NC journalist. Assignment desk editor and digital content producer for WCNC Charlotte. Formerly, the state's general assignment reporter for Courthouse News.

Erika Williams’s Journalist Portfolio

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Fourth Circuit Upholds North Carolina Voter ID Law

Fourth Circuit Upholds North Carolina Voter ID Law

Courthouse News Service — RALEIGH, N.C. (CN) - A federal judge incorrectly halted a North Carolina law requiring voters to present photo ID at the polls, a Fourth Circuit panel ruled on Wednesday. Reversing a lower-court decision, a three-judge panel unanimously ruled to allow the Tar Heel State's latest photo ID law to move forward.

US Budget Deficit Hits New Record of $3.1 Trillion

US Budget Deficit Hits New Record of $3.1 Trillion

Courthouse News Service — WASHINGTON (CN) - The U.S. government's budget deficit skyrocketed during the fiscal year 2020 with more than $3.1 trillion in the red, according to a report released Friday by the Treasury Department. This fiscal year, which ended Sept.

Graham Leads Democratic Challenger in Senate Race, Poll Shows

Graham Leads Democratic Challenger in Senate Race, Poll Shows

Courthouse News Service — COLUMBIA, S.C. (CN) - South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and President Donald Trump are both leading over their Democratic challengers in the Palmetto State, according to a poll released Thursday. The incumbent GOP senator is leading his race for reelection against Democratic rival Jaime Harrison by a margin of 46% to 40%.

DeJoy Hit With FEC Action Over Evidence of Straw-Donor Scheme

DeJoy Hit With FEC Action Over Evidence of Straw-Donor Scheme

Courthouse News Service — WASHINGTON (CN) - A watchdog group is urging the Federal Election Commission to investigate claims that embattled U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy reimbursed former employees for GOP campaign donations. Alleging a straw-donor scheme in which DeJoy reimbursed employees of his former companies for contributing to Republican political campaigns, the Campaign Legal Center names both the postmaster general and his former company, XPO Logistics, as defendants to the complaint.

Feds Unveil Plan to Distribute Free Coronavirus Vaccine

Feds Unveil Plan to Distribute Free Coronavirus Vaccine

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - As the weekly average of new coronavirus cases rises in the U.S., federal health officials revealed a plan Wednesday to roll out free vaccine doses to all Americans who want one. Two documents outlining the Trump administration's strategy for delivering doses to Americans were submitted to Congress by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services and Defense Department.

Blue States Seek Injunction Against Postal Service Shakeups

Blue States Seek Injunction Against Postal Service Shakeups

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - A coalition of Democratic attorneys general have requested a preliminary injunction to reverse operational changes in the U.S. Postal Service that slowed down mail delivery ahead of the November presidential election. The seven attorneys general, which had sued over the changes last month, filed their motion for an injunction Wednesday in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

CDC Asks States to Prepare for Coronavirus Vaccine Before End of Year

CDC Asks States to Prepare for Coronavirus Vaccine Before End of Year

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told public health officials to be ready for a Covid-19 vaccine by early November, asking states to fast-track construction permitting for distribution sites. Governors and health departments in all 50 states were reportedly recipients of the CDC's letter from Director Robert Redfield dated Aug.

Facebook Shuts Down Accounts Linked to Russian Disinformation Campaign

Facebook Shuts Down Accounts Linked to Russian Disinformation Campaign

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - Facebook and Twitter on Tuesday announced a takedown of pages and accounts linked to a Russian disinformation operation. Facebook says that last month it removed a small network of 13 accounts and two pages linked to individuals who were associated with past activity by the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA).

Political Conventions Forced to Adapt to Ongoing Crises

Political Conventions Forced to Adapt to Ongoing Crises

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - As an unusual convention season marked by social distancing and protests for equality comes to a close, political scientists reflect on how the parties adapted to the multiple crises. "We are all learning what to expect from a Zoom convention," political scientist Chris Cooper told Courthouse News at the starting line of this year's Republican National Convention.

Republicans Push 'Law and Order' Mandate on Third Night of Convention

Republicans Push 'Law and Order' Mandate on Third Night of Convention

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - The Republican National Convention on Wednesday heavily featured attacks on Democrats and President Donald Trump's focus on "law and order" just one day after a 17-year-old white Illinois resident allegedly shot and killed two Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Second Night of Republican National Convention Features a Pardon and a Naturalization Ceremony

Second Night of Republican National Convention Features a Pardon and a Naturalization Ceremony

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - The second night of the Republican National Convention, which kicked off with a pardon of a convicted bank robber and featured a naturalization ceremony, was intended to highlight opportunities Americans have because of President Donald Trump's policies.

ACLU Sues Puerto Rico Over Its Pandemic Voting Policies

ACLU Sues Puerto Rico Over Its Pandemic Voting Policies

Courthouse News Service — SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CN) - Civil rights lawyers slapped the Puerto Rico Election Commission with a federal lawsuit on Thursday, claiming the U.S. territory failed to ensure people older than 60 can safely vote during the Nov. 3 presidential election.

Federal Judge Orders Trump Campaign to Provide Proof of Mail-In Voting Fraud

Federal Judge Orders Trump Campaign to Provide Proof of Mail-In Voting Fraud

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - President Donald Trump's re-election campaign and the Republican Party have until Friday to provide evidence of mail-in voting fraud in Pennsylvania, a federal judge ordered on Thursday. Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan, a Trump appointee, decided that it is time for Republicans to back up their unsubstantiated claims of potential massive mail-in voter fraud in the battleground state.

Courthouse News Service

New Rule Sets Higher Bar for Immigrants to Claim Asylum

New Rule Sets Higher Bar for Immigrants to Claim Asylum

Courthouse News Service — WASHINGTON (CN) - The Trump administration has continued its efforts to clamp down on asylum seekers in the U.S. with a new proposed rule that would make it more difficult for immigrants to be granted protection.

Blue States Take Feds to Court Over College Sexual Assault Rules

Blue States Take Feds to Court Over College Sexual Assault Rules

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - The Trump administration's new Title IX rules mean students across the U.S. will return to school in the fall with fewer protections from sexual assault, a group of Democrat-led states claim in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday.

Streets Calm, for Now, on Sixth Day of Protests in Southeast

Streets Calm, for Now, on Sixth Day of Protests in Southeast

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - Protests continued in Charlotte and Atlanta for the sixth consecutive day Wednesday afternoon as demonstrators peacefully gathered to march against police violence and racism in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd in Minnesota and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky.

Russia OKs Use of Nukes in Response to Non-Nuclear Attacks

Russia OKs Use of Nukes in Response to Non-Nuclear Attacks

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new government policy for nuclear deterrence on Tuesday that allows the use of nuclear weapons in response to conventional arms attacks. Russia says its nuclear weapons are developed in order to deter potential attacks and can be used to combat a strike targeting the nation's critical government and military infrastructure, according to government policy.

Burr Steps Down From Senate Panel Amid Insider Trading Probe

Burr Steps Down From Senate Panel Amid Insider Trading Probe

Courthouse News Service — (CN) - Senator Richard Burr stepped down from his role as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, a day after the FBI served the North Carolina Republican with a search warrant as part of a probe into his recent stock sales.

Judge Delays Ruling on Justice Department's Request to Dismiss Flynn Case

Judge Delays Ruling on Justice Department's Request to Dismiss Flynn Case

Courthouse News Service — WASHINGTON (CN) - A federal judge wants third parties to weigh in before he rules on whether the Justice Department can dismiss the criminal case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Top Trump Donor Named Next Postmaster General

Top Trump Donor Named Next Postmaster General

Courthouse News Service — WASHINGTON (CN) - A staunch Trump supporter and North Carolina businessman will be the next postmaster general of the U.S. Postal Service, the agency's Board of Governors announced on Wednesday. Louis DeJoy - a North Carolina-based executive who reportedly donated to several Republican campaigns, including to President Donald Trump's - will serve as the new postmaster general.

College Sexual Assault Rules Changed to Give More Rights to Accused

College Sexual Assault Rules Changed to Give More Rights to Accused

Courthouse News Service — WASHINGTON (CN) - The Trump administration released new rules Wednesday for how universities should address allegations of sexual assault or misconduct, sparking backlash from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others who say the changes weaken protections for survivors.

Judge Denies Bid for Free Postage on Georgia Absentee Ballots

Judge Denies Bid for Free Postage on Georgia Absentee Ballots

Courthouse News Service — A federal judge found there is not enough time to send out new absentee ballots for the June primary, but left the door open for the general election in November. (CN) - Georgia voters will not receive new absentee ballot envelopes with free postage for the June 9 primary election, a federal judge ruled late Thursday.

Antiviral Drug Shows Signs of Working Against Covid-19

Antiviral Drug Shows Signs of Working Against Covid-19

Courthouse News Service — WASHINGTON (CN) - New evidence shows an experimental drug can effectively fight the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, or at least reduce recovery time, scientists announced Wednesday. An antiviral drug called remdesivir, created by California-based Gilead Sciences, was closely scrutinized in a major U.S.
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