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North Carolina Senate Approves Replacement Map

The North Carolina state Senate has agreed to a new map of nearly half of its electoral districts to comply with a state court order that declared current boundaries partisan gerrymanders.

The Senate voted 38-9 on Monday night in favor of the new district lines, which were fashioned in committee last week. The plan now goes to the House, which already approved a replacement map of dozens of that chamber's districts.

The maps will be enacted once each is approved by both chambers. A three-judge panel has ordered legislators to approve them by Wednesday, after which the judges will review the work.

North Carolina Legislators Finalize More 'Mini-Budget' Bills

A North Carolina budget veto has slowed state government for months, so lawmakers have sent Gov. Roy Cooper more stand-alone legislation containing popular provisions from that spending plan.

Cooper now has four spending bills on his desk that address school and prison safety, disaster relief and testing sexual assault evidence kits. All received unanimous support. The school and rape kit bills got final legislative approval with House votes late Monday.

Rev. Carlton Eversley, Winston-Salem Civil Rights Advocate, Dies

Dr. Carlton Eversley, a longtime activist for civil rights in Winston-Salem has died.

Tributes are being posted on the social media page of Dellabrook Presbyterian Church, where Eversley was the senior pastor.

Eversley was vocal on racial issues in Winston-Salem, often raising concerns about the treatment of black people by local law enforcement. He called the use of force during the arrest of a middle school student last year, “a clear example of racism.”

He also advocated for the freedom of Darryl Hunt, who spent almost 20 years in prison before being exonerated in the rape and murder of Deborah Sykes.

Eversley had long been active in the Ministers' Conference of Winston-Salem & Vicinity. Earlier this year Dellabrook Presbyterian held an event celebrating his 35 years in the ministry.

NC Poison Control Says More Than 70 Kids Poisoned By E-Cigs

North Carolina Poison Control says nearly 75 children under age 5 have been poisoned by e-cigarettes and vaping products in 2019.

The News & Observer reports the group said in a news release that nearly 150 people have gotten sick from exposure to high levels of nicotine in e-cigarette products, with half of them younger than 5 years old.

The group says people can be exposed if they swallow the liquid from e-cigarettes or get it in their eyes or on the skin. Parents are told to keep e-cigarettes and vaping products out of the reach of children.

Cheerleading Squad On Probation After Trump Banner Displayed

A high school cheerleading squad in North Carolina is on probation after some cheerleaders posed with a banner supporting President Donald Trump before a football game.

Stanly County Schools Superintendent Jeff James told The Associated Press in an email Monday that the warning was levied by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

It happened before the Aug. 30 game at North Stanly High School, northeast of Charlotte. The banner read: "Trump 2020: Make America Great Again."

The superintendent said all North Carolina schools have a policy against displaying political signs.

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