AP-NC-BEAR-HIBERNATION WARNING

State issues warning as bears go into forage overdrive

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is warning that bears in the state are preparing for hibernation and will be foraging  for food outside of their normal ranges. The commission said in a news release last week that bears will likely be venturing closer to homes and campgrounds as well as trying to cross busy highways to find food. And they will be protective of the food they find. The commission said that people need to take measures to protect themselves and the bears. That includes storing trash in the garage, removing bird feeders and cleaning grills. And of course, never purposefully feed a bear.

BC-US-ELECTION 2020-SOULS TO THE POLLS

Black churches mobilizing voters despite virus challenges

NEW YORK (AP) — Voter mobilization in Black church communities will look much different in 2020, due in large part to the coronavirus pandemic that has infected millions across the U.S. and has taken a disproportionate toll on Black America. In recent election cycles, predominantly Black congregations across the country have launched get-out-the-vote campaigns commonly referred to as “souls to the polls.” This year, churches are organizing socially distant caravans with greatly reduced capacity for early voting and Election Day ballot-casting. Volunteers are phone-banking and canvasing the homes of church members to ensure mail-in and absentee ballots are requested and delivered before the deadlines.

DEAD BODY DISOVERED

Person discovers dead body at a creek in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The body of a man was discovered by a person walking near a creek in North Carolina’s capital city. WRAL-TV reports Raleigh police were then called to the scene at Rocky Branch Creek and found the man floating face down in the body of water Sunday morning. Raleigh police did not release further details. The news outlet reports that the man appeared to a resident of a center that houses men who are homeless.

TREE BORER RESEARCH

Tennessee State researchers, others study wood-boring beetle

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A group of researchers from Tennessee State University will help develop new ways to manage a wood-boring beetle that attacks trees. The university says it has received a $6 million federal grant to lead a nationwide team of researchers on the project. The funds come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The researchers in the College of Agriculture will focus on the flatheaded borer. Other researchers are from the University of Tennessee, Rutgers University, North Carolina State University, Clemson University, University of Georgia, USDA-Agriculture Research Service-Byron, University of Florida, Texas A&M, University of California and Oregon State University.

AP-US-TROPICAL-WEATHER

‘We can’t lose our momentum:’ Louisiana vows to rebuild

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Utility crews in Louisiana are scrambling to restore power and residents in the besieged southwest part of the state are vowing to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Delta. Louisiana officials on Sunday attributed the deaths of an 86-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman to the hurricane. Gov. John Bel Edwards said the St. Martin Parish man died in a fire linked to a generator. State officials said the Iberia Parish woman died in a fire caused by a natural gas leak. The remnants of Delta were blamed for a drowning in Florida. Delta made landfall Friday before moving over Lake Charles, still reeling from Hurricane Laura.

TROPICAL WEATHER-THE LATEST

The Latest: Louisiana officials announce 2nd death in storm

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana officials have announced a second death from Hurricane Delta. The state Department of Health says a 70-year-old woman in Iberia Parish died in a fire likely caused by a natural gas leak following damage from the storm. Gov. John Bel Edwards said earlier Sunday that an 86-year-old man from St. Martin Parish died in a fire that started after he refueled a power generator in a shed. Delta made landfall Friday evening in southwest Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane and then began weakening quickly over land. It came weeks after Hurricane Laura battered the same region. Laura claimed 32 lives, though only seven of the deaths came the day that the hurricane struck. Many others were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.

AP-US-SUPREME-COURT-BARRETT-SENATORS-TO-WATCH

Graham, Harris share spotlight as Barrett hearings begin

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are vowing a quick confirmation for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. The GOP is rushing to put conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett on the high court before the Nov. 3 election. The process starts Monday with hearings before the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee. The hearings are likely to be a hybrid involving in-person questioning and some participation via video after two GOP senators on the committee contracted the novel coronavirus. Some Democrats have refused to meet with Barrett, and the hearings are likely to be highly contentious, although not as explosive as hearings two years ago to consider Brett Kavanaugh.

CHILD KILLED

Police: Man charged in death of 4-year-old struck by truck

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a North Carolina man faces criminal charges in the death of a 4-year-old child who was struck by a truck. WRAL-TV reports that the driver, 42-year-old Cary Theron Moore, was taken into custody at the scene of Saturday evening’s collision. A news release from the town of Holly Springs says police charged Moore with misdemeanor death by vehicle and failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision. Police do not believe the driver was intoxicated.