MASS SHOOTING AT WILMINGTON HOUSE PARTY LEAVES 3 DEAD: Seven people have been shot in a mass shooting at 7th and Kidder Streets in Wilmington. N.C, according to Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams. The shootings happened around midnight. “There was a house party that was taking place inside of a house,” Williams said. “At least seven people inside were shot and three are deceased. They are not being identified until the next of kin has been notified.” Williams says they do not have a motive for the shooting. “We do not feel the general public is in any danger at this time and we are working to get suspects identified,” Williams said. Until we get better background checks in place and red flag laws passed, of course the general public is in danger. Which is good for gun sales, ironically.
https://www.wect.com/2021/04/03/mass-shooting-wilmington-seven-people-shot-three-dead/

EX-TEACHER FORMS CONSERVATIVE ALTERNATIVE TO NCAE: “We support America, we support patriotism and we want protection for the teachers who want to focus on academic content,” Marshall said in an interview Tuesday with The News & Observer. “If a teacher is harassed for not teaching something political or (for not teaching) critical race theory, we want to support the teacher.” Carolina Teachers Alliance has aligned itself with Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who recently announced the formation of a a task force to collect complaints from parents, students and teachers about “indoctrination” in the classroom. Robinson charges that the “radical left” wants to indoctrinate students. “Our Teachers need to have the freedom to teach patriotism and love of country, and should not be forced to deliver biased political indoctrination,” the group says in its “about us” section.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article250313834.html

BERGER AND TRUITT PUSH BILL TO SHIFT READING INSTRUCTION: North Carolina Senate Republican leaders want schools to emphasize the use of phonics to help deal with how many young children are having challenges learning to read. The Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021, which was filed on Monday, requires Pre-K and elementary school teachers to be trained in the “science of reading,” a method of reading instruction that stresses phonics. The legislation comes as reading scores have dropped in the state despite the efforts of the Read To Achieve program to improve early childhood literacy. “Training teachers in the science of reading is a crucial strategy for literacy improvement,” Senate leader Phil Berger, one of the bill’s primary sponsors, said at a news conference Monday.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article250290305.html

THE WILL OF CONSTITUENTS VS. LEGISLATIVE LEADERS: How is it that the people of North Carolina on these issues, and many more including support for and investment in public education, promotion of renewable energy and environmental stewardship, extension of access to information and communication technology – contrast so strikingly with the people who represent them in the legislature? The answer is obvious. For the last decade legislators have been able to pick their voters – instead of the other way around. Extreme gerrymandering, not service to all citizens, is the modus operandi. So, instead of working on real needs and priorities there is a broad consensus behind, legislators are focused on insignificant legislation that appeals to a narrow political base or satisfies partisan political grudges. They need to end their fruitless pursuit of mediocrity and buckle down to the hard work that the vast majority of North Carolinians agree needs to be done to achieve excellence.
https://www.wral.com/editorial-the-will-of-constituents-vs-legislative-leaders/19592635/

CATAWBA COUNTY MAN ARRESTED AFTER TEXTING RELATIVE DURING CAPITOL ATTACK: Les Little was texting with a family relative on Jan. 6 when he shared a secret: “We just took over the Capitol,” the Catawba County man wrote from inside the building, according to court documents unsealed Thursday. “And you are bragging?” the relative fired back in a fusillade of exclamation points and capital letters. “’We’? THIS IS TREASON!!! IF YOU DON’T CONDEMN THIS, NEVER BOTHER SPEAKING TO ME AGAIN! HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE PEOPLE. IT’S A COUP! YOU OBVIOUSLY HATE AMERICA!!!” Little replied: “We are stopping treason. Stealing elections is treason! We’re not going to take it anymore!" Adding: “You’ll thank me for saving your freedom ...” According to the FBI, Little’s relative turned him in. Now the 64-year-old Claremont resident has a date with a judge in Washington, where he has been charged with four crimes.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article250201455.html