North Carolina
One 2024 race hasn’t been certified: What to know about North Carolina Supreme Court fight
The Republican-dominated North Carolina Supreme Court has been blocking a Democratic judge from certifying her win as her opponent continues to appeal the election results.
Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs defeated her opponent, state appeals court Judge Jefferson Griffin, by 734 votes in November’s election. But Griffin has yet to concede the loss.
Attorneys for Riggs and Griffin argued their cases before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, on Monday, with North Carolina news outlet The Assembly reporting that the four-judge panel appeared likely to send the case back to state court.
“What we are witnessing in North Carolina is nothing less than a blatant attempt to overturn a free and fair election,” Democratic State Rep. Deborah Boss said at a news conference on Monday.
Here’s what we know
Republican judge makes irregular appeal to deny election result
Griffin protested the election results to the State Board of Elections in December on grounds that the board’s rules for absentee and early voting violated state law, according to The Assembly.
Griffin is arguing that the registration records of more than 60,000 voters contained no driver’s license numbers or Social Security numbers, which they must provide when registering − according to Reuters.
“We filed these protests because we believe the winners of these elections should be determined by eligible voters and only eligible voters,” Griffin’s attorney, Craig Schauer, told the board at the time − according to the Charlotte News & Observer.
The board dismissed his protest along party lines, arguing that it would be unfair to change the rules after an election.
Griffin then appealed the decision to the North Carolina Supreme Court, skipping the normal process that would begin in Wake County court, according to The Assembly.
“The idea that someone could have been registered to vote, came to vote and then has their vote discarded is anathema to the democratic system and simply cannot be tolerated,” Board Chair Alan Hirsch − a Democrat − said at the time, according to the Observer.
Griffin’s campaign but immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Case thrown between courts
Following Griffin’s appeal to the state Supreme Court, the election board filed its own appeal in federal court, saying that the case was a matter of federal law. The board also argued that that Griffin’s request to nullify ballots would “retroactively disenfranchise” voters and “violate numerous federal civil rights laws.”
On Jan. 6, a federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump rejected the board’s appeal. The election board subsequently appealed to the higher federal court that heard arguments Monday.
The North Carolina Supreme Court blocked certification of the election by a 4-2 vote on Jan. 7, with Riggs recusing, five Republican justices granting a stay and one Republican judge along with the lone remaining Democrat voting against it.
“Permitting post-election litigation that seeks to rewrite our state’s election rules − and, as a result, remove the right to vote in an election from people who already lawfully voted under the existing rules − invites incredible mischief,” Justice Richard Dietz, the lone Republican dissenter, wrote. “It will lead to doubts about the finality of vote counts following an election, encourage novel legal challenges that greatly delay certification of the results, and fuel an already troubling decline in public faith in our elections.”
Justice Trey Allen wrote in a concurring opinion to the unsigned stay that the decision was to provide time for courts to hear the appeal.
“I write separately to stress that the Court’s order granting Judge Griffin’s motion for temporary stay should not be taken to mean that Judge Griffin will ultimately prevail on the merits,” Allen wrote.
On Jan. 22 the state Supreme Court − with Riggs recusing − unanimously dismissed a request for a ruling on the case by Griffin and sent it to Wake County court with the stay on certifying the results intact.
The Assembly reported that the judges on the 4th Circuit, comprised of appointees two Republican appointees − made by Trump and George H.W. Bush − and one Joe Biden appointee, were likely to send the case back to the state.
Griffin’s lawyer Will Thompson, said in court Monday that the case should be sent back to the state in the wake of the State Supreme Court’s decision, according to the Associated Press.
“My position would be the petition for writ of prohibition cannot come back to life because the state’s highest court has dismissed it on state law grounds,” Thompson told the court.
A hearing in Wake County court is scheduled for Feb. 7, according to The Assembly.
“It’s important to not lose sight of the fact that Justice Riggs’ victory is the last uncertified race in this country, as we stand here today, because of the stay of certification in this case,” Samuel Hartzell, Riggs’ attorney, told the court Monday, according to The Assembly.
North Carolina
North Carolina couple accused of causing vulture invasion sued by furious town: ‘Not good neighbors’
A North Carolina couple accused of luring hordes of vultures to their home and unleashing chaos on neighbors for years is being hauled to court by fed-up town officials desperate to end the feathered frenzy.
The Town of Hillsborough slapped residents Kenneth and Linda Ostrand with a civil petition, seeking a court order to shut down their relentless bird-feeding habit, blamed for allegedly drawing dozens of winged scavengers to their home and terrorizing their small town for the past two years.
“They’re a little spooky to be frank,” concerned neighbor Holden Richards told WTVD.
“Everybody thinks they’re ugly and stuff but they’re not good neighbors. They have sharp talons, so they’re not great animals to have perching on your house. I watched them pick tiles off my neighbor’s roof and I found tiles from my roof in my front yard, so I have a feeling that’s exactly where they came from.”
The bird-brained couple is accused of leaving out food scraps for vultures, allegedly reeling in the feathered predators that have swarmed and roosted near their house, leaving foul-smelling droppings on neighbors’ homes and vehicles and causing widespread property damage deemed a risk to public safety.
The complaint, filed in March, also claims the twisted pair named the birds of prey – with eerie photos submitted to the court showing dozens of vultures circling their Queens Street home, the outlet reported.
“I’m pretty sure that every one of my neighbors has probably called,” Richards said, pointing to a flood of complaints made to town officials since May 2024.
The Ostrands reportedly filed a motion to dismiss the town’s case last month, denying the accusations.
Linda Ostrand, a longtime wildlife rescuer, told WTVD she is being unfairly targeted by her community and claimed the circling creatures were already an issue before she moved into the neighborhood.
“It’s sort of, it’s ridiculous, is what it is,” Linda said, noting the town changed an ordinance after the initial wave of complaints to ban wildlife feeding beyond standard feeders.
“If people didn’t have vultures around here you would hear them screaming bloody murder about the town not cleaning up the animals that have been hit by cars, because that’s what they do, they are nature’s garbage disposal,” she continued.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, tell the vultures that this is a no-feed zone. I just don’t know.”
No court date has reportedly been scheduled for the couple’s fight with the town.
North Carolina
Businesses worry of potential impacts as Marion tightens water restrictions amid drought
MARION, N.C. (WLOS) — The City of Marion is tightening water restrictions as drought conditions persist across western North Carolina, prompting local businesses to prepare for possible impacts on daily operations.
The drought monitor released on Thursday, May 14, shows that extreme drought now covers 90% of western North Carolina.
ASHEVILLE IS MORE THAN 7 INCHES BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL THIS YEAR, DATA SHOWS
As the region continues moving into a hotter and drier pattern, the City of Marion officials announced Stage Two water shortage restrictions less than a month after issuing a Stage One Water Advisory.
Businesses in Marion said the quick escalation is raising concerns about what could come next if drought conditions persist.
“They put us in stage one at the end of April and already it’s not through, it’s not the end of May and they’re already putting us in stage two,” said Barbara Brown, owner of Bruce’s.
Under the Stage Two restrictions, watering lawns, gardens and golf courses will be prohibited. Washing cars, filling residential swimming pools and serving water in restaurants except upon request will not be allowed.
Brown said her restaurant is already taking steps to conserve water.
“We check the bathrooms often to make sure people have turned the water off because we have found from time to time, people leave them running,” she added.
She said she worries stronger restrictions could eventually force businesses to make bigger operational changes.
“I’m concerned that eventually we might have to go to paper plates, paper cups, silverware,” Brown said.
Other businesses are also considering adjustments.
Kat Garner, a tattoo artist at Blue Ridge Tattoo, said water shortages could affect how the shop operates day to day.
LEADERS URGE WATER CONSERVATION AS DROUGHT DEEPENS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
“We would definitely be reduced to using distilled water for everything, which would become harder if everyone’s buying it out, so that would definitely make things a little bit more difficult,” Garner said.
The Stage Two water restrictions are set to begin Friday, May 15, at 8 a.m. and will last until further notice.
North Carolina
Police: North Carolina man charged after high-speed chase in Erie County, arrested in the Town of Perry
PERRY, N.Y. — A North Carolina man is in custody after a chase that started in Erie County and ended with an arrest in Perry.
Wyoming County Sheriff’s deputies say Ericson Vasquez-Moran, 22, rammed a Border Patrol vehicle in Erie County around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday before taking off. The suspect was spotted in Warsaw on Route 20A, but a chase was called off due to high speeds.
Then around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, deputies say Vasquez-Moran called 911 from Perry to surrender.
He’s charged with speeding, failure to keep right, unlawful fleeing a police officer, reckless driving, and reckless endangerment in the second degree.
Vasquez-Moran was given an appearance ticket for the Village of Warsaw Court and was released to the custody of the United States Border Patrol.
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