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Gore Visits Stokes County To Raise Environmental Awareness

Former Vice President Al Gore was in Stokes County on Monday to raise awareness about several environmental issues. His visit is part of The Poor People's Campaign and Moral Monday movement, led by former NAACP President William Barber.

The two-day tour of North Carolina focused on talking directly with residents impacted by toxic waste contamination, among other things.

Gore stopped in Walnut Cove to talk to people who live near Duke Energy's Belews Creek plant. Many residents there want the company to excavate all of the coal ash stored near the site, because they believe it's making them sick.

Gore encouraged communities to come together to push for better policies.

Gore also visited Greensboro on Monday night where he spoke at an environmental forum at Shiloh Baptist Church.

VF Corp. To Spin Off Denim Division, Move HQ To Denver

A Greensboro-based company is breaking off its longstanding denim division and moving its headquarters out west.

VF Corporation, known for making Wrangler and Lee jeans, is spinning off that part of the company to focus on the faster-growing outdoor and activewear business.

The new denim company will remain in Greensboro, while VF headquarters will head to Denver.

The move comes as consumers increasingly drift away from jeans to other alternatives such as yoga pants. VF's non-denim brands include The North Face, Timberland and Jansport.

The company says local employment will remain at current levels.

The move needs final approval from board members, and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019.     

Judge Hopeful In Ballot Fight Gets 2nd Court Win

A North Carolina Supreme Court candidate fighting to have his party affiliation listed on the November ballot has won a second victory in court.

A Wake County Superior Court judge halted enforcement of a new law removing certain judicial candidates' party affiliation. The preliminary injunction issued Monday will remain in place until two lawsuits over the issue can be resolved.

Finalized earlier this month by Republicans in the legislature, the law says a judicial candidate's party affiliation won't be listed next to the candidate's name if it was changed less than 90 days before filing for a race. 

State Supreme Court candidate Chris Anglin says the law targets him. He was a registered Democrat three weeks before entering the race as a Republican. Republicans accuse Anglin of being a Democratic "plant" trying to split the vote in the race. 

North Carolina Man Sues Sheriff, Deputy Over Taped Beating

A North Carolina man is suing a sheriff and deputy over a videotaped beating by law enforcement officers.

Lawyers for Kyron Hinton filed the lawsuit Monday in Wake County arguing his rights were violated during the April 3 beating.

The episode resulted in criminal charges against Wake County Master Deputy Cameron Broadwell and two former state troopers. Hinton also filed suit against the state Highway Patrol.

Monday's lawsuit said Hinton suffered bite wounds from a law enforcement canine handled by Broadwell, along with injuries from being hit by officers. The lawsuit argues that Broadwell's use of the dog escalated the beating.

Woman At Staples: Not Shoplifting, Just Pregnant With Twins

A manager at an office supply store in North Carolina has been fired after a pregnant woman shopping there was confronted about what she was concealing beneath her shirt: "Twins," she said.

Sherell Bates tells WSOC-TV she was paying for back-to-school supplies Friday when a police officer had her step aside and explain what was under her shirt.

Bates says she responded that she's 34 weeks pregnant with a boy and a girl, but he didn't believe her. So she lifted up her shirt to expose her belly.

Staples says the manager apologized and her purchases were refunded.

Says Bates: "No mom should have to go through that."

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