North Carolina News – April 12

AP-US-BIDEN-INFRASTRUCTURE

White House issuing reports on states’ infrastructure needs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden White House is amplifying the push for its $2.3 trillion infrastructure package with state-by-state breakdowns showing the dire shape of roads, bridges, the power grid and housing affordability. The state summaries were obtained by The Associated Press and paint a bleak outlook for the world’s largest economy after years of repairs being deferred and delayed. The reports show there are 7,300 miles of Michigan highway in poor condition. Damaged streets in North Carolina impose an average yearly cost of $500 on motorists. Iowa has 4,571 bridges needing repair. President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet Monday with lawmakers and can use the reports to show his plan would help their constituents.

JAIL DEATH

Police investigating woman’s death at North Carolina jail

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A sheriff’s office says a woman died at a North Carolina jail less than four after hours after she was brought there on Saturday,. The Asheville Citizen Times reports that 37-year-old Tania Shepherd appears to at least the third person to die in the last 10 months while in the jail operated by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office or in the custody of the sheriff’s office. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation will investigate Shepherd’s death. Shepherd had been jailed on a charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Her bond had been set at $5,000.

UNC BUILDING NAME CHANGES

UNC eyes new names for 3 buildings tied to white supremacy

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — The University of North Carolina is eying new names for three buildings on its flagship Chapel Hill campus named for people with white supremacist and racist ties. The News & Observer reports that an advisory committee met Thursday to discuss potential names to recommend. The board of trustees voted last summer to remove the names of Charles B. Aycock, Julian S. Carr and Josephus Daniels from the buildings. A university commission asked for the name changes, saying the three men “occupied high positions of influence and public trust” and used their power to oppress Black people.

CHESAPEAKE BAY-TRUCK PLUNGE

Beachgoer finds body of man whose truck plunged off bridge

MANTEO, N.C. (AP) — Relatives say the body of a Maryland man whose truck plunged off the side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in December was found Friday on a beach in North Carolina. The Virginian-Pilot reports that Erik Mezick’s family posted on Facebook that they were notified of the discovery. The newspaper said Mezick’s brother, Kevin Mezick, confirmed the body was his brother’s. The National Park Service said in a news release that a resident found a man’s body on a Cape Hatteras National Seashore beach between the North Carolina villages of Salvo and Avon. The park service said the body would be taken to the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office.

BIDEN REPUBLICANS

Biden Republicans? Some in GOP open to president’s agenda

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) —  Some longtime Republican voters are validating Joe Biden’s early approach to the presidency. That approach involves trying to win over Republican voters around the country even while failing to find common ground with GOP leaders in Washington. Whether there are enough so-called Biden Republicans remains a question. Biden meets Monday with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to discuss his infrastructure plan. He’s betting that the GOP’s elected leaders are making a political miscalculation by catering mostly to the party’s base, which remains overwhelmingly loyal to former President Donald Trump, instead of to everyday Americans eager for compromise and action.

AP-US-SOUTH-CAROLINA-SHOOTING

Coroner: 6th person dead following South Carolina shooting

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A sixth person has died after a shooting earlier this week by a former NFL player who also killed four members of a South Carolina family. York County Coroner Sabrina Gast said Saturday that 38-year-old air conditioning technician Robert Shook had died from injuries in the Wednesday shooting while he was working at the home. Authorities say that Phillip Adams killed Rock Hill physician Robert Lesslie, his wife, two grandchildren and Shook and a fellow air conditioning technician working at the Lesslie home. Adams later shot himself to death.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-DUKE UNIVERSITY

Duke University to require COVID vaccinations for fall term

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Officials at Duke University say the school will require all new and returning students to present proof of vaccination before they can enroll for the fall semester. Duke President Vincent Price said Friday that the policy will cover all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in all degree programs who intend to be on the Duke campus for any period of time starting with the fall semester. Price says documented medical and religious exemptions will be accommodated. Other universities including Brown, Cornell, Notre Dame, Northeastern and Rutgers have announced plans for similar vaccine requirements.