TRACTOR-TRAILER CRASH

Tractor-trailer driver killed in North Carolina crash

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Police say the driver of a tractor-trailer was killed in a crash on the outskirts of a North Carolina city. News outlets report the crash occurred at around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday on northbound U.S. Highway 52, north of downtown Winston-Salem. According to Winston-Salem police, traffic was slowed on a portion of the highway because of a lane closure for road construction. Investigators said the driver of the tractor-trailer failed to slow down and hit the rear end of another tractor-trailer. The driver, identified by police as 49-year-old William Gorham, was pronounced dead at the scene.

AP-US-REDISTRICTING-NORTH-CAROLINA

N. Carolina judges to pick expert for redistricting review

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A trial court panel will name an outside remapping expert to help them determine whether upcoming replacement redistricting maps comply with partisan limits required by the North Carolina Supreme Court. A special master will be chosen by the three-judge panel, which issued an order Tuesday laying out how they’ll evaluate substitute congressional and legislative boundaries. They’re aiming to follow a Supreme Court ruling last Friday that found maps approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in November were illegal partisan gerrymanders. The legislature must turn in replacement plans by Feb. 18. The Supreme Court has said it’s determined to use new maps for the May 17 primary.

HOUSE FIRE-CHILD KILLED

Warrant issued for man sought in fire that killed child

KINSTON, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina sheriff’s office says a warrant has been issued for a man wanted in connection with a house fire in November that killed an 8-year-old boy. The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office says on its Facebook page Tuesday that deputies are looking for William Jemeriah Howell, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter. According to the sheriff’s office, detectives determined that Howell was the only adult in the home just outside of Kinston on Nov. 21 and was intoxicated. The investigation determined that Howell had turned on the kitchen stove to cook food, but left it unattended, leading to the fire. 

AP-US-ELECTION-2022-NORTH-CAROLINA-CAWTHORN

Voters, NC board: Cawthorn candidate challenge should remain

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina election officials and some voters who challenged Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s candidate qualifications say the formal effort to evaluate his eligibility should be allowed to continue. They filed motions in federal court on Monday opposing the first-term Republican’s efforts to cancel the challenge process. The voters say Cawthorn fails to comply with the portion of a post-Civil War amendment to the Constitution pertaining to insurrections because of his involvement in the January 2021 rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol riot. Cawthorn says he’s never engaged in an insurrection. The latest court filings say the challenge process is constitutional and doesn’t harm Cawthorn.

FATAL SHOOTING-ATM

North Carolina man shot to death during robbery at ATM

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina are looking for two people they say were involved in a robbery and shooting that killed a man at an ATM. The High Point Enterprise reports High Point police said 46-year-old Rodney Rhoades was pronounced dead at the scene. According to police, Rhoades was inside a vehicle with another person who was using the ATM at a convenience store parking lot at around 12:30 a.m. on Monday when two men, both armed with handguns, approached and demanded money. Rhoades was shot in the chest, while police say the person with him was not harmed.Rhoades was shot once in the ches

EDUCATION BOARD-RESIGNATION

NC education board member leaves, citing social studies row

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina State Board of Education member has resigned, citing in part the panel’s charged debate last year over new social studies standards. Todd Chasteen of Watauga County resigned Feb. 1. He joined the board as an appointee of then-Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, and his term was to last another year. He cited the acrimony that led to the board’s Democratic majority approving new standards that would have teachers discuss racism, discrimination and the perspectives of marginalized groups. Republican members said the standards put an overly negative picture on the nation’s history. Chasteen says he’s seeing a trajectory away from helping students and toward activism.

AP-US-UCLA-THREATS-MISSED-SIGNS

Red flags trailed ex-UCLA lecturer across elite universities

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A trail of red flags about his behavior toward women followed Matthew Harris on an academic journey that took him to three of the nation’s most prestigious universities — Duke, Cornell and then the University of California, Los Angeles. Last week, a SWAT team in Colorado arrested Harris after he allegedly emailed an 800-page manifesto and posted videos threatening violence against dozens of people at UCLA. In online class reviews, interviews and emails obtained by The Associated Press, current and former students at all three universities alleged negligence by the schools for letting Harris slide, despite his concerning conduct. He did not speak during his appearance in federal court Tuesday and will remain in jail. His attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.

FATAL STABBING-MOTHER

North Carolina man charged in mother’s stabbing death

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina sheriff’s office says a man has been arrested and charged in his mother’s stabbing death. According to news outlets, deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office were called to a location in Kannapolis on Monday about a possible stabbing. When they arrived, they found the body of 55-year-old Julie Bostian Corriher lying in the yard near an outdoor camper. Deputies located 24-year-old Hayden Perry Jones just down the street and took him into custody. Jones is charged with murder and is jailed without bond.

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