Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign up.
House Democrats Disappointed Policy Ideas Were Ignored
North Carolina House Democrats are unhappy much of their favored legislation and policy preferences were ignored by Republican counterparts as a key parliamentary deadline passed this week.
Democrats have 10 more seats this year, which should give them and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper more leverage. But House Minority Leader Darren Jackson of Raleigh said Thursday that didn't prevent majority Republicans from including more corporate tax cuts and falling short on education spending in their state budget bill.
Jackson also said at a Legislative Building news conference that there are enough votes to uphold Cooper's veto of legislation addressing live births after unsuccessful late-term abortions.
Democrats also lamented inaction on their proposed gun restrictions, new redistricting methods and Medicaid expansion. Expansion still could be a key element in negotiations with Cooper.
Sexual Consent Bill Fails in North Carolina Senate
A bill addressing sexual consent has died in the North Carolina Senate, but supporters remain hopeful.
The legislation would have made it illegal to continue to have sex with someone once they have told the other person to stop.
Democratic State Senator Jeff Jackson was one of 12 co-sponsors of Senate Bill 563. A spokesman for the senator said no clear reason was given for the bill's demise.
The News and Observer reports that despite the failure of the Senate measure, it's possible a similar provision could be added to another piece of legislation.
Without a sexual consent directive, North Carolina would remain the only state in the country where someone cannot be charged with rape for ignoring requests to stop a sexual act.
Carolina Panthers Offered $120M In Tax Breaks To Relocate
The South Carolina Senate has agreed to provide $120 million in tax breaks to the Carolina Panthers to move their practice fields and team headquarters out of North Carolina.
The 27-15 vote Thursday came after contentious debate with several senators questioning whether public money should be given to a billionaire NFL owner and whether the $3.8 billion proposed economic benefit of the new facility is wildly exaggerated.
The bill, enthusiastically backed by Gov. Henry McMaster, would exempt the Panthers from paying state income taxes for players, coaches and other employees for 15 years as long as they use the money to build their new complex near Rock Hill.
The team will continue to play games 15 miles north in Charlotte, North Carolina.
UNC-Charlotte Graduation Held Days After Fatal Shooting
The University of North Carolina-Charlotte is holding graduation ceremonies for almost 5,000 students just 10 days after a gunman stormed a classroom and killed two people while wounding four others.
UNC-Charlotte on Friday graduates students from its business, architecture and health careers colleges. Graduation for the university's education, computing, engineering and liberal arts colleges is Saturday.
Police say a gunman carrying a pistol and a bagful of bullets burst into a class that he'd dropped and opened fire on students on the last day they were meeting.
Twenty-two-year-old Trystan Terrell is charged with first-degree murder.
North Carolina Town To Get Beach Access For Handicapped
A North Carolina coastal town is set to unveil its first fully handicapped beach access.
Officials in Kill Devil Hills say a grand opening and dedication ceremony is set for Monday at 10 a.m.
Improvements to the beach access include a wooden handicap ramp as well as several fixed position mats and roll out mats to accommodate wheelchair entry onto the beach.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad