A bill broadening so-called conscience protections and the number of employers who can refuse to provide contraception services in health insurance coverage has been approved by a North Carolina House committee.

The bill approved Wednesday allows any medical professional to refuse to participate in an abortion and allows any business to refuse to provide contraception coverage on religious or moral grounds.

The bill expands so-called conscience protections beyond doctors and nurses to include people such as pharmacists and technicians.

The contraception provision expands existing law that exempts religious organizations to any private or nonprofit company.

The bill also outlaws health care plans that include abortion services from future online marketplaces of private plans offered under the federal Affordable Care Act.

Opponents say the bill tramples women's rights.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

NEWTON, NC (WBTV)- 13 people from Burke and Catawba Counties have been indicted on 99 counts involving the sale and manufacture of methamphetamine.

The "Baker's Dozen" as they are called by the State Bureau of Investigations, had been operating methamphetamine operations in and around the town of Longview. Authorities say the group worked together to obatin the raw materials, most important of them, pseudoephedrine, an ingredient in many cold medicines. "The sale is restricted as to how much and how often you are allowed to buy it, said Pharmcist Chris Kirby.

"It would be hard to get enough of it to make much meth unless it was a big operation," he said. 

Foxfire Village, NC (WBTV)- For the 2nd straight year, the Forestview Jaguars have claimed the 3A state championship in golf as they won by 22 shots over Burlington High School.

Forestview would have 3 golfers in the top 11 finishers to pace their championship run.  Will Long would win the individual state title after shooting a 6 under 66 today.  Long will play his college golf at Auburn next season.

Joining Long in the top 11 for Forestview were Will Blalock who was tied for 5th, Drew Jurs who finish in 8th, and Alex Taylor who finish tied for 11th.

Other local golfers who finished in the top 11 include South Point's Nick Stafford would finish in 2nd just one shot behind Long, South Rowan's Davis Richards would finished tied for 3rd,  Charlotte Catholic's Ethan Mead finished 9th, and Colton Naslund who finished tied for 11th.