AP-NC-ARRESTS OUTSIDE JAIL
Police arrest 43 people outside jail in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities in North Carolina have arrested 43 people outside a jail in Charlotte. The Charlotte Observer reports that the arrests were made Thursday afternoon outside the Mecklenburg Detention Center. Volunteers and activists had set up tables to provide food and water to people leaving the jail. They also say they were helping former inmates to find housing and mental health services. But officials with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office said visitors and employees were harassed while jail operations were impeded. Sheriff Garry McFadden had told the group to leave. Authorities said the group refused and were arrested hours later.
FATAL HELICOPTER CRASH
Authorities: Pilot killed in North Carolina helicopter crash
GOLDSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a helicopter pilot from Virginia has died after his aircraft struck a power line and crashed in North Carolina. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the helicopter went down in a field north of Goldsboro just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday. News outlets report that North Carolina Highway Patrol identified the pilot as Eugene John Kritter III of Culpepper, Virginia. Investigators say he was the only person on board. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating to determine the cause of the crash.
BC-NC-NEW POLICE POLICY-FAYETTEVILLE
Fayetteville police have new policy and more training
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — The Fayetteville Police Department has a new policy that will require officers to intervene if they witness fellow officers using excessive force. Police Chief Gina Hawkins told The Fayetteville Observer that the department adopted the policy earlier this month. There also will be racial sensitivity training for officers in July. The changes followed in the wake of the death of George Floyd. The black man died after a Minneapolis police officer placed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Three other officers looked on.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina to test all prison inmates, staff members
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina has announced plans to test all state prison inmates for COVID-19 over the next two months. The move to do so comes after a court ordered the state to come up with a plan to offer a coronavirus test to its entire prison population. Officials say the testing will cost an estimated $3.3 million and take at least 60 days. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said all staff members also be tested. Statewide, numbers released Thursday from North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services showed 1,333 new cases of coronavirus and a third straight day of record-high hospitalizations at 857.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-REOPENING
Bill to reopen N.C. bowling alleys, rinks head to Cooper
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislators have sent another bill to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper designed to overturn parts of his executive order for COVID-19 that’s kept several types of retail businesses shuttered for months. The General Assembly finalized a measure to let bowling alleys and ice and roller rinks to reopen at a reduced capacity. Cooper has already vetoed one measure that sought to reopen bars by letting them serve patrons outdoors. Another bill already on his desk would benefit gyms in addition to bars. Cooper has said he’ll announce next week whether he’ll ease further commerce limits when his current order expires June 26.
UNC PRESIDENT
Board member: Hans to become next UNC system president
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s community college system president will become the next head of the University of North Carolina’s 17-campus system. A UNC Board of Governors member said on Thursday that Peter Hans will be introduced on Friday as the UNC system president. A search committee was formed last year to determine a permanent successor to Margaret Spellings, who left in early 2019. Interim president Bill Roper is set to leave the temporary job at the end of this month. Hans is no stranger to UNC system administration, previously serving on the Board of Governors and as its chairman from 2012 to 2014.
BOND REFERENDUM
N.C. House revises, OKs education, road bond referendum
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House has given tentative approval to let voters decide whether the state should borrow $3.1 billion for public school, higher education and road construction. The legislation getting overwhelming House support on Thursday would put the debt package question on the November statewide ballot. The bill likely will go to the Senate next week, where Republicans remain skeptical about incurring more debt. GOP leaders at the General Assembly hope to adjourn its annual session by next weekend. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has supported the idea of a statewide bond package. Voters approved a statewide bond package in 2016.
ELECTION 2020-DEMOCRATIC FUNDRAISING
Progressive donor group announces $59M vote-by-mail campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) — A network of deep-pocketed progressive donors is launching a $59 million effort to increase the number of racial minorities who vote by mail in November. Many Democrats view the step as crucial to turning out the party’s base during the coronavirus pandemic. The nonprofit arm of the donor network Way to Win is working with philanthropic organizations including the Ford Foundation and George Soros’ Open Society to raise the money. The network has already donated $50 million this cycle. But the group says more is needed because the coronavirus has led to a shortage of poll workers, contributed to long lines and forced the closure of some polling sites.
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