North Carolina News – May 21

AP-NC-OFFICER-SUSPENDED-VIDEO

North Carolina police officer suspended after video surfaces

LUMBERTON, N.C. (AP) — The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation has joined a police department in looking into a video which purports to show an officer shoving people on a bench at a store. The Robesonian reports Pembroke Police Chief Ed Locklear released a statement saying his department was made aware of an approximately one-minute video which showed officers interacting with five different people in different scenes. Locklear said his department has reviewed the video and is investigating. The officer, who Locklear didn’t identify, has been placed on administrative suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.

AP-NC-PAPER MILL FUMES-LAWSUIT

North Carolina man sues over fumes from South Carolina mill

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina homeowner is suing a pulp and paper mill in South Carolina over its fumes, which he says smells like rotten eggs and which nearby residents say have caused headaches and sore throats. The Charlotte Observer reports Kenny White, who lives in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte, filed the private-nuisance, class-action lawsuit against New-Indy Containerboard of Catawba, South Carolina, in federal court in Rock Hill on Tuesday. The plant, which is a joint venture that involves New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, is specifically accused in the lawsuit of polluting areas of the Carolinas with “noxious and harmful hydrogen sulfide emissions.”

TENURE DISPUTE-SLAVERY-PROJECT

Trustee: Nonacademic background halted Hannah-Jones tenure

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — The chairman of the University of North Carolina’s board of trustees says investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones’ tenure application was halted because she didn’t come from a traditional academic background. Richard Stevens is the chairman of the board of trustees for the Chapel Hill campus. He said Thursday that his colleague who leads the subcommittee that considers tenure applications chose in January to postpone the review of Hannah-Jones’ submission. It was never brought before the full board for approval, and instead the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist accepted a five-year appointment to the faculty of the journalism school.

SENIOR PRANK-CHARGES

Authorities: 12 students in NC charged for senior prank

DENVER, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say 12 North Carolina high school students have been charged in connection with a senior prank that involved putting meat and eggs in the school’s vents. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to a call Tuesday about vandalism at East Lincoln High School in Denver. School officials also reported that buses and some areas inside the school building were covered with a sticky substance and glitter. The sheriff’s office estimates the prank caused around $5,000 in damage. Security video helped identify the students. Warrants were issued for eight students who are 18 years old and juvenile petitions were filed against four younger ones.

EMPLOYMENT BONUSES

NC legislature considers bonuses for unemployed who get jobs

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina unemployment benefit recipients could get bonuses of $1,500 if they return to work soon under legislation unveiled by Republican lawmakers.  A Senate committee discussed the proposal Thursday but did not vote on it. It’s designed to get people off of relatively generous unemployment benefits supplemented by the federal government. Employers are struggling to fill job vacancies as the post-coronavirus economy is surging.  Benefit recipients who start a new job by June 1 would get $1,500. It would then be lowered to $800 if they begin a job by July 1. The federal government would have to OK using the supplements this way.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-RELIEF FUNDS

NC lawmakers finalize distributing $6.4B more in virus aid

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina General Assembly has finalized legislation distributing another portion of federal coronavirus relief aid. This time it’s for $6.4 billion. The Senate unanimously agreed on Thursday to accept bill changes made by the House, which overwhelmingly passed the measure earlier in the day. The bill was sent to Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk for his signature. The legislature had little leeway on how the money contained in the measure could be used, since it was already decided by Congress. Most of the money will help K-12 schools and universities as well as child care and emergency rental assistance programs.

NORTH CAROLINA-DEPUTY SHOOTING

2 reporters detained during protest over Black man’s death

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — Police have arrested several people during protests in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, including two journalists who were covering the demonstration. The protest occurred Wednesday night, the day after a district attorney cleared sheriff’s deputies in the shooting death of Andrew Brown Jr. The two journalists work for the USA Today Network and they have since been released. A video one of the reporters posted on Twitter shows that they told police several times they were journalists. An officer told them that they were standing in the middle of the roadway. The News Leader reported that it’s not clear whether either of the journalists will be charged.

AP-US-BOAT-MANUFACTURER-EXPANSION

Boat builder buying NC company, seeks to create 500 new jobs

NEW BERN, N.C. (AP) — The world’s largest fishing and recreational boat builder has announced its acquisition of North Carolina-based Hatteras Yachts. White River Marine Group also aims to upgrade Hatteras operations in New Bern and create 500 jobs by 2025. White River is a subsidiary of the company that operates Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. Company leaders joined Gov. Roy Cooper and other state officials on Thursday in New Bern for the announcement. White River was looking to move its saltwater vessel building operations closer to the coast. There’s a combined state and local incentives package of over $7.1 million.