The Atlantic Coast Conference is returning its championship events to North Carolina, including the 2017 football championship game set to be held in Charlotte in December.
The ACC made the announcement Wednesday morning, a day after the NCAA saidit would likewise bring dozens of championship games back to North Carolina. Both sports associations have now essentially lifted their boycotts of the state that were imposed soon after the passage of House Bill 2 last year.
Last month, state lawmakers passed compromise legislation that both repealed HB2 while also banning local governments from passing nondiscrimination protections for the next three years.
New Law Requires Study Of Charlotte's Radar Coverage
Legislation set forth by North Carolina congressman Robert Pittenger that requires the federal government to study and identify possible improvements to Charlotte's weather radar coverage has been signed into law by President Donald Trump.
Pittenger had been strongly advocating for the legislation in Congress in recent months, telling Congress the inadequate coverage has led to delayed storm and tornado warnings in the past.
"Fortunately our region has not suffered any fatalities due to the inadequate coverage, but we shouldn't wait for a tragedy to act," he told a committee in March.
Currently, the weather service radar nearest to Charlotte is in Greer, S.C. Pittenger has previously advocated for the weather service to install a radar in the Charlotte area, though that provision was not included in the passed legislation.
Governor Roy Cooper Appears At UNC Charlotte Wednesday
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is scheduled to speak at UNC Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The governor's press office says Cooper will deliver remarks on his proposed NC Invents program. Cooper has said the program would help universities identify technologies that could be marketed in the private sector. In his proposed budget, Cooper asks for $10 million for the program.
Cooper's remarks will be delivered at UNC Charlotte's Woodard Hall, in room 232.
Last Minute Revision Strips Beer Bill Of Two Key Provisions
A last minute revision to a bill in the North Carolina House has removed a provision that would have increased the amount of beer a local brewer can produce and sell without going through a distributor. The revised bill also drops language that would have allowed breweries to drop contracts with distributors at will.
Craft brewers had been pushing for those changes, but have been met with strong resistance from distributors. Current law dictates that small brewers can only distribute up to 25,000 barrels on their own. A House committee is scheduled to vote on the measure Wednesday afternoon.
