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North Carolina Supreme Court To Consider Senate Confirmation Law
The constitutionality of another law that gave more power to the North Carolina General Assembly at the expense of Gov. Roy Cooper will be settled at the state Supreme Court.
Justices said Friday they will take up the case of whether the Senate could subject Cooper's appointed Cabinet members to confirmation based on a December 2016 law.
Cooper sued over the law and others approved by Republican legislators just before he took office. He says confirmation votes violate the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.
But Republican lawmakers say the state constitution gives the Senate clear authority to review a governor's Cabinet choices.
Review Of Cases Handled By Former North Carolina DA In Progress
Authorities will review 16 cases handled by a North Carolina prosecutor who left office after pleading guilty to charges involving a deal with another district attorney and their wives.
The News & Record reports the interim district attorney for Rockingham County, Tom Keith, has ordered a review of 16 cases that former District Attorney Craig Blitzer handled from start to finish.
Keith ordered the review after finding problems with Blitzer's convictions in a homicide case and a prostitution ring. The next step is to determine if any of the 16 cases were mishandled.
Average North Carolina Teacher Pay Hits $50K A Year For 1st Time
State figures show the average salary for a North Carolina teacher has increased to more than $50,000 a year for the first time, but that includes local supplements.
The News & Observer reports recently released figures from the state Department of Public Instruction show the average salary for a North Carolina public school teacher at $51,214 this school year.
Over the past five years, the average teacher salary has increased 12 percent, from $45,737.
The average salary for teachers includes local supplements to the state base salary. This year, the average local supplement was $4,337.
Court: Medicaid Providers Didn't Exhaust Government Appeals
North Carolina's highest court has put the brakes on a lawsuit filed by medical offices over a new Medicaid billing system they say failed to pay them.
The medical practices say they weren't getting reimbursed for work when the "NCTracks" system began in mid-2013. They filed a class action lawsuit against the state health agency and system vendor.
But the state Supreme Court ruled Friday the providers hadn't exhausted administrative appeals within state government to get what they believe is due them.
North Carolina Residents Avoid Flu Shots
A new poll suggests the majority of adults in North Carolina did not get a flu shot in the last year.
This comes as the number of flu deaths across the state continues to climb.
Even though experts say this year's flu shot has not provided as much protection as expected, they've continued to encourage people to get vaccinated.
But according to the latest High Point University poll, nearly 60 percent of adults statewide have not done so.