Chief lawyer's position at alma mater prompted Newton's departure from North Carolina Senate
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — A leader among the North Carolina Senate Republicans who resigned this week from the General Assembly is the next chief attorney for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
University Chancellor Lee Roberts announced on Thursday the hiring of outgoing Senate Majority Leader Paul Newton as general counsel and vice chancellor at the UNC system's flagship campus.
Newton revealed in a Tuesday news release his decision to step down from the Senate effective Wednesday 'to pursue an opportunity outside of state government' that wasn't immediately made public. During his farewell speech Wednesday on the Senate floor, Newton said he learned about a job opening several weeks ago and was offered it only on Monday.
Newton, who received undergraduate and law degrees at UNC-Chapel Hill, is a retired Duke Energy employee and executive who joined the Senate in 2017 and became majority leader after the 2022 elections. He said he is also the father of four UNC-Chapel Hill graduates.
Roberts said Newton, who begins the job April 21, 'brings exceptional skills and deep experience in law, business and government to our University' and 'is passionate about returning to his alma mater and contributing to our success.'
Republicans in Newton's Cabarrus County Senate district will pick someone to fill his seat through the end of 2026. Senate Republicans also will meet to pick a new majority leader, which is considered a chief lieutenant to the chamber's top leader, GOP Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger.
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Hamilton Spectator
22 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Protesters crowd into streets, parks and plazas at anti-Trump ‘No Kings' demonstrations across US
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'Are you ready to fight back? Do you want a gangster state or do you want free speech in America?' In some places, organizers handed out little American flags while other demonstrators brought larger versions to wave amid signs that ranged from pro-democracy and immigrant-rights messages to a variety of anti-Trump sentiments. In Los Angeles, thousands gathered in front of City Hall, hundreds gathered on the lawn in front of Mississippi's state Capitol and marchers in downtown Little Rock walked across a bridge over the Arkansas River. Protests were planned in nearly 2,000 locations across the country, from city blocks and small towns to courthouse steps and community parks, organizers said, but no events are scheduled in Washington, D.C., where the military parade will take place in the evening. The 50501 Movement orchestrating the protests says it picked the 'No Kings' name to support democracy and speak out against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement. The demonstrations come on the heels of protests that flared up across the country over federal immigration enforcement raids that began last week and Trump ordering the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, where protesters blocked a freeway and set cars on fire. Philadelphia Thousands gathered in downtown Love Park, with organizers handing out small American flags and many people carrying protest signs saying things like 'fight oligarchy' and 'deport the mini-Mussolinis.' Karen Van Trieste, a 61-year-old nurse who drove up from Maryland, said she grew up in Philadelphia and wanted to be with a large group of people showing her support. 'I just feel like we need to defend our democracy,' she said. 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Tim Walz took to social media to issue a warning after the shootings . 'Out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended,' he wrote. Florida About a thousand people gathered on the grounds of Florida's old Capitol in Tallahassee, where protesters chanted, 'This is what community looks like,' and carried signs with messages like 'one nation under distress' and 'dissent is patriotic.' Organizers of the rally explicitly told the crowd to avoid any conflicts with counterprotesters and to take care not to jaywalk or disrupt traffic. Organizers say that one march will go to the gates of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis warned demonstrators that the 'line is very clear' between peaceful demonstration and violence, and not to cross it. Urging calm and calling out the National Guard Governors and city officials vowed to protect the right to protest and to show no tolerance for violence. Some urged calm, while Republican governors in Virginia, Texas, Nebraska and Missouri were mobilizing National Guard troops to help law enforcement manage demonstrations. There will be 'zero tolerance' for violence, destruction or disrupting traffic, and 'if you violate the law, you're going to be arrested,' Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin told reporters Friday. In Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe issued a similar message, vowing to take a proactive approach and not to 'wait for chaos to ensue.' Some law enforcement agencies announced they were ramping up efforts for the weekend. On social media, Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, called for peaceful protests over the weekend, to ensure Trump doesn't send military to the state. 'Donald Trump wants to be able to say that we cannot handle our own public safety in Washington state,' Ferguson said. ___ Associated Press journalists across the country contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Hill
24 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump, lawmakers react to ‘horrific' shooting of Minnesota legislators
Top leaders condemned a Saturday attack on Minnesota Democratic lawmakers as party tensions boil across the country. Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband were killed and State Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife were also shot multiple times in a 'politically motivated' attack that was condemned by elected officials on both sides of the aisle. 'Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America,' President Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 'God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!' he added. Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged to investigate the incident and prosecute those involved to the fullest extent under the law while GOP leaders wrote Saturday posts on social media echoing the president's outrage. 'Horrified at the events unfolding in Minnesota. Kimberley and I are praying for the loved ones of the state lawmaker and her husband who were assassinated and the state senator and his wife who were also injured in this assassination attempt,' Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) wrote on X. 'Political violence has no place in our nation.' Former Vice President Harris said she was 'devastated by the loss of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in a horrifying act of violence' in a post on X. 'Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in our nation. Elected officials must be safe to do their job on behalf of the people. The hate and division that dominate our political discourse must end,' she added. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said, 'Such horrific political violence has no place in our society, and every leader must unequivocally condemn it. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) shared an emotional statement during the Saturday briefing where he gave updates on the criminal investigation and mourned the loss of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a 'dearest' friend. 'Out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended,' Walz wrote on X, in a follow up post after the briefing. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) urged protestors to stay home while also commending Hortman for her service to the state. 'Melissa was a good friend and we started in politics at the same time and were always there for each other. She was a true public servant to the core, dedicating her life to serving Minnesotans with integrity and compassion,' Klobuchar wrote. 'Melissa's legacy will endure, but today we grieve deeply,' she added. Authorities say Hortman and her husband were shot after opening the door for a man impersonating a police officer. State Sen. John Hoffman (D-Minn.) and his wife were shot under similar circumstances. 'We cannot tolerate allowing our political differences to explode into political violence that threatens our safety and our democratic form of government,' Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said in a post on X. Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Minn) said the Saturday deaths left her 'devastated' by the heinous crime while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the tragedies were 'deeply disturbing' and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called in an 'assault on democracy.' 'We must give hate and extremism no safe harbor and we must all unite against political violence as a nation,' former President Biden said on X. DNC Chair Ken Martin also pleaded for peace. 'This senseless violence must end. These heinous murders are a reflection of the extremism and political violence that have been fomented in our country,' Martin said in a statement sent to The Hill. 'Lawmakers should be able to do their job without fear for their lives.
39 minutes ago
What to know about Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman, lawmakers shot in Minnesota
State Rep. Melissa Hortman and State Sen. John Hoffman, who were targeted by a shooter on Saturday, were longtime members of Minnesota's state legislature who spent years working to improve their communities, according to leaders who knew them. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed at their home in Brooklyn Park early Saturday by a suspect who posed as a police officer, investigators said. They left behind two children. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot earlier in the morning by the same suspect inside their home at Champlin. The couple, who have a daughter, were rushed to a hospital and underwent surgery, Gov. Tim Walz said. Both state leaders were members of Minnesota's Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), a state party affiliated with the Democrats. Hortman, 55, nee Haluptzok, had the most experience in the state legislature. She earned a BA in political science and philosophy at Boston University and worked as an intern for then-Sen. Al Gore and later Sen. John Kerry, according to her campaign biography. Hortman went on to earn a law degree at the University of Minnesota Law School in 1995 and clerked with Judge John Sommerville. She later earned an MPA from Harvard in 2018. Outside politics, Hortman worked as a private attorney and volunteered her time in the local school board and Sunday school at Saint Timothy Catholic Church in Blaine. She first ran for office in 1998, for the State House of Representatives seat, but lost. After another defeat for the same seat four years later, Hortman was elected to the state's District 47B in 2004. Hortman quickly rose through the ranks of the House, serving as assistant majority leader from 2007 to 2010 and as minority whip from 2011 to 2012. She championed many causes, including reproductive rights and environmental issues. She also pushed for stricter gun control and attended events with gun control advocates, including Everytown for Gun Safety. In 2017, she was named minority leader and became speaker in 2019 after the DFL gained a majority in the House. Hortman spearheaded efforts to pass police reform in 2020 following the George Floyd protests. During this year's session, the state House Republicans and the DFL engaged in a tense standoff over leadership after Republicans gained seats. A DFL boycott ended in February with a power-sharing agreement where Hortman retained the title of minority leader until a March special election created a tie in the House. Hortman and her husband were married for 31 years. Mark Hortman worked as a program manager for nVent Electric, a company that specialized in electronics, particularly green electronics, according to his Facebook and LinkedIn pages. Mark Hortman frequently posted photos and updates about his family on his Facebook page. "A couple of weeks ago, I posted a video showing off how we taught our dog how to ring the doorbell when he wants to come inside. Well, now that dog has figured out that if he wants to play he rings the doorbell and then ding dong ditches us just to get us to come outside and play!," he posted in 2023. The couple was kiled on the same day as the birthday of Melissa Hortman's father, her sister, Lieza Jean Haluptzok, told ABC News. "We loved them dearly; they will be missed. It's a horrible thing. I hope they catch him. And they get justice for what happened. It's devastating," she said Saturday afternoon. Hoffman, 60, was elected to the State Senate in 2012. A Wyoming native, Hoffman earned a bachelor's degree from Saint Mary's University and spent several decades working for various Minnesota businesses and non-profits, according to his campaign bio page. He was the co-founder of Consumer Credit of Minnesota, a non-profit consumer assistance organization, and served on the Anoka Hennepin School Board starting in 2005, his bio said. In 2012, he won the state senate seat for District 34 and would win reelection three more times. He served as the minority whip from 2017 to 2020 and is on the Senate's Human Services committee. "Throughout my career, I have been afforded many opportunities to assume progressive management roles, which have allowed me to gain and implement a unique set of expertise," he wrote on his campaign page.
