REDISTRICTING-NORTH CAROLINA

Quick-moving North Carolina redistricting suit trial begins

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A fast-moving trial to determine whether North Carolina’s new congressional and legislative maps contain unlawful gerrymanders or otherwise should be used in the 2022 elections is set to begin. An array of lawyers for plaintiffs and leaders of the Republican-controlled General Assembly that approved maps in November will have three days to present evidence before a panel of state trial judges starting Monday. Closing arguments are Thursday. The state Supreme Court last month ordered the judges to hear redistricting litigation and rule by Jan. 11. Appeals are then expected. The justices delayed the March 8 primary until May 17 in the meantime. 

AP-US-WINTER-WEATHER

School, work, travel can wait as snow blankets U.S. capital

WASHINGTON (AP) — A winter storm is blanketing streets in and around the nation’s capital, closing government offices and schools and grounding the president’s helicopter. Fierce winds with as much as 10 inches of snow is forecast for the District of Columbia, northern Virginia and central Maryland. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the area until 4 p.m. local time. Travel is already hazardous and more than 500,000 customers are without power. More than half the flights were delayed or canceled Monday morning at Washington’s three major airports. President Joe Biden had to ride by car to the White House from Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland. 

LOTTERY TICKET

Someone is yet to claim a $1 million lottery ticket in NC

LEWISVILLE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lottery officials say that someone is yet to claim a $1 million ticket that was bought in Forsyth County. The Winston-Salem Journal reports that the Mega Millions ticket was bought on New Year’s Eve. The North Carolina Education Lottery said in a news release that the $2 ticket was bought at a Circle K in Lewisville. The ticket matched numbers on five white balls. The odds of winning were one in 12.6 million. People who have a winning ticket must claim their prize within 180 days. 

DOUBLE FATALITY

Police: 2 men found shot to death in Durham parking lot

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina say that two men who were found shot to death in a parking lot in Durham. The Raleigh News & Observer reports that the men were found early Sunday morning near the Interstate 40 interchange and Research Triangle Park. Police found the men after responding to the report of a shooting at about 1:35 a.m. Police have not released any additional information about the incident or the men who died. But they’re asking anyone with information to provide it to detectives. 

WILD HORSE DIES

Car fatally strikes horse on North Carolina’s Outer Banks

COROLLA, N.C. (AP) — A wild horse that lived on North Carolina’s Outer Banks has been struck and killed by a vehicle. The Raleigh News & Observer reports that the incident occurred Saturday afternoon. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund protects and manages the Colonial Spanish Mustangs. It said in a statement that the horse was named Rabbit and had been born in 2019. The fund said that she had “galloped down the dunes and directly into the path of the vehicle.” The driver called 911 and the fund. The organization wrote that the incident was determined to be an accident. The organization said the accident should serve as a reminder that the horses are unpredictable, and that great care should be taken when driving. 

MISSING KAYAKER

Search suspended for missing kayaker on North Carolina coast

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard said it has suspended its search for a missing kayaker along the North Carolina coast. The maritime service said in a news release Saturday that rescue crews had searched an area of 268 square miles for about 24 hours. The Coast Guard said that Warren Liner was reported missing in the area of Bogue Inlet, which is near Emerald Isle. Liner was last seen on Bear Island in Hammocks Beach State Park. The 73-year-old’s kayak was found on Bear Island Friday afternoon. The search for Liner began Friday after an Onslow County dispatcher received a call from the man’s wife that he had not returned from a kayaking trip. 

FATAL SHOOTING-CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE

Police: Fatal shooting likely related to celebratory gunfire

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina say that a fatal shooting in Durham was “likely related to celebratory gunfire.” The Raleigh News & Observer reports that the shooting occurred on shortly before 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Durham Police said officers initially responded to a call about a woman being in cardiac arrest. She was found unconscious in a driveway. Police said the woman was taken to a hospital, where it was determined that she had been shot. She later died of her injuries. Authorities said that preliminary reports indicate that the shooting was related to celebratory gunfire. Police did not elaborate, but the investigation is ongoing. 

PATROL CAR-PEDESTRIAN STRUCK

Police: Pedestrian struck by patrol car in North Carolina

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina say that a person has suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck by a patrol vehicle. High Point police said in a news release that the incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. on U.S. 29. Police said the marked patrol car struck the pedestrian as the vehicle entered an exit ramp. The person was wearing dark clothing and had stood in the middle of the travel lane and was not visible “until a collision was imminent.” Police said the person received immediate medical treatment and was taken to a hospital. High Point police said the investigation into the incident will be investigated by the Greensboro Police Department. Police have not released the identifies of the officer involved or the person who was struck. 

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