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With Stalemate, Lawmakers, Groups To Speak Out On HB2 Fix
A new proposal to get rid of House Bill 2 appears stalled amid fighting between Republican lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. So groups on both sides of the issue are speaking out to try to loosen the knot.
GOP House members backing the proposal scheduled a Legislative Building news conference Tuesday to try to drum up support for it. The measure would delete HB2 but contain some add-ons that restrict how anti-discrimination protections can be approved.
Gay rights groups and their General Assembly supporters will hold their own event urging lawmakers to vote simply on repealing HB2.
Stein Highlighting Opioid Abuse In Social Media Initiative
Attorney General Josh Stein says he hopes a new social media initiative addressing the opioid abuse crisis in North Carolina will raise awareness about the problem and give hope to those trying to recover from its addiction.
Stein's office plans to host weekly "conversations" on Facebook and Twitter starting Tuesday, which is labeled North Carolina Addiction Recovery Day. Participants are urged to file posts attached with the hashtag "opioidsurvivor."
The Attorney General's Office said similar social media events will be held every Tuesday.
Protesters Call On Burr To Hold Town Hall
A demonstration was held outside Senator Richard Burr's Winston-Salem office for the second time this month.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports that about 100 protesters showed up on Monday calling on Burr to hold a town hall.
The demonstrators also demanded that the Republican senator vote against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
The protest was staged by the local chapter of the NAACP, in conjunction with similar demonstrations occurring at the offices of Representatives Virginia Foxx, Mark Walker, and other members of the state's congressional delegation.
Court May Strike Law Barring Sex Offenders From Social Media
The Supreme Court appears likely to strike down a North Carolina law that prohibits sex offenders from using Facebook and other social networking sites.
At least five justices suggested during arguments Monday they would rule for North Carolina resident Lester Packingham Jr. He was convicted of violating a 2008 law aimed at keeping sex offenders off internet sites children might use.
Justice Elena Kagan pointed out that the law is so broad it also prevents people from reading the Twitter accounts of President Donald Trump, all 50 governors and members of Congress.
Late NC Rep. Luebke Remembered For Politics, People
Colleagues of a longtime North Carolina House member who died last October recalled Paul Luebke as someone who loved politics and people and never hesitated from taking strong, principled stands.
The House passed a memorial resolution Monday honoring Luebke, a Durham Democrat who died at age 70 a year after announcing he had been diagnosed with lymphoma. Family and friends watched from the gallery as former allies and rivals praised his career.
Luebke was a sociology professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro who joined the House in 1991, rising to become the chief finance committee chairman.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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