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Duke Energy Will Not Force Coal Ash Neighbors To Waive All Legal Claims
Some residents living near Duke Energy's unlined coal ash ponds have reached a settlement with the company. But, the case leaves open legal protections for young family members.
Lawyers seeking to represent hundreds of neighbors of the company's North Carolina coal plants dropped their lawsuit last week. The news comes following the electric utility's announcement that its $5,000 payments depended on claimants giving up future health claims linked to contaminated well water.
Charlotte-based Duke Energy posted an online clarification that people taking the money could not sue. However, the company went on to state that future legal claims related to children and coal ash groundwater pollution would not be barred from court.
New Mental Health Agency Board Targets Excessive Spending
The new board for North Carolina's largest regional mental health agency has adopted policies targeting the lavish spending found by a state audit last year.
The Charlotte Observer reports Cardinal Innovations Healthcare's new board of directors met Saturday and was handed control by the state. The board approved a corrective action plan, including seeking state approval to pay its CEO more than the set range, and barring board retreats at high-end venues, charter flights and using agency money to purchase alcohol.
Power Outage Shuts Down WSSU
Classes and activities at Winston-Salem State University were canceled Monday after a power outage.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports the outage led officials to cancel a tour scheduled for UNC system president Margaret Spellings.
In addition to the tour, a memorial service set for Monday for a Winston-Salem State football player who was shot to death at a party at Wake Forest University was postponed. No new date has been announced.
A statement from the school said work crews determined that the outage was caused by aging electrical infrastructure between Duke Energy's high voltage feed and the university's distribution system.
Saving Target Means Hundreds Of Millions More Dollars Needed
North Carolina government's top fiscal analysts have officially set a goal for the state's rainy-day reserve fund that should help fill large shortfalls encountered during most recessions.
A law approved last year requires a set percentage of annual revenue growth be transferred to the reserve, which already has more than $1.8 billion. The law directs the state budget office and the legislature's Fiscal Research Division to come up with an annual target.
That target is a percentage of the previous year's revenues — meaning for now reaching the goal would require increasing the fund by roughly $700 million over time.
Racial Comments Allegedly Made During App State Tennis Match
A tennis match between two local college teams ended on an ugly note over the weekend. An Appalachian State player has now been suspended.
Appalachian State officials say a student-athlete engaged in behavior that was derogatory and offensive following a match against North Carolina A&T. The student has been suspended indefinitely for violating disciplinary policy.
The statement released by the university did not describe what happened or name the student involved.
But a senior player for the Aggies posted on Twitter that a freshman member of App State's team made racial comments toward him.
The university says it has reached out to North Carolina A&T officials to apologize for the student's conduct. ASU is conducting a review of the incident.