SENATE BUDGET

NC Senate budget gets final OK; House makes own plan next

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A two-year North Carolina government budget that spends, saves and cuts taxes thanks to a state revenue boon and billions more federal COVID-19 relief funds cleared the Senate. Four Democrats joined all Republicans in voting Friday for the spending proposal — just like Thursday when the chamber completed the first of two required votes. The budget bill now goes to the House, where Republicans will fashion a competing plan by next month. The two chambers then will hammer out a compromise to present to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. The Senate margin suggests an override is possible should Cooper veto the final product.

WANTED MAN KILLED

Task force members fatally shoot man wanted in slaying

WHITEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say members of a U.S. Marshals fugitive task force fatally shot a man wanted in the killing of his estranged girlfriend when he drew a firearm as they tried to arrest him at a Walmart. News outlets report that the Columbus County District Attorney Jon David confirmed that task force members shot and killed 54-year-old William Hewett, while trying to serve a warrant Thursday in Whiteville. David says no law enforcement officers were hurt. The Pender County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Hewett was wanted in the killing of his estranged girlfriend, Brandy Lynn Price, who was found dead on the street Saturday in Atkinson.

COOPER-CABINET

After Senate rejection, Cooper picks new environment leader

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has named a longtime legislative lobbyist and policy adviser on environmental issues as his next secretary for the environment. Cooper’s choice of Elizabeth Biser on Thursday comes three weeks after Senate Republicans voted down Cooper’s appointment of Dionne Delli-Gatti as secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality. They said her reticence during a confirmation hearing about Cooper’s natural gas policy disqualified her. Delli-Gatti’s rejection marked the first such no-confirmation result for a governor since the advise-and-consent law took effect. Cooper wants a second-term replacement for Michael Regan, who’s now U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator.

HOG FARMS

Annual N. Carolina farm bill nears final lawmaker approval

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina legislature is near final approval of its annual farm bill, which includes a new method to permit operations at hog farms so they can convert liquid waste into consumer natural gas. The House voted on Thursday for the measure, which makes changes in more than a dozen categories related to agriculture. A similar version passed the Senate last month and could soon be on Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk. Interest is growing in biogas because of the potential revenue source. Some Democrats complained the permit process would be too swift and could omit concerns over air quality.

AP-NC-TRAFFIC CRASH-TWO KILLED

State Highway Patrol: Mother, child killed in car crash

HICKORY, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina State Highway Patrol says a mother and her 3-year-old child were killed in a collision. The Hickory Daily Record reports the patrol says a car driven by 20-year-old Allison Faith Presley of Indian Trail crossed the center line on N.C. Highway 16 on Wednesday and collided with a car traveling in the opposite direction. According to the patrol, Presley and her child died at the scene. The investigating trooper says it appears Presley fell asleep at the wheel, and added that the child’s car seat was improperly installed. The patrol says the driver of the other car was taken to the hospital while a passenger had minor injuries.

BIDEN-TRUMP MUSIC

Trump rally song plays briefly at Biden North Carolina event

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A song heard at every Donald Trump campaign rally was briefly played at the end of a North Carolina event featuring President Joe Biden. Biden had just finished a speech urging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by the Rolling Stones blared over the loudspeakers on Thursday. The song was a staple at campaign rallies held by the former Republican president. The playlist quickly shifted to “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey. But then the Rolling Stones hit was heard again as Biden shook hands and posed for selfies with people along a rope line.

AP-NC-SHOOTING-SHERIFF’S DEPUTY

North Carolina man arrested for shooting at sheriff’s deputy

GRAHAM, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina sheriff’s office has arrested a man who they say shot at a deputy. The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that a deputy responded to a call late Tuesday night about a man with a gun at a location on old N.C. Highway 87. The sheriff’s office says when the deputy arrived, a man was in the back of a truck waving a gun around. The man, identified as William Broadie Childress, shot at the deputy, who returned fire. Neither person was hurt. The sheriff’s office filed multiple charges against Childress, who is jailed on a $75,000 secured bond.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BIDEN

Falling short: Why the White House will miss its vax target

WASHINGTON (AP) — Seven weeks ago, President Joe Biden laid out a lofty goal to vaccinate 70% of all American adults by July Fourth. The White House now acknowledges it will miss the target. Administration officials blame a combination of factors. Those factors include the reduced sense of urgency that followed early success in the vaccination campaign and a decision to reach higher than a play-it-safe lower goal. They also encountered unexpectedly strong resistance to getting the shot among some Americans. Biden visited North Carolina on Thursday to urge Americans to roll up their sleeves.