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Justices Affirm Ruling Striking NC Legislative Districts
The Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that struck down 28 state House and Senate districts in North Carolina because they violated the rights of black voters. But the justices rejected the court's order to redraw the districts and hold a special election.
The action by the justices Monday sends the matter back to the lower court, which could order new districts in time for the regular cycle of elections in 2018.
Democrats hope new district maps will help them break the Republican hold on the state legislature.
Cooper Urges Republicans To Put More Money In His Priorities
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper wants more money going to education, rural economic development and other needs in North Carolina's final spending plan than Republicans have approved in their rival budgets so far.
Cooper also told reporters on Monday that the GOP-dominated General Assembly is giving too much to tax cuts, particularly for the highest-wage earners and corporations.
Ruling Leaves No One On Merged NC Elections, Ethics Board
A new panel with no members is supervising North Carolina's elections, ethics, lobbying and other duties.
The changes under way Monday are part of a new state law that a three-judge panel last week cleared to take effect.
Gov. Cooper's office said he would appeal in hopes of blocking the law that takes away a chunk of his authority over managing elections.
But state elections board attorney Josh Lawson wrote Cooper's legal adviser Monday that the court ruling means that the old decision-making body is extinct and a new one has no members until Cooper appoints some.
Push To Move Up North Carolina Primaries Nears Last Hurdle
A bill to move up future primary elections for president and statewide offices in North Carolina could wind up on Gov. Cooper's desk this week if one last hurdle is cleared.
The House scheduled debate Tuesday on a measure to permanently change the primaries from a May date to one in March. The Senate already unanimously passed the bill in April.
The legislature shifted the 2016 primary to March 15 so the state could wield more influence over the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations.
Jurors Begin Deliberating In Gay Beating Trial
More than four years after Matthew Fenner said he was beaten by members of his North Carolina church for being gay, the fate of one of his ministers is in the hands of a jury.
Brooke Covington, a longtime minister at Word of Faith Fellowship in Spindale, North Carolina, is accused of leading the 2013 beating to expel Fenner's "homosexual demons."
Fenner said he was punched, choked and screamed at for two hours in the sanctuary in January 2013.
The jury deliberated for about an hour Monday and will resume deliberating Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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