North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed the Republican-proposed state budget, though his veto will likely be swiftly overridden. Meanwhile, an 18-year-old has been charged with the Memorial Day shooting that left one person dead and another injured. And, a Morganton man has been sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to commit acts of terrorism.
Here are some of Tuesday's top headlines on WFAE.
Gov. Cooper Vetoes Budget, Override Likely
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed the state budget approved by legislative Republicans. In a statement, the governor says the spending plan neglects the state’s schools and economy, and prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations.
Still, Republicans have a veto-proof majority in the General Assembly, and Senate leader Phil Berger has said previously that Republicans will swiftly override Cooper should he choose to exercise his veto.
Republicans also say they gave Cooper many of the items he asked for - including several hundred million dollars for Hurricane Matthew relief, government building repairs and reserves for the next recession or disaster. The GOP budget also puts $470 million toward teacher pay hikes, though Cooper had wanted $810 million.
Teen Charged With Memorial Day Murder
Larry McVay Jr., 18, has been charged with the murder of another 18-year-old, Daveon Andrews, this past Memorial Day.
McVay was arrested at his home Tuesday morning and brought to police headquarters for questioning. Police believe he’s responsible for a Memorial Day shooting that left Andrews lying dead in the street at the intersection of Rozzelles Ferry Road and Oregon Street. A second man was also injured in the shooting.
In addition to murder, McVay faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Records show McVay has previously been arrested 11 times since Sept. 2015.
Morganton Man Who Sought To Carry Out ISIS-Style Attack Gets Life In Prison
A teenager from Morganton who had been plotting acts for ISIS has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Media outlets report Justin Sullivan, now 21 years old, was sentenced Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to terrorism-related charges.
A federal indictment newly released to media outlets also links Sullivan to a previously unsolved 2014 murder of his neighbor, 74-year-old John Bailey Clark. The indictment says Sullivan stole a gun from his stepfather, broke into the elderly man’s home, and shot him three times in the head.
Court documents also say Sullivan planned to purchase an assault rifle at a Hickory gun show, and conspired with an undercover officer about attacking a concert or other large venue. He was ultimately arrested in June 2015, the day before the gun show.
GOP Says North Carolina Redistricting Case Must Be Delayed
Republican lawmakers say a case challenging North Carolina’s electoral map must be delayed until the U.S. Supreme Court decides a similar lawsuit from Wisconsin.
The motion filed in federal court says it would be a waste of time and money to proceed with the North Carolina case because of similarities to the Wisconsin lawsuit being heard in the fall. Lawmakers say the Supreme Court decision will also direct the outcome of two combined lawsuits challenging North Carolina congressional districts used in 2016.
Challengers say the districts are unconstitutionally biased toward Republicans. Attorneys leading the North Carolina challenge say the case should proceed to avoid the possibility that another election is held in 2018 using unfair maps.
