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Excessive Partisanship Claimed In North Carolina Maps Suit
Another redistricting lawsuit has been filed in North Carolina, this one challenging General Assembly boundaries that Democrats and election reform advocates say are illegally tainted by excessive favoritism toward Republicans.
Common Cause NC, the state Democratic Party and voters sued GOP mapmakers Tuesday in Wake County court.
Partisan gerrymandering claims against state legislative lines are similar to those Common Cause and the party filed two years ago in federal court over state congressional districts. Federal judges have twice ruled the congressional map violated protections for Democratic voters. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to hear an appeal in that case.
Tuesday's lawsuit is different because it focuses on the North Carolina Constitution.
Ag Chief Needs Entire $250M Requested For Farmers' Aid
North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler says his agency needs the full $250 million he requested for cash payments to farmers with destroyed crops and dead livestock from Hurricane Florence and another storm.
The General Assembly directed Troxler last month to create an "Agricultural Disaster Program" for losses incurred in counties where federal disaster declarations are in place. But lawmakers haven't yet appropriated money for the aid. They reconvene Nov. 27, and Troxler says he'd like checks cut for farmers early next year so they can be ready for growing seasons.
NC Recruiters Had Hope For Amazon Jobs That Went To NYC, DC
North Carolina business recruiters say they heard from Amazon last month about the potential for the Raleigh area landing the tech giant's second headquarters and weren't told the 50,000 jobs would go instead to New York City and Arlington, Virginia.
Officials with North Carolina's top two recruiting agencies said Tuesday they last heard from Amazon last month and weren't told they'd been scratched from consideration.
The state Commerce Department and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina didn't release details Tuesday of the millions in tax credits and other incentives offered to lure the tech jobs that Amazon said will pay an average of $150,000 a year.
FBI Raises Reward In Case Of Kidnapped North Carolina Teen
The FBI has raised its reward for information in the case of a missing North Carolina teenager who was kidnapped outside her home.
Agent Andy de la Roche told a news conference Tuesday that the agency is raising its reward to $25,000 for information on the disappearance of 13-year-old Hania Noelia Aguilar. The state of North Carolina is already offering a $5,000 reward.
De la Roche said the agency wants either information leading to the girl's whereabouts, or for information leading to the people responsible for Aguilar's disappearance.
Records: FBI Met With Man Accused Of Threatening Synagogue
Court records say the FBI met with a North Carolina man days before he was accused of threatening a synagogue this month.
The News & Observer reports court documents say 20-year-old William Josephus Warden told agents, "Jews are running the country on the backs of the working class white male." He also said Jews should be eliminated and he was part of an area anti-Semitic group. He's charged with ethnic intimidation.
Records say Cary police learned of Warden last month when an investigation connected him to a batch of "Aryan Youth" flyers. A detective and agent then met with Warden, whose mother is a judge and says he suffers with a mental illness.
New York Man Killed In Industrial Accident In North Carolina
Authorities have identified a man who was killed in an industrial accident in North Carolina.
The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office said 44-year-old William A. Villatoro of Bayshore, New York, was part of a team contracted to remove metal from the vacant MillerCoors plant in Eden. A news release from the sheriff's office said Villatoro was using a cutting saw Monday when it kicked back and hit him in his upper body.
Authorities said Villatoro was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff's office said foul play isn't suspected.
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