A change to NC’s constitution approved Tuesday adds the state to the handful in the US that strictly requires showing a photo ID when voting.

Some of the other states allow exceptions to the law if people have religious objections to being photographed, are poor, or are granted special confidentiality as domestic abuse or stalking victims.

NC lawmakers aren’t required to make any exceptions.

Legislators haven’t specified how voters can obtain a photo ID needed to vote, or how much it will cost the state.

NC voters also approved constitutional amendments that locks-in recent state income tax cuts, expand crime victims’ rights and affirm traditional methods of hunting and fishing.

One amendment that was approved Tuesday caps the maximum state income tax at 7-percent down from 10-percent.

Critics say this could mean a recession could lead legislators to raise sales or property taxes, or possibly impose cutbacks on education, safety, and other government services.

The constitutional change that expands guarantees for crime victims was approved in exchange for a predicted cost of about 11-million dollars a year.

State voters approved enshrining traditional methods of hunting and fishing, but also limited those wildlife rights to those adopted by the General Assembly.

Voters on Tuesday rejected an amendment that would have permanently given state lawmakers more power over the makeup of a state board that decides election and ethics disputes.

Another that would have given legislators more power in picking judges for vacant seats was also rejected.

A suspicious phone call made to a Lincoln County daycare is under investigation by authorities there.

The call came in to the Mini Academy Day Care on Unity Church Road Tuesday afternoon around 3:30.

The daycare director told officers the call was from a male instructing her to go to her office because he had information about one of her employees.

The male reportedly told the director that the action she took would determine whether the employee and the employee’s daughter would be hurt over the next couple of days.

The director told Lincoln officers she attempted to stand to get the attention of a co-worker to call 911, but the caller told her to sit down- indicating he was watching her.

The daycare was placed on a temporary lockdown to ensure all employees and students were accounted for.

Investigators are working to determine the identity and location of the caller.

Meanwhile the daycare is operating on a normal schedule.

An Asheville man breaks into a vehicle at a Marion residence and falls asleep before making his getaway.

29-year-old Timothy Matthew Howell has been charged with two counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle and one count each of larceny of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon.

McDowell County deputies were called to Lytle Mountain Road where a property owner had discovered Howell asleep in his Toyota SUV.

An investigation showed Howell had rummaged through the vehicle, as well as a Chevrolet truck also parked at the residence.

Reports say the suspect stole a gun from inside the truck.

A holiday reminder for next week –

Morganton City Hall and City facilities will be closed Monday November 12^th in observance of Veteran’s Day.

Garbage collection though is not affected, and is on a regular schedule next week.