North Carolina

N.C. House panel meets to review death penalty, race

Cindy.Clayton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:56:48 -0500

By Gary D. Robertson RALEIGH, N.C. The first meeting by a General Assembly committee examining death penalty cases and racial bias in North Carolina again shows sharp differences about whether changes to the Racial Justice Act are needed.

UNC board of governors approves tuition increases

Cindy.Clayton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:01:02 -0500

By Emery P. Dalesio CHAPEL HILL, N.C. The University of North Carolina Board of Governors voted today to increase tuition across the system of 16 university campuses by nearly 9 percent, or over $400, on average.

Homes severely damaged in fires in Waves, N.C.

lauren.king — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:21:48 -0500

WAVES, N.C.

Two homes in the same neighborhood have been severely damaged in fires that occurred within days of each other.

Investigators with the fire department and the Dare County Sheriff are investigating the cause of the two fires and whether they are connected.

Dredging to start soon to help Outer Banks shoaling

Gabriella.Souza — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:27:39 -0500

Dredging to relieve shoaling on the ferry route between North Carolina's Hatteras and Ocracoke islands will start within two weeks, the Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday.
The corps will use $2 million to deepen the route, where shallow waters and emerging sand have forced the ferry service to use smaller vessels and delay trips.

New N.C. law could delay primary runoff by 3 weeks

lauren.king — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:18:28 -0500

By Gary D. Robertson RALEIGH, N.C. If a leading candidate fails to get more than 40 percent of the vote in a North Carolina primary election race this May, when is the runoff?

It depends.

OBX access alliance files suit against parks service

Lee.Tolliver — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:59:36 -0500

The Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance has filed a lawsuit that challenges the National Park Service's new management plan. It asks for an injunction to prevent the service from closing 26 of 67 miles of beach and will require weekly or annual permits to access parts of the beach that are open to vehicular traffic. The new rules are scheduled to take effect Wednesday.

UNC panel recommends 8.8 percent tuition increase

lauren.king — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:42:44 -0500

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

A University of North Carolina Board of Governors committee has recommended a proposal that would see college costs rise by more than $400 per student on average.

The committee made its recommendation Thursday in Chapel Hill, a day before the full board is scheduled to vote on the proposal.

N.C. county looks to boost minority representation

Cindy.Clayton — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:16:43 -0500

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. Pasquotank County leaders are trying to come up with a redistricting plan that will pass federal muster and increase representation for black residents.

The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City reports that while 40 percent of Pasquotank residents are black, there are currently six white and one black members on the county board of commissioners.

Suffolk man killed while sleeping under truck in N.C.

Cindy.Clayton — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:44 -0500

ST. PAULS, N.C. Police in a Robeson County town say a homeless man from Suffolk, Va., was killed after falling asleep under a tractor-trailer that crushed him while driving away.

The Fayetteville Observer reports that 33-year-old Mark Walton Davidson was pronounced dead Tuesday after being found at a St. Pauls truck stop.

Roadwork may slow summer trips to Outer Banks

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:41:29 -0500

U.S. 158 in Currituck County - the main thoroughfare to the Outer Banks - will get a new $13.3 million coat of asphalt, a project that will cause lane closures during the busy summer months.