TROPICAL WEATHER

Tropical Storm Isaias drives wild weather up Interstate 95

SOUTHPORT, N.C. (AP) — Tropical Storm Isaias is spawning tornadoes and dumping rain during an inland march up the U.S. East Coast. At least one person was killed and several people are missing after one of those tornadoes flattened a mobile home park in Windsor, North Carolina. Isaias made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, shortly before midnight. The National Hurricane Center is predicting heavy rain, and more tornadoes as Isaias moves into New England Tuesday evening, and says flash-flooding is possible in urban areas all along the Interstate-95 corridor. More than 700,000 customers have lost electricity.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA-COOPER

Cooper, Forest lawyers argue over governor’s COVID-19 powers

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest are heading to court over whether some of Cooper’s COVID-19 executive orders should be blocked because other elected officials didn’t consent to them. A state judge scheduled online arguments for Tuesday between lawyers for Forest and Cooper, who are also running against each other for governor this fall. The Republican lieutenant governor sued the Democratic incumbent last month, saying Cooper’s orders shuttering businesses and mandating face coverings needed the concurrence of the Council of State. Cooper contends he has other emergency powers that let him act unilaterally.

COOPER-CABINET

Parrish named acting secretary of N.C. technology agency

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A deputy within North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s agency managing information technology for state government is now the department’s acting secretary. Cooper announced this week that Thomas Parrish IV will fill the Cabinet position vacated by Tracy Doaks, who was secretary briefly before taking another job at a nonprofit. Parrish has most recently been serving as deputy chief information officer within the Department of Information Technology, and has had 27 years of local and state government experience. The “acting secretary” title means Parrish won’t be subject for now to any confirmation vote by the state Senate.

BC-NC-POLICE SHOOTING-NORTH CAROLINA

Police: Officer-involved shooting leaves one dead

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina say that one person is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Mooresville. Mooresville police spokeswoman Kim Sellers said in an email that the incident occurred Sunday night. She wrote that officers had responded to a residence for a domestic incident that reportedly involved an assault. One fatality occurred after police arrived. Sellers said that the North Carolina’s State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident. No further details were released. Mooresville is located north of Charlotte.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-UTILITY BILLS

North Carolina county to help people with utility bills

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Officials in a North Carolina county have set aside money to help families who are late in paying their utility bills due to COVID-19. The News & Observer of Raleigh reports Wake County will give up to $500 per household to help residents pay their overdue bill. County officials say the $5 million, which comes from the federal Coronavirus Air Relief and Economic Security Act, should help nearly 10,000 families. Applicants must have “suffered financially from COVID-19,” be Wake County residents and be able to submit their unpaid utility bills.

RULES COMMITTEE

N.C. Rep. Destin Hall named to share duties on rules panel

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A second-term North Carolina Republican legislator is moving up the state House leadership ladder by taking some of the reins of the powerful House Rules Committee. Speaker Tim Moore announced on Monday that Rep. Destin Hall of Caldwell County will co-chair the committee with veteran Rep. David Lewis, who announced last month he’s not seeking reelection this fall. The rules committee manages the flow of legislation in the chamber. Hall’s elevation sends a signal that the attorney would be Moore’s choice to succeed Lewis should Republicans retain control of the chamber following the November elections.

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