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Education
NEWS & OBSERVER: NC school voucher program expanding following court ruling
The number of North Carolina children using tax dollars to attend private schools will at least double this fall and could climb much higher now that theschool voucher program has been declared constitutional by the N.C. Supreme Court.
WITN: Wake County Superior Court Judge, known for state education monitoring, to retire
Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard E. Manning Jr. will retire at the end of this month, but will still handle some cases.
WRAL: Sorting out the impacts of proposed teacher aide cuts
Among the many points of contention between the state House’s and Senate’s competing budget proposals is a Senate plan that would cut millions from whatthe state doles out to school systems for teacher assistants.
NEWS & OBSERVER: Experts differ on NC education quality
The opening day of a state education hearing exposed sharply different views on whether the state is meeting its constitutional mandate to provideopportunities for a sound education to every child.
Elections
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: North Carolina is one step closer to an early presidential primary in March
Attempting to push North Carolina closer to the front stage of national politics, state Senate lawmakers unanimously voted Tuesday to move up the date ofthe 2016 presidential primary election to March 15.
Health Care
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: ABLE bill heading to Senate floor for vote
The state Senate Finance committee unanimously recommended a House bill Tuesday that would give those with disabilities a chance to lead more financiallyindependent lives.
WRAL: Warning signs for group homes emerge amid budget stalemate
Eric likes sports, especially basketball. He likes his two-day-a-week job at Marbles Kids Museum. He loves attending his family’s Lutheran church.
Insurance
CITIZEN-TIMES: NC retiree insurance, pension rate brought to budget debate
North Carolina lawmakers are looking at changes they say will shore up important benefits for hundreds of thousands of state employees and teachers whenapproaching retirement.
NC History
ABC 11: Governor McCrory signs bill protecting North Carolina Confederate monuments
Under pressure to take action from groups on both sides of the Confederate symbols debate, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory responded Thursday by signing amuch-debated monuments bill that critics said would protect Confederate memorials.
Public Safety
WRAL: Bill to resume state executions advances
State Senate leaders are moving ahead with a bill aimed at restarting executions in North Carolina.
WRAL: Gun opponents resigned to firearms bill’s passage
A bill that would loosen state restrictions on who can carry a concealed weapon and where they can be carried is headed to the Senate floor after clearingthe Senate Judiciary II Committee on Thursday morning.
Regulatory Reform
NEWS & RECORD: Lawmakers get an earful from public on proposed regulations
Sprawling changes to North Carolina’s environmental regulations were criticized Tuesday by a contingent of activists, lobbyists and attorneys speaking atthe first public comment session for the proposed bill.
WWAY: NC Senate passes new rules for ridesharing services like Uber
A deal brokered between North Carolina lawmakers and ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft to place regulations on the app-based companies has passedthe Senate and will go to the House.
TWC NEWS: NC House Votes to End Emissions Tests in Some Counties
Drivers in more than half of the 48 North Carolina counties that require vehicle emissions tests may soon be able to skip them.
State Budget & Taxes
CITIZEN-TIMES: NC leaders differ on which roads to build, how to pay
Disagreements in Raleigh over how to pay for transportation improvements and which roads need work could change the list of WNC highways in line to bewidened, straightened or replaced.
WRAL: Cities, counties balk at home builder tax exemption
Municipal and county representatives spoke out Wednesday against a bill that would exempt new homes in builder inventories from property taxes for up tothree years.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Fellow Republicans test NC Gov. Pat McCrory
Gov. Pat McCrory has had better weeks.
CONTACT US
HarryKaplan
Senior Vice President
hkaplan@mwcllc.com
JeffBarnhart
Senior Vice President
jbarnhart@mwcllc.com
Franklin Freeman
Senior Vice President
ffreeman@mwcllc.com
Bo Heath
Senior Vice President
dbheath@mwcllc.com
John Merritt
Senior Vice President
jmerritt@mwcllc.com
JohnnyTillett
Senior Vice President
jtillett@mwcllc.com
Kerri Burke
Vice President
kburke@mwcllc.com
JillianTotman
Assistant Vice President
jtotman@mwcllc.com
Sarah Wolfe
Assistant Vice President
swolfe@mwcllc.com
Philip Barefoot
Research Assistant
pbarefoot@mwcllc.com