Opinion Roundup: Predictions holding; voter i.d.; campaign underway; polar plunge; and more

Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: campaigning begins; sordid history blocks voter id; bribery sentencing; polar plunge; and more

The top 2020 Democrats make their cases as the Iowa caucuses near (CNN reports) -- The Democratic presidential candidates are racing through Iowa with only weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses kick off the primary season. It's a moment of deep Democratic indecision and there has been a dearth of polling during the holiday season that makes it hard to know who has the edge at this moment.

'Sordid history' cited as judge blocks NC's voter ID law (AP reports) -- The federal judge who blocked the newest version of N.C.'s voter identification law cited the state's "sordid history of racial discrimination and voter suppression" as she ordered officials not to enforce the law in 2020. U.S. District Court Judge Loretta Biggs' decision prevents N.C. from requiring voters to provide identification starting in 2020. The Republican leaders of the state House and Senate, however, have asked the state's Department of Justice to appeal.

Federal judge blocks voter ID in North Carolina (WRAL-TV reports) -- As promised last week, US District Court Judge Loretta Biggs blocks NC's new voter ID law for the 2020 elections "unless otherwise ordered by the court."

Judge Loretta Biggs' opinion and order on N.C. voter ID law (WRAL-TV reports) -- Read the complete text of the federal opinion, order and preliminary injunction concerning N.C.'s voter ID Law.

NC voter ID law written with ‘discriminatory intent,’ says judge who just blocked it (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Racial discrimination was at least part of the motivation for a new voter ID law in North Carolina, a federal judge wrote Tuesday, striking the law down for now. In a 60-page ruling evoking decades of racism in North Carolina, the judge wrote that parts of the new voter ID law "were impermissibly motivated, at least in part, by discriminatory intent."

Federal judge says lawmakers had at least some ‘discriminatory intent’ passing voter ID law (N.C. Policy Watch reports) -- A federal judge who temporarily halted the requirement of a photo ID to vote in North Carolina said lawmakers were at least partially motivated by racial discrimination when they implemented it.

What’s the Republican rush on voter ID? (Charlotte Observer/Durham Herald-Sun) -- If Republicans want a voter photo ID requirement that will be regarded as an honest safeguard rather than a partisan ploy, they should welcome a thorough legal test of the law. Instead they are in a rush to have it affect the 2020 elections, a haste that supports Judge Biggs’ concerns about the law’s real intent.

Bloomberg to visit N.C. (The Insider reports) -- Presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg plans to make Raleigh and Fayetteville two of his first New Year's destinations. The former New York mayor is opening field offices in both cities on Friday while visiting North Carolina, according to an email the campaign sent to the NC Insider. Bloomberg's Raleigh office will be located on Davie Street.

TRAVIS FAIN: Predictions holding with NC to get 14th congressional seat after 2020 Census (WRAL-TV reports) -- Population growth widely expected to boost NC's congressional delegation by a seat come 2022.

Here’s why growth could give NC more clout in Congress — and the Electoral College (Charlotte Observer reports) -- N.C. is poised to gain a new congressional seat in 2020, giving the state more clout in Congress and presidential elections. It also raises the stakes in this year races for the state legislature, which draws the districts.

JIM MORRILL: Former NC GOP Chairman Robin Hayes could be sentenced in January in bribery case (Charlotte Observer) -- Former state Republican Chairman Robin Hayes could be sentenced as early as Jan. 15 for his role in one of the state's biggest political corruption scandals, according to a filing in federal court. It said Hayes could be sentenced "on or after" Jan. 15. Hayes, 74, pleaded guilty in federal court in October to lying to federal investigators. He faces up to six months in prison though prosecutors are likely to ask for less time.

Attack on US Embassy in Iraq shows stark choices for Trump (AP reports) -- President Donald Trump ordered about 750 U.S. soldiers deployed to the Middle East as about 3,000 more prepared for possible deployment in the next several days. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said “in response to recent events” in Iraq, and at Trump's direction, he authorized the immediate deployment of the infantry battalion from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. He did not specify the soldiers’ destination, but a U.S. official familiar with the decision said they will go to Kuwait.

Inmate convicted in state prison attack moves to US prison (AP reports) -- The man sentenced to death in the killings of four workers during an attempted escape from a North Carolina prison has been transferred to a federal prison in Kentucky because of safety concerns.

Havelock commissioner charged with sexual exploitation of minor (WRAL-TV reports) -- The State Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Havelock city commissioner and charged with him with 12 counts of second degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Amanda Lamb: Drone safety 101: What to know before your new 'toy' takes flight (WRAL-TV reports) - Got a drone for Christmas? They're not as simple to operate as they look. Make sure you know these rules and safety guidelines before you take your new toy out for its first flight.

Police ask landlords to register AirBnBs, citing parties (AP reports) -- Police in N.C. are urging owners of short-term rentals to register their properties so police can more quickly shut down parties that get out of hand. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have compiled a list of 50 short-term rental properties where officers have responded to 911 calls but say there are likely more.

LAURA LESLIE: You now have to be 21 to buy cigarettes or vaping products (WRAL-TV reports) -- A change occurred this month to the federal law governing how old customers must be to purchase cigarettes or vaping products.

Lawsuit: Asbestos, mold, fumes make fire station hazardous (AP reports) -- A firefighter says asbestos, mold and toxic fumes inside a fire station in Alabama's largest city have sickened him and other firefighters. Asbestos in fire stations has prompted complaints by firefighters elsewhere in the country including firefighters at Fort Bragg.

Century-old TB vaccine may work better if given in a new way (AP reports) --Scientists think they’ve figured out how to make a century-old tuberculosis vaccine far more protective: Simply give the shot a different way.

The Birdman of Hatteras (Coastal Review reports) -- In the nearly a decade since Lou Browning opened the nonprofit Hatteras Island Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc., the trained falconer has cared for hundreds of sick and injured wild animals at the infirmary in Frisco.

White pelicans, painted buntings and rough-legged hawks, oh my. Outer Banks Christmas bird count underway (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot reports) -- For 120 years the annual count has served as a barometer for how birds are faring. Teams are heading out this year as usual in groups across the country, including southeastern Virginia, northeastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks.

East Henderson grad gets grant to improve asteroid tracking at Squirrel Valley Observatory (Hendersonville Times-News reports) -- A Polk County astronomer has been awarded a grant to help defend the Earth from potentially dangerous asteroids. Randy Flynn of Squirrel Valley Observatory in Columbus was awarded $6,139 from the Planetary Society 2019 Shoemaker Grant for components to help automate his observatory.

Kasey Cunningham: Durham residents could get answers after some sickened by carbon monoxide exposure (WRAL-TV reports) -- Residents of McDougald Terrace, a Durham public housing community, could get answers about carbon monoxide in units. There’s been at least one confirmed case and nearly a dozen others have been sent to area hospitals with elevated levels of the gas.

$1 million lottery ticket waits unclaimed in North Carolina (AP reports) -- North Carolina's lottery says it's waiting for someone to claim a $1 million ticket.

Hankering for goulash leads to $1 million lottery ticket (AP reports) -- A man in North Carolina has claimed a $1 million lottery ticket that he bought while shopping for ingredients to make goulash.

TONY RICE: Big debate: The next decade is here. Or is it? (WRAL-TV reports) -- An old debate has arisen again. Does the new decade begin on Jan. 1, 2020, or must we wait until 2021?

Remembering Raleigh: 10 icons we lost this decade (WRAL-TV reports) -- The iconic Raleigh landmarks, restaurants and people were a huge part of growing up in Raleigh.

'It seemed legitimate': Rolesville man says he was scammed out of $240 for hockey tickets (WRAL reports) -- Rolesville police are investigating after a local man said he was scammed out of $240 for Carolina Hurricanes tickets that he tried to buy on Craigslist.

MANDY MITCHELL: Daredevils start 2020 with icy cold polar dive in Wendell (WRAL-TV reports) -- A group of daredevils braved the cold weather on Wednesday and started their new year with a plunge into the water at Mystery Lake Scuba Park.

Wake Forest family finds snake in oven while baking pizza (WRAL-TV reports) -- A Wake Forest family was shocked after finding a slithery surprise in their oven ... a snake.