North Carolina

5 years after a federal lawsuit, North Carolina voter ID trial is set to begin

Published

2 weeks ago

May 6, 2024

5 years after a federal lawsuit, North Carolina voter ID trial is set to begin

Gary D. Robertson
| Associated Press

Raleigh, N.C. — A federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s photo voter identification law is set to go to trial Monday, with arguments expected to focus on whether the requirement unlawfully discriminates against Black and Hispanic citizens or serves legitimate state interests to boost public confidence in elections.

The non-jury trial in Winston-Salem begins more than five years after the state NAACP and several local chapters sued over the voter ID law enacted by the Republican-dominated General Assembly in late 2018.

This litigation, along with similar lawsuits in state courts, delayed implementation of the requirement until last year’s municipal elections. The 1.8 million voters who cast ballots in the March primaries also had to comply. State election data showed fewer than 500 provisional ballots cast because of ID-related issues in the primary ultimately didn’t count.

The November general election — with races for president, governor and other statewide seats — could see turnout three times greater than the primary. And the nation’s ninth-largest state is a presidential battleground where statewide races are often close.

A favorable NAACP ruling from U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs could block the requirement in the fall. The trial is expected to last several days, with Biggs already signaling in a document that she won’t immediately rule from the bench.

The NAACP lawyers contend the voter ID requirement, along with two other voting-related provisions in the 2018 law, violate the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act in part because lawmakers enacted them with discriminatory intent.

In a pretrial brief, attorneys for the state and local chapters of the civil rights group cite data showing Black and Latino voters are more than twice as likely to lack a qualifying ID with a photo than white voters. They plan to bring in witnesses who will say they encountered voting problems in the March primary.

“Absent relief, thousands of North Carolinians will similarly have their right to vote unconstitutionally abridged,” the NAACP lawyers wrote. They also said evidence will show North Carolina lawmakers rushed through the legislation — mere weeks after voters approved a constitutional amendment mandating photo ID — without considering its impact on minority voters.

Attorneys representing Republican legislative leaders and State Board of Elections members defending the law in court said in briefs that the rules impose only a minimal burden on voters.

They point out that the law greatly expanded the number of qualifying IDs compared with what was approved in a 2013 voter ID law that federal judges struck down as discriminatory. Free IDs are provided by county election and Division of Motor Vehicles offices, and people lacking photo ID at the polls should have their votes count if they fill out an exception form or bring in their ID to election officials before the final tallies.

“The General Assembly enacted (the law) after the People of North Carolina mandated the legislature to create a voter ID law. The bipartisan legislation did not have a discriminatory intent, and Plaintiffs cannot overcome the presumption of legislative good faith,” lawyers for House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger wrote in a brief. Preventing voter fraud is also a legitimate state interest for the law, the attorneys wrote. Nationwide, however, voter identity fraud is rare.

Biggs, who was nominated to court by President Barack Obama, already has ruled frequently in this case.

In late 2019 she issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the law, saying it was tainted because the 2013 law had been struck down on similar grounds of racial bias. But the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed her decision, writing that she had put too much emphasis on the past conduct of the General Assembly when evaluating the 2018 law. When Biggs declined to allow Berger and Moore to join the lawsuit as defendants, they appealed, and the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately sided with them in 2022.

Biggs opened the door for a trial when the state Supreme Court determined the photo ID law comported with the state constitution.

Thirty-six states have laws requesting or requiring identification at the polls, 21 of which seek photo ID, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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North Carolina

Lead slips away in draw with N.C. – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Published

6 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Press Room

Lead slips away in draw with N.C. – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

PITTSBURGH (May 18, 2024) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds extended their unbeaten streak to seven games, but the team was unable to hold on to take all three points and settled for a 1-1 draw with North Carolina FC tonight at Highmark Stadium.

Edward Kizza scored just before halftime for the Hounds (3-3-4), but a headed goal in the second half by Evan Conway pulled North Carolina (2-4-5) level.

It was the first draw in five meetings between the teams, and it came in front of a sellout crowd of 5,113.

First half

The Hounds were the more promising side to begin the match, though former Hounds player Louis Pérez had the first good chance with an eighth-minute free kick from 27 yards that missed just over the bar for North Carolina.

Back the other way seconds later, the Hounds had a golden opportunity when Langston Blackstock sent a low cross in from the right wing, but a lunging Kenardo Forbes couldn’t turn the ball on frame from close range.

Forbes put his next chance on target just before the half-hour mark, a curling shot from inside the box that was spilled by North Carolina keeper Antonio Carrera. The rebound went to Kizza out wide, but with his back to goal and no angle to shoot, he played the ball wide for Junior Etou, and no Hounds were able to get on the end of the next cross.

Kizza’s goal came in the 44th minute after Danny Griffin nearly dribbled through the North Carolina midfield, playing a pass that took a fortunate deflection to Blackstock as he ran toward the top of the box. Carrera and the defense closed to Blackstock, who wisely slipped a pass to his left, where Kizza was unmarked and played the ball into the open net.

Second half

Where the Hounds had the edge with 61 percent of first-half possession, North Carolina came back with 66 percent of the ball after the break.

The visitors tied the match when Pérez served in a long, high ball from the left side that ended up being perfectly placed. Conway sprinted between a pair of Hounds defenders, and his header stayed just under the crossbar for the tying goal in the 58th minute.

Both teams searched for a winning goal, and the best chance late came from North Carolina substitute Oalex Anderson. Anderson got the ball at his feet inside the box, and he was able to spin away from two defenders and put plenty of power on a shot moving away from goal, but Hounds goalkeeper Gabriel Perrotta was able to parry the shot away and keep the match tied.

Modelo Man of the Match

Langston Blackstock picked up his first assist of the season on the Hounds’ goal, and the right wing back had a strong two-way night. The second-year pro created two chances, won 7 of 14 duels — including all three tackles on the night — and tied for the match high with six clearances.

What’s next?

The Hounds will make a Memorial Day weekend trip to Tennessee, where they will face Memphis 901 FC at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 25. Memphis (4-5-1), which moved to the Western Conference this year, won last night against El Paso, 2-1.

Riverhounds SC lineup (5-3-2) — Gabriel Perrotta; Junior Etou, Luke Biasi, Pat Hogan, Illal Osumanu (Sean Suber 62’), Langston Blackstock; Kenardo Forbes (Dani Rovira 77’), Danny Griffin, Robbie Mertz (Aidan O’Toole 77’); Edward Kizza (Bradley Sample 62’), Kazaiah Sterling

North Carolina FC lineup (5-3-2) — Antonio Carrera; Ezra Armstrong, Bryce Washington, Paco Craig, Mikey Maldonado, Shaft Brewer; Collin Martin, Raheem Somersall (Rodrigo Da Costa 76’), Louis Pérez; Evan Conway, Garrett McLaughlin (Oalex Anderson 68’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Edward Kizza 44’ (Langston Blackstock)
NC — Evan Conway 58’ (Louis Pérez)

Discipline summary

PIT — Illal Osumanu 6’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Junior Etou 67’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Bradley Sample 85’ (caution – tactical foul)

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North Carolina

Watch live: Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. North Carolina FC live stream

Published

13 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Watch live: Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. North Carolina FC live stream

Ireland Contracting Nightly Sports Call: May 12, 2024

16:01

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It’s a soccer night in Pittsburgh!

The Riverhounds are back home in Pittsburgh after last week’s 2-2 draw against Tulsa and head into this week’s matchup with a 3-4-3 record this season.

Kickoff at Highmark Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m.

There are multiple ways to watch the Riverhounds this season, including by watching the live player above and by tuning into KDKA+!

The Riverhounds’ 2024 season

KDKA+, which became the team’s local broadcast partner in 2023, will show 15 home matches and seven away matches this season. The matches will also be streaming here on KDKA.com.

The matches that KDKA+ will be broadcasting for the rest of the season listed below:

Saturday, June 1 – Riverhounds vs. Indy – 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 22 — North Carolina vs. Riverhounds – 7:30 p.m/
Saturday, July 6 — Riverhounds vs. Monterey Bay – 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 13 – Riverhounds vs. Oakland – 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 27 – Riverhounds vs. Loudoun – 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 10 – Riverhounds vs. San Antonio – 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 17 – Riverhounds vs. Colorado Springs – 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 24 – Birmingham vs. Riverhounds – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 31 – Indy vs. Riverhounds – 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 7 – Riverhounds vs. Rhode Island – 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 14 – Tampa Bay vs. Riverhounds – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 28 – Riverhounds vs. Birmingham – 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 12 – Riverhounds vs. Charleston – 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 19 – Loudoun vs. Riverhounds – 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 26 – Riverhounds vs. El Paso – 7 p.m.

Mike Darnay

Mike Darnay is a digital producer and photojournalist at KDKA-TV/CBS News Pittsburgh. Mike has also written and produced content for Vox Media and the Mon Valley Independent.
He often covers overnight breaking news, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and high school sports.

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North Carolina

North Carolina Sports Betting Apps | 5 Best NC Sportsbook Apps & Promos to Grab Today

Published

20 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

North Carolina Sports Betting Apps | 5 Best NC Sportsbook Apps & Promos to Grab Today

The sports betting calendar just keeps delivering with golf’s second major, the PGA Championship continuing all weekend, along with the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday from North Wilkesboro Speedway and the final days of the conference semifinals in the NBA and NHL. Sign up today with the best North Carolina sports betting apps and you can cash in on thousands of dollars in welcome offers.

You can wager on MMA and UFC, the PGA, soccer, motorsports, the NBA, NHL, MLB and so much more in the palm of your hand with these North Carolina betting apps.

Best North Carolina Sports Betting Apps

North Carolina Betting App	Promo Code	Welcome Offer
📲 BetMGM	🌟 SBWIRE	🎁 $1,500 First-Bet Offer
📲 Caesars Sportsbook	🌟 SBWIRE1000	🎁 $1,000 first Bet on Caesars
📲 FanDuel	🌟 CLICK HERE	🎁 Get $5, Get $200
📲 bet365	🌟 SBWIRENC	🎁 Bet $5, Get $150 or 1st Bet Safety Net up to $1000
📲 Fanatics	🌟 CLICK HERE	🎁 Get Up to $1000 in Bonus Bets
📲 DraftKings	🌟 CLICK HERE	🎁 Get $5, Get $200

Every North Carolina resident and visitor who’s thinking about wagering on needs to grab these North Carolina sports betting apps and bonuses to load up their bankroll.

BetMGM NC Betting App

As we start discussing all the North Carolina sports betting apps, let’s start with the biggest number on the board, available with the BetMGM North Carolina bonus code SBWIRE.

Make your first bet on any sport available on the BetMGM app — one of the best North Carolina betting apps. If it loses, you will receive bonus bets back as a refund. For wagers below $50, you will get one credit for the full amount. For bets of $50 and more (capped at $1,500), you will receive five bonus bets, each equal to 20% of your original bet.

Caesars Sportsbook North Carolina Betting App

The Caesars Sportsbook NC promo code gives new time users a $1,000 First Bet on Caesars. If your opening bet up to $1,000 after registration loses, Caesars will pay you back with a matching bonus bet.

You have 14 days to play the bonus bet credit, which comes with no odds restrictions and carries a 1X playthrough – meaning anything you win while wagering with the bonus bet is yours to keep.

FanDuel North Carolina Sports Betting App

When you sign up for a FanDuel account with the FanDuel North Carolina promo code and play a $5 first bet, $200 in bonus bets are all yours.

You get seven days to play these bonus bets, but here’s where FanDuel is unique. FanDuel allows you to spread around your $200 in bonus bets any way you like. If you want to use it all on one game, that’s cool. If you think it’d be awesome to have something down on 15 games, then go for it. They’re your bonus bets. The minimum bonus bet wager is just $5, meaning you could make 40 bets if you like – including props and parlays. Each time a bonus bet wins, you win cash.

bet365 North Carolina Sports Betting App

Let’s shake it up a little bit, courtesy of bet365 NC. When you register for a bet365 account with the bet365 North Carolina bonus code SBWIRENC, you’re allowed to decide whether you want either $150 in bonus bets for placing a $5 first bet or a First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000.

With the first offer, you simply make a $5 first bet on anything you want and you’ll get $150 in bonus bets immediately. With the First Bet Safety Net, you get to make a first bet anywhere from $10 to $1,000 with the knowledge that bet365 returns the amount of your bet to your account as bonus bets if it loses.

Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina Betting App

The Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina promo code delivers the potential for up to $1,000 in bonus bets with one of the more intriguing North Carolina sportsbook apps available.

When you sign up today, you will receive a matching bonus bet equal to your first wager, up to $100. Then for the next nine days, you can select a real-money wager and have it matched as well – up to $100 each day – for a potential $1,000 in total bonus bets.

DraftKings NC Sports Betting App

Let’s close out this embarrassment of potential riches by checking out what DraftKings has to offer. If you start an account with the DraftKings North Carolina promo code, you’ll get to receive $200 in bonus bets the instant you place a $5 first bet.

As soon as you plunk down your $5 first bet, DraftKings whisks you eight $25 bonus bets, and you’ll have seven days to play them on any sport you want. Any bonus bet needs to win just once for you to collect the profit in cash.

Bet on the PGA Championship & More With These North Carolina Betting Apps

The PGA Championship teed off from the Jack Nicklaus-designed Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, KY Thursday morning and the field includes World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who had missed the last few tournaments while awaiting the birth of his first child. Scheffler announced the birth of a baby boy on Monday from Valhalla.

The North Carolina sports betting apps and the sportsbook promos designed for the dawn of this online sports betting era can be utilized on more than 20 sports all over the globe — everything from auto racing to hockey to football to futbol.

There will be plenty of drama. But if you want no drama, then just cash in on $1,700 in bonus bets thanks to all of these spectacular North Carolina betting promos available for new customers. Keep in mind, you can sign up for as many of these as you want!

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

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