Lawmakers Target DEI Initiatives

North Carolina House Republicans proposed a bill Friday to ban the promotion, funding, and implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within state agencies, universities, community colleges, and local government entities.

House Bill 171 would ban DEI in hiring practices and training programs. It would also prevent the establishment of DEI offices, bar state agencies and local governments from accepting federal funds that require DEI compliance, and allow state employees and private citizens to file civil lawsuits seeking damages or injunctive relief from DEI policies.

State employees who violate the law, if passed, could face removal from office and/or a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The bill “ensures that hiring, promotions, and contracts are based on individual achievement—not identity-based quotas,” said Rep. Brenden Jones, R-Columbus.

Court Rejects Fast-Tracking Ballot Challenge

The North Carolina Supreme Court denied the State Board of Elections’ request to fast-track Republican Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s lawsuit challenging 65,000 ballots cast in the Nov. 5 election.

The high court’s decision ensures the case stays with the North Carolina Court of Appeals, which has planned an expedited schedule.

A concurring justice wrote that the superior court ruled against Griffin without explaining why his claims should be denied, and that the state Supreme Court could “benefit from a well-reasoned and thorough evaluation of the parties’ arguments” in an accelerated appellate review.

Republicans have a 5-1 majority on the Supreme Court with the recusal of Griffin’s opponent Allison Riggs. Four Republican justices supported the decision, while one Republican and the remaining Democrat dissented.

Charlotte’s Vision Zero Project Moves Forward

A $400 million transportation bond passed by Charlotte voters in November includes $20 million for Vision Zero, a data-based initiative designed to enhance street lights and pedestrian crossings in high-traffic areas.

Charlotte will add street lights to a 10-mile stretch of East W.T. Harris Boulevard and dozens of Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons to higher-speed roadways at midblock crossings and uncontrolled intersections to ensure safe crossing.

Vision Zero started in Sweden in 1997 as a strategy to eliminate traffic-related deaths and severe injuries. Charlotte launched its Vision Zero project in 2018 with plans to accomplish those same goals by 2030.

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➤ Western NC: NCDOT eliminated eight major road projects in Buncombe, Haywood, and Henderson counties due to escalating costs that have doubled or tripled prices. (More)

➤ Charlotte: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested Jose Napoleon-Serrano of Honduras for illegal reentry by a convicted felon after he had been arrested and released by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office for domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon. (More)

➤ Orange County: Lee’s Towing single-handedly cleared the 53-car pileup on I-40 caused by Wednesday’s winter storm. The company’s tow trucks had to pull some cars out from under tractor-trailers and lift them over the trucks. (Watch Report)

➤ Raleigh: Marbles Kids Museum ranked No. 6 on USA Today’s list of the 10 best children’s museums in the U.S. thanks to its imagiFAB, EcoSphere exhibit, Future Me Fair, and FairyTale Tea. (See List)

➤ Durham: A group of North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics students created a 3D flood warning system called FloodGate, which uses AI to model flood risks. (More)

➤ Huntersville: A JetBlue Pilot wanted for second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor in Huntersville was arrested in Boston on Thursday before taking off. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes have reportedly extended an offer to star forward Mikko Rantanen that exceeds $100 million. If the team cannot get an extension done with him before the NHL trade deadline, they will likely look to trade him. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets were blown out 141-88 by the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. The Hornets’ best player, LaMelo Ball, shot 1 for 10 from the field before being removed from the game. (More)

➤ Eight-year-old BMX star Chase Reynolds of Mooresville earned a spot on Team USA and will travel to Denmark this summer to compete in the UCI BMX World Championships. (More)

➤ The final draft of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s conference realignment maintains eight classifications but incorporates smaller and more three-class conferences to reduce travel distances and scheduling difficulties. (See Details and Final Draft)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NASCAR | PGA | LPGA | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer 

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➤ Odyssey Logistics, a private logistics solutions provider with an annual revenue of $1 billion, moved its headquarters from Danbury, Conn., to the Whitehall Corporate Center in Charlotte. (More)

➤ Duke University Health System is partnering with Pennsylvania-based Abridge, which develops generative artificial intelligence for real-time documentation in clinical settings. (More)

➤ Breeze Airways will launch direct flights from Piedmont Triad International Airport to Orlando, Fla., and Hartford, Conn., on June 6. (More)

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➤ AMC Theatres will show Purple Rain, the 1984 Oscar-winning movie starring Prince, at theaters nationwide March 5, including two locations in the Triangle, in honor of the movie’s 40th anniversary. (Learn More)

➤ The SS United States—which carried royalty, celebrities, and immigrants over the high seas between 1952 and 1969—passed by the Outer Banks over the weekend during her final voyage. (See Photos)

➤ The State Highway Patrol shared a photo of Gov. Josh Stein and Col. Freddy Johnson Jr. celebrating the return of Ford Mustangs for patrol coverage. The shot recreates a 1929 photo displaying the patrol’s first fleet of motorcycles. (See Photos)

➤ President Trump praised Gov. Josh Stein during a meeting with a bipartisan group of governors Friday, saying, “We’re working with a very nice person” regarding hurricane recovery efforts while looking for Stein in the audience. (More)

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How often do you go to movie theaters?

1. Once or twice a year
2. Three or more times a year
3. Never
4. I only watch movies at home

Friday’s Results:

Should donuts have a hexagonal shape?

1. Why not: 49%
2. No way: 26%
3. Who cares: 25%

What sport did world champion track and field sprinter Marion Jones play while attending UNC-Chapel Hill?

Show me the answer