new district lines in the coming weeks. Because partisan gerrymandering cases from other states are before the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices may postpone the effect of the North Carolina ruling.
Either way, Tuesday's decision is expected to affect congressional elections. New maps would send candidates scrambling and could create a more favorable environment for Democrats. But even if the redrawing is postponed, a political scientist says resentment of "greedy" Republican maps could aid left-leaning candidates.
Berger: Don't Expect Further Action Soon On GenX
Don't expect the North Carolina Senate to soon go along with legislation approved by the House designed to study further unregulated chemicals in drinking water and give state officials more funds for water testing and permitting.
Senate leader Phil Berger said Wednesday night his chamber likely will wait until the next scheduled session in May to act further. The General Assembly already approved laws related to GenX in August and October. Berger says legislators are awaiting more data about the amount of GenX in the Cape Fear River.
Berger says the House bill "does nothing to prevent GenX from going into the water supply" and forces taxpayers to pay for expenses rather than the Chemours Co., which operates the Bladen County plant that discharged GenX.
Toyota-Mazda Makes NC 0-For-25-Years In Landing Auto Plants
The decision by Toyota and Mazda to build a car factory in Alabama means another economic miss for North Carolina, one of the rare Southeast states never to land a modern car-maker.
The car companies on Wednesday announced Alabama as their choice over North Carolina for a factory that could eventually employ 4,000 workers.
North Carolina has recruited and failed to land factories over the past quarter-century that BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Volvo and others instead built in other Southeast states.
State Senate leader Phil Berger expressed bitter disappointment at losing out again, but the Republican praised Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and his top business recruiter for doing everything possible to close the deal.
NC Teachers Face Long Delays In Getting Licenses
Prospective teachers in North Carolina can face a long delay in getting hired. It can take six months or more to obtain a teacher license.
A backlog in teacher licensure processing has kept some educators from being hired and prevented others from getting their full pay and benefits.
Education officials told a legislative oversight committee on Tuesday that improving customer service and processing times needs to be a priority. They say their goal is to approve licenses in six to eight weeks.
The News and Observer reports the delays have impacted the ability of principals to hire teachers, and some are losing out financially while they are being paid less as substitutes.
New Winston-Salem Music Venue In Former Ziggy's Building
Downtown Winston-Salem will soon be home to a new music venue that will open in the former Ziggy's.
The venue is called Ramkat, and its aim is to book not only diverse music acts, but dance, comedy, theatre and film events as well.
The managing partners are Richard Emmett, the music director of the Blue Ridge Music center, and Andy Tennille, a local music promoter and photographer. Bryan Ledbetter, the owner of Airtype Studios and Camel City Goods is also an investor.
At over 11,000 square feet and two levels, the facility has the potential to host national, regional and local acts when it opens this March.