Hello! The Carolinas News Editor is Tim Rogers. The supervisor is Jonathan Drew.
A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change.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.
Some TV and radio stations will receive shorter APNewsNow versions of the stories below, along with updates.
TOP STORIES:
NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s incoming Democratic governor sued Friday over a new law passed by Republican legislators to limit his powers as he prepares to take office. In his lawsuit, Gov.-elect Roy Cooper asks a Wake County judge to block a law that ends the control governors exert over statewide and county election boards from taking effect Sunday, when he’ll be sworn in. By Emery P. Dalesio. SENT: 400 words, AP Photo NCRAL301. UPCOMING: 700 words by 6 p.m.
GIRL DISAPPEARS-NC
RALEIGH, N.C. — One of North Carolina’s most infamous killers of the past decade is asking the state’s highest court to overturn his convictions because his attorneys shouldn’t have told police where they could find his 5-year-old victim. The state Supreme Court hears arguments on Jan. 9 from Mario Andrette McNeill’s lawyers, who want his convictions and death sentence for murder and other crimes thrown out. A Cumberland County jury deliberated for less than an hour in May 2013 before deciding that he should die for the 2009 death of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis. By Emery P. Dalesio. SENT: 500 words.
DRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE
LEXINGTON, N.C. — Atalia Cardenas worked extremely hard to develop her potential into success, and she is equally driven to help others achieve their own excellence. Cardenas, 37, a naturalized citizen and married to Efrain Gerardo, focuses on education and leads by example. By Donnie Roberts of The Dispatch of Lexington. An AP Member Exchange. SENT: 800 words moved in advance for use in Saturday editions.
91-YEAR-OLD WORKER
RALEIGH, N.C. — Earlene May felt sorry for the old man pushing a line of carts through the parking lot of the grocery store. Then she learned John “Mickey” Judge’s story, and her pity turned to awe. By Sarah Nagem of the News & Observer. An AP Member Exchange. SENT: 750 words moved in advance for use in Friday editions and beyond.
IN BRIEF:
— STRANGULATION SENTENCE — A North Carolina appeals court is refusing to reverse a Buncombe County woman’s guilty plea after choking her two-year-old daughter because the judge ordered a $1,000 fine instead of sending her straight to prison. SENT.
— GOP OFFICE VANDALIZED-NORTH CAROLINA — Police in North Carolina say someone broke into a local Republican Party office in Goldsboro and defaced a wall mural of former President Ronald Reagan. SENT.
— INSURANCE COMMISSIONER-SWEARING IN — North Carolina’s new governor isn’t the only state official taking the oath of office while others ring in the New Year. SENT.
— RUNNING PUBLIC SCHOOLS — A judge has halted a new law transferring power from the state Board of Education to the incoming superintendent pending an upcoming court hearing. SENT.
SPORTS:
SUN BOWL
EL PASO, Texas — No. 16 Stanford, without Christian McCaffrey after the star running back chose to focus on his NFL preparations, plays in the Sun Bowl against North Carolina and quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who might declare for the draft after the last game of his junior season. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts 2 p.m. ET.
___
If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them to [email protected]. If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, ([email protected]) or call 888-273-6867. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at [email protected] or 877-836-9477.