June 26, 2019

What gerrymandering court rulings could mean for NC, and where the cases stand now

RALEIGH -- Gerrymandering lawsuits in both the state and federal court systems could dictate the political landscape in North Carolina for the 2020 election cycle and beyond.

This summer, court decisions are expected in Rucho v. Common Cause and Common Cause v. Lewis. The Rucho case deals with allegations of unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering in North Carolina’s congressional districts; the Lewis case makes similar allegations about state legislative districts.

The outcomes of these cases will have national and state consequences. They could change the way North Carolina is carved up into districts, making upcoming elections more competitive in a state where Republicans control the legislature and dominate the U.S. House delegation. They might even change the standards for what constitutes a legal political map.

Here’s what you need to know about these lawsuits.

Read more: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article231422113.html

June 26, 2019

Wake County notifying thousands about possibly unsafe drinking water in private wells. Uranium,

Wake County notifying thousands about possibly unsafe drinking water in private wells. Uranium, radon levels exceed limits.


RALEIGH — Wake County is notifying thousands of households on private wells that their drinking water may have unhealthy levels of radiological chemicals like uranium and radon.

An estimated one in five private wells in eastern Wake County may exceed safe drinking-water standards for some chemicals, officials said at a Monday news conference. They plan to notify 19,000 property owners by mail starting this week.

People don't need to panic, said Evan Kane, the county's groundwater protection and wells manager. The best next step is to get private well water tested, he said.

At least one household has 20 times the acceptable level of uranium in the water, Kane said.

Read more: https://www.greensboro.com/news/state/wake-county-notifying-thousands-about-possibly-unsafe-drinking-water-in/article_c774c112-ed27-51a6-8c84-98237ee31dbd.html

June 26, 2019

Lawsuit challenges constitutionality of NC laws protecting hog industry from nuisance actions

State lawmakers allegedly violated the North Carolina constitution when they passed legislation that stripped residents of their right to sue industrialized hog operations for nuisance, according to a legal complaint filed this week.

The complaint, filed in state court, claims the NC Farm Acts of 2017 and 2018 are unconstitutional because they create a special class — people who are prohibited from suing agricultural and forestry operations from nuisance suits.

The laws also allegedly violate due process and private property rights, including the right of jury trial in these cases.

The complaint asks the court to overturn the Farm Acts on these constitutional grounds.

Read more: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2019/06/21/lawsuit-challenges-constitutionality-of-nc-laws-protecting-hog-industry-from-nuisance-actions/

June 26, 2019

After coastal towns complain about Resource Institute, lawmakers could rescind its $5M windfall

One year you have $5 million, the next year — poof — it’s gone.

Funding for the politically connected Resource Institute is on the brink of being eliminated in Senate Bill 95 after several coastal towns complained to lawmakers that the Winston-Salem nonprofit didn’t have the expertise to tackle hurricane resilience and recovery projects.

If the bill becomes law, the money would be divided equally among Topsail Beach, North Topsail Beach and Surf City for hurricane recovery projects.

Squeak Smith, chairman of the Resource Institute board of directors, told Policy Watch he is waiting for the final bill language to determine the next steps.

Read more: http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2019/06/25/after-coastal-towns-complain-about-resource-institute-lawmakers-could-rescind-its-5-million-windfall/

June 26, 2019

Roanoke settles suit alleging police were denied overtime

The city of Roanoke agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle an overtime lawsuit filed on behalf of hundreds of past and present police officers.

Two-thirds of the money, up to $792,000, is earmarked for 341 people who work or worked at or below the rank of sergeant during the past four years. The compensation checks will average $2,322, court papers said.

Compensation for plaintiffs’ attorneys was set at $400,000.

Details appear in a settlement agreement endorsed Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Glen Conrad. The case had been in litigation in Roanoke federal court for about a year with a trial scheduled next month.

Read more: https://www.roanoke.com/news/local/roanoke-settles-suit-alleging-police-were-denied-overtime/article_35ef4315-ece9-51f8-a174-a59b3e4424d7.html

June 26, 2019

Virginia taxpayers must file returns by July 1 to qualify for special one-time refunds

It’s not a normal tax refund, but almost 350,000 Virginia taxpayers are running out of time to receive a one-time payment this fall as part of the state’s response to federal tax reform.

Gov. Ralph Northam sounded the alarm on Tuesday for taxpayers to file their tax returns by July 1 to qualify for a one-time refund of $110 for individuals and $220 for married couples by mid-October.

“With the filing deadline fast approaching, I urge all Virginians who still need to submit state individual income taxes to file now so they can qualify for the Tax Relief Refund,” Northam said in a written announcement.

Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne had raised the issue a day earlier before the House Appropriations Committee, which fashioned the tax relief package with the Senate Finance Committee and Northam administration earlier this year. The package is designed to compensate Virginia taxpayers who may pay more in state taxes as an unforeseen consequence of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that President Donald Trump signed 18 months ago.

Read more: https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/general-assembly/virginia-taxpayers-must-file-returns-by-july-to-qualify-for/article_526e460c-e807-5570-a07d-80242afe57f5.html

June 26, 2019

Illinois becomes 11th state to allow recreational marijuana

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois’ new governor delivered on a top campaign promise Tuesday by signing legislation making the state the 11th to approve marijuana for recreational use in a program offering legal remedies and economic benefits to minorities whose lives critics say were damaged by a wayward war on drugs.

Legalization in Illinois also means that nearly 800,000 people with criminal records for purchasing or possessing 30 grams of marijuana or less may have those records expunged, a provision minority lawmakers and interest groups demanded. It also gives cannabis-vendor preference to minority owners and promises 25% of tax revenue from marijuana sales to redevelop impoverished communities.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, whose election last year gave Democrats complete control over state government again after four years under GOP predecessor Bruce Rauner, signed the bill in Chicago amid a bevy of pot proponents, including the plan’s lead sponsors, Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Sen. Heather Steans, both Chicago Democrats.

“Today, we’re hitting the ‘reset’ button on the war on drugs,” Cassidy said.

Read more: https://www.apnews.com/7b793d88f3c84417b83db0f770854960

June 26, 2019

Left-wing Democrat claims victory in close Queens DA race

NEW YORK (AP) — The national fight between left-wing and moderate Democrats was playing out again Tuesday in New York City, where the closely watched Democratic primary for Queens district attorney was tantalizingly close deep into the vote count.

Late on election day, political newcomer Tiffany Caban, a public defender who says the criminal justice system is rigged against the poor, held a lead of around 1,100 votes over Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, a seasoned politician who was the favorite of the state's Democratic Party establishment.

At Caban's election night headquarters, raucous supporters celebrated as she claimed victory.

"When we started this thing, they said I was too young. They said I didn't look like a district attorney. They said we could not build a movement from the grass roots. They said we could not win. But we did it y'all," she said.

Read more: https://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/article_5ef33e79-5932-553f-9116-882bc7ba05e8.html
(Virginian-Pilot)

June 26, 2019

Hampton quilting guild creates tapestry honoring 400th anniversary of first Africans

HAMPTON, VA. -- Some quilt squares had images of ships with enslaved Africans, bound in chains.

Other squares were ornate, colorful with outlines of Africa.

Some had images of local landmarks, such as the Fort Monroe lighthouse.

Another was a rendition of the first Africans taking the name Tucker — Antony and Isabel — believed to be the ancestors of the Tucker family of Hampton.

All told, Hampton received via mail several dozen beautifully designed squares — each with varying depictions of themes centered on events that happened in 1619 — created by devoted quilters from around the country.

Read more: https://pilotonline.com/life/article_a59ef2ba-95c9-11e9-ba8c-8b0d118458ea.html
(Virginian-Pilot)

June 26, 2019

Billionaire Tom Steyer pours another $1 million into helping the Democrats win Virginia

NextGen America, the liberal advocacy group Steyer founded in 2013, will target 11 mostly Republican-held districts with digital ads and other forms of outreach to voters between the ages of 18 and 35, with messages centered on gun safety, reproductive rights and climate change, the group announced Monday.

Virginia is one of four states with legislative races in 2017 but the only one where control of the state legislature is at stake. All 140 seats in the General Assembly are on the ballot in November, and the GOP holds a three-seat edge in the House (51 to 48) and a bare majority in the Senate (20 to 19), with one vacant seat in each chamber.

"This is a specific focus on the two chambers of the legislature, and each one of them can turn blue this year," Steyer said, referring to razor-thin majorities Republicans hold after Democrats made sweeping gains in 2017. "Obviously, that's something that would be incredibly important."

Steyer, a former hedge-fund owner turned environmentalist who has led calls for President Donald Trump's impeachment, said NextGen America also will participate in a "Give Green" campaign that will solicit donations nationwide for select Democratic candidates in Virginia.

Read more: https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/politics/billionaire-tom-steyer-pours-another-million-into-helping-the-democrats/article_bfe2adaa-96b5-11e9-95e3-9f69f3faae16.html
(Charlottesville Daily Progress)