AP-SC--North Carolina News Digest, SC

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

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The Carolinas News Editor is Tim Rogers. The breaking news staffer is Skip Foreman. For technical support, please call the AP's Services and Technology Department in Raleigh at 919-881-9974.

COAL ASH SPILL-NORTH CAROLINA-ESTIMATE

RALEIGH — A team of academic researchers equipped with a drone estimate that about 35 million gallons of coal ash and contaminated wastewater spilled into the Dan River earlier this month. Wake Forest University researchers released results Tuesday from a study using photos collected by the drone that flew over the Duke Energy coal ash dump that ruptured Feb. 2 in Eden. The scientists used images captured by the drone to create a digital three-dimensional model of the pit, allowing them to calculate the volume of toxic ash that flowed out when a pipe collapsed. By Michael Biesecker. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: 600 words by 3 p.m.

XGR--TEACHER PAY

RALEIGH — A key state lawmaker says paying North Carolina public school educators based on individual performance will ultimately happen, but acknowledges base salaries for experienced teachers must also go up. Education budget-writer Sen. Jerry Tillman of Randolph County spoke at Tuesday's first meeting of a legislative task force looking at how to better reward educators while helping them become more effective. Panel members include leaders of teacher groups and parents of students with legislators. By Gary D. Robertson. SENT: 120 words. UPCOMING: 550 words by 7 p.m.

CLEVELAND COUNTY RESERVOIR

RALEIGH — North Carolina's environmental agency is now requiring a state permit for a dam creating a reservoir on the First Broad River in Cleveland County west of Charlotte. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources last year decided Cleveland County Water did not need a permit certifying the dam would not harm water quality. That would have meant the $80 million project could seek federal permits without state hearings or environmental studies. SENT: 300 words.

OBAMA-MANUFACTURING

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday announced the creation of two Pentagon-led institutes to boost advanced high-tech manufacturing, with the eventual goal of creating jobs that have been lost to global competition. As part of his year-old promise to expand public-private manufacturing partnerships across the country, Obama announced a new center in his hometown of Chicago, concentrating on high-tech digital manufacturing and design. The other new hub will be located in Canton, Mich., outside Detroit, and specialize in light metal manufacturing. By Nedra Pickler. SENT: 370 words, AP Photos DCJM304, DCPM103, DCJM303, DCJM301.

ALSO:

— SNAKE BITE-INVESTIGATION, from REIDSVILLE — Officials in Rockingham County say state wildlife officials are joining local authorities in an investigation after a man was bitten by a rattlesnake. SENT: 120 words.

— MONTREAT FUTURE, from MONTREAT — Officials at a Georgia school have decided not to pursue a merger with Montreat College. SENT: 130 words.

— US SENATE-SNYDER, from RALEIGH — A three-time candidate for statewide office in North Carolina has decided to add his name to the list of candidates seeking Democrat Kay Hagan's U.S. Senate seat this year. SENT: 120 words.

— CIAA TOURNEY-HOTELS, from CHARLOTTE — Officials in Charlotte say third parties are sending the price of some hotel rooms skyrocketing during the CIAA tournament week. SENT: 130 words.

— CHILD MAULED, from HIGH POINT — Police in High Point say a 3-year-old child has been killed in the home by the family's pet pit bull terrier. SENT: 80 words.

— ARMY GENERAL-SEX CHARGES, from FORT BRAGG — A U.S. Army general facing court martial on sexual assault charges is again seeking to have the case against him dismissed. SENT: 120 words.

— HOME INVASION DEATH, from HUBERT — A prosecutor is reviewing whether the stand your ground doctrine applies in the case of an Onslow County man who shot and killed an intruder last weekend. SENT: 120 words.

— WILMINGTON CANNONBALL, from WILMINGTON — A bomb squad has removed a cannonball found in a wall at a building in Wilmington. SENT: 70 words.

— COURT OF APPEALS, from WINSTON-SALEM — The North Carolina Court of Appeals is hosting oral arguments at the Wake Forest University School of Law. SENT: 90 words.

— NAACP-LAWSUITS, from DURHAM — A civil rights group wants to talk about the next steps for lawsuits challenging laws approved by Republican legislators and signed by Gov. Pat McCrory. SENT: 120 words.

— WILMINGTON HOMES HONORED, from WILMINGTON — The Historic Wilmington Foundation is scheduled to present plaques to a pair of homes tied to the local black community. SENT: 130 words.

— PISGAH FOREST-PRESCRIBED BURN, from NEBO — The U.S. Forest Service has scheduled a prescribed burn for nearly 120 acres in Pisgah National Forest. SENT: 100 words.

SPORTS:

BKC--T25-VIRGINIA TECH-DUKE

DURHAM — No. 6 Duke looks to follow up its win against Syracuse when it hosts Virginia Tech on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils are closing in a top-four seed in the ACC tournament while the Hokies have two league wins and sit at the bottom of the standings. By Basketball Writer Aaron Beard. UPCOMING: 700 words, AP photos. Game starts at 7 p.m. With hometown lead.

The AP-Raleigh