Law Bans Barbed Wire Around Public Housing

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley signed a law banning electric, spiked, or barbed-wire fences around public housing complexes, reported The News & Observer of Raleigh. The provision was pushed by assembly sponsors who wanted to get rid of the barbed-wire fence enclosing the Raymond Sanders apartments in Benson. The local housing authority erected the fence to help keep out drug dealers, the article said. However, a few town commissioners urged its removal after some residents said that they felt as if they were being imprisoned. Benson's mayor said state officials interfered with a local issue; he vowed to wait and see if the state orders the destruction of the fence, the article reported. One commissioner said he'd press for its removal if the housing authority stalls.