RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Latest on the scaled-down North Carolina inaugural festivities for Gov. Roy Cooper and other elected officials (all times local):
4 p.m.
Gov. Roy Cooper and several other statewide elected officials have taken oaths of office in a ceremony moved up by one day and moved to the Executive Mansion because of the approaching winter storm.
Friday’s swearing-in event was hastily arranged because forecast snow and sleet led to the cancellation of a larger, more public event Saturday morning in downtown Raleigh.
Several Council of State members already had officially taken their oaths as the new year began, including Cooper. But four re-elected incumbents hadn’t before Friday.
The anticipated weather also led to the cancellation of Saturday’s inaugural parade and Sunday’s open house at the Mansion. Organizers of Saturday’s Inaugural Ball and receptions also consolidated their festivities to Friday night.
Cooper will deliver a televised inaugural address Saturday morning.
___
12:30 p.m.
There’s been more juggling of North Carolina’s inauguration activities as an approaching winter storm track foretells snow and dangerous road conditions this weekend.
Gov. Roy Cooper now plans to give his inauguration address at the Executive Mansion on Saturday morning to a television audience. He would have given the speech at a public inauguration ceremony originally scheduled for Saturday morning, but that’s been canceled. Cooper and Council of State members are instead getting installed to their jobs Friday afternoon at the mansion.
Organizers of Saturday night’s Inaugural Ball also announced they were rescheduling activities for Friday evening. The Junior League of Raleigh says ball tickets are being accepted for a reception in downtown Raleigh.
___
11:10 a.m.
North Carolina religious leaders from many faiths are sending prayers to support Gov. Roy Cooper as he begins his term.
They sought divine inspiration and guidance for the new governor during a Friday morning prayer service at a downtown Raleigh church.
The service went on as previously scheduled even as official inauguration festivities were scaled back due to the approaching winter storm. Saturday’s ceremony and parade and Sunday’s open house at the Executive Mansion aren’t happening.
Cooper said during a weather-related news conference before Friday’s service he canceled Saturday’s ceremony because it was important to send the signal that people should stay at home and off the roads.
Cooper and other Council of State members are now going to participate in a Friday afternoon swearing-in event at the Mansion. Most council members already have taken their official oaths.
___
4:50 a.m.
The winter storm approaching North Carolina has scaled back this weekend’s inauguration events for Gov. Roy Cooper and other statewide elected officials.
The anticipated snow led the official inaugural committee to cancel Saturday’s swearings-in and parade and Sunday’s open house at the Executive Mansion.
But smaller events are still happening Friday. A previously scheduled morning church service is on, while Cooper and council members will participate in an afternoon swearing-in ceremony at the Mansion. Cooper and several council members already have taken their official oaths.
The Junior League of Raleigh - the organizers of inaugural receptions and Saturday night’s Inaugural Ball - say those events are going on as scheduled, although they could be re-evaluated based on weather conditions.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.