Controversial NC Confederate memorial bill gets tentative approval (AP) — A controversial bill to preserve North Carolina's historical monuments has been given tentative approval after overcoming objections from those in the legislature who say it protects Confederate memorials.
http://www.greensboro.com/news/north_carolina_ap/controversial-nc-memorial-bill-gets-tentative-appro...

Bill protecting Confederate monuments gets tentative House nod (WRAL-TV) -- House members voted 70-37 in favor of a bill that would require legislative approval in order to remove "objects of remembrance," including Confederate memorials, from public property.
http://www.wral.com/bill-protecting-confederate-monuments-gets-tentative-house-nod/14784702/

N.C. KKK and New Black Panther Party Protest at S.C. Capitol (New York Times) -- Members of the Ku Klux Klan and the New Black Panther Party appeared at dueling rallies, eight days after officials removed the Confederate battle flag from the Capitol grounds.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/19/us/ku-klux-klanprotests-at-south-carolina-capitol.html

N.C. KKK-led rally at S.C. Statehouse met by counter-protesters (LA Times) -- A rally led by the Ku Klux Klan to protest the removal of the Confederate battle flag was staged Saturday outside the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia, where it was met with a counter-protest by African American activists.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-south-carolina-protest-20150718-story.html

McCrory, GOP lawmakers talk secretly about budget, bonds (Raleigh News & Observer) -- Gov. Pat McCrory met with the N.C. House GOP during an out-of-the public’s-eyes 45-minute caucus meeting Thursday morning, but ignored the gaggle of reporters outside the door. He did the same with the Senate GOP caucus later in the afternoon.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article27447259.html

McCrory’s top lawyer kept secret Election Board member’s conflict of interest (AP) -- The chief legal counsel for Gov. Pat McCrory knew almost a year ago that the law firm of a N.C. Board of Elections member had received $1.3 million from the target of an investigation into questionable political donations. But Bob Stephens didn't say anything to McCrory about the potential conflict of interest or other issues with Paul J. Foley, including his alleged abusive behavior of staffers, a spokesman with the governor's office said.
http://www.wral.com/gov-s-legal-counsel-knew-of-board-member-interest-conflict/14778666/

Emails: NC board member involved in disputed voting plan (AP) -- Paul J. Foley, a Republican member of the N.C. elections board, appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory, worked closely with local officials to eliminate a heavily Democratic voting site, according to hundreds of emails. That plan, a judge ruled, was intended to suppress voter turnout. The state Board of Elections is supposed to act as a neutral arbiter when policy disputes arise involving county elections boards. The emails show that Paul J. Foley worked closely behind the scenes with GOP officials in Watauga County as they crafted a plan to eliminate the early voting site at Appalachian State University.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article27252178.html

Effects of changes on minorities at crux of NC voting trial (AP) — Changes to North Carolina's voting access rules finally go to trial this week, with a judge ultimately determining whether Republican legislators illegally diminished the opportunity for minorities to participate in the political process.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/effects-changes-minorities-crux-nc-voting-trial-2932671

Federal trial in NC voting rights case scheduled to begin (AP) — A voting rights trial stemming from three federal lawsuits challenging provisions of a 2013 North Carolina law is getting under way.
http://www.greensboro.com/news/north_carolina_ap/federal-trial-in-nc-voting-rights-case-scheduled-to...