North Carolina News – April 19

POLICE PROTEST-NORTH CAROLINA

Protesters detained at Raleigh police brutality march

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Several protesters were taken into custody Sunday night after authorities in North Carolina declared a police brutality demonstration an “unlawful assembly.” For a third night in a row, demonstrators marched through downtown Raleigh protesting the police killings of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Minnesota and 13-year-old Adam Toledo in Chicago. News outlets report several people in the crowd threw eggs toward camera crews and police cars, burned American flags and overturned garbage cans. When protesters neared the old State Capitol building, police exited their vehicles and began chasing the crowd, which dispersed onto the sidewalk. Reporters on the scene say at least seven people were taken into custody.

OBIT-FORD

Hester Ford, oldest living American, dies at 115 … or 116?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina woman who grew up picking cotton, got married at 14 and went on to become the oldest living American with more than 120 great-great-grandchildren has died peacefully in her home. Hester Ford was either 115 or 116 years old depending on which census report was accurate. Either way, she was the oldest living American when she died Saturday in Charlotte, according to the Gerontology Research Group. Her family said she was a pillar whose life reflected the advancement of Black Americans over the last century. She was born on a farm in Lancaster County, South Carolina, when Teddy Roosevelt was president.

GASOLINE SPILL-REPORT

Size of pipeline spill again underestimated in N. Carolina

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (AP) — An energy company has again underestimated the amount of gasoline that spilled from a crack in a pipeline running through a North Carolina nature preserve. The Colonial Pipeline Company issued a statement Friday saying its January estimate of 1.2 million gallons is likely too low. The company did not provide a new estimate. Back in September the company initially reported the size of the spill at 273,000 gallons. The spill occurred in August where the pipeline crosses the Oehler Nature Preserve north of Charlotte. State officials say it’s unacceptable the company still can’t accurately assess the size of the spill. Colonial believes it has recovered the majority of what was spilled,

LIQUOR LICENSE PULLED

Charlotte bar has liquor license suspended after shootings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A Charlotte bar has temporarily lost its liquor license after state investigators say that drunken patrons kept police from aiding a gunshot victim and assaulted an officer. The North Carolina Division of Alcohol Enforcement said Saturday in a press release it suspended the license for The Press Box Bar and Grille. Since March 26, police have twice responded to gunshot calls there. After an April 9 shooting, the agency said seven officers had to move patrons away from a wounded man so medics could treat him. An officer trying to control the crowd was punched in the face. The bar did not respond to a call and email seeking comment.

HOMELESS CAMPS-ARRESTS

3 protesters arrested after Asheville disbands homeless camp

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Three protesters have been arrested after a North Carolina city disbanded a homeless camp on park grounds. Asheville Assistant City Manager Cathy Ball said Friday night that the arrests occurred at a homeless camp at Aston Park. Ball said the six homeless people who remained at the camp Friday accepted temporary shelter at a Red Roof Inn. But protesters had also set up camp at the park. Ball said three protesters were arrested after blocking city workers’ attempts to remove the protesters’ tents. Asheville is shutting down numerous homeless camps in the city where it has received reports of fighting and drug use. The city said it is working to provide alternate shelter.

DUKE ENERGY-COAL ASH

NC panel signs off on Duke Energy orders on rates, coal ash

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Utilities Commission has signed off on orders involving Duke Energy’s two electric subsidiaries in the state over rate increase requests and how the company will pay to get rid of coal ash stored in the state. The regulatory panel issued an order Friday involving Duke Energy Progress. A similar order involving Duke Energy Carolinas came out late last month. The final rate increases haven’t been finalized. The orders also approved a settlement announced in January by Duke Energy, Attorney General Josh Stein and a conservation group over how coal ash clean-up costs would be divvied up.

BC-US-FATAL RESTAURANT CRASH

North Carolina man sentenced in fatal restaurant crash

GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man has been sentenced to at least 38 years in prison for killing his daughter and daughter-in-law in 2018 by driving his Jeep into a restaurant where his family was seated for dinner. The Gaston Gazette reports the sentence was handed down Friday for 65-year-old Roger Self. His defense attorney had asked the judge to consider his client’s mental health issues at the time and give his client a minimum sentence of 12 years in prison. Katelyn Self and Amanda George Self were killed as they sat in the restaurant in Bessemer City after attending Sunday morning worship services together.

EXPLAINING GEORGE FLOYD-OFFICER TRIAL-REASONABLE FORCE

EXPLAINER: How is ‘reasonableness’ key to Chauvin’s defense?

CHICAGO (AP) — Attorneys and witnesses have frequently used the words “reasonable” or “unreasonable” during the trial of the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd’s death. It’s no coincidence. The concept of reasonableness has been crucial at trials of officers ever since the landmark Graham v. Connor ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court 32 years ago. It said the reasonableness of a particular use of force must be judged “from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene.” That meant jurors should not consider if they would have used that level of force. They must only look at it from the perspective of what reasonable officers would have done.