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Local Government
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By Administrator
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Friday, 08 March 2013 17:49 |
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RALEIGH, (AP) — The North Carolina Supreme Court says a city crossed the line when it raised special taxes dramatically on businesses that offered electronic sweepstakes machines to its customers.
The court ruled Friday that Lumberton's 2010 decision to raise existing privilege taxes at sweepstakes locations violated the state constitution's provision that taxation be exercised in a "just and equitable manner."
Companies that previously owed $12.50 per year faced taxes of at least $7,500 under the ordinance. Justice Mark Martin wrote the nearly 60,000 percent minimum increase did not even resemble "a just and equitable tax."
Many municipalities approved sweepstakes privilege taxes, in part, to discourage what many called illegal gambling. The Supreme Court in December upheld the legislature's ban on video sweepstakes machines.
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Last Updated on Friday, 08 March 2013 17:50 |
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Local Government
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By Administrator
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Friday, 08 March 2013 17:19 |
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AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Communities from Idaho to Georgia to Maine have been inspired to "require" or recommend their residents arm themselves ever since the Newtown school massacre.
All three members of the Board of Selectmen in the small western Maine town of Byron favor such an ordinance. Residents will be asked to vote on it Monday.
The ordinances are considered largely unenforceable. Maine Attorney General Janet Mills says Byron's ordinance will be "null and void" even if it passes.
She says the laws are intended to pre-emptively block efforts at gun controls. |
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Last Updated on Friday, 08 March 2013 17:19 |
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Local Government
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By Administrator
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Thursday, 07 March 2013 15:58 |
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CHARLOTTE, (AP) — A North Carolina judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Charlotte, its airport and an airline by the family of a teen who apparently fell to his death from the wheel well of a jet approaching Boston.
Superior Court Judge Hugh Lewis ruled Tuesday that 16-year-old Delvonte Tisdale of Charlotte was negligent in his actions and the city is not responsible for people who breach security.
Officials say Tisdale's body was found in a Boston suburb Nov. 15, 2010. An autopsy failed to determine the cause of death. The teen was identified through a hall pass with his name on it.
Authorities said Tisdale probably sneaked onto the tarmac of Charlotte Douglas International Airport and climbed into the wheel well of US Airways Flight 1176, bound for Boston.
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Last Updated on Friday, 08 March 2013 17:19 |
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Local Government
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By Administrator
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Thursday, 07 March 2013 15:54 |
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CHARLOTTE, (AP) — Charlotte tourism officials are worried about state lawmakers' plans to help fund improvements for the Carolinas Panthers stadium.
Charlotte tourism officials worry the plan to make improvements at Bank of America Stadium would not leave enough money to upgrade the Charlotte Convention Center.
A bill would allow Charlotte to use taxes earmarked for the convention center to help pay for stadium renovations. The bill was offered as an alternative to the city's request to double the 1 percent local food tax to pay for stadium upgrades.
Tom Murray with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority says using the money for the stadium would not leave enough money to improve the convention center. A letter from Murray and three other tourism officials says their main concern is to improve the convention center.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 07 March 2013 15:55 |
