NC Republicans Face Fallout from Allegations Against Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson

Several North Carolina Republicans are urging Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to drop out of the governor's race after CNN reported racist and offensive comments linked to his online accounts. Robinson denied the accusations, calling them "salacious tabloid trash." With absentee ballots set to go out soon, Robinson faces pressure to withdraw as polls show him trailing his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Josh Stein. Some Republicans fear the scandal may harm other party candidates in upcoming statewide races. (News & Observer)

North Carolina Politicians React to Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's Latest Scandal

Following a CNN report linking Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to offensive posts on porn websites via the "minisoldr" account, reactions from both Democrats and Republicans poured in. Democrats, including gubernatorial opponent Josh Stein and Congresswoman Deborah Ross, condemned Robinson as unfit for office, citing his offensive rhetoric. Some Republicans, such as Sen. Ted Budd, expressed concern and urged Robinson to address the allegations, while others, like Rep. Richard Hudson, awaited more information. Calls for Robinson to step aside are growing within the GOP, as some fear his candidacy could harm other down-ballot races. (ABC 11)

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Faces Scrutiny Over Inflammatory Comments on Porn Site

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is under intense scrutiny after CNN reported his alleged inflammatory comments on a pornographic website over a decade ago. Political analyst Dr. Chris Cooper stated that these accusations could severely damage Robinson's gubernatorial campaign, noting that his poll numbers were already low. Despite calls for his withdrawal, Robinson has refused to drop out of the race, though if he does, state party leaders could nominate a replacement, and votes for Robinson would transfer to that nominee. Concerns are mounting within both parties over the potential fallout. (ABC 13)

Judge Denies NC GOP’s Request to Block UNC-Chapel Hill Digital IDs for Voting

A Wake County Superior Court judge ruled against the North Carolina Republican Party's effort to block the use of UNC-Chapel Hill’s digital One Card for voter ID purposes. The NC GOP argued that the state's voter ID law requires physical cards, but the judge sided with the state elections board, which approved the mobile One Card as meeting statutory requirements. The judge dismissed concerns about potential voter fraud and upheld the validity of the digital IDs for students properly registered to vote. The NC GOP has not yet decided whether to appeal the ruling. (WUNC)

Poll Shows Kamala Harris Narrowly Leads Donald Trump in North Carolina

A CBS 17/Emerson College/The Hill poll released Thursday shows Vice President Kamala Harris has gained a slight lead over former President Donald Trump in North Carolina, with 49% of likely voters supporting Harris and 48% supporting Trump. This marks a shift from August, where Trump led by 1 point. In the gubernatorial race, Democrat Josh Stein holds an 8-point lead over Republican Mark Robinson. Across swing states, voters expect Harris to win the presidency, with North Carolina showing the largest margin of support for Harris at 53% to 46%. (CBS 17)

Former Chapel Hill Council Member Tai Huynh Joins Durham Planning Commission

At 25, Tai Huynh has already made significant strides in local politics, having served a term on the Chapel Hill town council and co-founding a Durham-based tech company, ACTA Solutions. Now, Huynh has been appointed to the Durham Planning Commission, filling a vacancy left by Tony Sease. During his time in Chapel Hill, Huynh focused on affordable housing and urban development, creating a system to expedite projects meeting affordable housing conditions. In Durham, he aims to leverage his experience to promote mixed-use development and support the city's comprehensive plan for balanced growth. (Indy Week)

Guilford County Commissioners to Vote on Property Tax Refunds and Explore Relief for Low-Income Residents

Guilford County commissioners will vote on Thursday to approve over $35,700 in property tax rebates and releases for August, part of a regular process that addresses billing errors. The county sees a rise in requests for adjustments during the summer as bills are issued in July. Refunds approved in recent months totaled $190,150 in June, $207,573 in July, and $47,468 in August. Additionally, commissioners are exploring the creation of a tax relief program for residents earning 60% to 80% of the county's median income, which could be established by the end of 2024. (FOX 8)

High Point 911 Operator Shortage Prompts Temporary Staffing Solution

The city of High Point is facing a shortage of 911 telecommunicators, with the department currently down seven front-line positions. The remaining operators, who handle over 600 calls daily, have been stretched thin, leading to issues with morale, fatigue, and stress. To alleviate the burden, the city council approved a $177,000 contract with Moetivations Inc., which will provide temporary assistance from retired telecommunicators. This contract, lasting six months, will allow the department to focus on training new hires and reduce the strain on current staff. (ABC 45)

Sylva Town Board Rejects Changes to Panhandling Ordinance After Public Opposition

Sylva's town board voted to reject proposed amendments to the town’s solicitation ordinance following public opposition. Mayor Johnny Phillips had proposed changes, including a 20-foot solicitation ban from major roads, but four residents spoke against the revisions during a public hearing. Concerns ranged from pushing the issue out of sight without solving it, to potential legal challenges and the ordinance's broad language. Board member Jonathan Brown and others expressed reservations, leading to a unanimous vote by the present members to keep the ordinance unchanged. (Sylva Herald)

Graham Finance Officer Fired for Unsatisfactory Job Performance

The City of Graham terminated its finance officer, Melanie King, on May 20, 2023, citing unsatisfactory job performance after multiple verbal warnings. City officials stated that King failed to meet work standards, neglected her duties, and did not complete tasks on time. King was given a chance to address the deficiencies during a pre-disciplinary conference but failed to refute the claims. Her termination came without additional written warnings due to the severity of the issues. King, hired in March 2023 with a final salary of $109,258.71, did not attend a scheduled name-clearing hearing. (Alamance News)

New Hanover County Seeks $2.1M Grant to Combat PFAS Contamination in Castle Hayne

Officials in New Hanover County, at the request of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA), are seeking a $2.1 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to address PFAS contamination in Castle Hayne. The funds would be used to extend water lines to 53 parcels in the Garden Place neighborhood, where high levels of PFOS, a legacy chemical, were detected. CFPUA Chief Engineer Gary Smith emphasized that if approved, the project costs would not fall on the county. Applications for the grant are due by the end of the month. (Port City Daily)

U.S. Unemployment Claims Drop to Four-Month Low as Labor Market Shows Resilience

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell by 12,000 to 219,000 for the week of September 14, marking the lowest level in four months, according to the Labor Department. This decline was better than the expected 230,000 new filings. Despite recent increases signaling potential labor market cooling due to high interest rates, the Federal Reserve responded by cutting its benchmark interest rate by 0.5%, aiming for a "soft landing" to balance jobs and inflation. The four-week average of claims dropped to 227,500, while the total number of people receiving benefits fell to 1.83 million. (WWAY)

162 Soldiers Graduate from U.S. Army Special Forces Program

The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School graduated 162 new Special Forces soldiers at a ceremony in Cumberland County. After more than 18 months of intense training at Fort Liberty and throughout central North Carolina, the soldiers, ages 21 to 40, passed the final Robin Sage exercise. Only about a third of candidates complete the rigorous program. These new Green Berets, who have served in every conflict since 1952, now await their next assignments in the U.S. Army. (CBS 17)