http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/nc-news/ en-us Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:52:07 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417951/posts It's been one of the biggest stories of the year in eastern North Carolina. State Senator RC Soles is under criminal investigation following a series of stories we broke on WWAY. The Columbus County Democrat is being investigated for allegations of child molestation and for shooting a man at his home. Our coverage started in August 2008, after we learned a number of Sen. Soles' young, male legal clients were repeatedly arrested at the Senator's home and office. The charges ranged from trespassing and theft, to more serious offenses like extortion and arson. We spoke with several of the young... WWAY http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417951/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:52:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417859/posts RALEIGH -- Sen. R.C. Soles, a Tabor City Democrat, said Wednesday he will not seek re-election next year, a decision that comes three weeks after a Columbus County grand jury found probable cause to indict him for shooting a young man in the leg outside Soles' home in August. Soles, 75, is the longest serving member of the Senate and, as chairman of the Democratic caucus, a member of the leadership. He is the latest in a string of senior Democrats stepping down that likely change the look and likely the style of how the Senate operates. "I plan to... Raleigh News & Observer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417859/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:11:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414942/posts Restrictive smoking law takes effect Jan. 2December 19, 2009 10:00 PM Sue Book Sun Journal Staff Tar Heels and tobacco are typical tag words for North Carolina, but 2010 won’t be a smokin’ New Year in this state. After New Year’s Eve parties and a day to deal with hangovers, no legal smoke will be hanging in North Carolina restaurants and bars. A state smoking ban begins at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 2. Restaurants, bars and other establishments that fail to enforce it will be warned twice, and then fined $200 for each subsequent violation. Private, non-profit clubs that serve only... New Bern SJ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414942/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:05:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414947/posts Questions about race, an antagonistic relationship with police and an ongoing dispute compelled the family of a Farmville man killed Nov. 15 to press for charges against a shooter who authorities say acted in self-defense. Ellis Hunter III, 26, died a week after a fight with William Payton, 23, of Greenville. An investigation by Farmville police concluded Payton shot Hunter after Hunter attacked Payton with a knife, District Attorney Clark Everett told Hunter's family at a meeting last week. Everett told Hunter family members and Pitt County NAACP president Calvin Henderson during the Dec. 15 meeting that evidence collected at... The Daily Reflector http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414947/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:09:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414797/posts DURHAM, NC -- A source tells ABC11 Eyewitness News that disgraced financier Bernie Madoff is being treated for serious injuries after he fell out of his prison bed. ABC11 Eyewitness News first reported that Madoff had injuries consistent with an assault. Now, the source says Madoff was not attacked in prison, but that he fell off a bed onto his face. The source said there was a lot of facial bleeding. Sources also confirmed Madoff was treated at Duke University Medical Center in Durham last Friday and discharged earlier this week. He is serving a life sentence at the federal... abc11 via Drudge http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414797/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:52:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414720/posts POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C., Dec. 24, 2009 – You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. But on Dec. 6, it was not a team of reindeer, but Air Force Maj. Jeff Dasher, a navigator in the 95th Airlift Squadron here, who guided the mission for the 440th Airlift Wing's C-130 Hercules that flew a group of “Soldier Santas” across the morning sky. The first paratrooper to jump waits for the "green light" on board a C-130 Hercules Dec. 6, 2009, above Fort Bragg, N.C.. Crews from the National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing from Charlotte, N.C., and the... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414720/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:00:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1849842/posts Hundreds of Islamic centers in the United States have become a hot-bed of extremist activity; they promote violence, terrorism and hatred against America. “Our initial investigation has concluded there are between 400 to 500 radical Islamic centers in the U.S.,” said David Gaubatz, the director of counterintelligence and counterterrorism for the Society of Americans for National Existence. “In those places, they preach an extreme version of Islam that says America and the West is the enemy. They espouse violence, hatred and the need for terrorism.” Gaubatz is a former senior U.S. intelligence official, who now works for the Mapping Shari’a... Insight Magazine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1849842/posts#comment Thu, 14 Jun 2007 02:01:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413707/posts You've probably never heard of 78-year-old Rep. Howard Coble of North Carolina. But after this story, you might never forget him. It's not so much what the Republican has done during his 25 years in Congress, but what he's not going to do - take his congressional pension, reports CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. "I figured taxpayers pay my salary - not a bad salary," he said. "And I figure that's sufficient. Let me fend for myself after the salary's collected." As far as we know, only Coble and one other congressman, Texas Republican Ron Paul, have pledged to... KTVA.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413707/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:28:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413443/posts There is a Christmas tree inside town hall in Cary, North Carolina, but town officials couldn’t bring themselves to call it by its proper name, so they relabeled it the “Community Tree.” They used to have a “Holiday Tree” in Madison, Wisconsin, but even that was deemed too improper this year, so they opted for “The State Capitol Tree.” American Atheists threw a party decorating what they called their “Solstice Tree.” Vineland, New Jersey opted to call their Christmas parade the “Holiday parade,” maintaining that because Urban Enterprise Zone dollars are used to fund the parade, they can’t call it... Catholic League http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413443/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:39:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413463/posts 12/22/2009 - POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFNS) -- You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. But on Dec. 6 at Pope Air Force Base, it was not a team of reindeer, but Maj. Jeff Dasher, a navigator in the 95th Airlift Squadron who guided the mission for the 440th Airlift Wing's C-130 Hercules that flew a group of Soldier Santas across the morning sky. One might say he was born for this mission. "It's the name," Major Dasher chuckled. "I had to be on this flight." His flight was part of the 12th annual Randy Oler Memorial... Air Force http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413463/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:57:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410701/posts A year-old state law in North Carolina was found by a Superior Court judge to be unconstitutional because it prevents certain registered sex offenders from going to church, according to a ruling Thursday. While Judge Allen Baddour acknowledged the need to protect children, he said "there are less drastic means for achieving the same purpose." Presently, state law prohibits certain sex offenders from being within 300 feet of "any place where minors gather for regularly scheduled educational, recreational or social programs," including areas that are part of a larger facility, though the law doesn't specify whether that 300-foot radius extends... Christian Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410701/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:48:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410682/posts Much of academia appears to have a disregard of due process and a bias against white males. You might think that a university whose students were victims of the most notorious fraudulent rape claim in recent history, and whose professors -- 88 of them -- signed an ad implicitly presuming guilt, and whose president came close to doing the same would have learned some lessons. The facts are otherwise. They also suggest that Duke University's ugly abuse in 2006 and 2007 of its now-exonerated lacrosse players -- white males accused by a black stripper and hounded by a mob hewing... National Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410682/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:15:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410652/posts Still burning over Rep. Larry Kissell's health care vote, some Democrats in North Carolina's 8th Congressional District are courting a Charlotte attorney to mount a primary challenge. The courtee is Chris Kouri, a former Ivy League football player who ran for the seat in 2002, upsetting a better known Democrat in the primary before losing to Republican Robin Hayes, Jim Morrill of The Charlotte Observer reports. "I think it’s a legitimate groundswell," said Mecklenburg County Democratic chairman Joel Ford. "Chris Kouri is entertaining it. And I believe that if Chris gets enough grassroots support he’ll run." Kouri, general counsel and... News & Observer - Under the Dome http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410652/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:52:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410518/posts North Carolina's unemployment rate dipped slightly in November but hovered near its historic peak of around 11 percent for a 10th straight month. The state's Employment Security Commission reported Friday that the unemployment rate in November dipped a fraction to 10.8 percent, from 10.9 percent in October. The monthly estimate has yo-yoed slightly above and below 11 percent since February. North Carolina's unemployment rate has been worse than the national average for more than a year. The U.S. jobless rate was 10 percent in November. WITN.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410518/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:25:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408621/posts Mecklenburg County will offer domestic partner benefits in 2011 to employees in same-sex relationships, under a plan approved Tuesday night by county commissioners. The board vote split 6-3 along party lines to begin offering the benefits during its next open enrollment period, which would start next fall. Democratic commissioners said the change could help the county recruit and retain workers who are in same-sex relationships by offering them the same benefits given to married, heterosexual workers. The board's three Republicans opposed the policy, saying there appeared to be no demonstrated demand among county workers for the benefits and that offering... Charlotte Observer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408621/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:10:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408226/posts Rumors have been circulating for several days through Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood that former U.S. Sen. John Edwards bought a home here for his admitted former mistress, Rielle Hunter. And now the National Enquirer is reporting in its Dec. 21 issue that Edwards has, in fact, bought a house here that the Charlotte Business Journal has identified as a residence on Providence Road. Edwards, the vice presidential nominee on the 2004 Democratic ticket and a presidential candidate last year, saw his political career derail after details of the affair emerged. In late 2007, the Enquirer first reported claims from an... Charlotte Business Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408226/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:56:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408203/posts CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- “The lot hereby conveyed shall be used for residential purposes only and shall be owned and occupied by people of the Caucasian race.” That inflammatory statement is the first rule listed on Myers Park’s deed restrictions. Two years ago, Newschannel 36 spotted the wording on a “sample deed” listed on the Myers Park Neighborhood Association website. Now, Charlotte Mecklenburg’s Community Relations Committee (CRC) has formally called that publication “discriminatory” and the NAACP is making demands. “You have to do more than say, ‘Oops I’m sorry.’ We’re tired of people getting caught doing racist things and then just... WCNC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408203/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:30:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408169/posts A Marine stationed at Cherry Point air station restrained a man who had allegedly assaulted a Walmart greeter on Monday until New Bern police could arrive at the scene. Nathan Josial was in the store located at 3105 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. with his wife and four children to buy pajamas for his daughter to wear at her school’s pajama day, said his wife, New Bern resident Melissa Wysong. Wysong said they were greeted by the door greeter, John McLean, 83, who had given stickers fto the children and wished them a merry Christmas. Wysong said they heard... http://www.enctoday.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408169/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:38:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407955/posts "The state and local NAACP on Monday blasted the Myers Park Homeowners Association for a discriminatory deed restriction published on its Web site. The dispute could end up in court if the two sides don't reach some sort of agreement -- possibly including a financial payment that some estimate could reach $50,000 -- within 30 days. The NAACP filed a complaint in 2007 against the association for posting a sample deed that included a decades-old clause specifying that "people of the Caucasian race only" could live in or own a Myers Park house." The Charlotte(NC) Observer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407955/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:46:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406610/posts CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Police in Charlotte said 13 Salvation Army donation kettles were stolen at gunpoint late Friday night. Police said two armed men covering their faces entered the business at 4300 Stuart Andrew Blvd. just after 10 p.m. Two employees were held at gunpoint while the property was taken, police said. Jim Price, of the Salvation Army, said the kettles held an estimated total of $4,000. wxii12.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406610/posts#comment Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:25:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405551/posts Sanford’s Wife Files for Divorce ROBBIE BROWN December 11, 2009 Jenny Sanford on Friday filed for divorce from her husband, Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, who confessed in June to an affair with a woman in Argentina. “As so many of us know, the dissolution of any marriage is a sad and painful process,” Ms. Sanford said in a statement. “Because Mark and I are public figures, we have naturally had less privacy with which to deal with our difficulties than do other couples. Indeed, I know it will soon become known, so I choose to release this brief... NYTimes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405551/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:20:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405379/posts Politics, religion, and atheism in North Carolina are coming to a head. Cecil Bothwell, atheist, is soon to be seated as a City Council member in North Carolina. However, there is a problem: Under North Carolina's constitution politicians who deny the existence of God are barred from holding office. Opponents of Cecil Bothwell are using that law to argue.... Federal courts have ruled religious tests for public office are unlawful under the U.S. Constitution. While Article 6, section 8 of the North Carolina state constitution says: "The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny... The Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405379/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:53:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404511/posts GREENVILLE For the dark, depraved nights David Chatham watched obscene images of strangers' children, he will spend the next six years in prison. For admitting his addiction to child pornography and warning others away from his path, Chatham, 43, was spared even more time behind bars. "He's done much to move this horrible thing we keep in secret and open it wide," Joseph Cheshire, Chatham's attorney, told the judge. A year ago, Chatham was an ambitious executive for the Raleigh public relations firm Capstrat whose days were filled with power lunches and board meetings. A knock on the door last... Charlotte (NC) News Observer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404511/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:49:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404206/posts State senator won't run for re-election, says he'll leave office after 18 years December 09, 2009 1:57 PM Corey Friedman State Sen. David Hoyle has decided not to seek a 10th term in the General Assembly and will leave office next December after representing Gaston County for 18 years. “I didn’t intend to serve for as long as I have,” Hoyle said Wednesday. “I thought I’d serve for 10 or 12 years, but the citizens kept electing me.” Hoyle, D-Gaston, took office in 1993 and was re-elected eight times, fending off Republican challengers in his heavily conservative home county. Of... www.gastongazette.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404206/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:19:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404136/posts A former Duke University employee and adoptive gay father charged with molesting his five-year-old son--and offering the boy as a sex object to pedophiles online--is expected to make a plea bargain, according to a Dec. 1 article in local newspaper the Durham Herald Sun. Frank Lombard faces charges stemming from alleged instances in which he molested his young adopted son and chatted about the deeds online even as he carried them out. It’s thought that the U.S, Attorney’s Office is positioning the case for a plea arrangement because the Office is set to file an "information," which allows the prosecution... Edge (gay pride mag from Boston) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404136/posts#comment Wed, 9 Dec 2009 23:50:00 GMT