John Skvarla, twice a NC Cabinet secretary, dies at age 73

A two-time Cabinet secretary for then-North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has died. Colleagues and friends say John Skvarla died Tuesday at age 73. A longtime friend and newspaper publisher said Skvarla was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. Skvarla served as secretary of what is now called the Department of Environmental Quality. He worked there for McCrory in 2013 and 2014. In early 2015, he moved over to become McCrory’s commerce secretary. His Cabinet tenure was marked in part by Duke Energy's coal ash spill and the state's "bathroom bill." The state government work came during a long career in law, business and economic development.