Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign-up.
Legislators Want More Schools To Make Security Plans
Some North Carolina legislators want more schools to provide basic building information and access to local and state law enforcement to better respond to emergencies or violent acts on campus.
The General Assembly's emergency management oversight committee recommended several bills Thursday it wants approved when the legislature reconvenes next month.
One bill would require charter schools, regional schools and K-12 private schools receiving taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers to provide schematic building diagrams to authorities and to create risk management plans.
Another bill would encourage police to create citizen academies and volunteer programs to broaden public awareness of security issues.
New Courts Panel Chairman Succeeds Beleaguered House Member
A former appeals judge now in the legislature is the new chairman of a panel that recommends legislation on North Carolina's courts.
Gov. Roy Cooper's office confirmed Thursday he appointed Democratic Rep. Joe John of Raleigh last week. He succeeds Rep. Duane Hall of Raleigh, who resigned in March after only a few months at the position.
Hall's resignation came days after Cooper and other Democrats called on him to leave the General Assembly after a media report in which people alleged he used sexual innuendo and made unwanted sexual advances. Hall remains in the House seat and has a Democratic primary next month.
Radio, TV Hosts, Elected Officials Fill Conservative Event
Right-leaning media personalities along with several of North Carolina's top Republican elected officials are on the speaker's list for a conservative advocacy group's annual conference.
More than 400 people are expected to attend the two-day Conservative Leadership Conference beginning Friday at a Raleigh hotel and organized by the Civitas Institute.
Radio show host Dennis Prager and Greg Gutfeld of Fox News Channel planned to address the group, along with Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger. Current U.S. Rep. Mark Walker and former Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina also fill the conference agenda.
Study: Magnetic Fields Predict If Sea Turtles Are Related
Research from University of North Carolina biologists shows adult loggerhead sea turtles use Earth's magnetic fields to navigate back to beaches where they were hatched, and turtles that nest on beaches with similar fields are also genetically similar.
The News & Observer reports that a new study from biologists Kenneth J. Lohmann and J. Roger Brothers shows the fields are the strongest predictor of genetic similarity among nesting loggerheads regardless of how far away or dissimilar their home beaches are.
The finding supports the biologists' previous research indicating the turtles use magnetic fields and implies they sometimes mistakenly nest at a beach with a similar field, even if it's far from their home one.
First Gorilla At North Carolina Zoo Euthanized
The first gorilla to live at the North Carolina Zoo has been euthanized.
The Brookfield Zoo in Chicago said on its Twitter page that Ramar was euthanized on Thursday, calling it a difficult decision.
According to the Chicago zoo, Ramar was suffering from degenerative arthritis in his knees, had heart disease and had recently stopped eating
Ramar, who was 50, was brought to the N.C. Zoo in 1974 and lived there for 20 years before moving to zoos in Philadelphia and Miami.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad