North Carolina News – December 11

AP-NC-HORSE HAIR THEFTS

Police: Hair from horse tails is being stolen, likely sold

NASHVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities in North Carolina say that hair is being cut from horses’ tails and is likely being sold. The Raleigh News & Observer reported Friday that the thefts are being reported by the Nash County Sheriff’s Office. The office said in a statement that it has received reports that “unknown suspects” have been going to pastures to take the animals’ hair. The office said in a statement that there is apparently “high demand for horse hair and they are selling the hair.” This is not the first time authorities have reported such thefts. The Camden County Sheriff’s Office said in March that thieves had sheared the tail of a show horse named Thunder.

COURT ACCESS-APPEAL

NC journalists file emergency appeal to get court access

GRAHAM, N.C. (AP) — Three newspapers have asked the North Carolina Court of Appeals to order courts in a county where rally-goers were pepper sprayed and arrested to stop barring reporters from court proceedings. The News & Observer reports attorneys for the newspaper, Triad City Beat and Alamance News filed the emergency appeal Thursday. Alamance County court staff have said they’re limiting entry due to COVID-19. But the filing says the “draconian restrictions” weren’t necessary and undermine trust in the judicial process. Journalists have been barred from attending two court hearings this month. One was for a white woman accused of driving her pickup truck at two 12-year-old Black girls.

FORMER MARINE-FIREARMS CHARGES

Ex-Marine found guilty of illegally exporting firearms

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A former U.S. Marine has been found guilty of conspiracy to illegally export and smuggle firearms and controlled equipment from the U.S. to Haiti to train that country’s army in foreign armed conflict. A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Raleigh says 34-year-old Jacques Yves Sebastien Duroseau was found guilty on Thursday at the end of a three-day trial. Prosecutors said Duroseau and a co-conspirator impersonated high ranking military officers, pretending to be on military business so they could illegally move eight firearms by commercial aircraft to Haiti.

AP-US-PARAMILITARY-GUN-PLOT

Ex-Marine to remain jailed in probe of paramilitary group

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A former U.S. Marine will remain in custody after being charged with plotting to illegally make and sell guns. Jordan Duncan faces up to five years behind bars. A federal magistrate judge on Thursday refused to release Duncan from custody after hearing a prosecutor describe him as a potentially violent man whose parents didn’t know about his white supremacist and anti-Semitic ideology. Duncan was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He moved to Boise, Idaho, in September and was arrested by the FBI the following month. He now awaits trial and remains in federal custody.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-WORKER SAFETY

Worker groups pan NC labor chief on refusing new COVID rules

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina worker and civil rights advocates are unhappy with the outgoing state labor commissioner’s refusal to put more COVID-19 regulations upon employers. Representatives of groups that petitioned Commissioner Cherie Berry unsuccessfully planned a news conference for Thursday. They say more rules are needed to improve unsafe conditions for employees in manufacturing and food processing plants. Berry wrote last month that continuing to educate employers and workers about controlling the virus’ spread is a better solution than issuing punitive regulations. She also said case statistics indicate the virus threat is everywhere and not necessarily a “occupational hazard.”

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BROADBAND

GOP leaders, Cooper reach agreement on NC broadband money

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican legislative leaders say they’ve found a solution to address the potential loss of $30 million in federal coronavirus relief funds for rural broadband. The governor and GOP lawmakers disagreed on whether the money had to be spent by the end of the month. They worked out a deal whereby the $30 million will be used for other qualifying expenses. Then lawmakers will vote early next year to spend the same amount in state dollars for more broadband grants. Cooper’s budget office will review grant applications and prepare contracts while awaiting new legislative action.

NATIONAL PARK-RAPES

2 men sentenced in Great Smoky Mountains National Park rapes

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Two men have been sentenced to federal prison in the rapes of young male victims in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Department of Justice said Monday that 41-year-old Dusty William Oliver and 49-year-old Richard Graham pleaded guilty to two counts each of aggravated sexual abuse. Oliver was sentenced to 25 years in prison and Graham was sentenced to just over 19 years in prison. Both received 15 years of supervised release. Prosecutors alleged that in June 2012 and in November 2015 the defendants raped two different male victims in the park. The statement said they sought out men who were homeless and addicted to drugs.

BC-NC-MISSING KAYAKER

Search suspended for kayaker missing on North Carolina coast

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Officials have suspended the search for a kayaker who disappeared while fishing on the North Carolina coast, and a reward is being offered to anyone who finds him. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission announced on Wednesday that the agency had suspended its search for 26-year-old Alexander Rush of Kill Devil Hills. On Thursday, the commission announced that a local family was offering a $1,000 reward for anyone who finds Rush, who was fishing near the Old Manns Harbor Bridge in Dare County around 7 p.m. Saturday. According to the commission, Rush’s wife called 911 on Sunday when he didn’t come home.