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Lawmakers Adjourn In Early Morning Hours

The General Assembly has officially completed this year's work session after more than eight months on the job.

House Speaker Tim Moore and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, the Senate's presiding officer, gaveled down the session shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday once legislators finalized a large "technical corrections" bill. The session began in mid-January.

Hope that Republicans would adjourn the legislature by its traditional early summer closing date got waylaid by a budget stalemate and extended negotiations on overhauling Medicaid and economic recruitment incentives. The state budget passed just two weeks ago. A proposed $2 billion bond issue got final approval just after midnight.

Sex Ed Bill In; Local Ordinance Bill Out

Efforts to clamp down on local government rules that tell businesses how much they must pay workers or how they treat tenants did not get enough support in the General Assembly before lawmakers adjourned.

But the legislature still approved an unrelated sex education and licensed counselor bill that had included those restrictions.

The Senate voted early Wednesday to accept a House version of a bill that would broaden expert qualifications behind curriculum that middle-school teachers could use for sex education. The bill now heading to Gov. Pat McCrory also would require sex education to include instruction on the dangers of sex trafficking and adjusts qualifications for counseling licenses.

The local government restrictions had been added after House and Senate negotiators met in private.

Stam, No. 2 House Leader, Won't Seek Re-Election

The second highest-ranking leader in the North Carolina House will not seek re-election to his Wake County seat next year.

Republican Rep. Paul Stam announced his decision early Wednesday as the General Assembly adjourned this year's session.

The Apex attorney is now in his eighth term and serves as speaker pro tempore. Stam was previously majority leader and minority leader.

He's been known for his commitment to social issues, such as opposition to gay marriage and abortion, as well as for supporting the use of public funds for children to attend private school.

Ben Carson Speaks To Supporters In Winston-Salem; Clergy Protests

Republican presidential contender Ben Carson stopped in Winston-Salem Tuesday to give an hour-long speech at Berean Baptist Church.

More than a thousand people packed the sanctuary and overflow seating to hear Carson's views. He talked about his desire to cut government red tape and reduce the national debt, and criticized the political correctness he says pervades American culture.

The latest polls show Carson running close behind G-O-P frontrunner Donald Trump among North Carolina voters.

While Dr. Ben Carson was speaking in Winston-Salem Tuesday, a group of local clergy members gathered in protest.

Members of the Ministers' Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity say they were disappointed with Carson's recent comments on Islam. In an interview on NBC's “Meet the Press”, Carson questioned whether someone of the Muslim faith was qualified to serve as president.

The protest took place at the same time the presidential candidate was speaking at Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.

Judge Dismisses Suit Challenging Alcoa Ownership Of Riverbed

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by North Carolina challenging Alcoa Inc.'s ownership of riverbed underneath dams it has operated for decades.

In an order signed Monday, U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle said the evidence demonstrates that Alcoa has title to the segment of the Yadkin River in question.

Alcoa's dams powered a Stanly County aluminum smelter for most of the 20th century and once employed up to 1,000 workers. Since the plant closed in 2007, the company has sold the electricity to commercial customers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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