AP-NC-UNC-MULTIPLE GUNS-CAR

Man with guns in car on UNC-Chapel Hill campus arrested

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Police at a North Carolina university arrested a man who a security officer found on campus sleeping inside a car with multiple firearms. News outlets report police at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill charged 39-year-old Joseph John Radomski of Burlington with felony possession of weapons on school property. A police report shows Radomski had a semi-automatic rifle, a bolt action rifle, four other firearms, at least 17 rounds of ammunition in his car, plus a knife and a machete. According to the school, a UNC Hospitals security officer found Radomski early Tuesday morning. It’s not known if he has an attorney.

BC-NC-BIG ROCK TOURNAMENT

Boat lands big marlin, big check in North Carolina tourney

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (AP) — One big marlin meant one big check for a boat entered in an annual tournament on the North Carolina coast. The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reports Natural, which is based in Beaufort, had to wait out a thunderstorm before learning Jonathan Fulcher had landed a 521.6-pound marlin, which was good for nearly $829,000 in prize money at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. The victory was earned in the tournament’s Fabulous Fisherman’s prize. Of the 270 participants, only 159 went offshore on Tuesday. Among the boats entered in the tournament is Catch 23, which belongs to Michael Jordan.

HISTORIC PLANTATION-JUNETEENTH

Museum loses contract over event deemed racially insensitive

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina county cut ties on Tuesday with a historic museum that planned to put on a reenactment of a white slave owner being pursued by Union soldiers. According to WBTV, Mecklenburg County will let its contract expire next month with the Historic Latta Plantation Nature Preserve over the controversial event that many deemed as racially insensitive. The reenactment was scheduled for June 19 – the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, known as “Juneteenth.” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles tweeted late Friday: “We should not support any business or organization that does not respect equality, history, and the truth of the African-American people’s journey to freedom. Despite intent, words matter.”

ENERGY BILL

Bill retires many NC coal-fired plants, boosts renewables

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A major energy bill has been unveiled by North Carolina House Republicans. It would direct several low-efficiency coal-fired power plants operated by Duke Energy’s North Carolina subsidiaries to transition to alternate fuels by the end of 2030. And a renewable energy procurement program made law in 2017 would be retooled and expanded. Tuesday’s bill says the legislation would contribute to a 61% reduction in carbon-based emissions in the state by 2030 when compared to 2005. This compares to the 70% reduction sought by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. The bill was drawn up with input from utilities, customer groups and renewable energy boosters.

AP-US-SHOTS FIRED-POLICE SUBSTATION

Police: Grandmother of man who shot at officers found dead

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina say two women, including the grandmother of a man who shot at one of its substations and opened fire on officers, have been found dead. The Winston-Salem Journal reports police took 26-year-old William Coleman Scott into custody after he was shot on Monday when confronted at a park near downtown Winston-Salem. Scott is hospitalized in stable condition. According to police, Scott is being investigated in the deaths of the two women. They say the bodies of the women were found hours after the shooting. At this time Scott is charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.

TAX COLLECTIONS

NC tax revenue soars, $6.5B windfall predicted by mid-2023

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina economists report government coffers could collect several billion dollars more by the middle of 2023 than what that anticipated just four months ago. A forecast released Tuesday by Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget office and the legislature’s fiscal research agency says revenue collections for the year ending June 30 will be $1.9 billion more than previously predicted. They also increased projected revenues for the next two years by well over $2 billion annually. The economists attribute the extraordinary windfall to a resurgent post-pandemic economy. It means more fiscal decisions for Republican lawmakers and Cooper about how to spend, save or cut taxes.

SCHOOL FUNDS-MISUSED

State auditor: NC school system superintendent misused funds

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina state auditor’s office says a former school system superintendent in eastern North Carolina misused more than $45,000 during his time in the position. WRAL-TV reports that Shelton Jefferies violated multiple Nash County Public Schools policies related to his procurement card and a school system vehicle that he was authorized to drive. He started as superintendent in January 2016. The Nash County Board of Education learned that cards and district vehicles were improperly used in spring 2019. Jeffries resigned that August. The board has asked Jeffries to pay back the money he spent. Its members will get the district attorney involved if he doesn’t pay within 60 days.

BC-NC-FATAL CRASH-MURDER CHARGE

Sheriff’s office: Man already jailed charged in fatal crash

SALISBURY, N.C. (AP) — A sheriff’s office says a North Carolina man already jailed on a separate charge is now accused in connection with a single-vehicle crash which killed a man. News outlets report the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office says 31-year-old Rene Oscar Gomez Jr. is charged with murder in the death last week of 28-year-old Edward Geouge III. Investigators with the sheriff’s office say they discovered new evidence that led them to believe Geouge may have been run off the road by another vehicle and then fatally injured. A medical examiner determined that Geouge had been shot. Gomez was already in jail for being a sex offender who failed to notify of a change of address.