Hello! The Carolinas News Editor is Tim Rogers. The breaking news supervisor is Meg Kinnard.

A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date.

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TOP STORIES:

EARLY VOTING-NORTH CAROLINA

RALEIGH — In a case that could affect voter turnout in a presidential battleground state, an alliance of activists and Democrats scored some successes this week in persuading North Carolina officials to curb local Republican efforts to scale back early voting hours this fall, particularly in areas with high minority and Democratic populations. But it’s not yet clear whether the State Board of Elections’ response will satisfy them. By Gary D. Robertson. SENT: 750 words.

LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING

RALEIGH — Voters who successfully sued to strike down nearly 30 North Carolina General Assembly districts want special legislative elections in 2017 under new maps drawn by this January. The lawyers for the voters told a federal court Friday it wants the legislature to hold a special election next year after a three-judge panel determined last month the current districts were illegal racial gerrymanders. Legislative elections are usually held every two years, including this fall and in November 2018. By Gary D. Robertson. SENT: 500 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.

HELPFUL OFFICERS

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. The Gaston Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/2cpamcf) 55-year-old Sonya Champion had a broken lawnmower and mounting health bills. SENT: 320 words.

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:

— FAYETTEVILLE POLICE-DASHCAM VIDEO, from FAYETTEVILLE — Fayetteville police have released a video showing an officer firing shots in the direction of a man who was paralyzed and later died. SENT: 130 words.

— BIDEN VISIT, from CHARLOTTE — Vice President Joe Biden’s trip to North Carolina next week now includes a public event in Charlotte to talk about how businesses and community colleges work together help people rise into the middle class. SENT: 100 words.

— CAMPAIGN 2016-TRUMP, from ASHEVILLE — Donald Trump is coming back to North Carolina early next week, this time to the mountains. SENT: 90 words.

— CLOWN SIGHTING, from WINSTON-SALEM — Winston-Salem police say they have arrested a man who they say filed a false report of a clown sighting. SENT: 130 words.

— 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.

— 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.

SPORTS:

FBN–PANTHERS-NEWTON HITS

CHARLOTTE — Panthers coach Ron Rivera wants Cam Newton to receive the same protection on helmet-to-helmet hits as other quarterbacks get in the NFL. Rivera said because of the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Newton’s size and the Panthers’ style of play, Newton often doesn’t draw the flags on hard hits that other smaller QBs do. By Sports Writer Steve Reed. SENT: 790 words, AP Photos COMY182, COMY180.

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The AP, Raleigh