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Your weekly North Carolina political news report.
Education
THE ROBESONIAN: UNCP a candidate for Health Sciences College
A study outlining the positive effects of a College of Health Sciences atThe University of North Carolina at Pembroke is headed to the GeneralAssembly after being approved last week by the UNC Board of Governors.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Superintendent Clayton Wilcox plans to seek about $9million in county money to fortify schools with fences, cameras and“hardened” doors, he said this week.
Elections
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NC Gov. Cooper appoints an elections boardmember Republicans fought
The four Democrats and four Republicans on the new state elections boardwent ’round and ’round Wednesday, casting tie vote after tie vote, as theylooked for the board’s ninth member.
Energy & Environment
WRAL: Dem mailers target eastern Republicans over pipeline fund
The state Democratic Party has sent out mailers targeting Republicanlawmakers from eastern North Carolina, telling voters they “raided” moneythat would have helped create jobs in the area.
WILMINGTON STAR NEWS: In ongoing battle, N.C. fishermen want commercial licenses to remain unchanged
A controversial proposal that would tighten the definition of a commercialfisherman in North Carolina is stalled at the Division of Marine Fisheriesfor now, even as it still sparks strong feelings with both commercial andrecreational fishermen.
WILMINGTON STAR-NEWS: Wilmington will host public hearing on proposed toxic chemical increase
Residents will have a chance to further weigh in on a Wilmington facilitythat has asked the state for permission to become the nation’s leading userof a toxic chemical, a N.C. Department of Environmental Quality officialsaid Thursday.
Health and Human Services
The results of an independent investigation into controversial actions byCardinal Innovations’ former executive director and board of directors willbe revealed Monday at the agency’s Charlotte headquarters.
Housing
In the summer of 2007, the city of Charlotte struck a deal with a prominentdeveloper to build affordable housing adjacent to the Scaleybark light-railstation. But after waiting nearly 11 years and spending $2 million from thecity’s Housing Trust Fund, the apartments haven’t been built.
N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday morning anointed the city’s latestaffordable housing effort “an innovation solution” that he said could bereplicated elsewhere in building stronger communities.
In the Courts
WFAE NEWS: At Appeals Court, Dems And Republicans Argue Over Judicial Primaries
North Carolina’s primaries are just seven weeks away, but it’s still notclear if they’ll include votes for local judges. A three-judge panel at theU.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, heard argumentsTuesday over whether those primaries can go forward this year.
THE FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER: Ruling could help landowners in path of Fayetteville Outer Loop
Dozens of Cumberland County property owners in the path of the FayettevilleOuter Loop will benefit from three decisions the Court of Appeals issued onTuesday, said lawyer Neil Yarborough of Fayetteville. “It’s a big win,”Yarborough said. The rulings were issued in Forsyth County eminent domainlawsuits that the N.C. Department of Transportation filed to take people’sproperty for the construction of a highway around Winston-Salem.
Justice & Public Safety
WRAL NEWS: Outside experts looking for ways to make NC prisons safer
After a deadly year for the state prison system, the Department of PublicSafety is looking to outside experts for advice on how to improve safetyand security for prison workers.
Technology
Elizabeth City DAILY ADVANCE: Szoka: Green technology driving policy changes
Green technologies are driving rapid technological change and policymakersare working to keep up, a leading member of the N.C. House ofRepresentatives said during Saturday’s “Green Saves Green Expo” inElizabeth City. The first featured speaker of the expo, state Rep. JohnSzoka, R-Cumberland, spoke on lawmakers’ efforts to support — and adapt to— the growth of electric vehicles and to bolster solar energy production.