State Rep from Mecklenburg to switch party affiliation + New development in 2019 police killing of Danquirs Franklin
Hey, everyone! Drew here. Happy Tuesday!
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Here’s your news.
1. NC Rep. Tricia Cotham reportedly planning to switch parties, giving GOP supermajority
State Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Mecklenburg Democrat, is expected to formally switch parties and join the House Republican caucus, according to multiple media outlets.
Cotham, who has earned a reputation as a swing vote due to her willingness to vote with Republicans on certain key bills, is expected to publicly announce her decision to change party affiliation tomorrow, reported Axios Raleigh, which was the first to report the news.
A party switch by Cotham would mean Republicans control 72 out of 120 House seats, giving them enough seats to override vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on their own.
Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram have more on Cotham’s reported party switch.
2. Appeals court denies immunity to Charlotte police officer in Danquirs Franklin killing
The federal lawsuit over the controversial 2019 police killing of Danquirs Franklin may be heard by a jury after all.
Three judges from the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of appeals overturned a lower court decision in Charlotte last year that granted immunity to Wende Kerl, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg officer who fatally shot Franklin.
The appeals court cited Kerl for errors in how she and a fellow officer responded to the call at the Burger King four years ago. They said those errors were so serious that they disqualified Kerl from receiving the qualified immunity that was previously granted.
Mike Gordon shares more from the appeals court.
3. In some of Charlotte’s most affluent neighborhoods, income emerges as school fault line
South Charlotte contains the city’s most affluent neighborhoods.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools plans to redraw boundaries in the southern part of the county in order to relieve overcrowding and populate a fifth high school opening in 2024-25 academic year.
Ensuring CMS maintains socioeconomic diversity in those high schools is the latest flashpoint in parents’ fight for certain boundaries and feeder patterns — a process that will affect tens of thousands of families at all school levels.
Anna Maria Della Costa reports on the debate amongst parents and CMS.
4. Who’s changing lives at Charlotte-area K-12 schools? Nominate your education superheroes
Many people help make a school run well.
We want to honor those unsung heroes in the Charlotte area. Have someone in mind? Let us know!
We’re looking for public, charter and private school employees or volunteers in Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Catawba, Iredell, Rowan, Cabarrus, Stanly, and Union counties in North Carolina.
Today is your last day to nominate someone before voting begins!
5. Some more stories to read
8 injured in east Charlotte car accident Tuesday afternoon, paramedics say
Passover is here. What to know about the holiday, and events in Charlotte to celebrate
More severe weather is expected in the South. Should Charlotte be on tornado watch?
Settlement reached in lawsuit for man who died in Charlotte police custody in 2020
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