McCrory's office said the governor would sign four bills late Wednesday afternoon, including the legislation that would block the state from expanding Medicaid to cover more lower-income people and from operating an online health care marketplace. The federal government will run the exchange instead.

 

McCrory also planned to sign a bill that ensures group homes and Alzheimer's care units can access state funds to deal with Medicaid coverage changes. There's also legislation to allow a live possum drop to continue on New Year's Eve in Brasstown. Another would increase penalties for protests at funerals.

 

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had attempted to bar Brasstown from conducting the drop, in which a possum is lowered to the ground in a plexiglass box. The drop is meant to be a unique, small town version of the famed New York City/Times Square ball drop. 

 

Town officials say the possum is never harmed and, in fact, is let loose after the event.

 

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Additional information from SGRToday.com