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Duke Energy: We'll Pass Along Tax Cut, But Not Sure How Much
Electric utility Duke Energy Corp. says it's ready to pass along part of its windfall from the new federal tax law to North Carolina rate-payers, but is urging caution because the law's effects aren't fully understood.
The Charlotte-based company on Thursday asked regulators to allow it to use some of its tax savings to reduce part of its current or future rate increase requests. The company isn't specifying how much of nearly $275 million in tax savings it's willing to pass along to customers.
The electricity giant is in the midst of seeking double-digit rate increases for millions of North Carolina customers.
Judge: 5,500 Doctors At 2 Med Schools Covered By Pay Lawsuit
About 5,500 faculty will be represented in a class-action lawsuit alleging two prestigious North Carolina medical schools conspired to depress their wages by agreeing not to poach professors from each other.
U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles ruled Thursday that the lawsuit filed by former Duke University physician Dr. Danielle Seaman can be expanded to include all medical professors who taught since 2012 at the Durham school or at the University of North Carolina, 10 miles away. The Chapel Hill university was dropped from the lawsuit last month in return for turning over internal documents to Seaman's lawyers.
PART Expands Service To Saturdays
Beginning this weekend, the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation—or PART—is expanding its service to include Saturdays, with free service on that day for the entire month of February.
For nearly fifteen years, PART has run on weekdays, focusing on commuters. For most of that time, customers have asked for Saturday service to get them to and from Winston-Salem, High Point, and Greensboro. But PART couldn't afford it. Now they can, and spokeswoman Brooke Kochanski says she hopes people will take advantage of it.
For the entire month of February, the Saturday service will be free from 7am to 7pm. Starting in March, it'll be $2.50 one-way.
Federal Civil Rights Commission Holds North Carolina Meeting
A federal panel is holding hearings in North Carolina as its members examine how well the voting rights of minorities are being protected nationally.
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights scheduled a public briefing Friday at a Raleigh hotel, with several panel discussions featuring experts across the political spectrum.
Former state NAACP president the Rev. William Barber, an election law expert at The Heritage Foundation and the civil rights division chief at the U.S. Justice Department during President Barack Obama's administration are scheduled to join in one discussion. Members of the public can address the bipartisan commission Friday evening.
Minority Firms Got 1 Percent Of $1B Duke Energy Coal Ash Work
Duke Energy Corp. is making changes that could make it easier for black, female and other minority-owned construction and hauling firms to compete for work on its multibillion-dollar project to excavate and close coal-ash storage pits.
Under pressure from its state regulator, the giant U.S. electricity company announced last week that it will double the weight it places on diverse and local suppliers landing contracts.
The move comes after the utility said in regulatory filings that only about 1 percent of the more than $1 billion it has spent on fixing its coal-ash problems in North Carolina went to its top 10 contractors owned by women, veterans or minorities.
North Carolina Health Officials Report 20 More Flu Deaths
Health officials in North Carolina say another 20 people have died from the flu, pushing the death toll for the season to 95.
In addition to the weekly report, the state Department of Health and Human Services says seven people who died in previous weeks were found to have had the flu.
For the 2017-18 season, there have been 63 elderly deaths, 25 deaths of people ages 50 to 64, four from ages 25 to 49 and three from ages 5 to 17. No children were included in the latest death toll.