North Carolina legislative leaders are giving formal notice that their lawyers will appeal a Greensboro Federal judge's ruling declaring same-sex marriage to be legal in the state. State Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Thom Tillis filed the notice. Berger and Tillis previously said they also wanted to appeal a similar ruling by another federal judge, in Asheville. But that judge rejected their effort.
McCrory:Regulators Not Ignoring Pollution Threat From Coal Ash Ponds
Governor Pat McCrory says North Carolina environmental regulators under his administration have not ignored the threat of pollution from coal ash ponds. During an appearance today on WFAE’s Charlotte Talks, McCrory credited the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with taking new initiative to address coal ash concerns, including lawsuits against Duke Energy. “We were the first administration ever to do that,” McCrory said. “And this has been a 60-year old problem.” McCrory also vowed to continue pushing for new natural gas exploration through hydraulic fracturing in North Carolina.
Charter School Operator On Financial Probation
The State Board of Education has placed a charter school operator in eastern North Carolina on financial probation. Charter Day School Incorporated runs four schools – in Wilmington, Southport, Leland, and Whiteville. The state board says the company failed to provide salary information about employees of a private management company who work at the schools. Charter Day School and the state board have been at odds over whether that salary information should be public or private.
Former Progress Energy CEO Up For Pay Raise From TVA
Former Progress Energy CEO Bill Johnson is in line for a pay raise as president and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The TVA board voted Thursday to raise Johnson’s salary and performance pay by more than a million dollars this year, after the federal utility met all of its targets.
Johnson is already the nation’s highest paid federal employee. He made more than $5.9 million from January through September of 2013. TVA hired Johnson after the Duke Energy board ousted him shortly after the Duke-Progress merger was completed in 2012.
Man Hit, Killed By Fire Truck
The North Carolina Highway Patrol says a man died after he was hit by a fire truck in the Gaston County town of Ranlo. Authorities said the man stepped into the road as he walked home from a bar at around 6:00 p.m. Thursday. The man’s name was not released. The Highway Patrol says he was not in a crosswalk, and investigators said the fire truck was going below the speed limit. No charges are planned.