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Aide: Cooper Was Never To Be Involved In Fund Distribution
Gov. Roy Cooper's office says it was never envisioned that he would decide who specifically benefited from $58 million paid into a fund by utilities building a natural gas pipeline through eastern North Carolina.
Republican legislators demanded Cooper's lobbyist answer written questions by Thursday about an agreement signed by Cooper's attorney and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Chief of Staff Kristi Jones responded instead.
The agreement directed money for environmental mitigation and economic development along the pipeline route. GOP lawmakers call it a "slush fund" to help Cooper's allies and passed legislation giving the money to schools. Cooper criticized the move Wednesday but will let the bill containing it become law.
After 30 Years, Unincorporated Community Annexed Into Walnut Cove
A predominantly black unincorporated community in Stokes County has been annexed into the town of Walnut Cove.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports the town's Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the annexation Tuesday. The decision caps 30 years of local petitions and a recent lawsuit alleging racial discrimination.
That suit was settled by a consent decree, resolving the dispute without an admission of liability.
Residents of the Walnut Tree community will now be able to participate in elections and receive local services including water, snow removal and trash pick-up.
Walnut Cove's population of nearly 1,400 people grows by about 75 residences with the annexation.
Leaders In North Carolina's Largest City Weigh 2020 GOP Bid
Government and civic leaders of North Carolina's largest city are considering a bid to host the 2020 Republican National Convention.
Charlotte was home for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The city put out a news release Thursday saying it's "evaluating options" to host the RNC as a precursor to submitting a proposal to the party.
About 35,000 delegates, media members and visitors came to the September 2012 Democratic convention, where President Barack Obama accepted his party's nomination for a second term. The release says the event had an economic impact of more than $163 million.
North Carolina Sheriff Cancels Re-Election Firearms Raffle
A North Carolina sheriff has canceled a re-election campaign firearms raffle that was to include the type of assault rifle used in Wednesday's Florida high school shooting.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Irwin Carmichael had scheduled the event for Saturday. A tweet featured a picture of 15 handguns and long guns, including three semi-automatic assault-style rifles.
In a statement on Thursday, Carmichael said in light of what happened and out of respect for families affected by the shooting, Saturday's gun raffle has been canceled. On Thursday, a tweet and a Facebook post announcing the raffle had been taken down.
North Carolina Health Officials Report 17 New Flu Deaths
State health officials say 17 more people have died from the flu in North Carolina, the fifth straight week in which more than 10 people have died from the virus.
There were no pediatric deaths in the latest report issued Thursday by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
The death toll for the 2017-18 season is now at 165. Of that total, 132 have died in the last five weeks.
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