US Gives Directive To Schools On Transgender Bathroom Access
The Obama administration is telling public schools that they must allow transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.
The directive is in formal guidance being sent to school districts Friday by the departments of Education and Justice.
The letter does not impose any new legal requirements, but federal officials say the guidance is meant to clarify school districts' obligations to provide students with non-discriminatory environments.
It comes amid a legal fight between the Justice Department and North Carolina over that state's law on bathroom use by transgender people. The state and the federal government sued each other on Monday.
Doctor Disagrees With Calling Wells Near Coal Ash Dumps Safe
A doctor who specializes in investigating patterns and causes of human disease is casting doubt on a decision by North Carolina health officials to reverse warnings about water from wells near Duke Energy power plants.
The wells were described last year as too contaminated to use. The state health agency in March reversed that, saying the wells were safe.
Dr. Megan Davies works for the agency and says she disagrees with the decision. She made her statements to attorneys for the Southern Environmental Law Center and Duke Energy.
Forsyth County Reviewing Provisional Ballots
The Forsyth County Board of Elections held an emergency meeting Thursday evening to review the results from the March 15 primary.
More than 160 provisional ballots weren't counted after the primary in Forsyth County. That's because most of them lacked voter signatures.
Elections officials blame the problem on an electronic error. Many of the forms that were printed didn't contain a signature line and some poll workers forgot to check the bottom of the ballots.
Forsyth County Elections Director Tim Tsujii says safeguards are now in place to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Skippy's Owner Expresses Thanks For "Mike's Week"
The owner of Skippy's Hot Dogs in Winston-Salem has sent a letter of appreciation for a recent fundraising effort on his behalf.
Mike Rothman sent an email addressed to “the people of Winston-Salem” thanking them for their efforts during “Mike's Week”, which netted roughly $100,000 to help with Rothman's medical bills.
The owner of the popular eatery has been diagnosed with brain cancer.
Hundreds of local volunteers reopened Skippy's for a week to raise money.
Rothman says he was overwhelmed by the support.
He will be unable to reopen Skippy's, which was famous for the house-made pretzel hot dog rolls made fresh every day.
Bear Bites Appalachian Trail Hiker In The Smokies
A hiker says he was bitten by a bear as he slept along the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Park spokeswoman Dana Soehn says that the 49-year-old hiker told authorities in Graham County, North Carolina, he was sleeping in a tent Tuesday night near the Spence Field Shelter when a bear bit him on the leg through the tent.
The victim was able to scare the bear away.
Soehn says the bear returned at some point and tore through two vacant tents, including the one belonging to the victim.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning, click here to sign-up.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad