Opinion

The necessity and dangers of anonymous speech

Wild, disruptive protests in support of the Palestinian cause are in progress at campuses across the country. At many of them, there are threats and antisemitic language. But it can be difficult to trace much of what is said back to particular people because of attempts by protesters to remain anonymous by covering their faces....

David Larson
News

Charlotte protester’s First Amendment claims can proceed under judge’s recommendation

A federal magistrate judge recommends that a man injured during a 2020 Charlotte protest against police violence can proceed with First Amendment legal claims against the city and police officers. Kyre Mitchell says he lost two fingers after handling a flashbang grenade police threw toward him during the protest.

CJ Staff
News

State’s highest court wrestles with media access to law enforcement recordings from Graham protest

The state Supreme Court will decide in the months ahead whether a coalition of media outlets can gain access to law enforcement video recordings from a 2020 protest in Graham. Justices heard an hour of oral arguments in the case Tuesday.

News

High Point woman sues governor, others over COVID protest arrest

A High Point woman arrested and charged in connection with an April 2020 ReOpenNC COVID shutdown protest is going to federal court. She’s suing Gov. Roy Cooper, the city of Raleigh, and state and local law enforcement officials for alleged violations of her First and 14th Amendment rights.

CJ Staff
News

Governor orders monuments removed from Capitol, won’t say who ordered police to leave

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper ordered Confederate monuments on the grounds of the State Capitol removed “to protect public safety.” But he won’t say who allowed a mob of protesters to take over the Capitol grounds earlier, toppling statues from two of those monuments. In a statement issued Saturday, June 20, Cooper said he was “concerned...

Rick Henderson

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News

Cooper vetoes second bill reopening gyms and bars

Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed a bill opening gyms and bars.  Cooper waited until the legislature adjourned for the weekend before acting on the measure, which strikes yet another blow against businesses struggling to survive amid a pandemic and ongoing protests over the killing of George Floyd. Cooper, a Democrat, has now twice vetoed a...

John Trump
News

ACE Speedway loses first court battle challenging governor’s orders

Editor’s note: This story was updated. ACE Speedway must shut down all races. The Alamance County race track lost the first round of its lawsuit to overturn Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive orders barring most mass gatherings. Alamance County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Thomas Lambeth on Thursday, June 11, granted the state’s request for a...

Julie Havlak
News

General Assembly makes second attempt to reopen gyms, bars

A bill reopening gyms and bars and expanding seating in restaurants has cleared the General Assembly. Again. The N.C. House on Wednesday, June 10, voted, 69-50, to send a rewritten House Bill 594 to Gov. Roy Cooper, who vetoed an earlier version of the legislation because he worries lawmakers are trying to usurp his power....

John Trump
News

311 Speedway plans its own events to protest COVID-19 orders

ACE Speedway isn’t the only racetrack defying Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive orders against mass gatherings.  In rural Stokes County, 311 Speedway owner Mike Fulp is planning a protest with several hundred people, live music, and racing on Saturday, June 13. Fulp wants to reopen his race track, and he says the governor is acting like...

Julie Havlak
News

Competing task forces from governor, lawmakers await clear direction, deadlines

[Editor’s note: This story has been updated]  Problems with policing and race relations must be dealt with, North Carolina’s leading politicians say. But meeting to talk about the issues doesn’t guarantee change, experts say.  Many North Carolinians are asking lawmakers to do something, as the country continues to face civil unrest after the death of...

Kari Travis, Lindsay Marchello
News

Community college board debates police training as system expects enrollment surge

The State Board of Community Colleges clashed over spending more than $100,000 on police training as community colleges brace for what could be an unprecedented spike in enrollment.  During a tense meeting Friday, June 5, board members voted to beef up police de-escalation and community relations training as protests over the killing of George Floyd...

Julie Havlak