North Carolina
North Carolina’s GOP legislature sends transgender athlete ban to governor’s desk
![North Carolina’s GOP legislature sends transgender athlete ban to governor’s desk North Carolina’s GOP legislature sends transgender athlete ban to governor’s desk](https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Transgender-flag-business.png?w=1280)
Legislation banning transgender athletes from competing on school sports teams that align with their gender identity is headed to North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s (D) desk after the state House approved the measure Thursday in a 62-43 vote.
The legislation was previously approved by the state Senate. While Cooper is expected to veto the measure, he is likely to be overridden by the legislature.
Republicans have large enough majorities to override a veto by Cooper. Votes on the measures in each chamber have generally been along party lines. Just one Democrat in the House joined Republicans in voting for the measure, according to The Associated Press.
The legislation affects students at middle and high schools as well as colleges.
Under the legislation, student athletes must compete on teams corresponding with their gender as assigned at birth. The law only applies to trans women and not to trans men.
The bill is one of several pieces of legislation targeting trans student athletes approved by legislatures around the country. The issue has also been raised on the GOP campaign trail by a number of presidential candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R).
The North Carolina legislature is also considering bans on gender-affirming care for transgender young people.
Democrats in the state criticized the measure as discriminatory.
“We’re sending a very strong message to a very vulnerable group of young people that says you are different, you’re not allowed to participate,” state Rep. Deb Butler (D) told The Associated Press. “It’s cruel.”
Utah overrode a veto from Gov. Spencer Cox (R) earlier this year on a similar measure after Cox noted it would only impact four athletes in the entire state.
“Rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few,” Cox said of his state’s law.
Experts have estimated that less than 40 transgender women compete in college sports nationwide.
LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit the Human Rights Campaign said efforts to ban trans athletes in schools is a continuance of anti-LGBTQ trends seen nationwide in the last decade.
“These bills represent a cruel effort to further stigmatize and discriminate against LGBTQ+ people across the country, specifically trans youth who simply want to live as their true selves and grow into who they are,” according to the nonprofit’s site.
“After failing to prohibit trans and non-binary people’s access to restrooms, legislators have pivoted to using misinformation about sports as the next way to score political points.”
Supporters of the North Carolina bill argue the legislation is necessary to provide fairness in sports.
“Women and girls who train for countless hours and years in their sports will have a level playing field, and their opportunities will be protected if this legislation becomes law,” Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the socially conservative North Carolina Values Coalition, told The Associated Press.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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North Carolina
Tropical Depression Four forms on its way to the Gulf of Mexico
As of the 5 AM update Friday, Tropical Depression Four has formed. Areas along the East Coast including North Carolina need to continue monitoring this system. Winds are at 30 MPH and gusts are up to 40 MPH. The pressure dropped to 1009 mb and is moving to the west at 16 mph. TD 4 is expected to become Tropical Storm Debby over the weekend. Tuesday night and Wednesday are First Alert Weather Days due to the threat to ENC from this system but we may need to adjust the timing as we get closer.
It’ll move slowly before escaping to the north next week. As it moves up the East Coast, there’s a lot more uncertainty about the track and threats. We expect the track of this system to change through the weekend and even into next week. If ENC sees impacts from this system, they’d likely come mid-week. The longer this system stays over land, the weaker it’ll be. It’ll have the chance to strengthen if it moves back over open water, especially if it moves over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.
The speed of this system is just as important as the strength. The quicker it moves through, the less rain piles up. If it slows down or stalls, higher rainfall amounts would be expected. Our river levels have dropped a bit since July’s wet weather, but levels are still higher than what you’d find in a typical August.
This is a reminder that we are heading into the heart of the hurricane season and to make sure your emergency supplies are ready.
Stay with WITN and WITN.com as we continue to track this system over the coming days and monitor the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Copyright 2024 WITN. All rights reserved.
North Carolina
Alabama man on work trip stops to buy $3 quick pick Powerball ticket, wins 6-figure jackpot
![Alabama man on work trip stops to buy quick pick Powerball ticket, wins 6-figure jackpot Alabama man on work trip stops to buy quick pick Powerball ticket, wins 6-figure jackpot](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/08/02/USAT/74654762007-screenshot-15.png?auto=webp&crop=1164,656,x0,y114&format=pjpg&width=1200)
Christopher Baker of Leesburg, Alabama was on a work trip in Hickory, North Carolina, when he thought he’d try his luck on a lotto game. It turned out to be a lucrative Powerball win.
An Alabama man on a work trip in North Carolina bought a $3 Quick Pick Powerball ticket on a whim and walked away with a six-figure windfall.
Christopher Baker of Leesburg in northeastern Alabama bought his lucky ticket in July in Hickory, North Carolina, where had been traveling for work, according to Powerball.
When the numbers were drawn, Baker says he had to do a double-take when he realized he had a $100,000 winning ticket. He had matched four white balls and the red Powerball, which would have been $50,000, but a 2X multiplier doubled the win and the disbelief.
“I just kept looking at it to make sure I was reading it right,” he laughed, according to Powerball. “I told my family but they didn’t believe me. either.”
Baker, who called his win “a shocker.” said he plans to save his winnings to buy a house.
Baker will take home $71,501 after federal and state taxes are withheld.
How to play the Powerball
In order to purchase a $2 Powerball ticket, you’ll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store − and in a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online.
To play, you will need to pick six numbers in total to mark on your ticket. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from numbers 1 to 69. The Powerball is red and one number which is between 1 and 26.
If you want to increase your chances of winning, you can add a “Power Play” for $1 which increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. This addition can multiply winnings by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.
Players can also ask a cashier for a “Quick Pick” where a cashier will give you a computer generated numbers on a printed Powerball ticket.
Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If there’s no jackpot winner, the cash prize will increase by millions.
Where to purchase tickets
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.
North Carolina
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