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2016 Elections
NEWS & OBSERVER: McCrory brings bond campaign to NCCU
Gov. Pat McCrory on Tuesday continued his campaign promoting the state bond proposal when he dropped in on faculty and students at the N.C. CentralUniversity School of Business.
NEWS & OBSERVER: NC attorney general primary heats up with six-figure fundraising
Two Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for state attorney general are evenly matched in campaign funding, finance reports released Monday show.With the current attorney general, Roy Cooper, running for governor, Republicans hope to take over the office for the first time in decades.
Economy & Economic Development
WRAL-NEWS: Commerce chief renews push for crowd-funding for NC businesses
Commerce Secretary John Skvarla told a legislative panel Thursday that North Carolina needs to help small businesses find investment capital so they cangrow, and one way to do that is to legalize crowd-funding.
WRAL-NEWS: NC looks at shedding tiers to boost rural economic development
After using a three-tier system for three decades to funnel state funds to the poorest North Carolina counties, the state Department of Commerce is nowurging lawmakers to adopt a system to better reflect the economic strength of each county.
NEWS & OBSERVER: $13.8 million in NC grants awarded for new cable TV shows
Two cable TV shows will be filming their first seasons in North Carolina after receiving grants through a state program.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Google Fiber plans free service to public housing locations
Google Fiber on Wednesday said it will bring its high-speed Internet service to residents of all public housing properties it connects to, at no cost tothe housing authority or to residents.
FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER: County commissioners approve sales tax agreement extension
Cumberland County commissioners have unanimously approved a three-year extension of an agreement over how sales tax revenue is divided with Fayettevilleand eight towns.
Education
COURIER-TRIBUNE: Lower tuition may be coming to some UNC campuses
A plan to drastically lower tuition at several UNC system campuses is being considered by the state Senate leadership – a proposal that could create a moreaffordable option for students while altering the size and makeup of universities initially created for black and American Indian students.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: NC education department requested money shift from reading program to salaries
North Carolina’s budget director told the state education agency in October that it should not plan to pay agency salaries with money that was intended tohelp improve student reading.
NEWS & OBSERVER: Johnston facing $520,000 pension bill for school chief’s retirement
Johnston County Schools Superintendent Ed Croom’s impending retirement could carry a $520,000 bill for county taxpayers, an expense driven by an employmentcontract that allowed $44,000 in annual perks to be treated as salary over the past several years, two state lawmakers say.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Lincoln Charter leader named to head NC Charter Schools office
Dave Machado, who has led Lincoln Charter School for 14 years, was named Thursday to lead the N.C. Office of Charter Schools.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: State board pulls the plug on Kennedy and Crossroads charter schools
The North Carolina Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to stop public funding for Kennedy and Crossroads charter schools in Charlotte, after anadvisory panel said pulling the plug was important to set high standards for the independent public schools.
NEWS & RECORD: GED passing scores lowered; more than 700 N.C. students pass
If you fell just short of passing the GED within the past year, you might be in luck.
WRAL-NEWS: UNC System reports declining enrollment in teacher programs
Student enrollment in teacher education programs in the UNC System has declined 30 percent since 2010, a UNC System official told State Board of Educationmembers at their meeting Wednesday.
NEWS & OBSERVER: House Speaker says proposal for 10 percent teacher raises was political
House Speaker Tim Moore elaborated Tuesday on his rejection of a proposal for 10 percent teacher raises this year, saying he wanted an across-the-boardraise for all state employees, not just teachers.
Health Care
NEWS & OBSERVER: NC government workers slam proposal to raise insurance costs
Several labor organizers denounced a proposal Thursday to increase health insurance costs for North Carolina state employees at a rally Thursday.
ABC-13: NC insurance commissioner criticizes health care law
North Carolina’s insurance commission says the federal health care law is causing havoc in the insurance market in the state.
In the Courts
NEWS & OBSERVER: Federal court invalidates maps of two NC congressional districts
A federal court panel ruled late Friday that two of North Carolina’s 13 congressional districts were racially gerrymandered and must be redrawn within twoweeks, sparking uncertainty about whether the March primary elections can proceed as planned.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Questions abound after judges invalidate 2 NC congressional districts
The day after a panel of federal judges invalidated two of North Carolina’s 13 congressional districts, state elections officials were working on aSaturday afternoon to encourage voters with absentee ballots to vote the full ballot anyway.
Personnel Changes
NEWS & OBSERVER: Pair chosen for State Ethics Commission
Gov. Pat McCrory announced two appointments to fill expired terms on the State Ethics Commission on Thursday.
Transportation
NEWS & OBSERVER: NC tax credit could save CSX millions on Selma cargo hub
A state report on an unpopular project to build a truck-train freight hub in Johnston County sheds light on why CSX wants to build it there, and why, evenafter the governor criticized the proposal, the state Department of Transportation is still considering whether to help pay for it.
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HarryKaplan
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Bo Heath
Senior Vice President
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John Merritt
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Kerri Burke
Vice President
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Assistant Vice President
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Sarah Wolfe
Assistant Vice President
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