Wednesday Wrap: DOJ has its say

The U.S. Department of Justice weighed in on House Bill 2 on Wednesday, telling state officials that the provision requiring state workers and university students to use bathrooms that correspond to their birth gender violates federal civil rights laws. The government gave the state until next Monday to comply with those federal laws.

The stance set off howls of "government over-reach" from Gov. Pat McCrory and Republican legislative leaders, the same argument they used against the Charlotte City Council for passing a transgender bathroom ordinance in February that later led to the passage of House Bill 2.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Roy Cooper, however, continued to call for the law's repeal, saying it is hurting the state's economy.

In non-House Bill 2 news, state Republican Party leaders quickly rallied behind Donald Trump as the party's presidential nominee, saying they are confident he will energize voters in the fall campaign.

Several House Democrats also filed legislation seeking that extra revenue generated by a huge Powerball jackpot in January go to a fund to help teachers erase their student loan debt in exchange for working in North Carolina classrooms.