Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/765357
ByJonathanDrew The Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. North Car- olina leaders struck a deal Monday to kill the state law widely derided as the "bathroom bill," after it tarnished the state's repu- tation, cost it scores of jobs and contributed to the Re- publican governor's nar- row loss. Outgoing Gov. Pat Mc- Crory announced he would call legislators back to the Capitol on Wednesday to repeal the law known as HB2, which excludes sex- ual orientation and gender identity from antidiscrim- ination protections. The law also requires trans- gender people to use re- strooms corresponding with the sex on their birth certificate in many public buildings. Undoing the law would be a step toward mending political divisions that re- main raw well after Elec- tion Day. Just last week, lawmakers called a special session to strip Democratic Gov.-elect Cooper of some authority before he takes office next month. The state's Republican leaders confirmed they're open to repealing HB2, but in a sign of lingering acri- mony, they accused Cooper of taking too much credit for winning their cooper- ation. The passage of HB2 in March thrust North Caro- lina into a national debate on transgender rights and harmed the state econom- ically. The state missed out on new jobs as companies declined to expand in the state, while cancellations of concerts and conven- tions exacted a toll. The NBA moved its All-Star game to New Orleans, and in a huge symbolic blow to the college basketball- crazy state, the NCAA and ACC relocated events. Monday's surprising events began in the morn- ing when the Charlotte City Council voted to undo a lo- cal nondiscrimination law enacted in early 2016. That ordinance, Republicans legislators say, challenged social norms and spurred them to pass HB2. "Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore assured me that as a result of Char- lotte's vote, a special ses- sion will be called ... to re- peal HB2 in full," Cooper said in a statement Mon- day morning. He initially said the session would be Tuesday. McCrory said Democrats used the issue for political gain. "This sudden rever- sal with little notice after the gubernatorial election sadly proves this entire is- sue, originated by the po- litical left, was all about politics and winning the governor's race at the ex- pense of Charlotte and the entire state of North Caro- lina," said McCrory, a for- mer Charlotte mayor. Berger and Moore issued a joint statement saying they would take up the re- peal if McCrory calls them into session. They said the debate over transgender bathroom access started with Charlotte and was pushed by Cooper as "a po- litical stunt to drive out-of- state money into the gover- nor's race." Republicans have de- fended the bathroom provi- sions as providing privacy and safety by keeping men out of women's restrooms. Opponents call it discrim- inatory. The law was also seen as a referendum on McCrory, who became its national face. He lost by about 10,000 votes while fellow Republicans U.S. Sen. Rich- ard Burr and President- elect Donald Trump com- fortably won the state. McCrory was the first sitting North Carolina gov- ernor elected to a four-year term to lose re-election. LGBT RIGHTS Date set for session to undo North Carolina 'bathroom bill' CHUCKLIDDY—THENEWS&OBSERVER,FILE Protesters rally against against House Bill 2in Raleigh, N.C. By Kevin Freking The Associated Press HONOLULU President Barack Obama has par- doned 78 people and short- ened the sentence of 153 others convicted of federal crimes, the greatest num- ber of individual clemen- cies in a single day by any president, the White House said Monday. Obama has been grant- ing commutations at rapid-fire pace in his final months in office, but he has focused primarily on short- ening sentences of those convicted of drug offenses rather than giving pardons. A pardon amounts to forgiveness of a crime that removes restrictions on the right to vote, hold state or local office, or sit on a jury. The pardon also lessens the stigma aris- ing from the conviction. The pardons issued Mon- day were for a wide range of offenses, such as pos- session of counterfeit cur- rency, felon in possession of a firearm and involun- tary manslaughter. One Tennessee man was par- doned after being dis- missed from the military in 1990 for conduct unbe- coming an officer (shoplift- ing.) Neil Eggleston, Obama's White House counsel, said Obama has now pardoned a total of 148 people during his presidency. He has also shortened the sentences of 1,176 people, including 395 serving life sentences. Eggleston said each clemency recipient's story is unique, but a common thread of rehabilitation un- derlies all of them. Pardon recipients have shown they have led a productive and law-abiding post-convic- tion life, including by con- tributing to the commu- nity in a meaningful way, he said. Commutation recipi- ents have made the most of his or her time in prison by participating in educa- tional courses, vocational training, and drug treat- ment, he said. Not all of those receiving commuta- tions will be set free right away. Some will see their sentences end in 2017 or 2018 — long after Obama leaves office — and in some cases on the condition they participate in drug treat- ment programs. "These are the stories that demonstrate the suc- cesses that can be achieved by both individuals and so- ciety in a nation of second chances," Eggleston said. CRIMINAL JUSTICE Ob am a pa rd on s 78 , sh or te ns t he s en te nc e fo r 15 3 EVAN VUCCI — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa. By Darlene Superville The Associated Press PALM BEACH, FLA. Presi- dent-elect Donald Trump on Monday tapped an- other billionaire business- man for an administration job, naming Army veteran and fellow New Yorker Vin- cent Viola to be his secre- tary of the Army. Trump had meetings planned with a group of businessmen and former U.S. government officials as he sought to fill other posts, including that of U.S. trade representative. He met with Robert Light- hizer, a former deputy U.S. trade representative in the Reagan administration, an official said. Viola, Trump's choice to be the civilian head of the Army, is a West Point graduate who joins a list of former military men al- ready chosen for the Cab- inet. Trump's picks for defense secretary, home- land security secretary, national security adviser and deputy national se- curity adviser are retired military. In a written state- ment, Trump praised Vi- ola, the son of Italian im- migrants, as "living proof of the American dream" and someone who has a lengthy history of engage- ment with national secu- rity issues. Viola grew up in Brook- lyn, the first member of his family to attend col- lege. He was trained as an Airborne Ranger infantry officer and served in the 101st Airborne Division. A lawyer, he started multiple businesses and bought the Florida Panthers hockey team for $250 million in 2013. Trump announced his choice for Army secre- tary from Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach, Florida, es- tate where he was spend- ing the holidays with his family and working on the transition. It came as elec- tors in all 50 states were meeting to formally elect him president, paving his way to take office on Jan. 20. Viola would join a circle of wealthy businessmen Trump has chosen for the administration, including fast food executive Andy Puzder to lead the La- bor Department, billion- aire investor Wilbur Ross for Commerce, financier Steven Mnuchin as trea- sury secretary and Gold- man Sachs President Gary Cohn as his top economic adviser. More open posts remain. Trump was also meeting Monday with Thad Allen, the retired Coast Guard commandant who over- saw the federal response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. R. Donahue Peebles, board chairman of the Congressional Black Cau- cus Foundation, also had an appointment with Trump. Peebles is also founder, chairman and CEO of Pee- bles Corp., a real estate de- velopment and investment company. J. Christopher Reyes, co- chairman of Reyes Hold- ings, a Chicago-based beer and food distributor, was also on Trump's meeting schedule for Monday, said Trump spokesman Jason Miller. Meanwhile, Vice Presi- dent-elect Mike Pence was holding transition meet- ings in New York, includ- ing a foreign policy discus- sion with Henry Kissinger, who was secretary of state under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Tr um p ta ps b us in es sm an , veteran for Army secretary TRANSITION 954 Highway 99W, Corning, next to Rabobank 530-824-0954 "Proudofourlocalroots" Military personnel or families in need of a new pharmacy--pleasegiveusacall. Easy prescription transfer ---- Special orders welcome 13540 Trinity Ave, Red Bluff (530) 527-8262 • (530) 528-8261 IF NO ANSWER CALL 529-7400 www.garysautobodyandtowing.com AUTO BODY REPAIR 24 HOUR TOWING WEBILLALL MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES • ECO-FRIENDLY&DRUGFREE • COLLISION REPAIR APPROVED BY ALL MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES • LIFETIME WARRANTY • STATE-OF-THE-ART DOWN DRAFT SPRAY BOOTH • NATIONAL AWARD WINNING RESTORATION • AUTO & RV REPAIRS "WE MEET BY ACCIDENTS" • ECO-FRIENDLY&DRUGFREE • FAST! 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