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Ex-Attorney General Holder Visiting North Carolina For Democrats
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has gotten involved in North Carolina politics as head of a Democratic group, so he'll visit the state this week to support a Supreme Court candidate and legislative hopefuls.
Holder will attend a Charlotte news conference Monday with Democrat Anita Earls, who is trying to unseat Justice Barbara Jackson next month. He'll visit Democratic campaign offices in Huntersville later Monday and Greensboro on Tuesday. Workers there are trying to end Republican veto-proof majorities in the state House and Senate.
Ex-Governors Form Committee, Want Ads Against Amendments
The opposition by North Carolina's five living ex-governors to a pair of constitutional amendments on next month's ballot has expanded to the internet and through a referendum campaign committee.
The "Five Governors Committee" was formed last month to oppose referendums to swing powers over filling judicial vacancies and the state elections board from the executive branch to the General Assembly.
The Insider state government news service reports the group is raising money for ads. Former GOP Gov. Jim Martin declined to list a fundraising goal but says the governors have "got some work to do."
North Carolina Governor Marks Loss Of National Guard Soldier
North Carolina's governor is mourning the loss of a soldier who died in Afghanistan.
Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement late Friday that he offered the state's "deepest sympathy" to the loved ones and fellow soldiers of Sgt. James Allen Slape. The 23-year-old from Morehead City died Thursday from wounds caused by an improvised explosive device.
Slape was an explosive ordinance specialist who joined up in 2013. He is the 26th North Carolina Army National Guard soldier to be killed in action since September 2001.
Hundreds Still In Shelters After Florence
The havoc wreaked by Florence has not ended for hundreds of people still living in North Carolina shelters.
State emergency officials say more than 600 people remain in shelters.
That's down from nearly 22,000 when the storm arrived amid mandatory evacuation orders.
A shelter at Winston-Salem's Lawrence Joel Coliseum that at its peak assisted more than 400 evacuees closed Sept. 24.
Many others are benefiting from a government program that provides temporary housing such as hotel rooms while more permanent housing is located.
North Carolina and federal officials said this week more than $210 million in grants, payments and low-interest loans have been provided to state residents harmed by the storm.
Experts Predict Fish Kills Will Continue For Weeks In NC
The widespread fish kills that were likely caused by Hurricane Florence are expected to continue for weeks.
The Charlotte Observer reports that such fish kills often naturally occur following a major hurricane. The cause is not pollution from floodwaters but a lack of oxygen in the water.
The newspaper reviewed a report from North Carolina's Wildlife Resources Commission. Similar fish kills occurred after Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Hurricane Isabel in 2003.
Police: Pilot, 65, Has Died In A Single-Engine Plane Crash In Fancy Gap
Police in Virginia say a 65-year-old man has died after his single-engine plane crashed in the far western part of the state.
Virginia State Police said in a statement that the plane was reported missing shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday. The plane crashed near the town of Fancy Gap.
State police identified the deceased pilot as Ralph C. Young of Fayetteville, West Virginia. Young had been flying between Fayetteville and Elkin, North Carolina.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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