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School calendar alternative next at Senate Judiciary | North Carolina

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-13 13:01:00

(The Center Square) – Long a volatile discussion topic, proposed legislation involving K-12 school calendars is back to the Judiciary Committee of the North Carolina Senate when it convenes this week.

School Calendar Flexibility: A New Alternative, known also as Senate Bill 754, puts two options before local school boards and adds compliance penalties for any of the 115 districts statewide that may break the law. The law no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 26 for starting and finishing no later than the Friday closest to June 11 will remain as one of the options.

The alternative is starting no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 19 and ending no later than the Friday before the last Monday in May, otherwise known as Memorial Day weekend.

North Carolina has about 1.5 million school children and 90,000 educators. Spending on education was the largest share of the last state budget at $17.9 billion for 2024-25, and $17.3 billion for 2023-24 of the $60.7 billion two-year plan.

School calendar dates for most of the state’s history have been linked to agriculture, the No. 1 industry. Agriculture and agribusiness remain the top economic impact at $111.1 billion annually, but its workforce and the logistics of planting and harvesting have evolved while tourism has grown to a $35 billion juggernaut.



Sen. Amy S. Galey, R-Alamance




The latter often involves not only students working summer jobs but 10-month educators.

“Finding compromises like this isn’t always easy, but this bill is the culmination of good-faith efforts from stakeholders and legislators,” Sen. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, said in a release. “With the evolution of the school choice landscape, as well as North Carolina becoming the fifth most popular state for travel and tourism, it’s time to update and adapt our school calendar law.”

Civil penalty for breaking the law would be up to $10,000 against the local school board. Enforcement will lie with the State Board of Education through notifications from the superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction.

“This balances the desire of some school districts to start the school year earlier while still supporting our local businesses dependent on summer tourism,” said Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, the president pro tempore of the chamber. “We must take the appropriate steps to hold school districts that break the law accountable.”

Galey, Berger and Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, are the primary sponsors of the bill.

The proposed law passed out of the Education/Higher Education Committee on Wednesday. It would become effective immediately and apply to the 2026-27 school year.

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What we know about Charlie Kirk shooting suspect, how he was caught

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www.youtube.com – ABC11 – 2025-09-12 11:29:29


SUMMARY: Tyler Robinson, 22, from Utah, is in custody as the suspect in the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Robinson’s father identified him and convinced him to surrender after family members reported his possible involvement and negative comments about Kirk. Authorities believe Robinson acted alone. Investigators linked Robinson to the crime through Facebook posts and messages retrieved with help from his roommate. Robinson was arrested after fleeing the scene post-shooting. A rifle was found nearby. Charges are expected within three days. Officials praised coordination among police and government agencies in the swift arrest.

Authorities have taken into custody the person they suspect of shooting and killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk on …

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Federal hate crime charge sought in Charlotte stabbing | North Carolina

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-09-11 08:05:00


Decarlos Brown Jr. faces federal and state charges for the August 22 killing of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail. The North Carolina chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has urged federal prosecutors to classify the murder as a hate crime, citing video footage allegedly showing Brown making racist remarks. Brown, arrested 15 times previously, is charged with first-degree murder and a federal charge related to mass transportation. The case has sparked viral attention, legislative proposals, and a state audit of transit safety. CAIR condemns the murder and warns against using the crime to promote racial bias.

(The Center Square) – When a federal charge was levied this week against Decarlos Brown Jr. in the killing of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail, authorities said more charges were possible.

North Carolina’s chapter of the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the nation has formally requested federal prosecutors charge Brown with a hate crime.

“We join calls for the U.S. attorney to investigate the murder of Iryna Zarutska as a possible hate crime given video footage that appears to show the perpetrator commenting on her race and gender after brutally attacking her,” the North Carolina chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement. “Whenever someone commits similar acts of violence while engaging in racist or bigoted rhetoric, law enforcement should automatically investigate a bias motive.”

Zarutska, 23, was killed while aboard the Lynx Blue Line light rail train about 10 p.m. Aug. 22 alongside Camden Road near the East/West station, according to the Charlotte Area Transit System video. Brown, arrested a 15th time in as many years, is charged with first-degree murder on the state level and charged on the federal level with committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.

While in the local news immediately, the story went viral over the weekend and into this week when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police released video from the transit system. Congressional proposals are in the works; state Republicans in the U.S. House have requested the chief judge in the district remove the magistrate signing off on cashless bail for Brown in January; and a probe of safety and budget for the transit system is underway by the state auditor.

CAIR-North Carolina said, “Video footage from the incident reportedly shows the alleged attacker, Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., pacing through the train and twice saying, ‘I got that white girl.’”

The Center Square has not confirmed the comments. Video released by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police is from cameras aboard the Charlotte Area Transit System light rail train.

General Assembly leaders planned a noon press conference connected to the stabbing.

CAIR-North Carolina said, “As we condemn Ms. Zarutska’s horrific murder and call for a hate crime probe, we also condemn those using this crime to resurrect racist talking points about the Black community. This selective outrage is dangerous, hypocritical, and racially motivated, especially given that white supremacists fall silent about other stabbings, mass shootings, hate crimes, financial crimes, rapes, and various other misconduct committed by people of all races and backgrounds. Our society must secure justice for victims of crimes, not turn them into pawns for extremists.”

The post Federal hate crime charge sought in Charlotte stabbing | North Carolina appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The article presents a factual overview of the incident and related responses without adopting or promoting a distinct ideological stance. It reports on the victim’s killing, the ongoing legal actions, and the call from the North Carolina chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for hate crime charges. The article quotes CAIR’s statements, which include both a call for investigation and a critique of racial double standards, but it does so without endorsing or challenging these views. It also mentions political actions from state Republicans and other official responses, maintaining a neutral tone throughout. The language is primarily descriptive, focusing on reporting events and stated positions rather than framing them in a way that suggests bias. Thus, the content adheres to neutral, factual reporting rather than expressing an ideological perspective.

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Under pressure, some immigrants are leaving American dreams behind

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ncnewsline.com – Tim Henderson – 2025-09-12 05:30:00

SUMMARY: Increasingly, undocumented immigrants, even those living in the U.S. for decades, are choosing to leave due to the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement, including threats of arrest and deportation. This strategy, termed “self-deportation,” combines enforcement with incentives like plane tickets and cash via a government app to encourage voluntary departure. Many face discrimination, fear, and limited legal options, prompting some to return to countries of origin despite hardships. Social media and support groups like Onward have seen rising membership as immigrants seek advice on leaving. Experts note this large-scale pressured departure is unprecedented in U.S. history.

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The post Under pressure, some immigrants are leaving American dreams behind appeared first on ncnewsline.com

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