NC Inauguration activities scaled down, moved

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – 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.

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 several council members already have taken their official oaths.