North Carolina News – March 3

POLICE DOG-TRAINING VIDEO

Video of North Carolina K-9 training prompts investigation

SALISBURY, N.C. (AP) — Officials say an investigation of K-9 training is underway after video showed a North Carolina officer lifting a dog by a leash and slamming the animal into the side of a police vehicle. Salisbury Police Chief Jerry Stokes told news outlets Tuesday he couldn’t comment in detail on what happened. Stokes says the dog wasn’t hurt or stunned and has since been separated from the officer. The video shows the officer swinging the dog by a leash before slamming it into a police SUV and shoving it inside the vehicle. Stokes says an outside agency will be investigating. The department is reviewing its K-9 policy and guidelines. The officer’s name wasn’t immediately released.

SMOKIES-VISITATION

Smokies sees more than 12M visitors despite virus closure

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) — Despite closing for more than a month because of COVID-19, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced its second busiest year on record last year. According to a news release, the park on the Tennessee-North Carolina border had a total of 12,095,720 visits in 2020. But the surge in use has brought problems with traffic, overflowing parking lots, crowded bathrooms, damage and litter. Over the last year, park managers worked with local communities and visitors to try to solve the challenges, collecting more than 2,000 ideas. Park managers are using those ideas to develop a pilot project for at least one park destination in 2021.

TUNA CATCH

Virginia man catches 9 1/2 foot bluefin tuna off N.C. coast

NAGS HEAD, N.C. (AP) — A Virginia man has reeled in a 9½ foot bluefin tuna off the coast of North Carolina. The Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday that Josiah VanFleet of Toano had caught the fish about 45 miles off the coast of Nags Head on Feb. 24. VanFleet told the newspaper that the U.S. Coast Guard helped measure the fish and put it at an estimated 1,000 pounds. North Carolina’s current record is 877 pounds. But an estimated weight is not enough for the record books. VanFleet caught the fish using a 22-foot Grady-White boat. He said it took seven adults and a second boat to complete the job.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA

State to vaccinate medically vulnerable starting March 24

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina will soon allow medically vulnerable people get vaccinated as early as March 24. The announcement comes after the group had been pushed down the priority list amid changing guidance from the federal government that favored older age groups. All remaining frontline essential workers will be able to get a vaccine starting Wednesday. The state feels comfortable expanding the pool of eligible recipients following approval of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine. More than 80,000 one-shot doses will soon be arriving in the state. Other states, including California and South Carolina, have already adjusted their plan and bumped up residents with serious underlying health issues.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-REOPENING SCHOOLS

Key NC senator explains absence for close override vote

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina legislator says he wasn’t on the Senate floor for a close veto override vote on legislation mandating the reopening of public schools because he had to work for his full-time employer. Hoke County Democrat Ben Clark got a leave of absence for Monday’s session. He was one of three Senate Democrats who had voted last month for the legislation that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper had vetoed. The Senate override likely would have been successful had two of the three Democrats stuck to supporting the measure. Only one did. Republicans now plan a parliamentary maneuver to try an override again later.

RED WOLVES

Government offers plan to release more endangered red wolves

Government wildlife officials say they have released two more critically endangered red wolves into the wild in North Carolina. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a court filing Monday that it brought two male wolves from a Florida wildlife refuge. The agency paired them with wild female wolves from North Carolina and let them loose in February. One of the male wolves was later killed by a car. The service also plans to release another captive-bred pair this summer. A judge had ordered them to come up with the plan for more releases. Wolf conservation groups responded that the government needs to move faster.

DEBT STUDY

Debt report says NC government has more borrowing capacity

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — An annual debt report says the North Carolina government’s ability to borrow money while remaining fiscally sound keeps improving despite economic challenges from the coronavirus. State Treasurer Dale Folwell’s office released the Debt Affordability Study on Tuesday. A study committee calculated how much additional debt the state can incur and and keep its top scores from credit-rating agencies. The report projects the state could approve $3.2 billion in bonds this year or almost $1.5 billion annually for the next five years. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and legislators from both parties want to put a bond referendum on the ballot soon.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

Jobless must prove they’re looking for work to keep benefits

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — People who are unemployed in North Carolina will be required to prove they’re searching for work in order to keep their jobless benefits. The Raleigh News & Observer reports that Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order to that effect on Monday. But people who are currently on unemployment will not be affected. The governor’s order will impact only “new claimants who apply for unemployment benefits on or after March 14, 2021.” The work search requirement is typically required of everyone on unemployment. Cooper had waived that requirement a year ago when the coronavirus began.