The White House has now released some details of President Obama’s upcoming trip to Charlotte. The president will take part in a town hall style meeting about working families on Wednesday. The event, which is closed to the public, will be at the Imaginon and is co-hosted by online sites BlogHer and SheKnows. We’ll have coverage of the event here on WFAE.
Decker New Member Of UNCC Board Of Trustees
UNC Charlotte has announced a new member of the schools board of trustees. Sharon Decker, the former secretary of commerce, will join UNC Charlotte's board on July 1. Decker's appointment is for a four year term.
Before serving as secretary of commerce, Decker was an executive at Duke Energy, and founded a foundation to restore the Duke Mansion in Charlotte. Currently, Decker is president of a company specializing in preserving vintage film and video.
Audit Of SEANC Director Finds $500,000 In Questionable Spending
An independent audit of spending by the former executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, or SEANC, found almost $500,000 in excessive and questionable spending in the last two years. Dana Cope resigned in February after a story in the News and Observer prompted by a whistle blower.
Officials Searching For Wayne County Community College Shooter
Authorities have released information on the man shot and killed on the campus of Wayne County Community College in the town of Goldsboro. Ron Lane was a long time employee of the college who worked in the school's print shop. He was shot around 8:00 a.m. as he arrived at work. The campus was placed on lockdown after the shooting. The gunman is still at large.
School officials and the police say they've identified Kennith Stancil as a person of interest in the shooting. And they believe Stancil and Lane knew each other.
DHHS Audit Report Expected Today
The North Carolina state auditor is due to release her report on the financial shape of the state Department of Health and Human Services. Medicaid takes up the overwhelming majority of that department's budget. Large cost overruns in previous years were a big reason lawmakers and the governor have called for an overhaul of the program. The officials now say the program which provides insurance for the poor and disabled finished last year in the best shape, budgeting wise, that Medicaid has been in in years. After releasing the report North Carolina Audtior Beth Woods will discuss her findings with a legislative oversight committee this afternoon.
Bill Opposed By Gov. McCrory Now Law
A bill that includes funding for a commission overseeing the cleanup of coal ash dumps in North Carolina is now law despite the fact that Governor McCrory refused to sign it. Under North Carolina law, the governor has 30 days to sign or veto a bill. If no action is taken the bill automatically becomes law. Governor McCrory noted that a three-judge panel sided with him in declaring the Coal Ash Management commission unconstitutional. Lawmakers appealed the decision. The state Supreme Court is set to hear arguments this summer.
SC State's New CFO Working On Plan To Payoff School's Debt
The new chief financial officer of South Carolina’s only historically black university is trying to work out a plan to pay off the school’s debt. South Carolina State University owes creditors $23.5 million. The Orangeburg Times and Democrat reports part of this plan would be restructuring a $6 million loan from the state which comes due on June 30. The state has put off decision on whether to extend the loan. SC State fired school president earlier this year.
Carowinds' Ride Strands Passengers
For the second time in as many weeks a ride malfunction at Carowinds has left riders stranded. Wind-Seeker ride shut down Saturday afternoon stranding riders in their swings, 150 feet in the air for more than 10 minutes. Earlier this month, a rollercoaster for children malfunctioned leaving people stranded 20 feet in the air.