Hello! The Carolinas News Editor is Tim Rogers. The breaking news supervisor is Skip Foreman.

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TOP STORIES:

EARLY VOTING-NORTH CAROLINA

RALEIGH — North Carolina elections officials have fashioned early voting schedules they hope comply with a federal court ruling this summer and ease long lines this fall in the presidential battleground state. The state’s Republican-controlled Board of Elections deliberated for 11 hours through disputed plans for early in-person voting from one-third of North Carolina’s 100 counties before approving or amending them Thursday. In most cases, board members weighed competing Democratic and Republican proposals from local election boards approved last month with differing early voting dates, hours and locations. By Gary D. Robertson. SENT: 730 words.

CAMPAIGN 2016-EARLY VOTING

WASHINGTON — Get ready: Voting in the 2016 election is now underway. Advance voting begins Friday in North Carolina, the first of 37 states that will allow balloting by mail for any reason or in person before the actual Election Day of Nov. 8. By Hope Yen. SENT: 660 words, AP Photos NCGRE201, NCGRE202.

EXCHANGE-THERAPY DOG

HIGH POINT — Cumby Family Funeral Service has always strived to serve local families on their hardest day. Now, they’re bringing in an extra-soft service to help even more. Cumby has welcomed an 8-week-old golden retriever puppy as a funeral therapy dog. Funeral Director Deana Kelly said she had discussed it with Cumby’s managing partner Andrew Cumby, who supported the idea. By Stephanie Butzer, High Point Enterprise. SENT: 530 words.

IN BRIEF:

— STOLEN GUNS-ARRESTS, from BAYBORO — Deputies in Pamlico County say three men have been arrested in connection with multiple break-ins and the theft of more than two dozen guns. SENT: 120 words.

— HELPFUL OFFICERS, from GASTONIA — A North Carolina woman battling cancer expected the worst when two police officers showed up at her home in response to complaints from neighbors that her grass was up to 3 feet high in some places. What she got instead was help. SENT: 120 words.

— DOCTOR LICENSE SURRENDERED, from FAYETTEVILLE — A doctor charged in Fayetteville with illegally selling the painkiller oxycodone has voluntarily surrendered his medical license. SENT: 80 words.

— HAND TRANSPLANT, from DURHAM — A Texas man who received a hand transplant at the Duke University Hospital earlier this year is developing feeling and use of his new hand. SENT: 130 words.

— CHARLOTTE MAYOR-RELEASE, from CHARLOTTE — Former Charlotte, North Carolina, Mayor Patrick Cannon is expected to be released from prison next week. SENT: 130 words.

— BOY MAULED BY DOGS, from CHARLOTTE — Officials say three dogs that mauled a 7-year-old boy last week after he walked off a school bus have been euthanized. SENT: 130 words.

— MISTRIAL-DOUBLE HOMICIDE, from CHARLOTTE — A judge has declared a mistrial in a case against a one of three men accused of killing two people in 2011. SENT: 130 words.

— BODY-MISSING BOATER, from DANBURY — Officials say a body recovered from Belews Creek Lake is believed to be that of a missing boater who may have drowned there more than three months ago. SENT: 130 words.

SPORTS:

FBN–PANTHERS-NEWTON HITS

CHARLOTTE — The NFL said medical officials determined reigning league MVP Cam Newton didn’t need to leave Thursday night’s game against the Denver Broncos despite taking a helmet-to-helmet hit on Carolina’s final series. Newton remained in the game after the hit from Denver’s Darian Stewart and led the Panthers into field goal range, but Graham Gano missed a 50-yard attempt in Denver’s 21-20 victory. By Sports Writer Steve Reed. SENT: 350 words, AP Photos COMY182, COMY180.

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The AP, Raleigh