Brown Mackie College shutting down many campuses throughout the country

Michigan News - 6/12/2016

Former aide to Jim Traficant becomes a financial predator

The financial demise of a 78-year-old woman with dementia came at the hands of an especially devious predator, police and other officials said.

“It was a perfect storm,” said Canfield police Detective Brian McGivern, describing how Linda Kovachik used her former status as an aide to former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. to financially prey upon a victim and discourage neighbors from getting involved.

Read more: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/9275/aide-jim-traficant-financial-predator

Ohio News - 6/12/2016

Protest against Trump’s Dallas visit may also target Mi Cocina restaurants

Several Hispanic organizations plan to rally against presidential candidate Donald Trump’s fundraising trip next week to Dallas — and the protest also could target a prominent area restaurant chain.

“We want to send a message showing that we do not agree with Donald Trump, and we will do everything that we can to defeat him,” said Dallas lawyer and LULAC member Domingo Garcia.

Trump’s fundraiser Thursday is part of a trip to Texas that will include stops in Houston and San Antonio, said Dallas investor Ray Washburne, vice chairman of Trump Victory.

“We’re excited to have Mr. Trump come to Texas,” he said. “And we’re getting a lot of enthusiasm from donors to come meet him and hear him,” Washburne said.

Read more: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2016/06/protest-against-trumps-dallas-visit-may-also-target-mi-cocina-restaurant-chain.html/?_ga=1.56856109.681954684.1465634751

Nobody has posted an OP in awhile, so here is a courtesy thread.

New coal ash bill would avoid veto override

RALEIGH -- A standoff over coal ash between Gov. Pat McCrory and his fellow Republicans in the legislature may be headed for a resolution without lawmakers overrriding the governor’s veto.

Legislators said Thursday they are working with McCrory on a new coal ash bill that would make an override unnecessary and would speed up the state’s response to environmental and health concerns.

The dispute is over the best way to clean up coal ash basins and connect neighboring well owners with municipal drinking water. Conflicting notices from state officials about whether or not the well water is safe to drink have added to the tensions.

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Senate leader Phil Berger announced Thursday he doesn’t expect an override attempt. Rep. Chuck McGrady, a Republican from Hendersonville and the author of the bill, said he will be working with the Senate and administration on a new bill this weekend.

Read more here: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/9165/coal-bill-avoid-veto-override

Cumberland judge steps aside from Racial Justice Act cases

RALEIGH -- The chief resident Superior Court judge in Cumberland County agreed on Thursday to let another judge preside over hearing on four Racial Justice Act cases.

Judge James Ammons Jr. told attorneys for four death row inmates that he would ask the state Administrative Office of the Courts to appoint someone else to hear the prisoners’ claims that racial bias infected their cases and opportunity for fair trials.

But Ammons, a former Cumberland County prosecutor with family ties to state law enforcement officers, did not do so without first expressing his distaste for the recusal request.

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It was unclear how quickly a new judge would be appointed. Until then, a request from prosecutors to dismiss the cases will pend.

Read more here: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/9164/cumberland-judge-steps-racial-justice

NC lawmakers debate charter schools’ share of local school dollars

Charter schools want a bigger slice of the money that traditional public schools receive. Their fight to get it has played out for years in legislative committee rooms and courtrooms.

The battle is now back in the legislature, where the House is considering whether it should go along with a Senate proposal to have local school districts send more money to charters

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Several legislators in a committee meeting Thursday did not get clear answers to their questions about what kinds of federal grants would have to be split with charter schools under the proposal. The committee spent more than an hour debating and listening to speakers, but took no action.

House Education Committee Chairman Jeffrey Elmore, a North Wilkesboro Republican, said legislators wanted the meeting for discussion and questions. He did not say what would happen next with the bill.

Read more here: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/9163/lawmakers-debate-charter-schools-school

Companies still want to come to NC, Gov. McCrory says

Gov. Pat McCrory pushed back Friday against reports that the controversy over House Bill 2 is hurting North Carolina’s ability to lure companies, and he blamed the media for negative publicity around the issue.

“That perception may start with the people writing the articles,” McCrory said after an impromptu visit to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina’s board meeting in uptown Charlotte. The group, primarily funded by the state but receiving private funds from local businesses as well, is responsible for marketing North Carolina and luring prospective companies.

-snip-

HB2 nullified a Charlotte ordinance that would have expanded nondiscrimination protections for LGBT individuals and allowed transgender people to use the bathroom of the gender with which they identify. So far, the state legislature and Charlotte City Council have shown no signs of moving toward a compromise on the issue, which has drawn national attention.

PayPal canceled a 400-job office planned for Charlotte soon after the bill was passed, and numerous artists, including Bruce Springsteen and Demi Lovato, have canceled shows in the state.

Read more here: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/9260/companies-come-gov-mccrory-says

Tennessee News - 6/10/2016