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Citing Tradition, Newby Criticizes Cooper Choice
North Carolina Republicans are unhappy with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's decision to elevate a sitting state Supreme Court justice to become chief justice over two other justices with more experience on the court.
The criticism of Cooper after Tuesday's pick of Associate Justice Cheri Beasley also came from one of the justices he didn't choose.
Associate Justice Paul Newby said Cooper refused to honor what he says is the tradition of naming the senior associate justice as chief justice. That would have been Newby, who accused Cooper of deciding to place "raw partisan politics over a nonpartisan judiciary."
Cooper said earlier Tuesday that he picked Beasley simply because she is "the right person at the right time."
Councilwoman Who Called Police Terrorists Leaves Commission
A North Carolina councilwoman has resigned from a state commission just after her appointment to another commission was rescinded and she was criticized for comparing police officers to terrorists.
The Charlotte Observer reports Charlotte City Council member LaWana Mayfield resigned from the Commission on Inclusion on Tuesday. Gov. Roy Cooper canceled her appointment to the state's Human Relations Commission last week.
Senate Republicans asked him to rescind the appointment, citing a 2018 tweet by Mayfield. It said being black in the U.S. under President Donald Trump "has created homegrown terrorist (sic) wearing blue uniforms."
Worker: DMV Headquarters Move Would Create Difficult Choices
A North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles employee says she and others shouldn't be forced to choose between work and family if DMV headquarters moves from Raleigh to Rocky Mount.
Nicole Hunter spoke Tuesday at a House committee examining plans to relocate the headquarters and potentially 400 positions. A law ordered DMV to leave its aging property in 2020 and seek leased property elsewhere. Rocky Mount space was the lowest bid. The Council of State still must finalize it.
Hunter says moving DMV to Rocky Mount would increase current worker commutes and cause conflicts with child care and elder care.
Priest Explains Why He Cancelled Speech By Black Lesbian
A Catholic priest has defended his decision to cancel a Black History Month speech by a high school's black lesbian alumna as well as his decision to cancel classes that day, saying he had to protect students from planned protests over the woman's views on gay marriage.
Immaculate Conception Church pastor Rev. Chris VanHaight described Durham City Councilwoman Vernetta Alston in news reports as "a strong black woman" but a "problematic" choice because she's a pro-gay marriage politician.
Alston has said the cancellation sends a "sad, regressive and life-altering message" to children.
Sub Teacher Tells Students Martin Luther King Killed Himself
A North Carolina substitute teacher has resigned after a student told his father that the teacher told his class that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was not assassinated but instead killed himself.
The News & Observer reports Billy Byrd also says his son told him the unidentified substitute music teacher told the class of minority students they were headed to prison because of their clothing. He said the teacher told the students they weren't real Christians if they didn't support President Donald Trump.
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