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Democratic Legislators Seek Money For Pipeline Attachments
North Carolina Democratic legislators want Republican colleagues to locate funds to help businesses attach to an expected natural gas pipeline in eastern counties.
The GOP-controlled General Assembly passed a law taking effect Friday that intercepts $58 million anticipated from an agreement between Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's office and utilities building the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Those funds will now go to school districts along the pipeline route.
Some North Carolina Hospitals End Flu Visitor Restrictions
Some of the largest hospitals are ending the child visitor restrictions put in place to try to reduce the number of flu cases in North Carolina.
A number of hospital systems have announced that restrictions will end Friday morning after being implemented Jan. 12.
Those include Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Novant Health, Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare System), Cone Health, and High Point Regional.
Togo West, Triad Native Who Became Presidential Advisor, Dies at 75
A Triad native who became the second African-American to serve as Army secretary has died.
Togo D. West Jr. grew up in Winston-Salem, where he attended Atkins High School, before moving to Washington, D.C. After graduating at the top of his Howard University law school class, he joined the Army and received military honors.
West would go on to work for three presidential administrations: Ford, Carter, and Clinton.
He also ran the Department of Veteran's Affairs through a storm of accusations of mismanagement and budget battles, and he eventually resigned.
Still, his efforts to increase opportunities for women in the military drew praise from Capitol Hill. And President Bill Clinton lauded him for confronting tough issues head-on.
Togo West died Thursday, March 8th. He was 75.
NC Speeds Up Prison Hiring After 4 Died At Understaffed Lockup
North Carolina prison officials say they're revving up efforts to fill vacancies at a lockup where four employees were killed.
The vacancies at Pasquotank Correctional Institution were so serious that understaffing created opportunities for a deadly escape attempt.
The Department of Public Safety announced new measures Thursday as a National Institute of Corrections consultant discussed the group's report into what happened at the prison. Four workers were killed during the deadliest breakout attempt in state history.
Prison officials say they're holding career fairs to recruit guards, targeting military veterans, as well as their spouses and dependents.
Man Says He Owns Sandbar, Part Of Which Is Now Underwater
A Virginia man says he still owns a North Carolina sandbar, even if part of it may now be underwater.
The Charlotte Observer reports that Ken Barlow filed a deed to "Shelly Island" in the Outer Banks in August, although the ownership was disputed by the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Before the matter could be resolved, NASA says three hurricanes split the land, causing half to connect to the mainland and the rest to wash away.
Barlow is quoted by the newspaper as saying the mile-long piece of land is still there, and that he owns it.
Officials have said that if the sandbar connected to the mainland, it would then belong to the National Park Service.