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As Republicans Seek Override, Cooper Makes Budget Offer

The fight over the North Carolina state budget continues as Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper made a counteroffer to the two-year plan written by Republicans that he's already vetoed.

But GOP leaders believe they may locate enough votes to override his veto. House Republicans still were trying on Tuesday to persuade enough Democratic colleagues to go against the governor.

Cooper told reporters earlier Tuesday about his counteroffer. He still wants to expand Medicaid, block a GOP provision to cut corporate franchise taxes and halt the growth of taxpayer-funded scholarships for children to attend private schools.

Senate leader Phil Berger says he won't negotiate with Cooper unless he stops insisting on Medicaid expansion.

Murphy Wins North Carolina GOP Congressional Primary Runoff

A urologist and state legislator is the Republican nominee for a North Carolina congressional district seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Walter Jones Jr.

Voters in Tuesday's 3rd District GOP primary runoff chose Dr. Greg Murphy of Greenville over Joan Perry, a pediatrician and first-time candidate. They were the top vote-getters in the April primary.

Murphy advances to the September special election to face Democratic nominee Allen Thomas and two other candidates. That winner completes the remainder of Jones' two-year term.

North Carolina Absentee Request Changes OK'd By Senate

Receiving and casting mail-in absentee ballots in North Carolina could take longer but be more secure in legislation that's cleared one General Assembly chamber.

The Senate gave its final approval on Tuesday to the bipartisan measure, which was developed in response to accusations of absentee ballot "harvesting," particularly in last year's 9th Congressional District race.

The bill effectively creates a new step in the request process. An approved amendment develops a statewide ballot request form that contains a unique identifier to the person seeking to vote. Lists of ballot requesters will remain confidential.

Forest To Kick Off NC Gubernatorial Campaign Next Month

North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest will formally begin his 2020 campaign for governor next month at a weekend rally.

Forest's campaign committee says the Aug. 17 event will be held at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds.

Forest is a Raleigh architect who was first elected lieutenant governor in 2012. He won re-election four years later and is the highest-ranking GOP executive branch official in North Carolina government since Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's 2016 victory. Cooper is seeking re-election.

Principal Architect Of African American Museum Dies

The architect who designed buildings ranging from local libraries to the National Museum of African American History and Culture has died in North Carolina. Phil Freelon was 66 years old and had suffered from ALS for several years.

Spokesman and friend Michael Reilly says Freelon died Tuesday in Durham.

Freelon was a native of Philadelphia who worked for years at architectural firms in Texas and North Carolina. 

He was the principal architect for the African American history museum, which opened in September 2016 in Washington, D.C.

A service will be held Sept. 28 in Durham. Survivors include his wife, the singer Nnenna Freelon; and three children.

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