AP-US-TEACHING-RACE-NORTH-CAROLINA

Bill to curb racial teaching goes to North Carolina governor

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina House Republicans have given final legislative approval to a bill to limit how teachers can discuss certain racial concepts inside the classroom. The proposal would prohibit teachers from compelling students to personally adopt any ideas from a list of 13 beliefs. The measure approved Wednesday will now make its way to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. The latest action in North Carolina follows a national trend of Republican-controlled legislatures looking to combat certain ideas they associate with “critical race theory.” The GOP has not identified a single case of alleged “indoctrination” that House Bill 324 would prevent. Cooper is likely to veto the proposal.

TROPICAL WEATHER-ATLANTIC

Ida remnants pound Northeast with rain, flooding, tornadoes

NEW YORK (AP) — The remnants of Hurricane Ida blew through the mid-Atlantic states with at least two tornadoes, heavy winds and drenching rains. The storm collapsed the roof of a U.S. Postal Service building in New Jersey, left cars and roads underwater and sent garbage floating through the streets of New York. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado hit a southern New Jersey county just outside Philadelphia. Other video showed water rushing through the Newark airport, which suspended all flights. Thousands of people were evacuated after water reached dangerous levels at a Pennsylvania town nicknamed Flood City.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

NC prep sports group must change in bill OK’d by Senate

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina High School Athletic Association would have to accept financial and administrative changes if it wants to continue in the role under legislation tentatively approved by the Senate. The measure essentially tells the association and the State Board of Education to come up with a written agreement on how the association will carry out board policy on interscholastic sports. NCHSAA leaders have received the scorn of Republican legislators who’ve heard from constitutents unhappy with the association. The new measure in part demands the association follow open meeting and public records laws. An initial Senate vote took place Wednesday, with another one expected next week. 

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CLERGY

Bill tells NC hospitals to let in clergy during emergency

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina hospitals would be required to let a clergy member visit a patient even during a declared emergency like a pandemic in legislation that received final General Assembly approval. The Senate gave the final OK to the bill on Wednesday and will send it along to Gov. Roy Cooper.  The bill would require the minister to comply with health screenings and other infection controls that don’t interfere with religious beliefs. The measure was named for an eastern North Carolina resident who died at a hospital last year. His family and pastor had trouble getting in to visit him due to COVID-19 restrictions.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-EMERGENCY POWERS

Effort resumes to rein in NC governor’s emergency powers

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — General Assembly Republicans are redoubling their efforts to curb broad powers of North Carolina’s governor during an extensive emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. A Senate committee voted on Wednesday for a measure that would require governors to get specific support from other elected leaders if they wish to extend an emergency order. GOP leaders have been critical of how Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper extended coronavirus emergency declarations and restrictions without support from the Council of State. Democrats say state lawmakers already have the power to supersede executive orders with legislation and note that nearly all of Cooper’s actions that were challenged in court were upheld. 

HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING-NORTH CAROLINA

1 student killed in shooting at North Carolina high school

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say one student was killed in a shooting at a North Carolina high school and a suspect has been taken into custody. Winston-Salem police Chief Catrina Thompson fought back tears at a Wednesday afternoon news conference as she said the student died at the hospital after the shooting at Mount Tabor High School. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said late Wednesday evening that the suspect had been taken into custody without incident. Police blocked roads to the school and numerous emergency vehicles were on the scene. Later, law enforcement vehicles were seen escorting school buses with Mount Tabor students off the campus to be reunited with their parents.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NURSING HOMES

Bill setting NC nursing home visit standards gets final OK

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina health regulators would establish by next year visitation policies for nursing homes and adult care homes for declared emergencies like a pandemic in legislation heading to Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk. The bill received final legislative approval on Tuesday. It tells the state Department of Health and Human Services to create visitation protocols for declared emergencies and implement them by next June. Those protocols would allow each resident to receive a visit at least twice per month from a preapproved visitor. Visitations would still be subject to federal health directives. The bill is a response to visitation bans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-RIOTS

North Carolina bill raising riot penalties heads to Cooper

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House gave final legislative approval for a bill that would impose harsher penalties on those who engage in violent protests. The measure passed Tuesday and now heads to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Cooper has expressed concerns about the proposal pushed by Republicans. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, NC NAACP and other civil rights groups oppose House Speaker Tim Moore’s bill and worry it could have a chilling effect on free speech. Rioting and looting that took place in Raleigh last year amid frustration over the murder of George Floyd is what sparked Moore to draft the proposal.

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