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Another Effort At 'Bathroom Bill' Fix Fizzles
Another effort to craft legislation to get rid of North Carolina's so-called "bathroom' bill" and halt more economic losses appears gone as Republicans and Democrats point fingers over whether an agreement ever existed.
The GOP-controlled legislature and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper have been trying to find a way to repeal House Bill 2 before the NCAA decides to leave the state out of hosting championship events through 2022. The NCAA had mentioned a deadline this week.
North Carolina House Tries New Tacks To Alter Calendar Law
North Carolina House members are taking new tacks to try to give school districts more leeway with instructional calendars.
A House education committee Tuesday backed two bills altering the law that generally requires traditional schools start no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday closest to June 11.
School boards want to be able to start earlier, but the tourism industry says it would discourage vacation rentals and take away teen workers.
One recommended bill would let districts in 20 counties start two weeks earlier for three years and the results studied. The second bill would let districts align with local community college schedules as long as the opening isn't before Aug. 15.
Cooper Choice To Run Health Agency Getting Senate Questions
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's pick to lead a massive North Carolina department overseeing Medicaid, mental health services and other programs is likely to get some tough questions from Senate Republicans scrutinizing her appointment.
The Senate Health Care Committee scheduled a confirmation hearing Wednesday for Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of health and human services. Cohen was a top administrator for then-President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, which many Republicans oppose.
NC Lawmaker Seeks Resignation Over Notary Public Commissions
A North Carolina legislator is demanding that Secretary of State Elaine Marshall resign, saying she issued more than 320 notary public commissions over nine years to people who have no legal residency in the U.S.
Pender County Republican Rep. Chris Mills made the demand in a statement on Tuesday. He said Marshall's office issued commissions to people holding DACA cards, a program started by the Obama administration that allows certain illegal aliens who entered the U.S. as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit.
Notaries public witness the signing of important documents.
Mills said if Marshall doesn't resign, he will initiate legislative action, including impeachment.
Ex-Greensboro Cop Receives Federal Indictment
A former Greensboro Police Department officer is facing charges after authorities say they found an illegally possessed firearm and other stolen goods at his home.
The Times-News of Burlington reports that 32-year-old William Zachary White of Pleasant Garden was indicted by a federal grand jury Monday on two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm. He had been arrested earlier in the month on charges related to his alleged involvement in a series of lawn equipment heists at John Deere dealers throughout the area.
White was terminated from the Greensboro PD on March 6.
WFU Benefactor Porter Byrum Dies At 96
Charlotte lawyer and Wake Forest University benefactor Porter Byrum has died.
Byrum owned a major Charlotte shopping center that he gave away in 2011. The Park Road Shopping Center was sold by his alma mater, Wake Forest University, along with Wingate University and Queens University of Charlotte.
The sale netted $82 million for the schools, with more than $50 million going to student scholarships at Wake Forest.
Byrum grew up in Wilmington and Edenton, and graduated from Wake Forest in 1942.
According to a press release, he was a member of the university's Law Board of Visitors and a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni award. The school's admissions and welcome center was named for him in 2011.
Byrum died Monday at the age of 96.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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