GOP, Dems Battle Over North Carolina Early Voting Rules
The swing state of North Carolina could be pushed in a Republican or Democratic direction when the GOP-led State Board of Elections meets Thursday to finalize early voting plans for a third of the state's counties.
Voting rights activists are watching closely and preparing to return to court if the board makes it harder for reliably Democratic voters to cast ballots. They say this would violate a federal appellate ruling that found Republican leaders intentionally discriminated against African-Americans with a 2013 law designed to keep them in power.
Clinton Visits North Carolina For Rally, Fundraiser
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is coming to North Carolina for a rally at a historically black college and to raise campaign funds.
Clinton's public event was scheduled for midday Thursday at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte. Her campaign says she'll keep talking about national security issues and how Donald Trump lacks the temperament to be commander in chief.
While in Charlotte, Clinton also was expected to attend a private fundraiser for the Hillary Victory Fund, which benefits the Democratic National Committee and state party organizations.
Pollution Woes Prompt Pension Fund To Dump Duke Energy Stock
One of the world's largest investment funds is dumping its shares in Duke Energy Corp. because it sees too much risk in what it called the largest U.S. electric company's history of environmental damage.
The decision to bar investments in Charlotte-based Duke Energy was announced Wednesday by the arm of Norway's central bank that manages the pension fund created by the Scandinavian country's oil wealth.
Norges Bank said it is excluding investments in Duke Energy and three operating subsidiaries.
The fund's ethics advisory council cited the U.S. utility's years of environmentally harmful discharges from pits at North Carolina coal-burning power plants storing waste byproducts.
Early Estimate: Hermine Caused $2.5M Damage In Dare County
A preliminary assessment shows Tropical Storm Hermine caused damages of at least $2.5 million to 657 buildings in Dare County, including a home that was destroyed.
The assessment shows one home in Colington and six in Duck suffered major damage, and one in Southern Shores was destroyed by falling trees. One building in Kitty Hawk is uninhabitable.
Hatteras Island suffered $1.5 million in damage, the most in the county.
The estimate doesn't include debris removal or damage to personal property such as boats and cars. An updated estimate is expected this week.
Turning A Corner: DMV Drops Road Sign ID Test For Renewals
North Carolina motorists trying to renew their driver licenses no longer have to worry about red octagons, yellow diamonds and curvy arrows.
Beginning this month, The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles will no longer require drivers trying to renew their licenses to retake a test on the identification of road signs. DMV will continue to require sign and symbol testing for people trying to get their North Carolina driver license for the first time.
Vision testing will be conducted only as part of a required in-person, in-office license renewal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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