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Cooper Unhappy Constitutional Amendments On Ballot, Not Bonds

Gov. Roy Cooper says he would have rather the Republican-led legislature put a statewide school bond package on ballots this fall, instead of several constitutional amendments that he considers "bad government."

Cooper told reporters Tuesday he was disappointed that lawmakers decided against putting a nearly $2 billion school borrowing measure up for a referendum, saying construction needs for local districts are great. A 2016 state study put school building and infrastructure needs at $8 billion over five years.

The General Assembly instead asked voters to consider six constitutional amendments. Cooper is not likely to work to pass any of them. 

The Fresh Market Announces It Will Close 15 Stores

A Greensboro-based grocery chain, The Fresh Market, has announced it will close 15 stores around the country, including one in North Carolina.

That location is in North Charlotte. The majority, though, will be in Illinois where four stores are affected.

In a statement, the company says this comes after an analysis of overall growth strategy and long-term financial performance.

Closures are expected to take place in two to four weeks.

Wake Forest Baptist Seeks To Resume Low-Risk Deliveries

A Triad hospital is asking the state for permission to resume traditional and low-risk deliveries.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center said in a news release Tuesday it has submitted an application to state regulators to renovate two floors of the main hospital with a late 2019 completion date.

The project would include expanding and updating the neonatal intensive care unit, which would have 51 private rooms, with two reserved for twins.

Chief executive Julie Ann Freischlag, who is also dean of the medical school, said the service would be available to all women in the Winston-Salem area.

Ten Firefighters Accused Of Setting Blazes In Eastern North Carolina

The volunteer firefighters allegedly set abandoned buildings and woods ablaze over an 18 month period.

In a statement, Robeson County Sheriff Ken Sealey says the firefighters were from the Fairmont Rural and Orrum fire departments near Lumberton, and were involved in a conspiracy to set the fires.

The investigation currently has about 90 arson-related charges. And according to the sheriff, there's more to come.

At this time none of the charged have been identified, and no motive has been released.

Sam Esposito, NC State Coach And Ex-White Sox, Dies At 86

Sam Esposito, the North Carolina State baseball coach who played in the 1959 World Series for the Chicago White Sox, has died. He was 81.

The school says on its website he died Monday at a nursing home in Newland. A cause of death was not given.

Esposito won 513 games for the Wolfpack and led them to four Atlantic Coast Conference baseball titles and third place in the 1968 College World Series.

He also was an assistant coach for 12 seasons on the men's basketball team.

Esposito played 10 seasons in the major leagues, nine with the White Sox as a utility infielder. He is a member of the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

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