North Carolina

Election Observers Caused Few Disturbances in North Carolina – Chapelboro.com

Published

2 years ago

November 13, 2022

Election Observers Caused Few Disturbances in North Carolina – Chapelboro.com

Written by HANNAH SCHOENBAUM

After widespread worries of unruly election observers led a number of North Carolina counties to ramp up safety on the polls, the State Board of Elections obtained eight stories involving party-appointed observers – one on Election Day and 7 throughout early voting.

Total, the state board obtained stories of 21 conduct violations, involving each observers and campaigners, in the course of the 2022 common election — 16 in the course of the early voting interval from Oct. 20 to Nov. 5, and 5 on Election Day.

The stories included 12 cases of alleged voter intimidation, one occasion of potential voter interference and eight cases of alleged election official intimidation, as categorized by the board. There could also be further incidents that haven’t but been reported, mentioned board spokesperson Patrick Gannon.

Campaigners, additionally referred to within the stories as electioneers, had been the commonest perpetrators of misconduct on Election Day, based on knowledge obtained by The Related Press.

“One incident of voter or election official intimidation is just too many, and we’ll proceed to do every part we are able to to guard voters and election officers,” Gannon advised the AP, noting that the overwhelming majority of voters solid their ballots with out problem.

Karen Brinson Bell, govt director of the state board, advised reporters Monday that every one incidents can be reviewed by the board’s investigations division, which is able to decide whether or not the complaints needs to be elevated to legislation enforcement, a neighborhood district legal professional or the U.S. Division of Justice.

Election Day incidents concerned an observer in Halifax County who allegedly photographed curbside voters, and an election employee in Wake County who reported being adopted by automobile from a voting web site. A campaigner in Rutherford County allegedly advised a voter to not enter a polling web site with out a photograph ID — which isn’t required to vote in North Carolina — and falsely claimed legislation enforcement was “arresting individuals on web site.”

In Rowan County, a campaigner allegedly refused to maintain correct distance from curbside voters, known as the chief choose a derogatory time period and grabbed and threw the choose’s cellphone. The identical particular person reportedly took photographs of one other election official’s automobile, then “taunted and threatened her.”

And in Granville County, a campaigner was cited for “aggressively pushing candidates to curbside voters,” leaning into their automobiles and ignoring voters’ requests to be left alone.

Whereas observers weren’t concerned in most Election Day incidents, some had been reported throughout early voting for yelling at voters, refusing to maneuver out of restricted areas, photographing curbside voters and standing too near individuals whereas they stuffed out ballots.

In Columbus County, a male observer allegedly adopted a feminine ballot employee residence from an early voting web site. The case has been referred to native legislation enforcement.

Former President Donald Trump’s debunked declare that the 2020 presidential election outcomes had been fraudulent motivated hundreds of his supporters to register as observers and scrutinize elections operations nationwide, intensifying considerations that observers would possibly trigger disruptions this yr.

The state board’s Democratic majority voted in August to tighten the principles governing ballot observers in response to greater than a dozen reported conduct violations in the course of the Might main. However the state’s guidelines evaluation panel, appointed by the Republican-controlled Basic Meeting, blocked the brand new rules later that month, leaving election officers with out further instruments to handle conduct in the course of the common election.

Gannon mentioned the state board is unable to match the numbers of observer-related incidents with these from earlier years.

“We now have not tracked these incidents up to now as we’ve this yr, primarily as a result of there has by no means been such a deal with observer conduct, nor have we had many reported incidents up to now,” he mentioned.

The board obtained the few notices as voters solid ballots at over 2,650 polling locations on Election Day and at about 360 early voting websites. It stories that shut to three.75 million ballots have been solid within the fall elections, or 50.5% of the state’s 7.41 million registered voters. Statewide turnout for the 2018 common election was 53%.

Turnout will creep up barely as county boards obtain absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day earlier than upcoming deadlines. These boards are also analyzing whether or not provisional ballots needs to be counted.

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North Carolina

Dozens in western NC kicked out of hotels Tuesday despite FEMA extending deadline, officials say

Published

6 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Dozens in western NC kicked out of hotels Tuesday despite FEMA extending deadline, officials say

Despite the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) extending the deadline, dozens of people in western North Carolina were left without shelter Tuesday night after being kicked out of the hotels FEMA provided as temporary housing for those impacted by Hurricane Helene.

On Monday, FEMA announced it was extending the deadline for its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program for victims of Helene in western North Carolina.

Through the program, FEMA paid for hotel and motel rooms for thousands of people displaced by Hurricane Helene.

Tuesday just before 3:30 p.m., FEMA said on X that “current eligible occupants can remain in their lodging through the end of March 2025.”

But hours later, Senator Ted Budd posted this message on X:

“My office is hearing from dozens in WNC who have been kicked out of their hotels tonight, despite FEMA’s announcement yesterday that they were extending Transitional Sheltering Assistance through January 25.

“This is unacceptable. This needs to be fixed TONIGHT.”

Senator Thom Tillis also called out FEMA Tuesday night on X:

“My office has been helping dozens of Helene victims today who have been told their hotel vouchers expired despite not having a safe and livable home to go back to. Their homes have mold and broken windows…it’s 20 degrees tonight. Hotels are trying to help them, and a number of nonprofits are stepping up to pay for victims to stay in their hotels so FEMA has another day to get its act together.

“This is a total breakdown on the part of FEMA.”

This comes after Governor Josh Stein was in western North Carolina that same day.

On Tuesday, Stein posted a photo of himself eating a BBQ sandwich at JRO’s in Canton.

Gov. Josh Stein eating sandwich in Canton Tuesday (Photo: Josh Stein Facebook)

“My team and I have been working hard to maintain temporary housing assistance for people in western NC,” the governor said Monday, one day prior, on X.

Senator Budd said later on Tuesday that he had been in contact with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and encouraged those in need of assistance to contact his office at budd.senate.gov.

WRAL News reached out to FEMA, and this was the agency’s response:

“If any survivors still need housing assistance or feel their TSA eligibility ended in error, they should immediately call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362.”

If you were impacted by this situation and would like to share your experience with WRAL, go to wral.com/reportit.

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North Carolina

NC Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life results for Jan. 14, 2025

Published

15 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Jan. 14 drawing

04-14-35-49-62, Mega Ball: 06, Megaplier: 3

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 14 drawing

03-06-17-26-39, Lucky Ball: 04

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 14 drawing

Day: 2-0-1, Fireball: 3

Evening: 3-3-6, Fireball: 3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 14 drawing

Day: 0-2-7-8, Fireball: 8

Evening: 8-8-1-4, Fireball: 2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 14 drawing

11-17-19-20-33

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from Jan. 14 drawing

18-24-36-37-43

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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North Carolina

School closings, delays in Western North Carolina, Wednesday, Jan. 15

Published

22 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

School closings, delays in Western North Carolina, Wednesday, Jan. 15

Some school systems in Western North Carolina are closed or operating on delays Wednesday, Jan. 15, due to winter weather impacts.

Avery County Schools: Two-hour delay.
Cherokee County Schools: Two-hour delay.
Clay County Schools: Closed, optional workday.
Graham County Schools: Two-hour delay.
Jackson County Schools: Two-hour delay.
Macon County Schools: Franklin area closed, remote learning day. Highlands School, three-hour delay. Nantahala School, two-hour delay.
Madison County Schools: One-hour delay.
Mitchell County Schools: One-hour delay.
Swain County Schools: Two-hour delay.
Transylvania County Schools: Two-hour delay.