AP-US-ELECTION-2020-STATE-POLITICAL-POWER
Republicans retain power in states despite Democratic push
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Republicans and Democrats spent millions of dollars to wage an intense campaign for control of state capitols. When it’s all said and done, the composition of state legislatures and governors’ offices will look a lot like it did before Tuesday’s elections. Democrats failed in many of their top-targeted states to flip control of legislative chambers. Republicans, meanwhile, picked up the Montana governorship and appeared to gain the New Hampshire legislative chambers. The National Conference of State Legislatures says it turned out to be a status quo election. That means Republicans generally will continue to hold greater power over redistricting and to enact conservative economic and social policies.
AP-VA-GREAT WHITE SHARK-KATHERINE
Katherine, a massive great white shark, reappears off coast
BUXTON, N.C. (AP) — A massive great white shark who often swims off of North Carolina’s coast has kept an active satellite tag longer than any other of her kind. The Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday that scientists tagged the now-famous shark seven years ago off Cape of Cod. The shark, named Katherine, was recently spotted swimming hundreds of miles off the coast of Virginia on Monday. It was the first evidence of her whereabouts in about a year and a half. Katharine is 14 feet, 2 inches long and weighs 2,300 pounds. She has spent a large part of her life off the Outer Banks.
AP-NC-POLLING PLACE-ARMED MAN
Police looking for armed man arrested at voting site
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Police say a man who was arrested at a North Carolina voting site on Election Day is facing additional charges after he went to the site for a third time. A news release from Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said officers were told that 36-year-old Justin Dunn, who had been recently released from jail, had returned to the polling site Tuesday night. Police said Dunn wore a holstered gun when he voted Tuesday morning, but was asked to leave the polling place after casting his ballot following complaints from others who called police and witnesses who said they felt intimidated. Dunn left, but then returned and was arrested.
AP-NC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA-INMATE DIES
North Carolina inmate who tested positive for COVID-19 dies
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — State officials say an 80-year-old North Carolina inmate with pre-existing conditions and a positive COVID-19 test has died. A news release from the N.C. Department of Public Safety says the unidentified inmate died at the Central Prison hospital on Tuesday. According to the news release, the inmate tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 14 and was in the hospital when his condition worsened. The department didn’t specify what the pre-existing conditions were. The department reports the death was the third at the prison related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 21st in the state prison system.
ELECTION 2020-SENATE-NORTH CAROLINA
Tillis-Cunningham US Senate race too early to call
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham is too early to call, with many votes yet to be counted. Tillis led Cunningham by nearly 97,000 votes from among more than 5.4 million votes counted through early Wednesday. There were still outstanding mail-in absentee ballots and an unknown number of provisional ballots cast. Tillis celebrated what he called a victory in a speech to supporters Tuesday night. The Associated Press hasn’t yet declared a winner in the race. Cunningham’s campaign manager said Wednesday the campaign is letting the vote count continue.
ELECTION 2020-LEGISLATURE-NORTH CAROLINA
NC Republicans celebrate preserving legislative majorities
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republicans are celebrating the preservation of their majorities in both General Assembly chambers. Their victory allows them next year to redraw state and congressional districts based on the 2020 census. Those districts could be in place for a decade. Republicans withstood a massive effort by Democrats inside the state and nationally to wrest control of the chambers. Republicans took back several seats they gave up in 2018. But Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s reelection means he can keep using his veto stamp as a check on GOP legislative activities.
AP-US-SCI-GORILLA-FAMILY-FEUDS
A crowded mountain can make silverback gorillas more violent
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gorillas are highly sociable animals – up to a point. A crowded mountain can make silverbacks more violent. Researchers who analyzed 50 years of demographic and behavioral data from Rwanda found that as the number of mountain gorilla family groups living in a habitat increased, so did the number of violent clashes among them. This slowed population growth. Scientists say understanding social and behavioral characteristics of a species should inform conservation efforts, as well as ecological considerations. The research was published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.
ELECTION 2020-GOVERNOR-NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper wins reelection
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has been reelected, defeating Republican challenger Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. The mild-mannered governor has often been reluctant to criticize President Donald Trump. He has been generally praised for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. However, some complained he was slow to reopen K-12 public schools and certain parts of the economy. Forest often criticized the shuttering of small businesses, including bars, bowling alleys and gyms.
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