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Federal Appeals Panel Sets March Arguments On Primaries
The fight over some of North Carolina's judicial primaries will head to a federal court next month. The move gives the court a chance to hear from attorneys on all sides of the dispute.
The question the federal court will consider is whether it was appropriate for a lower court judge to restore primaries for candidates for the state's court of appeals. State Republicans had passed a law cancelling them.
The Fourth Circuit Court in Richmond agreed last week to speed up the process. They want to hear in person from attorneys for GOP legislators, the state and the Democratic Party.
North Carolina House Leader Creating School Safety Panel
The leader of the North Carolina House plans a new committee to study what changes could be made to improve school safety.
The announcement Friday by a spokesman for House Speaker Tim Moore came in response to a school shooting in Florida that left 17 people dead. Joseph Kyzer says the bipartisan panel — with members to be announced this week — will examine current safety standards and procedures in North Carolina's K-12 schools to "ensure the highest level of safety."
The committee would make recommendations to the full House, which next returns for session in May.
Cone Health Set To Expand
Cone Health has announced plans for a major expansion project. The hospital wants to build a new emergency department near the Urban Loop in Greensboro.
Cone Health is asking for state approval to build a 23 million dollar emergency room and imaging center. The 17-bed facility would be constructed at the Drawbridge Parkway and Battleground Avenue intersection near the Urban Loop.
The hospital says the location will allow it to better serve residents near northwest Guilford and western Rockingham Counties.
The state could approve the application as early as August, allowing for a possible opening in the summer of 2020.
NC Reviews Policy For Inmates Who Give Birth
North Carolina prison officials say they'll institute a new policy for pregnant inmates after receiving complaints that two women were restrained during delivery.
The News & Observer reports that the policy now allows a prisoner to be restrained while in childbirth but not in delivery.
A new policy that will go into effect soon will spell out when restraints should be removed, said Pamela Walker, spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety.
Plans In Works For African-American Heritage Center In NC
A school where African-American college students learned to be teachers could become a heritage center if organizers in northeastern North Carolina are successful.
The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City reports the "practice school" was built in 1921 on what was then the campus of Elizabeth City Normal School.
Now partners that include Elizabeth City State hope to turn the building into an African-American Heritage center for the region. Organizers say it would be a resource center for researchers of African-American history as well as an interpretive site for the public.