Gov. Cooper orders schools closed across North Carolina, no mass gatherings

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has ordered K-12 public schools statewide to close for two weeks in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus. Cooper issued an executive order closing the schools for two weeks starting Monday, March 16. He also ordered there be no mass gatherings of 100 people or more. State officials earlier this week had said large events should be canceled or postponed. "I think it's important for the safety, health and welfare of our state to do it," Cooper said during…