88.5 WFDD - Gov. Pat McCrory: Recent Episodes
Keri Brown Associated Press
A voting rights group wants investigation over voter fraud allegations made after the 2016 general election. Keri Brown/WFDD
A voting rights group called Tuesday for state and local officials to investigate whether allies of North Carolina's former governor and the state Republican Party broke laws when hundreds of people were accused of voter fraud or absentee ballot irregularities last November.
"We are calling on them to enforce state and federal laws that protect the right to vote and the integrity of the election process," Bob Hall, executive director of Democracy North Carolina, said at a news conference.
More than 50 post-election protests were filed in 37 counties soon after Election Day for the extremely close race between then-Gov. Pat McCrory and Democratic challenger Roy Cooper. Many of the protests alleged that ballots had been cast by convicted felons, dead people or those who voted in another state. The protests sought to have the ballots thrown out.
Democracy North Carolina said most of the accusations were irresponsible because the claims weren't backed by evidence or could be eliminated based on cursory reviews of voter roll information. In a report, the group alleges the protests were designed to intimidate voters for political gain or put in doubt the election result.
State GOP Chairman Robin Hayes countered that Democracy North Carolina is the one trying to bully voters and called the group's actions "nothing short of voter and citizen intimidation." Hayes pointed out that instances of improper voting did occur last fall, as identified in the group's report.
"Citizens have rights, as prescribed by law, to make inquiries about potential voting irregularities," Hayes said in a release. Responding Tuesday evening to an email seeking his response, McCrory referred to Hayes' statement.
Democracy North Carolina said its research, based on public records and interviews, determined fewer than 5 percent of about 600 ballots identified in the filed protests were illegally cast or counted, and said most of the problem ballots were not filed with the intent to break the law.
Hall said Democracy North Carolina's report will be given to the State Board of Elections, local district attorneys and federal prosecutors.
In a statement, the State Board of Elections said the group's information will be added to its ongoing investigation of post-election protests. The board is expected soon to consider proposed changes to election protest forms that would tell protesters it's a felony to submit a fraudulent form and would make clear when a candidate or political party is involved with the filing, the statement said.
In February, four Guilford County voters who said they were falsely accused of illegal voting in one of the post-Election Day protests sued their accuser in state court, alleging defamation.
voting rights #north carolina #election day #gov. pat mccrory #gov. roy cooper
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This ad features Guilford County Republican Trudy Wade who is running for re-election for the North Carolina Senate.
As election season kicks into high gear, more and more commercials are flooding the airwaves. In North Carolina, education is taking center stage. Several Republican lawmakers are featured in TV and print ads that highlight recent pay raises for teachers. But a few of the claims are raising questions among educators.
For example, this prime time ad featuring Republican lawmaker Trudy Wade who is running for re-election in the North Carolina Senate. It’s paid for by Carolina Partnership For Reform. The ad has been running during the Olympics and getting a lot of attention.
The ad claims that "Trudy Wade voted to raise teacher pay by over 15 percent, so for the first time our teachers make over $50,000 a year.”
When teacher Rachel Scott of Greensboro heard that figure, she balked. She went on Facebook and found many of her friends are equally incredulous over the claim.
“That message went into teachers homes through their televisions and so they’re receiving a false perspective of what people bring home. It’s simply not true," says Scott.
North Carolina 2016 Teacher Salary Schedule (NC Department of Instruction)
Under the new budget, Republican lawmakers say the average teacher pay increase will be 4.7 percent, or $50,000 a year.
But is that really the case? Education policy experts say it depends on how you look at it.
“I would say this is between mostly true and half true,” says Sara Dahill-Brown, a political science professor at Wake Forest University, adding that the key word here is average.
“That average includes the state’s contributions to teacher salaries and it includes local supplements that are paid by most counties, although there are some counties in North Carolina that can’t afford the local supplements.”
Dahill-Brown calls the $50,000 a year salary an optimistic estimate, and one that most won’t be getting anytime soon. It’s based on the idea that all teachers will stay in North Carolina, getting a little bit more in their paycheck every year until they hit a cap. But Dahill-Brown says that assumption isn’t based in reality.
“Many teachers will leave and teachers who will leave will be at the higher end of the pay scale who will be retiring. Many of the teachers coming in and replacing will be early career teachers who are going to be earning at the lower end of the salary schedule,” says Dahill-Brown. “The real average is probably going to be lower.”
The North Carolina Association of Educators estimates around 20 percent of teachers are approaching retirement. NCAE president Mark Jewell says the new pay raises aren’t doing enough to recruit and maintain quality teachers.
“When we have Rock Hill, South Carolina doing job fairs to recruit our teachers in Charlotte, that’s a problem. When we have substitute teachers for three years in Eastern North Carolina, that’s a problem,” says Jewell. “We have 136 positions that need to be filled in Robeson County and school starts next week.”
Jewell says policy changes like removing salary bumps for master’s pay make it even harder. He wants North Carolina to be more in line with the national average, which is around $58,000 a year.
But Governor Pat McCrory and other Republicans say this is just a starting point.
McCrory has made education a cornerstone in his re-election campaign. In addition to the pay raises, he announced other investments into North Carolina schools when he signed the new budget in July.
If there’s one thing both sides agree on right now, it’s that more work needs to be done.
*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news
election 2016 #teacher pay raises #north carolina general assembly #gov. pat mccrory #se. trudy wade #north carolina association of educators #wake forest university
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Democratic vice presidential nominee, Sen. Tim Kaine made a campaign stop at the Greensboro Transit Authority on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Keri Brown/WFDD
Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine asked a crowd at the depot of the Greensboro Transit Authority to support Hillary Clinton Wednesday. The theme of the day: Clinton’s plans for the economy, which include providing more support for small businesses and making investments to build infrastructure and education programs.
Beforehand, Kaine toured Amerifab International, a small High Point manufacturing company. He spent a lot of time comparing Clinton’s plans with Republican challenger Donald Trump and criticized Trump’s business record, saying North Carolinians are not gullible.
“And sadly there’s a lot of history with Donald Trump where people who have believed him have gotten hurt and stiffed and, in many cases, they’ve even lost their businesses.”
But Republican supporters say Kaine’s criticisms don’t hold their weight.
The North Carolina GOP released a statement ahead of Tim Kaine's campaign stop in North Carolina:
"It's funny that Tim Kaine would come to North Carolina to promote Hillary Clinton's disastrous economic agenda, considering unemployment skyrocketed and he proposed $4 billion in tax increases while Governor of Virginia. It's clear Tim Kaine knows nothing about sound economic policies," said State Senator Joyce Krawiec.
Sen. Kaine was joined by several high-profile Democrats during his stop in Greensboro, including state Attorney General Roy Cooper, who’s running for governor against incumbent Pat McCrory.
North Carolina is a battleground state and more campaign stops from both parties are expected as the November election nears.
The latest polling shows the North Carolina governor’s race is essentially tied, with the presidential contest close, as well.
Donald Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, is also stumping in North Carolina this week. He will be in Raleigh on Thursday for a town hall event.
*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news
mike pence #tim kaine #greensboro #donald trump #gov. pat mccrory
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North Carolina’s so-called “bathroom law” is popping up in some of the 19,000 leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee.
DNC staffers were considering holding an event against House Bill 2 to pick up political influence and donations.
The DNC apparently wanted to have Vice President Joe Biden speak at an anti-HB2 rally in Raleigh this spring, which would’ve been followed by a political fundraiser. But neither event came to pass.
The leak also shows some DNC staff kept a close eye on North Carolina politicians.
One email references poll numbers for the Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Richard Burr. Another focuses on Gov. Pat McCrory and shows the DNC tried to use his stance on the LGBT community and HB2 against him.
House Bill 2 limits local protections for LGBT residents and mandates which bathroom a transgender person must use, among other things.
democratic national committee #gov. pat mccrory #north carolia #email leak #vice president joe biden
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On Thursday, the Speaker of the North Carolina House said the state won’t make any changes to the controversial HB2, despite pressure from the U.S. Justice Department to repeal a part of the law by Monday that regulates bathroom use for transgender people.
If the state does not comply, it could be at risk of losing potentially billions of dollars in school funding.
But Wake Forest University political science professor John Dinan says that's not likely to happen. What's more likely, he says, is that this will kick off a process that will lead to further discussions and possible agreements.
"The Justice Department issued a similar letter to a Chicago area school district and said ‘we’re requiring you to provide this accommodation for a transgender student in regard to locker room access," says Dinan. "That letter came down and a month later the Justice Department and the school district reached an agreement, a settlement, that generally acquiesced to the Justice Department, not in all respects. That one took a month so to work that out."
According to Dinan, a threat to cut funding is one tool the federal government can use. It also can seek a court order to stop state officials from enforcing the law.
HB2 is broad bill that goes beyond the transgender bathroom use provision. Dinan says the Justice Department's letter is specific to that aspect because the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has already mandated that public employees and students at schools that receive federal funding should be able to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity.
Other parts of HB2 which impact labor laws, minimum wage, and the right to sue over discrimination in state court would not be impacted.
hb2 #transgender #gov. pat mccrory #house speaker tim moore #lgbt #wake forest university
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Winston-Salem City Council has passed a resolution opposing HB2. The measure was approved with a vote of six to one during a meeting on Monday.
The controversial law gained national attention for the bathroom provision. It requires transgender people to use a public bathroom or locker room that matches the sex on their birth certificate. HB2 also bans local governments from making their own anti-discrimination rules.
Winston-Salem city councilman Dan Besse says the resolution addresses a broad bill that could have unintended consequences.
“It particularly points to a number provisions that were inserted into the bill without a lot of public warning that have nothing to do with the infamous bathroom provision,” says Besse. “It will let our citizens know that we oppose discrimination and let people know who are thinking about doing business here that we are a welcoming community.”
The local measure has no legal weight. Winston-Salem joins Greensboro, Asheville, and several other cities across the state that oppose the new law.
Supporters say it creates privacy and safety protections for women and children.
Last week, Gov. McCrory announced some changes to the law. He broadened protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity for some state employees.
McCrory is also requesting the legislature repeal the provision that took away the right to sue over discrimination in state court. However, the governor and supporters of the law are standing firm on the bathroom provision.
The legislature will have an opportunity to weigh in – if it chooses to do so – in its upcoming short session. Lawmakers will convene in Raleigh April 25.
*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news.
winston-salem city council #greensboro city council #hb 2 #north carolina general assembly #gov. pat mccrory
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A majority of North Carolina voters during the primary said yes to the Connect NC bond referendum. --photo credit: Keri Brown
North Carolina voters have approved a $2 billion spending package. The Connect NC Bond Referendum passed with about two-thirds of voters saying yes. The money will be used to fund infrastructure projects throughout the state. The Triad will also get a big boost from the funding.
“The Triad alone will receive around $360 million for various projects. Those include a new National Guard readiness center in Guilford County, a new exhibit at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro and improvements at Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Parks,” says WFDD’s Keri Brown.
“A bulk of the money the state will borrow will go toward higher education.We will see new buildings, repairs and expansions for the UNC system campuses and improvements at community colleges across the state,” Brown adds.
Water and sewer projects for smaller communities and urban centers are also on the list.
Gov. McCrory says no tax increases are necessary to finance the bond. Supporters say it’s been 15 years since the last infrastructure bond was approved by voters. Since then, North Carolina’s population has grown by 2 million people.
*You can follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news.
connect nc #bond referendum #gov. pat mccrory
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Gov. Pat McCrory says if voters approve $2 billion in borrowing , it would pay for repairs, renovations and expansions in education, agriculture, parks and water/sewer systems. KERI BROWN/WFDD
The campaign is heating up for a $2 billion statewide bond referendum. State and business leaders are attending an event Tuesday in Greensboro to support the Connect North Carolina funding. The focus will be on the potential economic impact it would have for the Piedmont region if passed in the March primary.
The Triad alone could receive $360 million under the bond. The project includes a new National Guard readiness center in Guilford County, a new exhibit at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, and improvements at Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Parks.
UNC systems and community colleges will also see a boost. More than 60 percent would be spent on new buildings and repairs on campuses.
Governor McCrory has championed the measure, saying it will create 21st century jobs and improve infrastructure. He adds that there will be no new taxes to pay for it. State and business leaders will attend the panel discussion at the National Guard Armory in Greensboro.
The referendum will be on the primary ballot for voters to decide on March 15.
*You can follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news
election 2016 #connect nc #bond referendum #gov. pat mccrory
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Those in the mountains are seeing heavy snow, but the Triad is getting more freezing rain/sleet from this latest winter storm. Meteorologists expect the Triad region to see between 3 and 6 inches of snow and sleet.
Keri Brown
The winter storm has shut down several businesses, schools and government offices across the state. Gov. Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency. A second round of snow and sleet is expected to hit the area over the next 24 hours.
James Morrow, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, says blowing snow will impact visibility in the mountains tonight and tomorrow. He predicts 10 to 14 inches in the Boone area through Saturday.
A pocket of dry, warmer air kept the snowfall down in the Triad, but sleet and freezing rain are causing dangerous travel conditions across the Piedmont. And more is expected throughout the night.
The NC Department of Transportation says it will continue deploying crews and reapply brine throughout the state. They’re asking people to stay off the roads for their own safety and the safety of their crews.
Some good news though: the National Weather Service says the storm system will start moving out late Saturday night. Temperatures will reach the 40’s on Sunday, which will start the melting process.
Follow Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news
weather #triad #gov. pat mccrory #snow #freezing rain #ncdot
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Credit: Keri Brown
Mccrory Holds Re-Election Campaign Event In Kernersville Gov. Pat McCrory says he won't let opponents prevent the state from expanding what Republicans consider improvements to North Carolina's economy and state government since he took office three years ago.
McCrory held his 2016 re-election campaign kickoff event at a Kernersville printing and logistics company Wednesday, a day after releasing a video that affirmed his plans to run.
This marks his third gubernatorial campaign but first as the incumbent. The former Charlotte mayor told the crowd of 200 his administration's accomplishments, including lower unemployment rates. He talked about his outsider status to Raleigh state government when he became governor in early 2013.
Two Democrats — Attorney General Roy Cooper and Durham lawyer Ken Spaulding — want to unseat McCrory.
Duke Energy Cited For Erosion At Coal Ash Airport Project Regulators have asked Duke Energy to correct erosion problems at an airport where coal ash is used as structural fill.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued a notice of violation Wednesday for the project at Asheville Regional Airport. Coal ash has been used to create flat land for an airport expansion that includes a new taxiway.
Regulators say erosion exposed some coal ash but none appears to have spread offsite. Several feet of soil and a liner are supposed to cover the material.
The problems were discovered during an inspection by Duke in October.
The state listed two permit violations related to maintenance and how long it took Duke to notify the state.
A Duke Energy statement says it took quick action that included installing erosion controls.
NC School Board Weighs Extra Money For Bus Cameras Education leaders want school-bus cameras snapping evidence of motorists who put kids at risk.
The State Board of Education today could approve a plan to install more cameras in school districts to maximize prosecution of motorists who pass stopped buses.
The funding formula would send money to school districts that are reporting violations and have a low percentage of camera-equipped buses.
The chance of a dangerous driver being caught on camera varies statewide. Just 2 percent of Durham's 260 buses have cameras and none of the 12 buses in Roanoke Rapids have them. All of Asheville's 29 buses have cameras.
Traffic data suggests that more than 3,000 vehicles illegally pass a bus stopped to load or unload students each school day.
Construction To Begin Soon On Huge North Carolina Solar Farm Work is expected to begin soon on farmland south of Chesapeake that could become the largest solar-energy facility east of the Mississippi River.
The Virginian-Pilot reports SunEnergy1 of Mooresville plans to build a 120-megawatt solar farm south of Moyock on roughly 2,000 acres next to the community of Ranchland. The $250 million project, called Wildwood Solar, could generate enough power for more than 10,000 homes.
Currituck Economic Developer Peter Bishop says construction will generate 70 to 80 jobs over about 18 months. About 15 permanent workers would maintain the site.
According to a statement from SunEnergy1 earlier this year, if built to its maximum size of 120 megawatts, the solar farm would generate approximately $300,000 annually in county taxes.
Representatives from SunEnergy1 didn't return the newspaper's requests for comment.
Highway May Be Named After Coble
Guilford County commissioners will move Thursday to honor former U.S. Representative Howard Coble.
They’re expected to vote on a resolution that would name a section of Interstate 85 after the longtime congressman. The stretch of highway in question reportedly intersects with Coble’s property.
Thursday’s vote is only the first move in the naming process.
There are still several administrative steps that need to be taken with the state before the memorial becomes official.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
daily news #election 2016 #gov. pat mccrory
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