TROPICAL WEATHER

Tropic storm Isaias whips up eastern US, killing at least 7

WINDSOR, N.C. (AP) — At least seven people were killed as Tropical Storm Isaias battered the U.S. East Coast with rain and fierce winds after making landfall as a hurricane in North Carolina. Millions of people were without power on Wednesday after felled trees downed power lines. Two people died when Isaias spun off a tornado that struck a North Carolina mobile home park. Another person died in Pennsylvania when their vehicle was overtaken by water. Three others were killed by falling trees toppled by the storm in Maryland, Connecticut and New York City, and a sixth person died in Delaware when a tree branch fell on them.

REPARATIONS-NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY

N Carolina county joins Asheville with vote for reparations

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A county in western North Carolina has joined the neighboring city of Asheville to apologize for its role in slavery and to take the rare step of supporting reparations for Black residents. The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that Buncombe County officials passed the measure Tuesday night along party lines, with Democrats being in favor. Similar to the one passed in Asheville last month, the county’s resolution does not call for direct payments. It focuses instead on county efforts to prioritize racial equity. Priorities include education gaps as well as disparities in the health care and justice systems. Experts say that such resolutions are rare across the nation.

SEWAGE SPILL

Officials: 3,700 gallons of sewage spills in North Carolina

MARION, N.C. (AP) — Officials say excessive rain from Tropical Storm Isaias caused nearly 3,700 gallons of sewage to spill into a river in North Carolina. The city of Marion said in a news release the discharge happened Monday at the Clinchfield sewer pump station when rainfall entered into the collection system. The release says the untreated waste water then spilled into an “unnamed tributary of Lake James” in the Catawba River Basin. The McDowell News reports about 3,500 gallons of sewage had been discharged into the river from the same sewer pump in May. City officials had said that spill was also caused by excessive rain.

ELECTION 2020-TRUMP

Trump considering giving convention speech from White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s considering delivering his Republican convention speech from the White House. Such a move would mark an unprecedented use of public property for partisan political purposes. Trump told Fox News on Wednesday that he’s thinking about delivering the speech from the White House because of the security and cost advantages. The Republican convention is scheduled for Aug. 24-27, with Trump’s speech capping the final night. The speech was going to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, until Trump feuded with the governor over health restrictions. Trump then moved it to Jacksonville, Florida, but scrapped that plan because of a resurgence of the coronavirus there.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA-COOPER

Lawyers for political rivals argue Cooper’s COVID-19 powers

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Lawyers for North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest have argued before a judge over whether Cooper’s COVID-19 orders shuttering businesses and demanding face coverings were lawfully imposed. Tuesday’s court hearing focused on whether the Council of State needed to consent to Cooper’s executive orders first before they could be carried out. Forest sued the governor last month and says the law required he get the council’s approval. Cooper’s lawyers say he didn’t need to. The judge didn’t say how he would rule on Forest’s request to block the orders. Cooper and Forest are running for governor in November.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ELECTION 2020

Judge rejects most N.C. election changes sought in lawsuit

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge has refused to order a wide array of changes to North Carolina’s election rules sought by voting advocacy groups worried about how COVID-19 could limit ballot access. But the judge told election officials they can’t reject mail-in absentee ballots unless there’s a way that voters can fix errors. The issue is poignant this year as more registered voters are considering voting by mail to avoid the risk of contracting the coronavirus at traditional in-person voting centers and precincts. U.S. District Judge William Osteen wrote on Tuesday that his ruling should not be misunderstood as downplaying concerns about voting during a pandemic.

TROPICAL WEATHER

Tropic storm Isaias whips up eastern US, killing at least 6

WINDSOR, N.C. (AP) — At least six people are dead after Tropical Storm Isaias spawned tornadoes and dumped rain during an inland march up the U.S. East Coast. Two people were killed after one of those tornadoes flattened a mobile home park in Windsor, North Carolina. Another person died in Pennsylvania when their vehicle was overtaken by water and swept downstream. Two others were killed when the storm sent trees crashing onto their vehicles in New York City and Maryland, and a sixth person died when a tree branch fell on them in Delaware. Isaias made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in North Carolina. It was downgraded to a tropical storm on its way to the Northeast. The National Hurricane Center says late Tuesday night that Isaias is moving north into Canada.

SUSPECT DEATH-CHARGES FILED

N Carolina sheriff apologizes for hog-tied inmate’s death

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina sheriff has apologized to the family of a Black man who died while in custody last year after being hog-tied. The apology comes one day before a video of the incident that led to his death is to be released. Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough on Tuesday said he was saddened by the video showing jail officers hog-tying John Neville before he died at a local hospital last December. Five former detention officers and a nurse were charged last month with involuntary manslaughter in connection with John Neville’s death. Kimbrough says his department has instituted changes in training as a result of Neville’s death.

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