Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign up.

North Carolina US House Candidate Faces Questions Over Choices

The Republican narrowly leading the country's last undecided congressional election wants North Carolina elections officials to overlook ballot manipulation in a rural county and declare him the winner. But Mark Harris will have to overcome testimony from a compelling witness — his son.

The GOP congressional candidate is expected to tell the state elections board on Thursday that it should certify his November victory and send him to Washington.

Harris has said he was surprised by the allegations that his campaign used a Bladen County political operative who collected ballots by the bundle and turned them in when he wanted. But the candidate's son testified Wednesday he'd warned his father about McCrae Dowless' operation since mid-2016.

Panel Backs Bill To Track North Carolina College Athlete Rights

A state legislative panel has forwarded a bill to the full General Assembly to create a commission focused on the rights of college student-athletes at North Carolina's public campuses.

The Legislative Commission on the Fair Treatment of College Student-Athletes voted Wednesday to send the proposal to the House and Senate for consideration. Panel chairman Lt. Gov. Dan Forest cast the deciding vote.

It would create a commission to create health and safety standards, a code of conduct for athletics officials and investigate athlete complaints. It would also create a trust fund to pay for the work, funded by revenue from schools' ticket sales.

North Carolina Transgender Inmate Denied Move To Women's Prison

A transgender woman convicted of insurance fraud is serving time at a men's prison in North Carolina despite her repeated requests to transfer to women's housing.

The News and Observer reports 37-year-old Kanautica Zayre-Brown is believed to be the state's only post-operative transgender prisoner. But the state recognizes her as a man and by her birth name, which was legally changed.

Imprisoned as a habitual felon in 2017, Zayre-Brown says she constantly fears being assaulted.

Autopsy: Pen Not Properly Closed When Lion Killed Intern

An autopsy report says an intern at a North Carolina animal preserve was killed by a lion whose pen wasn't properly closed.

WRAL-TV reports authorities were told the lion was able to enter the same space as 22-year-old Alex Black because a large ball prevented the lion's pen from closing.

Black was attacked by the lion at Conservators Center in Caswell County in December, and the report says she died from significant blood loss. Responding authorities killed the lion.

Aggie Pride! A&T Football Honored By North Carolina Leaders

Gov. Roy Cooper and legislators have honored the North Carolina A&T State University football team for another championship season.

Aggie players, staff and school leaders were in Raleigh on Wednesday to meet with Cooper at the Executive Mansion. Later in the day they attended ceremonies in the House and Senate chambers at the Legislative Building.

The Greensboro school won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title, then a third Celebration Bowl victory in four years with a 24-22 victory over Alcorn State in Atlanta. That bowl win crowned A&T the Historically Black Colleges and Universities national champion for a second year in a row.

300x250 Ad

300x250 Ad

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

Donate