“Fourth Lawsuit Filed Against NC Republicans’ New Congressional Maps Violating Voters’ Rights”

– New Lawsuit Challenges Republican-Drawn Congressional Boundaries
– Lawsuit Challenges Republican-Drawn Congressional Districts.

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Fourth Lawsuit Filed Against New Congressional Maps Drawn by NC Republicans

A group of Democratic and unaffiliated voters has filed a lawsuit in NC Superior Court, claiming that the newly drawn state congressional maps violate their right to fair elections. This marks the fourth lawsuit filed against the congressional maps drawn by Republican officials in the North Carolina General Assembly last year.

The lawsuit argues that while not explicitly stated in the state document, both the US and NC constitutions grant all voters the right to a fair election. According to the plaintiffs, this right has been violated by the Republicans’ gerrymandered congressional maps. The suit cites a 1964 NC Supreme Court order that states, “the people are entitled to have their elections conducted honestly and in accordance with the requirements of the law. To require less would result in a mockery of the democratic processes for nominating and electing public officials.”

Prominent figures such as former UNC system President Tom Ross Sr. and former Democratic NC Sen. Allen Wellons are among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. They are being represented by former NC Supreme Court Justice Robert Orr, who was once a Republican but is now registered as unaffiliated.

The filing of this new lawsuit comes after a federal judge’s refusal on Jan. 26 to block the Republican-drawn NC Senate map in a previous racial gerrymandering suit. The judge argued that blocking the map would “inflict voter confusion and chaos on the 2024 Senate elections in North Carolina.”

Local Activists Criticize NC GOP Leaders’ Immigration Stance

In response to a letter sent by NC Speaker Tim Moore and House Republicans to Gov. Roy Cooper, local organizers have accused the NC GOP of engaging in political theater. The letter asked the governor to intervene in federal immigration efforts by deploying the National Guard at the US border.

The letter, signed by more than 70 Republican lawmakers, claimed that a crisis at the border has led to increased security threats from foreign actors in North Carolina. It requested that Cooper deploy additional NC National Guard troops to assist Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who recently defied a US Supreme Court order to remove razor wire from the border.

The Charlotte-based Carolina Migrant Network (CMN) released a statement criticizing the letter as a political stunt. Stefania Arteaga, co-director of CMN, wrote, “NC lawmakers are taking a page out of the playbook used by Texas’ governor to score political points. Anti-immigrant governors have wasted billions of dollars to push anti-immigrant policies and attack families seeking asylum, and the NC General Assembly wants to do the same here.” CMN co-director Becca O’Neill added that such demands are intended to distract voters and hide the failure of North Carolina’s Majority Party to provide resources to communities in the state.

CMS Faces Funding Loss as ESSER Funds Expire

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) announced that the expiration of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding will result in a loss of $190 million. These funds have supported the district during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The ESSER funding is set to expire in September.

Approximately $60 million of the ESSER funds is allocated to staffing, according to the district. CMS officials are exploring options to prevent workforce reductions once the funding runs out. CMS Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill stated, “We may have to realign roles and responsibilities of some staff. We value the contributions of our employees and want to keep everyone employed.”

The ESSER funds were intended to help eligible public school units address needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic. These funds have supported various projects, including reducing class sizes to ensure safe distancing, adjusting transportation to accommodate fewer students in confined spaces, purchasing sanitation and cleaning supplies, and improving indoor air quality.

The CMS Board is scheduled to receive a presentation on how the loss of ESSER funding will impact the district’s 2024-2025 budget during an upcoming workshop.

Increase in Murders Over the Past Week in Charlotte

Charlotte has experienced a concerning increase in homicides, with six murders occurring over a span of six days in the past week. One of the incidents was a triple murder that took place in southwest Charlotte last Saturday.

On Jan. 27, officers responded to a shooting incident on Lodge South Circle, where they found four individuals with gunshot wounds. Sadly, one victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. The victims have been identified as Daron Markell Polk, 32; Walter Humberto Ramos Murillo, 26; and Nighstarr Trevon Luper, 25. No arrests have been made, and CMPD has stated that they are not searching for any additional suspects.

On the previous night, police responded to a shooting incident at Ashford Place Apartments in southwest Charlotte. A man, woman, and girl were found with gunshot wounds and were transported to the hospital. The woman, identified as Yara Velasquez-Escobar, 21, passed away from her injuries the following day. On Jan. 31, a 20-year-old man was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in connection with the incident.

Other incidents include a shooting on Pitts Drive in northwest Charlotte’s Washington Heights neighborhood, where a 17-year-old named Melakah Corbette was found dead from gunshot wounds, and a medical emergency on Strider Drive in southeast Charlotte’s Idlewild South neighborhood. The medical emergency involving 21-year-old Nataly Martinez was later determined to be suspicious, and her 25-year-old boyfriend was charged with attempted murder. Sadly, Martinez passed away on the same day at a hospital in Matthews.

False Active Shooter Threat at UNC Charlotte

A reported active shooter threat at UNC Charlotte’s campus was determined to be false by CMPD. The department stated that its officers were assisting with a building evacuation at the request of UNC Charlotte Police, but no evidence of an active shooter or shooting was found, and no injuries were reported.

The university called CMPD just before noon after individuals reported hearing gunshots in or around the College of Education building on campus. However, the investigation concluded that there was no validity to the reported threat..

– New Lawsuit Challenges Republican-Drawn Congressional Maps Lawsuit
– Republican-Drawn Congressional Maps Lawsuit Challenge.