REPUBLICAN MARK BRODY RANTS ABOUT "TEACHER UNION THUGS" ON FACEBOOK: State Rep. Mark Brody, a Republican from Union County near Charlotte, posted a letter on his Facebook page Friday criticizing teachers who plan to march on May 16 instead of teach. "Let's call this what it is, Teacher Union thugs want to control the education process!" he posted. "I am speaking up because I don't want Union County schools, and for that matter all NC school systems, to turn into Chicago. Let the Union thugs get their way now and we are half way there." Mark Jewell, NCAE president, said Brody's post is offensive to teachers who have been given permission to take the day off by their districts to raise awareness about their work conditions. "It's another example of the disrespect educators are getting from some legislators in the General Assembly," Jewell said, adding "It's the state's responsibility to fund public schools. We're $2,600 below the national average in per pupil funding."
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article210978129.html

COFFEE SHOP EMPLOYEES FIRED AFTER RAP MUSIC OFFENDS VERY IMPORTANT WHITE MAN: Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs at Duke, said in a statement released Tuesday that he went into the Joe Van Gogh on Friday to purchase some items. "I was shocked to hear lyrics playing quite loudly. I found (them) quite inappropriate for a working environment that serves children among others," he said in the statement. Brown said she offered to give Moneta his order for free. Moneta agreed to pay, and both Brown and Simmons thought that was the end of it. Moneta said he then contacted the director of Duke dining to express his concerns, and that was the end of his involvement. Brown said she and Simmons were let go from their jobs on Monday. "I have definitely been, like, upset about it and honestly crying because I lost my job over something crazy," she said.
https://www.wral.com/duke-official-walked-into-campus-coffee-shop-heard-inappropriate-lyrics-and-the...

TODAY IS JUDGMENT DAY FOR DEMOCRAT ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT: Hall is battling accusations of sexual harassment, most of them anonymous. He has denied all, and ignored calls to resign from top Democrats, including Gov. Roy Cooper. Hall has mostly avoided reporters for the last two months, but in a late campaign mailer said "recent stories" about him are false. Still, someone is plastering Hall's campaign signs with puckered lip stickers. Dahle, a first-time candidate running against Hall, raised about $40,000. She's received support from state and national groups that support Democratic women. Lillian's List, the North Carolina group, contributed $5,000. Emily's List has a staff member who lives in North Carolina helping Dahle with her campaign, President Stephanie Schriock said last week in a call with reporters.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article210616609.html

119 FEMALE CANDIDATES RUN FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY SEATS: There may be more people running for the General Assembly this year than ever before. Every seat has competition, and Democrats feel so good about their chance to break the Republican super-majority that they've widened their target list to include dozens of legislative seats. There are also more women running. The League of Women Voters of North Carolina said this week that, the last time there was a General Assembly primary without a presidential election in 2014, 24 women ran for the legislature. This year, 119 women are on the ballot in state House and Senate races, the league said. Several Republican districts that don't look competitive on paper not only have a Democratic challenge set for November but a primary to name that challenger. Contested races aren't just a chance to win, they're a chance to force the other side to spend time and money. “It was a concerted strategy," Democratic Party spokesman Robert Howard said.
https://www.wral.com/unlike-past-elections-2018-nc-ballot-filled-with-legislative-contests/17520806/

CHARLOTTE 1 OF 3 FINALISTS FOR 2018 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION: Party officials believe Charlotte is a finalist for the 2020 Republican National Convention and that a Republican National Committee delegation will visit this summer before final decisions are made, state party Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse said Friday. Woodhouse said state party Chairman Robin Hayes and others have been talking up Charlotte during these meetings and that all the feedback has been positive. National committee members said Charlotte's bid was "very competitive," Woodhouse said in a text. He also said Hayes is working to put together more than $50 million in private financing for the event, though much work remains to be done toward that goal. An RNC spokeswoman declined comment.
https://www.wral.com/charlotte-looking-like-a-finalist-for-2020-republican-convention/17531576/