DEPUTY SHOOTING-NORTH CAROLINA
Prosecutor: Deputies’ fatal shooting of Black man justified
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina district attorney says the shooting of a Black man killed by sheriff’s deputies was justified. District Attorney Andrew Womble made the announcement Tuesday after reviewing the results of a State Bureau of Investigation probe of the fatal shooting of Andrew Brown Jr. in April.
INMATE DEATH
Inmate found dead at North Carolina jail
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities in North Carolina are investigating after an inmate was found dead at a county jail.News outlets report that 20-year-old Karon Golightly was found unresponsive at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center-Central on Friday morning. First responders tried to revive Golightly, but the sheriff’s office says he was pronounced dead a short time later at a nearby hospital. The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating and the medical examiner will determine a cause and manner of death.The Charlotte Observer reports that the sheriff’s office said Golightly’s death is the first at the jail this year.
AP-NC-STOLEN SUV-CHILD INSIDE
Police say North Carolina man took vehicle with child inside
ASHEBORO, N.C. (AP) — Authorities in North Carolina have arrested a man who they say stole an SUV with a child inside and who led deputies on a chase. News outlets report officers in Asheboro on Monday spoke to a woman who told police she left her vehicle parked, unlocked and running while she went inside a store. While inside, police said, the man jumped into the SUV and drove away. Randolph County sheriff’s deputies spotted the vehicle. The suspect failed to stop, but the chase ended four miles from where the vehicle was taken. The child was unharmed. Police filed multiple charges against 32-year-old James Allen Harris.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA
Cooper: Office-return advice coming as NC virus mandates end
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper says his administration is acting prudently before recommending when and how state employees should return to their offices. Cooper made the comment Monday at a bill-signing ceremony in which he defended his decision late last week to end most COVID-19 face covering mandates. The governor says the state Department of Health and Human Services was speaking Monday with federal health officials before dispensing directives to Cabinet-level agencies and giving advice to private employers about at-home workers returning to communal office settings.
AUTISM TREATMENT
NC governor signs licensure bill for autism treatment
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Supporters of those with autism says legislation signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper should expand access to treatment services and rein in costs. The bipartisan measure that Cooper signed outside the Executive Mansion on Monday says behavior analysts can now operate independently, rather than under the previously required supervision of psychologists. Backers of the legislation say North Carolina was the only state still mandating such control. Now these analysts will be licensed on their own. Durham County Rep. Zack Hawkins has two sons with autism. He says under the old rules parents could lose out on treatment because of where they live.
AP-US—GOP-CONVENTION-TRUMP
Trump to speak at North Carolina GOP convention on June 5
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump will speak at North Carolina’s annual state Republican Party convention next month. Party officials announced Monday that Trump will speak at the June 5 convention dinner in Greenville. Trump has expressed interest in running for president again in 2024 but has not yet announced a decision. North Carolina GOP party leaders are hoping he’ll keep playing a role in state politics and help the party in the upcoming 2022 midterms. A party spokeswoman said Trump’s speech will be off-limits to the media and that journalists won’t be able to view it in any way.
YOUNG DRIVERS
Bill giving temporary break to young NC drivers finalized
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Young drivers whose attempts to get their North Carolina provisional license were stymied since last year by the COVID-19 pandemic delays would get a break under legislation headed to Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk. The Senate agreed unanimously Monday to House changes to a bill that would cut the amount of time drivers must hold a learner’s permit before seeking a license that lets them drive unsupervised. That time would be cut from 12 months to six. This shorter window would only last through the end of the year. Other provisional license requirements remain in place, such as logging 60 hours behind the wheel.
BC-US-ZOO-RED WOLVES BORN
Endangered red wolves born at North Carolina Zoo, doing well
ASHEBORO, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Zoo has announced the birth of three litters of American red wolves, which are critically endangered and number less than two dozen in the wild. The zoo said Monday that 12 pups were born during over three days at the end of April. According to zoo officials, all the pups and their mothers are healthy and doing well. The newest pups bring the total number of red wolves currently in the North Carolina Zoo’s breeding program to 36. Officials say that makes the pack at the North Carolina Zoo the second-largest in the U.S. after another zoo in Washington state.
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