GREENVILLE - Republican challenger Stan Larson is staging a strong campaign against six-term incumbent Marian McLawhorn in the 9th District of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Larson is behind in the only poll of likely voters for the race by just 3 points. McLawhorn has a history of defeating her opponents easily.
KINSTON — Challenger Stephen LaRoque is upstaging his opponent incumbent Van Braxton in the race for North Carolina's House District 10. Republican LaRoque has been leading in the polls since May, and he's seizing on two controversial mailers sent by Braxton's campaign. The mailers accuse LaRoque of stealing a man's business and home. LaRoque answered the mailers with a defamation lawsuit. Braxton stands by the ads, and he stands by his record in the General Assembly.
KINSTON — The Republican candidate for North Carolina's 10th House District will likely file a lawsuit within a week against his incumbent opponent. Stephen LaRoque says R. Van Braxton falsely accuses him of several crimes in two recent mailers. The pamphlets accuse LaRoque of stealing a restaurant owner's business and home through his lending. LaRoque denies all accusations in the brochures.
RALEIGH — A committee of the North Carolina General Assembly began studying Thursday whether to move the forensic lab out of the State Bureau of Investigation. The committee is meeting following a review of cases from 1987-2003. The review uncovered hundreds of cases with questionable testing of blood evidence. The evidence could sway a jury as to the guilt or innocence of suspects in the cases.
ASHEVILLE — The board voted 4-1 in favor of the fine. Republican member Bill Peaslee was the only member to vote against. Another motion to hold public hearings related to the investigation of campaign flights failed by a 2-3 vote.
RALEIGH — It’s possible the state is violating North Carolina’s constitutional mandate for a balanced budget. Budget writers are not making the annual required contributions necesary to pay for retiree health benefits promised to state workers. Instead, they’re paying enough to cover only the current year’s benefits.
RALEIGH – The public has an opportunity to tell city planners what it thinks of the city’s proposed $212 million Union Station. The building would be a central stop for all the transit moving in and out of the downtown area. Triangle Transit’s proposed light rail also would use the station. While the total price tag is $212 million, the city only would be on the hook for as much as $21 million.
DURHAM - The financial regulation reform bill being debated in Washington took on a local flavor Wednesday, when the North Carolina chapter of Americans for Prosperity picketed outside the Durham headquarters of the Center for Responsible Lending. Critics like AFP say the center helped lead the country into the housing bubble by pressuring banks to make risky loans that ended in foreclosure. The center says it helps protect people from predatory lenders and get loans they would not otherwise be qualified to obtain.
KENANSVILLE — In North Carolina’s 10th Senate District, both the Democratic and Republican parties will hold a primary to find a candidate to replace retiring Sen. Charlie Albertson. All of the contenders talk about the importance of attracting new jobs to Duplin, Lenoir, and Sampson counties.
RALEIGH — Two Republican contenders for the 2nd District U.S. House seat now held by seven-term incumbent Democrat Bob Etheridge have made a financial commitment to term limits. If either wins, and tries to serve more than three terms, he’ll have to make a six-figure donation to charity.
