INSIDER
FEMA administrator continues pushback against false claims as Helene death toll hits 230
Read full article: FEMA administrator continues pushback against false claims as Helene death toll hits 230The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is again forcefully pushing back against false claims and conspiracy theories about how her agency is responding to Hurricane Helene.
Death toll from Hurricane Helene rises to 227 as grim task of recovering bodies continues
Read full article: Death toll from Hurricane Helene rises to 227 as grim task of recovering bodies continuesThe death toll from Hurricane Helene has inched up to 227 as the grim task of recovering bodies continues more than a week after the monster storm ravaged the U.S. Southeast.
Harris pledges ongoing federal support as she visits North Carolina to survey Helene's aftermath
Read full article: Harris pledges ongoing federal support as she visits North Carolina to survey Helene's aftermathVice President Kamala Harris has pledged ongoing federal support for those affected by Hurricane Helene as she visited North Carolina.
Key swing state faces 'daunting' level of uncertainty after storm ravages multiple counties
Read full article: Key swing state faces 'daunting' level of uncertainty after storm ravages multiple countiesNorth Carolina election officials say they will do everything in their power to ensure that voters in the crucial presidential swing state will be able to cast their ballots despite the devastation of Hurricane Helene only about a month before the November election.
The Latest: Kirk becomes a hurricane as North Carolina reels from Helene
Read full article: The Latest: Kirk becomes a hurricane as North Carolina reels from HeleneDesperate residents of the storm-battered mountains of western North Carolina lined up for water and food, hunted for cellphone signals and slogged buckets from creeks to flush toilets days after Hurricane Heleneโs remnants deluged the region.
Tropical Weather Latest: US Southeast struggles to recover in Hurricane Helene's aftermath
Read full article: Tropical Weather Latest: US Southeast struggles to recover in Hurricane Helene's aftermathMany areas of the U.S. Southeast are struggling to recover from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene.
Death toll rises from Helene while supplies are rushed to North Carolina and Florida digs out
Read full article: Death toll rises from Helene while supplies are rushed to North Carolina and Florida digs outAuthorities are struggling to get supplies to isolated areas across the U.S. Southeast in the wake of Hurricane Helene and the death toll from the storm is rising.
Asheville has been isolated after Helene wrecked roads and knocked out power and cell service
Read full article: Asheville has been isolated after Helene wrecked roads and knocked out power and cell serviceFloodwaters pushed by remnants of Hurricane Helene have left North Carolinaโs largest mountain city isolated by damaged roads and a lack of power and cellphone service.
What to know about Mark Robinson, the embattled Republican nominee for North Carolina governor
Read full article: What to know about Mark Robinson, the embattled Republican nominee for North Carolina governorNorth Carolina's Republican candidate for governor is at the center of a national news story.
Here's the schedule for the DNC's fourth and final night leading up to Harris' acceptance speech
Read full article: Here's the schedule for the DNC's fourth and final night leading up to Harris' acceptance speechThe fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention is underway, culminating with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting her partyโs nomination for president.
The Latest: Debby's remnants hit New York and Pennsylvania with heavy rain and severe flooding
Read full article: The Latest: Debby's remnants hit New York and Pennsylvania with heavy rain and severe floodingThough no longer a tropical storm, Debby continues lashing the East Coast with heavy rain and flooding as rivers overflow their banks and authorities call on the National Guard to help with high water rescues.
Flooding from the remnants of Debby leads to high water rescues in New York, Pennsylvania
Read full article: Flooding from the remnants of Debby leads to high water rescues in New York, PennsylvaniaFirst responders have launched high-water rescues in rural New York and Pennsylvania due to flash flooding from the remnants of Debby.
Picking a running mate: Inside the 16 days between Kamala Harris' launch and her choice of Tim Walz
Read full article: Picking a running mate: Inside the 16 days between Kamala Harris' launch and her choice of Tim WalzKamala Harrisโ whirlwind process to select Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate can be summed up in a word: weird.
Kamala Harris is interviewing six potential vice president picks this weekend, AP sources say
Read full article: Kamala Harris is interviewing six potential vice president picks this weekend, AP sources sayVice President Kamala Harris is interviewing a half-dozen potential running mates this weekend ahead of a formal announcement and a battleground tour with her new No. 2 next week.
NC Gov. Cooper opted out of Harris VP vetting, in part over worry about GOP lieutenant: AP sources
Read full article: NC Gov. Cooper opted out of Harris VP vetting, in part over worry about GOP lieutenant: AP sourcesNorth Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper opted not to be a candidate in Vice President Kamala Harrisโ running mate search.
Gabrielle Giffords stumps for Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania as campaign for running mate takes shape
Read full article: Gabrielle Giffords stumps for Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania as campaign for running mate takes shapeGabrielle Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman who was grievously wounded in a 2011 shooting, is taking to the campaign trail for Vice President Kamala Harris, as Harrisโ nascent presidential campaign gets off the ground and a parallel campaign to be Harrisโ running mate takes shape.
As Harris considers a running mate, what are states' succession rules for VP candidates?
Read full article: As Harris considers a running mate, what are states' succession rules for VP candidates?The 2024 White House campaign has thrust a handful of governors and senators into the mix for vice president.
Harris is starting to vet potential running mates. Her initial list includes nearly a dozen names
Read full article: Harris is starting to vet potential running mates. Her initial list includes nearly a dozen namesVice President Kamala Harris is beginning to vet about a dozen possible candidates to be her running mate as she approaches one of most consequential decisions of her new presidential candidacy.
Kamala Harris faces a major test as she looks for a running mate for her White House run
Read full article: Kamala Harris faces a major test as she looks for a running mate for her White House runVice President Kamala Harris must choose a running mate in only a few weeks as Democrats prepare for their convention next month.
Vice President Kamala Harris leads list of contenders for spots on the Democratic ticket
Read full article: Vice President Kamala Harris leads list of contenders for spots on the Democratic ticketPresident Joe Biden's decision to step down as the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee for president has opened the door for other possible candidates.
North Carolina's Medicaid expansion program has enrolled 500,000 people in just 7 months
Read full article: North Carolina's Medicaid expansion program has enrolled 500,000 people in just 7 monthsMore than 500,000 North Carolina residents have enrolled in state's Medicaid expansion program in the seven months since it was launched.
What you should know about North Carolina's race for governor
Read full article: What you should know about North Carolina's race for governorNorth Carolina has been an underappreciated political battleground recently and not gotten the same attention as nearby Georgia or Florida or the traditional campaign hotbeds of the Rust Belt.
North Carolina welcomes a historic visitor in Japan's Prime Minister Kishida
Read full article: North Carolina welcomes a historic visitor in Japan's Prime Minister KishidaJapanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is cementing economic links and cultural amity with North Carolina by visiting the Tar Heel state after a few days in Washington focused on global security issues.
Heated North Carolina governorโs race ahead with Democrat Josh Stein vs. Republican Mark Robinson
Read full article: Heated North Carolina governorโs race ahead with Democrat Josh Stein vs. Republican Mark RobinsonDemocratic Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson won North Carolina's primaries for governor. Their victories on Tuesday set the stage for what will be an expensive and high-stakes November contest in a state that the two parties see as a pivotal battleground.
Steady ascent or sudden splash? North Carolina governor's race features men who took different paths
Read full article: Steady ascent or sudden splash? North Carolina governor's race features men who took different pathsFront-runners for North Carolina's major-party nominations for governor in next month's primaries have taken dramatically different paths to prominence.
Biden's vow of affordable internet for all is threatened by the looming expiration of subsidies
Read full article: Biden's vow of affordable internet for all is threatened by the looming expiration of subsidiesTwenty-three million families will either have to pay more for internet or cancel their subscriptions altogether if a federal subsidy program to help with the monthly bill runs out of money.
A push to expand Medicaid has Kansas governor embracing politics and cutting against her brand
Read full article: A push to expand Medicaid has Kansas governor embracing politics and cutting against her brandDemocratic Gov. Laura Kelly is more aggressive and openly political in pushing to expand Medicaid in Kansas as the Republican-controlled Legislature prepares to open its annual session.
Toyota more than doubles investment and job creation at North Carolina battery plant
Read full article: Toyota more than doubles investment and job creation at North Carolina battery plantToyota will invest an additional $8 billion in the hybrid and electric vehicle battery factory itโs constructing in North Carolina.
North Carolina Republicans put exclamation mark on pivotal annual session with redistricting maps
Read full article: North Carolina Republicans put exclamation mark on pivotal annual session with redistricting mapsThe North Carolina General Assembly has given final approval to new redistricting maps poised to empower the state GOP for years to come.
Judge blocks 2 provisions in North Carolina's new abortion law; 12-week near-ban remains in place
Read full article: Judge blocks 2 provisions in North Carolina's new abortion law; 12-week near-ban remains in placeA federal judge blocked two portions of North Carolinaโs new abortion law from taking effect while a lawsuit continues.
North Carolina Republicans seek control over state and local election boards ahead of 2024
Read full article: North Carolina Republicans seek control over state and local election boards ahead of 2024Republicans who control the North Carolina legislature with veto-proof majorities are close to wresting supervision of elections from the governor and the governorโs party โ almost always the Democrats for over a century.
North Carolina laws curtailing transgender rights prompt less backlash than 2016 'bathroom bill'
Read full article: North Carolina laws curtailing transgender rights prompt less backlash than 2016 'bathroom bill'North Carolina was ground zero in the nationwide fight over transgender rights with the passage of its 2016 โbathroom bill.โ.
Veto overridden: Ban on gender-affirming care for minors takes effect in North Carolina
Read full article: Veto overridden: Ban on gender-affirming care for minors takes effect in North CarolinaTransgender youth in North Carolina have lost access to gender-affirming treatments after the stateโs Republican-controlled General Assembly voted to override Gov. Roy Cooperโs veto of that legislation and others involving gender in sports and LGBTQ classroom instruction.
North Carolina governor vetoes trio of LGBTQ+ restrictions in ongoing fight with GOP supermajority
Read full article: North Carolina governor vetoes trio of LGBTQ+ restrictions in ongoing fight with GOP supermajorityNorth Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed a trio of bills aimed at LGBTQ+ youth that would restrict gender-affirming health care and sports participation for transgender minors and limit classroom instruction about gender identity and sexuality.
Transgender sports ban heads to North Carolina governor's desk
Read full article: Transgender sports ban heads to North Carolina governor's deskNorth Carolina has given final legislative approval to a bill banning transgender girls from playing on the school sports teams that align with their gender identity.
Here are all of the abortion debates happening this week in US courts and statehouses
Read full article: Here are all of the abortion debates happening this week in US courts and statehousesLawmakers in South Carolina have passed an abortion ban while a judge in Montana was weighing restrictions there.
Abortion after 12 weeks banned in North Carolina after GOP lawmakers override governorโs veto
Read full article: Abortion after 12 weeks banned in North Carolina after GOP lawmakers override governorโs vetoLegislation banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy is becoming law in North Carolina after the stateโs Republican-controlled General Assembly successfully overrode the Democratic governorโs veto.
North Carolina governor vetoes abortion limits, launches override showdown
Read full article: North Carolina governor vetoes abortion limits, launches override showdownNorth Carolinaโs Democratic governor has vetoed legislation that would have banned nearly all abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
NC lawmakers pass 12-week abortion ban; governor vows veto
Read full article: NC lawmakers pass 12-week abortion ban; governor vows vetoThe Republican-controlled North Carolina legislature has approved and sent to the governor a ban on nearly all abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy in response to last yearโs overturning of Roe v. Wade at the U.S. Supreme Court.
North Carolina Republicans unveil new abortion restrictions
Read full article: North Carolina Republicans unveil new abortion restrictionsNorth Carolina Republican legislative leaders say there is agreement within their chambers on backing a measure that would prohibit abortion in nearly all cases after roughly the first trimester of pregnancy.
Party switch gives GOP veto-proof control in North Carolina
Read full article: Party switch gives GOP veto-proof control in North CarolinaA Democrat in the North Carolina state House has switched to the Republican Party in a move that gives the GOP veto-proof control of both chambers of the legislature.
DA says libel case against N. Carolina Attorney General over
Read full article: DA says libel case against N. Carolina Attorney General overA local North Carolina prosecutor says campaign-related charges wonโt be pursued further against Attorney General Josh Stein or his aides in light of a federal appeals court ruling this week.
North Carolina Senate OKs limits on LGBTQ school instruction
Read full article: North Carolina Senate OKs limits on LGBTQ school instructionNorth Carolinaโs Republican-controlled Senate has passed a bill requiring teachers to alert parents in most circumstances before calling a student by a different name or pronoun.
NC power grid attack stokes fear in rural LGBTQ community
Read full article: NC power grid attack stokes fear in rural LGBTQ communityNorth Carolina drag performers and LGBTQ community members fear for their safety after an attack on the electrical grid in Moore County left tens of thousands without power for several days.
States move to protect abortion from prosecutions elsewhere
Read full article: States move to protect abortion from prosecutions elsewhereThe U.S. Supreme Court's landmark abortion ruling overturning Roe v. Wade is prompting efforts in liberal states to protect providers and patients who have traveled for a legal procedure.
New round of state abortion battles winding up after draft
Read full article: New round of state abortion battles winding up after draftThe Supreme Courtโs apparent intention to abolish a nationwide right to abortion, spelled out in a draft opinion leaked this week, will not be the final chapter in the nationโs most pitched culture battle.
After impasse, N. Carolina politicians make big deals in '21
Read full article: After impasse, N. Carolina politicians make big deals in '21In politically divided North Carolina, hostilities between Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and majority-Republican lawmakers have eased somewhat as 2021 nears its end.
N. Carolina ban on Down syndrome abortions goes to governor
Read full article: N. Carolina ban on Down syndrome abortions goes to governorNorth Carolina's Senate has approved a measure to prohibit doctors from performing abortions if a woman is seeking it because of race, sex or a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
Conservatives seize on gas crunch to blame Biden, stir base
Read full article: Conservatives seize on gas crunch to blame Biden, stir baseThousands of social media posts have misleadingly painted President Joe Biden and his administration as catalysts of chaos who not only mishandled the temporary shutdown of the nationโs largest fuel pipeline last Friday, but engineered it.
7 deputies on leave after fatal shooting of Black man
Read full article: 7 deputies on leave after fatal shooting of Black manAuthorities say seven North Carolina deputies have been placed on leave in the aftermath of a Black man being shot and killed by members of their department serving drug-related search and arrest warrants.
Many still hesitate to get vaccine, but reluctance is easing
Read full article: Many still hesitate to get vaccine, but reluctance is easingThe race is on to vaccinate as many Americans as possible against COVID-19, but a significant number of people in the U.S. are still reluctant to get the shots, even in places where they are plentiful.
Cooper seeking improved warning system after deadly tornado
Read full article: Cooper seeking improved warning system after deadly tornadoOfficials say a ferocious tornado struck shortly before midnight Monday just inland from the barrier island of Ocean Isle Beach. Roy Cooper said Wednesday that the state must learn from the surprise tornado that struck Ocean Isle Beach with little or no warning, leaving three people dead and 10 injured. The governor surveyed the brunt of the damage, at Ocean Ridge Plantation, a neighborhood where residents recounted near-death experiences from the powerful EF3 tornado that approached swiftly. Some said they received a warning alert on their phone two minutes after the tornado had already passed. AdBefore the tornado hit his Ocean Ridge Storage Solutions business about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the Ocean Ridge Plantation, he said he was already struggling financially from the governor's pandemic-related business restrictions.
Tornado levels homes in North Carolina; 3 dead, 10 injured
Read full article: Tornado levels homes in North Carolina; 3 dead, 10 injuredWILMINGTON, N.C. โ It was late Monday night when the power went out at Jesse Clemmons' home in coastal North Carolina. It wasn't until about two minutes after the storm passed that a tornado warning popped up on his cellphone, he said. The twister tore through the Ocean Ridge Plantation, a complex of expensive residences clustered around a golf course, collapsing some homes and damaging dozens of others. It also damaged homes in more modest neighborhoods on a highway that unspools along several North Carolina beaches. โThe sky lit up and there was a lot of pop-pop-popping," said Ocean Ridge resident Sharon Benson.
The Latest: N.C. senators OK bill to force schools to reopen
Read full article: The Latest: N.C. senators OK bill to force schools to reopenAuthorities in Greece have extended a curfew in the country's two largest cities after a new rise in COVID-19 cases . ___THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:Spain surpasses 3 million coronavirus cases, seventh highest total in the world. The governor got his Pfizer shot along with Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin and several other state officials who are newly able under Louisianaโs latest eligibility criteria. Health officials reported 1,526 new confirmed infections Tuesday โ half in the greater Athens region โ and another 20 deaths. AdAcross the state, officials have started to vaccinate people 65 and older and some workers who canโt do their jobs remotely.
The Latest: More rules for returning New Zealand travelers
Read full article: The Latest: More rules for returning New Zealand travelers(Peter Meecham/New Zealand Herald via AP)WELLINGTON, New Zealand โ Travelers returning to New Zealand will face stricter rules at quarantine hotels as health authorities investigate how up to three people got infected with the coronavirus while isolating at Aucklandโs Pullman Hotel. The record increase of 65 deaths is three more than the previous one-day record reported on Jan. 6, according to health department records. The university and county health department are asking students to limit leaving their residence to going to classes, getting food, work and other necessary in-person activities. The health department said in the news release that if the case counts continues to rise, stricter measures will have to be applied. The previous one-day record of 62 was reported Jan. 6, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Biden picks North Carolina environmental chief to lead EPA
Read full article: Biden picks North Carolina environmental chief to lead EPABiden's pick of Regan, who leads his state's environmental agency, was confirmed by two people familiar with the selection process, as was his choice of Haaland. Regan became environmental chief in North Carolina in 2017. North Carolina Gov. He negotiated what North Carolina says was the largest cleanup agreement for toxic coal ash, with Duke Energy. President Donald Trump had made the agency a special target for his drive to cut regulation, saying early on he would leave only โbitsโ of the environmental agency.
The Latest: Hong Kong re-imposes restaurant dining bans
Read full article: The Latest: Hong Kong re-imposes restaurant dining bansHong Kong on Wednesday reported an additional 100 cases, bringing its two-week total to 1,274. Hong Kong has reported a total of 7,075 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic, with 112 deaths. The Texas Department of State Health Services also said 9,028 people were hospitalized across the state. Since late November, the new daily cases have soared past 10,000 on several days, with 15,103 new cases reported Tuesday, according to state health officials. ___BOISE, Idaho โ Idaho public health officials abruptly ended a meeting Tuesday evening after the Boise mayor and chief of police said intense anti-mask protests outside the health department building โ as well as outside some health officialsโ homes โ were threatening public safety.
The Latest: Conn. extends pandemic jobless benefit to 38,000
Read full article: The Latest: Conn. extends pandemic jobless benefit to 38,000State health officials decline to identify which hospitals have expressed interest, but say there is need statewide. Hospitalizations have not yet reached their summer heights in Georgia, but beds are filling rapidly with COVID-19 cases. ___HARRISBURG, Pa. โ States faced a deadline on Friday to place orders for the coronavirus vaccine as many reported record infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Ukraine, which is facing a rapid rise in coronavirus cases, tightened weekend restrictions last month but lifted them this week. ___ATLANTA โ Vice President Mike Pence is trying to boost Americansโ confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines that are awaiting regulatory approval and distribution.
The Latest: Birx says Americans must be strict for pandemic
Read full article: The Latest: Birx says Americans must be strict for pandemicDr. Deborah Birx says people also have to observe social distancing and wash their hands to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The number is second only to the 238 deaths reported Wednesday. Gary Herbert says Utah plans to prioritize front-line health care workers after it receives its first round of coronavirus vaccine doses. The number of new daily coronavirus cases reached 23,225 on Thursday, falling after three tiers of regional restrictions put in a month ago. ___WASHINGTON โ Three former presidents say theyโd publicly take a coronavirus vaccine, once one becomes available, to encourage all Americans to get inoculated.
2017 ban on local LGBT ordinances ends in North Carolina
Read full article: 2017 ban on local LGBT ordinances ends in North CarolinaThis material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistribu)RALEIGH, N.C. โ A 3 1/2-year ban on new local ordinances aimed at protecting LGBT rights in North Carolina expired Tuesday, prompting gay rights groups to urge the passage of such measures now. It drew national condemnation and prompted several large corporations and sports teams to relocate events to other states or reconsider expanding in North Carolina. As the moratorium ended, leaders of Equality North Carolina and the Campaign for Southern Equality on Tuesday urged North Carolina residents to contact leaders of cities and urge them to expand anti-discrimination laws for the LGBT community. The moratorium had barred new local ordinances related to private employment, hotels and restaurants. Beau Mills, executive director of the North Carolina Metro Mayors Coalition, said before the ban ended that he wasn't aware of any city planning to pass new ordinances right away.
Republicans retain power in states despite Democratic push
Read full article: Republicans retain power in states despite Democratic pushโThis was a status quo election.โHeading into Tuesday, Republicans had full control of 29 state legislatures compared to 19 for Democrats. โThe reality is we are still running on very gerrymandered maps,โ said Christina Polizzi, national press secretary for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. They were countered by the Republican state leadership committee, which had a target of about $70 million. But Republican redistricting power will be diminished in some states because of changes that occurred in recent years. Instead, Republicans added to their House ranks with more conservatives, increasing the potential to override vetoes by Democratic Gov.
Montana goes red; it's status quo in other governor races
Read full article: Montana goes red; it's status quo in other governor racesMike Parson, and State Auditor Nicole Galloway are seen onstage before the Missouri gubernatorial debate at the Missouri Theatre in Columbia, Missouri. Democrats are hoping to gain control of more state legislative chambers after Republicans scored huge wins in 2010. The only governor's job to change parties is in Montana, where Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte defeated Democratic Lt. Gov. The national Democratic and Republican governors associations and the campaigns themselves have contributed more than $24 million to the race. In Missouri, incumbent Mike Parson, a Republican, defeated Nicole Galloway, the state auditor who was the Democrats' best chance to pick up a seat.
Races for governor take top billing in Missouri, Montana
Read full article: Races for governor take top billing in Missouri, MontanaFILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 file photo, Missouri Republican Gov. Its the most hotly contested of the nations 11 governors races this fall. Which party holds the governor's office could be especially consequential over the next few years. In governorโs races, many of the attack ads are funded by each partyโs governors association. In the governorโs race, he said Gianforteโs financial support of a Montana museum dedicated to creationist beliefs was a big problem.
The Latest: India's cases top 2.3M, fatality rate drops
Read full article: The Latest: India's cases top 2.3M, fatality rate dropsPrime Minister Narendra Modi held a video conference Tuesday with the top elected officials of 10 states that together account for about 80% of Indias total cases, urging them to rigorously apply the strategies of containment, surveillance and contact tracing to drive the fatality rate below 1%. Those measures appear to have been successful in bringing numbers down from the more than 100 new daily cases reported at the end of last month. ___MEXICO CITY Mexico reported a near-record 926 newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, bringing the countrys accumulated total to 53,929. The Health Department reported 6,686 new coronavirus infections, bringing the countrys total confirmed cases so far to 492,522. At that rate Mexico will reach a half million confirmed cases soon, but given the extremely low rate of testing less than 1.1 million tests in a country of almost 130 million inhabitants the number would like be a vast undercount.
North Carolina to relax 10-person limit for GOP convention
Read full article: North Carolina to relax 10-person limit for GOP conventionFILE - In this July 21, 2016, file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump smiles as he addresses delegates during the final day session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. North Carolina public health officials told the Republican National Committee the party can have more than 10 people in a room to conduct official convention business while in Charlotte. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)RALEIGH, N.C. North Carolina will ease gathering restrictions for the Republican National Convention in Charlotte this month after a push by the national party for the state to be more accommodating. The RNC has estimated it would have no more than 500 delegates per day at the Charlotte Convention Center and the Westin hotel. The back-and-forth between the state and RNC comes amid a months-long battle between Trump and North Carolina's Democratic governor.
Governors face competing voices as reported virus cases rise
Read full article: Governors face competing voices as reported virus cases riseWith reported coronavirus cases rising rapidly in many states, governors are getting lots of advice on what they should do. Dr. Brian Labus, an assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Public Health and a member of the medical team advising Sisolak, said he knows the governor has to weigh public health advice against political and economic considerations. The number of confirmed new coronavirus cases per day in the U.S. hit an all-time high of 40,000 Friday. In Utah, coronavirus cases have been surging since most businesses were allowed to reopen in May. As West Virginia has seen a spike in reported virus cases, Gov.
North Carolina requires face coverings statewide
Read full article: North Carolina requires face coverings statewideNorth Carolinaโs governor has ordered people across the state to wear masks or other face coverings in public to fight the spread of COVID-19. Roy Cooper issued an executive order Wednesday that people must wear face coverings in public when itโs not possible to maintain physical distance. The order also mandates masks or other face coverings for employees of businesses including retailers and restaurants, as well as state employees in the executive branch. Violations of Cooperโs executive orders are generally punishable by misdemeanor, but Wednesdayโs order directs law enforcement to issue citations to businesses or organizations that fail to enforce mask requirements, not individuals.
Democrats confirm plans for nearly all-virtual convention
Read full article: Democrats confirm plans for nearly all-virtual conventionDemocrats will hold an almost entirely virtual presidential nominating convention Aug. 17-20 in Milwaukee using live broadcasts and online streaming, party officials said Wednesday. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi will serve as convention chair, party officials said. Unlike this president, Joe Biden and Democrats are committed to protecting the health and safety of the American people, Perez said. Besides events in Wisconsin, Democrats plan other events in satellite locations around the country to broadcast as part of the convention. Veteran producer Ricky Kirshner, who has worked on every Democratic National Convention since 1992, will lead production of the convention, including the satellite broadcasts.
While Confederate statues come down, other symbols targeted
Read full article: While Confederate statues come down, other symbols targetedSundays work follows the removal of two other Confederate statues on the state Capitol grounds in Raleigh on Saturday. Cooper ordered the statues removed after protesters toppled two other Confederate statues Friday night, stringing one up by the neck and hanging it from a light pole. Cooper has advocated the statues removal for years. In another case in California, symbols of the Black Lives Matter movement have been targeted in recent weeks with vandalism. The Ventura County Sheriffs Office said late Saturday that a tarp painted with the letters BLM has been repeatedly damaged in Thousand Oaks.
Jacksonville to host Republican National Convention
Read full article: Jacksonville to host Republican National ConventionJACKSONVILLE, Fla. Donald Trump will accept the nomination of the Republican Party for a second term as president in Jacksonville, the Republican National Committee Chair announced Thursday night in a news release. We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville, RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel announced. We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State in just a few short months.We are thrilled to hold @realDonaldTrump's acceptance of the Republican nomination in the great city of Jacksonville! We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State! Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) June 12, 2020The RNC said their choice of Jacksonville came after North Carolina Gov.
Judge orders N.C. track with large crowds to stop races
Read full article: Judge orders N.C. track with large crowds to stop racesRoy Coopers administration has ordered closed a small stock-car track thats allowed large crowds to gather repeatedly for weekend races well above COVID-19 limits for mass gatherings. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)GRAHAM, N.C. A North Carolina judge on Thursday ordered a small stock-car track to halt racing after state health officials declared large weekend crowds at recent races violated an executive order by Gov. Media reports indicated many gathered at three weekend races since late May sat and stood near each other, and few wore masks. Kitchen also argued that the Turners constitutional rights were being violated and that they were subject to selective enforcement of Coopers order. If its wrong to have races, than all races have to be shut down, Kitchen said.
GOP head eyeing Jacksonville as Trump convention speech host
Read full article: GOP head eyeing Jacksonville as Trump convention speech hostBut she made clear that Jacksonville is the favorite now that Charlotte, North Carolina, the official host of this summer's Republican National Convention, has balked on promising Trump a full-blown convention free from social distancing measures during the coronavirus pandemic. Shame on him, because he put politics over the people of his state and revenues coming into his state, McDaniel said in the radio interview. Mayor Len Curry is a former chair of the state Republican Party and the area is the home base of GOP Gov. We are going to keep our convention of, the business of the convention in Charlotte. Charlotte officials on Wednesday said that despite public comments from Trump and GOP officials, they had not been officially informed of any intent to move any part of the convention.
GOP lawmakers push bill to keep Trump, RNC in North Carolina
Read full article: GOP lawmakers push bill to keep Trump, RNC in North CarolinaFILE - In this Sept. 9, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump participates in a briefing about Hurricane Dorian with North Carolina Gov. Trump's tweets Monday about the RNC, planned for Charlotte, come just two days after the North Carolina recorded its largest daily increase in positive cases yet. A draft of the bill, authored by Republican State Rep. John Torbett of Gaston and circulated last week by North Carolina Republican Party chairman Michael Whatley, calls for convention events in Charlotte to be held at full capacity, just as Trump had demanded from Cooper. The bill would require attendees to complete both pre-attendance and daily health surveys and have their temperatures taken prior to entry. Torbett's bill is unlikely to garner support among Democratic state lawmakers, who are concerned about reopening the state too soon and holding mass gatherings.
Trump looks elsewhere after GOP convention spat with NC gov
Read full article: Trump looks elsewhere after GOP convention spat with NC govTrump and the RNC had demanded that the August convention be allowed to move forward with a full crowd and that participants not have to wear face coverings. Protecting public health and safety during this pandemic is a priority.A traditional GOP convention brings together roughly 2,500 delegates, the same number of alternate delegates and many times more guests, journalists and security personnel. They agreed to continue talking about ways to have a safe convention in Charlotte.But Cooper made clear to Trump that those conditions would likely be impossible to accommodate. The RNC's leader, Ronna McDaniel accused Cooper of dragging his feet on giving them guidance for proceeding with convention plans. Tennessee's Bill Lee said GOP officials were coming to scout Nashville on Thursday.
Trump says GOP is pulling convention from North Carolina
Read full article: Trump says GOP is pulling convention from North CarolinaWe have been committed to a safe RNC convention in North Carolina and its unfortunate they never agreed to scale down and make changes to keep people safe, Cooper tweeted in response to the decision. Protecting public health and safety during this pandemic is a priority.A traditional GOP convention brings together roughly 2,500 delegates, the same number of alternate delegates and many times more guests, journalists and security personnel. The Republican governors of states including Tennessee, Florida and Georgia had said they would be interested in hosting if North Carolina fell through. Changing sites had been seen as difficult for reasons including the contract between GOP officials and Charlotte leaders to hold the convention there. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tenn.; Jonathan Drew in Durham, North Carolina; and Tom Foreman Jr. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, contributed to this report.
As Trump deadline approaches, N.C. wants more on convention
Read full article: As Trump deadline approaches, N.C. wants more on conventionRALEIGH, N.C. North Carolina's top health official asked Friday for more details on how GOP leaders will protect attendees of a Republican National Convention this summer during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Donald Trump has threatened to move his formal renomination elsewhere if he does not soon get guarantees of being able to hold a large-scale event. The GOP's letter Thursday did not mention such a request, but Cohen said it had been discussed by phone. The state continues to support the hosting of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte if it can be done safelty, Cohen wrote to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and convention CEO Marcia Lee Kelly. Cooper is seeking reelection this fall in a state Trump won in 2016.
North Carolina governor: RNC hasn't submitted safety plan
Read full article: North Carolina governor: RNC hasn't submitted safety planNorth Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen sent a letter Monday to the top RNC organizer asking for a written safety plan after Trump demanded in a tweet that North Carolina guarantee a full-scale, in-person convention will be held. Cooper and Cohen say that they had discussed various scenarios with convention organizers but want their plan in writing. Were ready to hold the RNC convention in North Carolina in a safe way. Cooper said his administration required a similar written plan from NASCAR ahead of its recent race in the Charlotte area that was held without fans. The county surrounding Charlotte has had the most virus cases of any in North Carolina, and the state is experiencing an upward trend in cases.
Trump's convention demand comes amid Charlotte virus surge
Read full article: Trump's convention demand comes amid Charlotte virus surgeTrump's tweets Monday about the RNC, planned for Charlotte, come just two days after the North Carolina recorded its largest daily increase in positive cases yet. Even local Republican officials note that Trump doesn't have the power to unilaterally move the event scheduled to start in 90 days after two years of planning. Asked about Trumps tweets threatening to move the convention, Cooper said Tuesday hes not surprised at anything that happens on Twitter, without mentioning the president by name. Republican governors in Georgia and Florida say they would welcome the convention if North Carolina falls through. With proper screening, I think they can pull this off.___ Drew reported from Durham, North Carolina, and Robertson reported from Raleigh, North Carolina.