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Murder, Robbery And Pirate Ships On Agenda For Supreme Court

The state's highest court will hear cases involving murder, robbery and a pirate ship when it holds sessions in eastern North Carolina as part of its bicentennial.

The court will hear two cases each in Halifax on Monday, in Greenville on Tuesday and in New Bern on Wednesday.

In Halifax, one of the cases will involve Robert Dwayne Lewis, whose conviction related to a string of robberies in Hoke County was vacated last year by the state Court of Appeals.

In Greenville, the justices will hear the case of Duval Lamont Bowman of Winston-Salem, whose murder conviction was overturned last year. And in New Bern, the justices will hear a case involving rights to photos and video taken of Queen Anne's Revenge, which was Blackbeard's flagship.

North Carolina 'Bathroom Bill' Sponsor Bidding For US House

A North Carolina legislator best known as the architect of the state's so-called bathroom bill three years ago is racking up contributions and endorsements as he runs in the repeat of a congressional race marred by a ballot fraud scandal.

State Sen. Dan Bishop of Charlotte is a leading contender among 10 candidates in this week's GOP primary in the 9th Congressional District special election. Some voters say their choice doesn't depend on Bishop's sponsorship of a 2016 state law that prevented anti-discrimination rules protecting LGBT residents.

North Carolina Woman Pursues Prosecution Of Sexual Abuser Decades Later

A woman who chose years ago not to pursue prosecution of the North Carolina man who sexually abused her says she supports the plea agreement that gave the abuser a one-year prison term.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that 63-year-old Arnold Ray Lasseter pleaded guilty on May 6 to six counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor. He received the one-year active sentence and a six-year suspended sentence. He must register as a sex offender for 30 years.

Assistant District Attorney Pansy Glanton says the woman told Forsyth County authorities in September 2016 that Lasseter sexually assaulted her in the 1980s.

North Carolina Charter School Seeks Split From For-Profit Firm

North Carolina's statewide school board is deciding whether to approve an online charter school's desire to break away from the for-profit company that helped it get off the ground.

The state Board of Education on Monday is expected to vote on whether to let North Carolina Connections Academy in Durham split from education company Pearson and become a locally run independent school.

Connections Academy and a second virtual charter managed by a different company opened in 2015. Both have received D grades for their academic performance for the past three years and are on the state's list of "continually low-performing schools."

Scholarships Given To Visit Tryon Palace, 1st State Capitol

Almost 2,000 students will receive scholarships to take a field trip to Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina's first permanent state capitol.

Tryon Palace officials say 1,775 students at 16 Title 1 schools will receive scholarships to visit the historic site. Title I schools meet certain guidelines for the number of students who are economically disadvantaged.

The Tryon Palace Foundation raised the money for the field trips with donations from individuals. The foundation president says the field trips are important because experiencing history is different from merely reading about it.

Agency Fires Worker Who Made False Claim About Golf Outing

A North Carolina agency that supports the homeless and needy has fired a worker who falsely claimed a PGA Tour golfer would host its charity golf outing.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission says Rob Hillmer claimed that he was a close relative of professional golfer Steve Stricker and had direct access to him.

Donors and players at the annual Rescue Mission Charity Golf Tournament were told that Stricker would host the May 2 event. Stricker was at his home in Wisconsin and posted on Twitter that he knew nothing of the tournament.

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