UNC CHAPEL HILL REPORTS FIRST COVID CLUSTER OF THE FALL SEMESTER: The six cases are related to an event in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy. The report comes the day before move-in starts Thursday for thousands of students and exactly a week before in-person classes are set to begin on campus. Responses to the news on Twitter echo the sentiments of several members of Wednesday’s Campus & Community Advisory Committee Meeting, who say the university should require COVID-19 vaccines for all students and employees. “If we’re not going to require the vaccine then we shouldn’t have a full reopening with dorms at maximum capacity and classes in-person,” professor Seth Noar said. He said that UNC-CH, as a leading public research university, isn’t following the science or the research on this issue. Aren't pharmacists trained to administer vaccines?
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article253415325.html

CHARLOTTE PASSES NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE PROTECTING LGBTQ CITIZENS: The city’s new NDO is applicable to all employers, large and small — a point of uncertainty for city attorney Patrick Baker, who has expressed concern about Charlotte’s ability to handle a flood of discrimination complaints from large Charlotte-based employers. Baker had recommended the Council pursue an NDO for businesses with 14 or fewer workers, in order to close a gap in federal and state law. Customers and visitors cannot be discriminated against in places of public accommodation either, under Charlotte’s NDO. Charlotte’s nondiscrimination ordinance now includes protections for gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and natural hairstyles.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article253321358.html

BOONE CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO REQUIRE MASKS INDOORS: Effective 5 p.m. Tuesday, ages 2 and older must mask up in all indoor public settings, according to Mayor Rennie Brantz’s declaration. The Town Council voted to reenact the state of emergency first imposed during the pandemic last year. “Watauga County’s and North Carolina’s daily case counts and hospitalizations for COVID-19 are quickly increasing due to the Delta Variant, which spreads at least twice as easily as previous variants,” according to the declaration. The council said on Facebook that the Boone Police Department “will continue to assist private businesses and private business owners if they choose to enforce social distancing standards and other more restrictive COVID-19 preventative measures.” Good, because there are bound to be some idiots ready to show their asses.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article253341953.html

CAWTHORN TRIES TO WIELD UNDUE INFLUENCE OVER BUNCOMBE SCHOOL BOARD: Congressman Madison Cawthorn made a surprise appearance at the meeting. Cawthorn, who represents North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, said he has several concerns with requiring children to wear masks. “Number one reason is looking at the scientific data that backs up how many children are getting infected with COVID-19. If they are getting infected, exactly how severely is it,” Cawthorn said. “It’s a very low, low, low percentage.” On Thursday night, 33 people took to the podium at the board’s regularly scheduled meeting to voice their concerns. Some, like Stephanie Parsons, called the decision unconstitutional. “We are a republic,” Parsons said. “We are not a autocracy. You are not dictators, and you do not get to tell us what we can and cannot do with our children.” The irony of someone wailing about "autocracy" who is also likely a Trump supporter is overwhelming.
https://wlos.com/news/local/congressman-residents-furious-after-buncombe-school-board-approves-manda...

NC GOP LICKING ITS CHOPS OVER SPORTS BETTING LEGISLATION: Senate Bill 688 would allow 10 to 12 licensed sports wagering businesses in the state offering on-site betting at or near sporting facilities, as well as online gambling. They'd pay $500,000 for an initial license and, as the bill is written now, an 8 percent tax on transactions. That tax rate is likely to increase as the bill moves through the legislative process, sponsoring Sen. Jim Perry, R-Lenoir, said Wednesday. A key budget writer, Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, promised an amendment that would keep the General Assembly holding those purse strings. Perry's bill initially pushed half of the tax revenue into a fund controlled by the state Department of Commerce and meant to attract major events, like a Super Bowl or a golf tournament. I thought Ralph Hise was a Word Of Faith fundamentalist? Must be the Prosperity Gospel...
https://www.wral.com/nc-gambling-bill-scores-in-senate-moves-forward/19810133/