As property owners complain about waves washing away pricey beachfront property, lawmakers may allow jetties to be built along North Carolina's barrier islands instead of allowing nature to shape the beaches.
The Senate environment committee on Tuesday recommended a bill that would allow construction of jetties - solid structures that stick out into the water - at the edge of coastal inlets, the gaps between barrier islands that connect the Atlantic Ocean to the state's sounds. The jetties are intended to collect sand and block currents that might otherwise cut the corners off the edges of islands prized by developers and home buyers.
For decades, the state has mostly let the sands shift where they will. Meanwhile, taxpayers have spent millions of dollars pumping sand back onto beaches that waves have washed away, to make sure tourists keep coming.
"I live where the wind blows. I live where Mother Nature is at her worst," said Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick , adding that billions of dollars of real estate is in harm's way. "We need to protect it."
Environmentalists oppose the jetties, arguing they can't stop natural forces, carry a high price tag, and encourage risky waterfront construction.
Bill would punish those who harm, kill fetuses
Republicans and some crime victims are promoting legislation to make it a felony for an attacker to kill or injure a fetus at any stage of development.
Rep. Dale Folwell, R-Forsyth , said the measure would expand to the rest of the state a law in effect on federal property like Camp Lejeune and the Blue Ridge Parkway. A federal law was passed in 2004 after the 2002 murde r of a pregnant California woman, Laci Peterson.
The bill's provisions do not apply to legal abortions.
bills filed on video sweepstakes and poker
While one bill attempts to ban video sweepstakes games once and for all , another would make video poker legal again and regulated by the lottery commission.
The bills were filed separately Wednesday in the House.
The legislature has tried twice since 2008 to do away with the electronic sweepstakes games. A trial court judge threw out a portion of the current ban last year. The case is being appealed.
Meanwhile, Rep. Bill Owens , D-Elizabeth City , filed a measure creating a centrally operated video terminal system that offers casino-style games. Proceeds would go to college scholarships and higher education building repair and construction.
Senate favors delay on forced annexations
A moratorium on municipal annexations of unincorporated areas has received preliminary approval by the state Senate.
The Senate agreed Thursday 38-11 in favor of the pause untilJuly 1, 2012. Bill sponsor Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Davie County , said the time out will give interested parties the chance to work out annexation law changes.
North Carolina is one of a few states that allow local governments to incorporate tracts of land into a city or town whether property owners like it or not. Some people want a referendum required before such annexations can occur.
The lobbying group for munici-palities says the laws have worked well to usher in orderly growth.
One more Senate vote is required before the bill goes to the House.
Senate OKs Changes to malpractice lawsuits
The Senate on Wednesday approved placing more limits on medical malpractice lawsuits and awards.
Senators voted 36-13 in favor of legislation that would initially limit to $500,000 "non-economic damages," such as for pain, physical impairment and disfigurement. The cap would be raised based on inflation. The bill also would make it harder for a patient to win in court if treatment occurred during an emergency.
Republicans backing the bill argue it will make health care more affordable and attract more doctors to North Carolina. Trial lawyers and victims of medical mistakes disagree and call the cap unconstitutional.
The bill now goes to the House, which has a committee looking at medical liability .
Bill would limit cities starting broadband
The House Public Utilities Commit-tee on Wednesday approved legislation that would make it harder for cities and towns to build their own broadband data systems.
The bill is the latest in a series of efforts by telecom corporations to keep local governments out of the broadband business. Cable and phone companies argue munic-ipalities aren't subject to several taxes they pay and have other financial advantages when building high-speed Internet systems.
Towns and cities say Big Telecom isn't extending super-fast Internet at reasonable prices. The telecom companies are opposed by the politically influential North Carolina League of Municipalities and corporate giants Google and Intel. They argue that crimping municipal broadband could stifle economic growth in a wired age.
Coming this week
The House set a vote Monday on a measure that would repeal the 2007 law giving counties the opportunity to raise the land transfer tax by 0.4 percentage points if local voters approve it a referendum. There hasn't been a county where voters have authorized the tax.
The House-Senate education appropriations subcommittee has a hearing Monday afternoon to receive public comments about the upcoming two-year budget.
- The Associated Press
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virginian-pilot file photo
Adding jetties like this one at the south end of Oregon Inlet is an issue with financial and environmental factors.
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