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

A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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:

LGBT RIGHTS-LAWMAKER’S LETTER

RALEIGH — A top lawmaker has told business leaders he respects their right to speak out against a North Carolina law limiting protections for LGBT people — but that he’s not changing his mind about it. Republican Senate leader Phil Berger sent the letter to executives days before the state’s legislative session started this week. A copy of the letter was posted online Friday by the Human Rights Campaign. By Jonathan Drew. SENT: 390 words.

FIRED POLICE LAWSUIT

WINSTON-SALEM — Three officers who say they were fired for telling state officials about corruption within the Mocksville Police Department will finally be able to have their case heard by a jury. The trial, which is scheduled to begin Monday in U.S. District County in Winston-Salem, comes after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from the town in January. It also comes after two settlement conferences and mediation to try to settle the claims outside the courthouse, according to court records. By Martha Waggoner and Tom Foreman Jr. SENT: 540 words.

DEM 2016-CLINTON

WASHINGTON — Waves of campaign staffers are being dispatched to battleground states. Advisers are starting to consider locations for a splashy convention rally in Philadelphia. An army of lawyers is scrutinizing more than two dozen possible vice presidential picks. Though she has yet to clinch the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton and her team are taking early steps into a general election campaign. Aides are working under the assumption that Republican front-runner Donald Trump will be her opponent. By Lisa Lerer, Julie Pace and Ken Thomas. SENT: 850 words, AP Photo WX111. Please note N.C. angle.

MONTREAT FUTURE

MONTREAT — An anonymous gift has revitalized Montreat College, according to the president of the school in western North Carolina. In 2012, financial struggles led to the layoffs and the elimination of some programs at the school. One year later, former college president Dan Struble resigned, the Asheville Citizen-Times (http://avlne.ws/1r1nlmr) reported. SENT: 250 words.

WWII-ITALY-LAKE MIAS

ALBANY, N.Y. — A trio of U.S. Army veterans has teamed up to establish a memorial in Italy to the 25 American soldiers who drowned in an Alpine lake when their amphibious vehicle sank during World War II. The marble monument is being dedicated in the northern Italian village of Torbole on Saturday, the 71st anniversary of the sinking of the vehicle known as a DUKW (pronounced duck). The dead included 24 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division and a 25th soldier from another unit. By Chris Carola. SENT: 410 words, AP Photos NYMG101, NYMG102.

EARNS-VF

GREENSBORO — “Damn Daniel,” a viral video made by two teenage boys, helped boost sales of Vans shoes. V.F. Corp., the owner of the Vans brand, said white Vans that were shipped to stores sold out as the online video was viewed by millions of people. SENT: 340 words.

EXCHANGE-TRAIN STOP

THOMASVILLE — Thomasville is rapidly becoming a destination for train enthusiasts. But it has taken until 2016 for the city that has a railroad running down Main Street to get its first official train store in recent memory. Jackie and George Edwards of Thomasville have opened Mike’s Trains, named after their 17-year-old son. They said his love of trains gave them the inspiration to open the shop. By Sharon Myers, The Dispatch of Lexington. SENT: 620 words, AP Photo.

IN BRIEF:

— HEROIN MARKETING-STEPH CURRY LIKENESS, from PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia drug dealers looking to market their heroin as top of the line are stamping packets with the likeness of Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry. SENT: 120 words. Please note N.C. angle.

— CHICKEN WINGS FLAP, from WILMINGTON — Police in North Carolina have charged a couple after a fouled-up order of chicken wings apparently prompted a woman to wave a gun inside a restaurant. SENT: 120 words.

— DISMEMBERED MOTHER, from RALEIGH — A North Carolina woman has agreed to go to Texas to face more charges in the dismemberment of a woman nearly five years ago. SENT: 130 words.

— FIREFIGHTING FOAM-NORTH CAROLINA, from RALEIGH — North Carolina is one of 33 states not tracking the use of a toxic firefighting foam even as the military is checking bases across the nation for potential groundwater contamination triggered by the use of the foam. SENT: 110 words.

— FORT BRAGG RUNWAY, from FAYETTEVILLE — North Carolina U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis wants to know Army plans for extending the runway at Pope Field at Fort Bragg. SENT: 120 words.

— WOMEN OF COLOR CONFERENCE, from WINSTON-SALEM — Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem is hosting a two-day conference on women and girls of color. SENT: 80 words.

SPORTS:

BKN–HEAT-HORNETS

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Hornets were looking to wrap up their first-round series with the Miami Heat. Charlotte leds the series 3-2 going into Friday night and had won both games at home so far in the series. By Sports Writer Steve Reed. SENT: 700 words, AP photos.

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The AP, Raleigh