North Carolina
Legislation to clarify NC school suspensions finds initial bipartisan support • NC Newsline
Leah McGhee said when her son was suspended from Central Davidson High School, she could not appeal the punishment because it was less than 10 days.
According to McGhee, her 16-year-old son was only seeking clarification when his teacher used the word aliens in class, and he asked whether that reference was to “space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards.”
The student received a three day out-of-school suspension for what was deemed a racially motivated comment which disrupted the class.
“The Board’s policies do not prevent students from using the words alien, illegal alien, or green card, nor does it state that these words are racially insensitive or abusive,” McGhee told members of the state Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.
Republican Davidson County Senator Steve Jarvis said the incident resulted in much confusion and frustration because there was little information provided regarding the school policy and how particularly the student violated those guidelines.
Currently, North Carolina students have the statutory right to appeal any long-term suspension, which is 10 days or longer. However, the same rights and protections are not awarded or given to students who receive short-term suspensions.
“This bill aims to rectify this disparity by granting students who receive short-term suspensions lasting five days or more, the same rights to those who are suspended 10 days or more,” said Sen. Jarvis in explaining his proposed committee substitute for House Bill 207.
The measure would also ensure that high school students who receive a short-term suspension of five days have the opportunity to appeal the principal’s decision to the district’s superintendent.
The bill also mandates that the school accept eyewitness reports from the student or members of school staff regarding incidents that led to the short-term or long-term suspension.
“It is crucial for our students to know why they are disciplined and to understand the section of the school’s code of conduct as well as how specifically it was violated,” Sen. Jarvis said. “Without this knowledge, they cannot make a fully comprehend their actions or how to address them. Therefore, the bill seeks and requires that students receive this detailed information.”
Democratic Wake County Senator Jay Chaudhuri agreed that this was a due process issue for students and their parents.
“We know that short-term suspensions increase the probability of getting long-term suspensions that may ultimately result in that student dropping out of school and potentially entering into the correctional system,” said Chaudhuri.
Senator Gladys Robinson, who has often raised concerns about the disproportionate number of Black students who are suspended and expelled from schools, praised the measure.
“This is a step in the right direction to address the huge number of suspensions that affect our children, especially as you look at the disparity amongst races and how that is disparagingly affecting their long-term ability to continue to higher education and trade schools or wherever they are able to go,” said Robinson.
The Guilford County Democrat also said she liked expungement provisions in the bill that would allow high school students to clear their record if certain specific criteria have been met.
During the 2022-23 school year, North Carolina recorded 247,454 suspensions in grades K-12.
Out of the 84,539 high school short-term suspensions, nearly 67,000 lasted longer than 6-10 days, according to Sen. Jarvis. More than 17,000 cases lasted five days.
NC Newsline has previously reported that Black students are suspended from North Carolina’s public schools at four times the rate of white students.
McGhee said that in her son’s case, she only received a one-sentence explanation that his remarks were racially insensitive. Efforts to speak with the school principal went unanswered.
“This bill simply by saying you have to write in details and give eyewitness accounts is going to help more than you even know,” McGhee testified.
While the legislation appears to have support on both sides of the aisle, the McGhees filed suit last month against the Davidson County Board of Education. They claim their 16-year-old suffered ‘reputational harm’ and school denied him his right to free speech. The family is seeking to have his record cleared and unspecified monetary damages.
House Bill 207 is likely to receive a vote in next week’s Senate Education Committee.
Injuries are an unfortunate element in sports, and that has been relevant for the North Carolina Tar Heels this season. Now, most of the time, those injuries occur in games or practices. That was not the case for Seth Trimble, who suffered a broken arm in a workout accident.
The senior guard has not played since the second game of the season against the Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 7.
Although the injury forced the Tar Heels’ coaching staff and players into an uncomfortable situation, the team has responded, winning six of seven games in Trimble’s absence. You never want to see a player suffer a significant injury, but in this particular case, it has opened the door to possibilities that North Carolina may not have been aware of if this never transpired.
Here is why Trimble’s injury has not been doom and gloom for the Tar Heels in this early portion of the season.
Unlocking a Potential Star Off the Bench
Before the last two games, North Carolina’s backcourt situation appeared to be a significant shortcoming for the Tar Heels. Because of that, Davis was forced to expand his bench with the hopes of unlocking the offense while supplying consistent production.
That has elevated freshman guard Derek Dixon’s role in the rotation, which has proven to be pivotal in North Carolina’s wins in the last two games against Kentucky and Georgetown. During that span, the 6-foot-5 guard has averaged 11.5 points while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.
With the rotation becoming solidified in recent weeks, head coach Hubert Davis explained how the backcourt has taken shape following the Tar Heels’ win over Georgetown on Sunday.
- “I really like [Kyan] and Derek [Dixon] on the floor at the same time,” Davis continued. “I’ve always said that I love multiple ball handlers. You can’t take us out of our offense. And with those two, with the way that Georgetown was switching defenses, we always had somebody that can handle the basketball and get us into a set and get us organized.”
- “So, it’s trying to figure out rotations,” Davis continued. “And then when Seth comes back, it’s finding it again. Different combinations is one of the things that I was excited about coming into the season. That is the versatility that we have, that we can throw out a number of different rotations out there that can be really effective on the floor.”
Please follow us on X when you click right HERE!
Please make sure you follow us today on our Facebook page when you click right HERE!
North Carolina
Seasonal flu virus numbers increase across NC; NCDHHS shares tips to stay healthy this season
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Flu-related illnesses and deaths have been rising across the state, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Three flu-related deaths were reported within the past week, bringing the number of deaths to nine this season.
North Carolina reported 542 flu-related deaths for the 2024-25 respiratory virus season; this is the highest number of statewide flu deaths ever recorded in NC.
So far, no flu-related deaths in children have been reported in North Carolina.
SEE ALSO | Flu concerns grow in US as UK sees more cases among kids
Influenza A (H3N2) virus strain known as subclade K has spread worldwide, and it is the most often reported flu virus so far this season in the U.S.
State Epidemiologist Zack Moore says the flu is spreading quickly in our state and says flu vaccines are the most important tool to protect yourself from illness or death.
As holiday travel and gatherings ramp up, NCDHHS shares the following tips to keep yourself and loved ones safe and healthy:
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and water. Alcohol-based sanitizers can help prevent the spread of some respiratory viruses.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are often touched.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw it away into the trash.
Stay home when sick: Avoid going out if you can and take steps to prevent spreading the flu to others in your home, such as using a separate bathroom, not sharing cups, towels and utensils, and wearing a mask when around other people.
Download the ABC11 News App
Copyright © 2025 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Jasper Johnson scored a career high 22 points as Kentucky rolled past North Carolina Central 103-67 on Tuesday night inside Rupp Arena.
Johnson, a freshman from Lexington, made 6 of 10 from the floor, including 2 of 4 from behind the arc, and 8 of 8 at the line.
UK got a season-high 21 points from Otega Oweh, 14 points from Malachi Moreno, 11 from Trent Noah and 10 from Andrija Jelavic.
The Cats made 39 of 64 (60.9 percent) of its shots from the floor, including 12 of 29 (41.4 percent) from behind the arc. UK had 27 assists on those 39 made field goals.
Kentucky (6-4) scored the first five points of the game on a three from Trent Noah and a Collin Chandler bucket. After an NC Central basket, Oweh hit a three to give UK an 8-2 advantage. However, NCCU scored the next five to get within one.
A Moreno dunk, a Denzel Aberdeen layup and an Oweh floater extended the lead to 14-7. A three from the Eagles cut the UK lead to four before Brandon Garrison made a pair of free throws. However, NCCU scored to again cut the UK lead to four, 16-12.
Johnson scored on a drive to the basket, then was fouled shooting a three. The freshman made all three charity tosses to extend the Cats’ lead to 21-12. After the Eagles hit a three, Aberdeen slashed to the basket for a dunk and Garrison converted a three-point play and UK led 26-15. NCCU scored to get within nine.
A Jelavic three gave UK a 29-17 lead, but the Eagles scored four in a row to get within eight. An Aberdeen basket made it 31-21 before NCCU scored to again get within eight.
A Moreno layup, an Oweh three, two Johnson free throws, another Moreno basket, a Noah three, a Noah dunk, and an Oweh layup comprised a 16-0 run that stretched the UK lead to 47-23. The Cats would lead 52-31 at the half, with Oweh leading all scorers with 12 points.
NCCU scored the first two points of the second half, but UK got a Moreno dunk and an Oweh layup to lead 56-33. After two Eagles’ free throws, Kentucky got layups from Aberdeen and Moreno to lead 60-35. NCCU would score before two Chandler free throws made it 62-37 Cats. However, the Eagles scored the next five points to cut the deficit to 20.
Oweh scored the next five points for the Cats as they took at 67-44 lead. For the second time in the game, Johnson made three consecutive free throws to build the advantage to 70-44.
Later in the second half, the Cats would extend the lead even further on a Chandler three that gave UK an 80-48 lead. NCCU would get back within 26 at 86-60 but the Eagles would get no closer.
Kentucky returns to action on Saturday, hosting Indiana inside Rupp Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on ESPN.
Feds want graduate nursing programs to reduce costs. This Virginia nurse worries changes will increase debt.
Portland State tabs Division II coach to take over football program
Wisconsin loses starting offensive lineman to the transfer portal
West Virginia First Foundation lauds Wheeling police for crisis intervention success
Wyoming sees spike in auto crashes due to high wind speeds
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Video: Hiker Rescued From Quicksand in Arches National Park
The Speaker’s Lobby: What Congress’ December script means for healthcare next year
Coalition of the Willing calls for transatlantic unity for Ukraine
In a setback for Trump, Indiana lawmakers defeat redistricting plan
House Dem to force Trump impeachment vote on 2 articles
-
Alaska5 days agoHowling Mat-Su winds leave thousands without power
-
Politics1 week agoTrump rips Somali community as federal agents reportedly eye Minnesota enforcement sweep
-
Ohio1 week agoWho do the Ohio State Buckeyes hire as the next offensive coordinator?
-
Texas5 days agoTexas Tech football vs BYU live updates, start time, TV channel for Big 12 title
-
News1 week agoTrump threatens strikes on any country he claims makes drugs for US
-
World1 week agoHonduras election council member accuses colleague of ‘intimidation’
-
Washington2 days agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa4 days agoMatt Campbell reportedly bringing longtime Iowa State staffer to Penn State as 1st hire