North Carolina News – December 15

North Carolina News – December 15

BC-NC-CASINO LAWSUIT

Judge agrees to speed up challenge against planned casino

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge has agreed to expedite a lawsuit that could stop a tribe from building a casino in North Carolina outside the city of Charlotte. The Charlotte Observer reports that District of Columbia District Judge James Boasberg agreed to expedite the suit on Monday. The suit is against the Catawba Indians and the Department of Interior. The Catawba want to build the Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain. The lawsuit was filed by the Eastern Band of the Cherokees. They have operated their own casinos in western North Carolina since 1997.

AP-NC-OUTER BANKS WINDFARM STUDY

Windfarm off Outer Banks expected to create nearly 200 jobs

COROLLA, N.C. (AP) — A wind farm that is scheduled to be built off North Carolina’s Outer Banks is projected to create nearly 200 full-time jobs in Virginia and North Carolina. The Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday that the projection comes from an economic study by alternative energy developer Avangrid Renewables. The Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind Project will be built roughly 27 miles off Corolla. Construction is set to begin in 2024. Building the windfarm is expected to create 800 jobs. And it will produce 193 full-time jobs in Virginia and North Carolina once it’s running. Those jobs will including turbine generator technicians and welders. Support companies and services could add hundreds more jobs.

OFFICER SHOT-INDICTMENT

Grand jury indicts man accused of killing NC police officer

GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) — A grand jury in North Carolina has indicted a man accused of fatally shooting a police officer who was responding to a call. Gaston Superior Court Clerk Roxann Rankin told The Charlotte Observer the Gaston County grand jury returned the indictment against Joshua Tyler Funk on Monday. Funk had been charged with murder for the death of Mount Holly police officer Tyler Herndon on Friday. Rankin says the indictment indicates the grand jury thinks there is enough evidence for a trial. She says a trial will happen when the courts resume activities. Funk’s first court appearance will be on Friday. Herndon’s funeral service will be held in Kings Mountain on Tuesday.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-NORTH CAROLINA

NC racial justice task force makes dozens of recommendations

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A task force commissioned by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has recommended far-reaching changes to police, criminal justice and court systems, with a goal of eliminating racial inequities. The report of the North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice was released Monday. There are 125 recommendations on topics ranging from police training and body cameras to the death penalty and decriminalizing marijuana. The panel began in the days following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody. Many recommendations would need General Assembly approval. A state House committee approved its own recommendations Monday, with an emphasis on police standards.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE-NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina awards 15 electoral college votes to Trump

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina has awarded its 15 electoral votes to President Donald Trump, following the will of the people in a state where the Republican won a narrow victory. The group of electors met Monday in Raleigh at the old Hall of the House of Representatives in the State Capitol Building. The pandemic has shifted the look of the Electoral College, with members and others in attendance required to get their temperature checked upon entry and wear a mask once inside. At a time when COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have risen across the state and country, fewer people were allowed inside the chamber where the electors voted.

COOPER-CABINET

Cooper’s commerce secretary leaving as 2nd term begins

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s commerce secretary will leave his job by the end of January. Tony Copeland’s departure marks another Cabinet member planning to leave as Cooper’s second term begins soon. The department works with the non-profit Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina to recruit companies to the state. Cooper’s office says the state has announced the creation of almost 79,000 jobs and over $17 billion in capital investment during Copeland’s tenure. Cabinet secretaries Larry Hall at Military and Veterans Affairs and Susi Hamilton at Natural and Cultural Resources announced last week their plans to step down soon.

AP-NC-SHERIFF’S DEPUTY-VIRUS

Sheriff’s deputy in Guilford County who had coronavirus dies

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy who was diagnosed with the coronavirus has died. The Greensboro News & Record reports that Master Cpl. Norman Daye died Saturday at his home in eastern Guilford County. Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Lori Poag said Sunday that Daye was a 16-year veteran with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office and was an assistant supervisor over the warrant squad. He began his career with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. Daye had been hospitalized and was released about two days before dying at his home.

AP-NC-CHARLOTTE SHOOTING DEATHS

Police: Two fatal shootings within 5 hours in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina’s largest city are reporting two fatal shootings within five hours, including one that officers heard while conducting a traffic stop. The Charlotte Observer reports Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said officers who made a traffic stop near UNC Charlotte around midnight heard gunshots in the area. When they went to investigate, they found a man with a gunshot wound. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The other shooting occurred Saturday night. Officers found a man lying in an apartment parking lot with a gunshot wound. He was also pronounced dead at the scene. So far, there have been no arrests.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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