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2016 Elections
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: Gov. McCrory campaigns for $2 billion bond package at UNC School of the Arts
Gov. Pat McCrory campaigned for the $2 billion bond package Thursday at the UNC School of the Arts, saying that the state needs to improve buildings oncollege campuses to prepare students for 21st century jobs.
Economy & Economic Development
ROCKINGHAM DAILY JOURNAL: Perdue expansion bring jobs, $10.9M investment
Another Richmond County business is expanding and adding new jobs, state and local leaders announced Monday. Perdue Foods, LLC — a subsidiary ofMaryland-based Perdue Farms Inc. — will be investing $10.9 million in its Rockingham processing plant and hiring 30 new employees over the next threeyears.
NEWS & OBSERVER: Legislators look to cut NC income taxes by raising standard deduction
State legislators could consider further income tax cuts this year that could save families up to $115 per year.
STANLY NEWS & PRESS: Governor McCrory’s veterans employment initiative hits the ground at Camp Lejeune
A job fair at Camp Lejeune attracted more than 65 military service members interested in the information technology sector, specifically in stategovernment.
WRAL-NEWS: NC lawmakers begin talk on income tax cut
Leaders of the General Assembly committee charged with recommending changes to tax laws say lawmakers should cut the income taxes North Carolina residentspay when the legislature returns in April.
TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL: Rating agencies confirm NC’s ‘AAA’ bond rating
All three rating agencies affirmed North Carolina’s “AAA” bond rating, keeping it as one of nine states to hold the highest rating from all three agencies.
Education
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Charter School finances
Fifteen of North Carolina’s more than 150 charter schools are on a financial watch list tracking taxpayer money going to the non-traditional publicschools.
NEWS & OBSERVER: Spelling outlines vision for NC public higher education
Saying that education is the new civil right, UNC President-elect Margaret Spellings outlined her vision of public higher education in North Carolina andher goal of enhancing the university system’s quality while making it affordable and accountable to taxpayers.
FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER: State legislators consider lower tuition, name change for Fayetteville State
Fayetteville State University graduates gave mixed reactions to a reported proposal that could change the makeup of the school and perhaps give it a newname.
Energy & Environment
WRAL-NEWS: Solar backers seek to allay lawmakers’ fears
Solar industry members and advocates told a legislative panel Wednesday there’s little need to worry about safe removal of solar panels in the future.Solar skeptics, both at the legislature and at free-market think tanks, have expressed concern recently about how the panels will be disposed of when theirworking life of about 25 years is done.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Report: NC Ranks 9th for Solar Jobs
North Carolina’s 5,950 jobs in the solar industry ranked 9th nationally last year, a new report says. The nonprofit Solar Foundation counted 208,859 solarjobs across the U.S., more than double the number of five years earlier, in its 2015 census.
WNCN: Permit issued to allow safe closure NC coal ash pong; others could follow
North Carolina environmental officials issued a permit Friday that they say will “serve as a model for the safe closure of all coal ash ponds” across thestate.
Health Care
NEWS & OBSERVER: Blue Cross CEO says insurer may leave ACA market in NC
Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the state’s largest health insurer, expects to report its second consecutive financial loss in coming weeks, as the companycontends with continuing cost overruns under the Affordable Care Act, CEO Brad Wilson said Wednesday.
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: Behavioral health groups told by NC legislator to tap reserve funds to avoid service cuts
Tension over state financing for North Carolina’s eight behavioral-health managed care organizations bubbled to the surface Tuesday when legislativeleaders expressed concerns again about potential service cuts.
CAROLINA JOURNAL: Concierge Practice gives docs more time with patients
Dr. Octavian Belcea thinks of himself as a medical throwback, the friendly family doctor who practices old-fashioned, comprehensive treatment of hispatients and their families.
WRAL-NEWS: Duke, UNC research to aid state battle against underage drinking
Researchers from Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill presented a report Wednesday on the effects of alcohol on the brainsof young people to the Governor’s Substance Abuse and Underage Drinking Prevention and Treatment Task Force.
ABC-13 NEWS: Stats releasing in drug-testing NC welfare applicants
North Carolina’s new drug screening program for welfare recipients is undergoing its first evaluation, and the numbers might surprise you.
The Robesonian: NC Medicaid again under budget
North Carolina’s Medicaid finances are continuing to run under budget thanks to essentially flat enrollment growth and less-than-anticipated medicalexpenses and use of services.
In the Courts
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: North Carolina seeks delay to fix 2 congressional districts
Attorneys for the state of North Carolina asked federal judges to delay an order requiring two congressional districts to be redrawn, saying absenteevoting is already underway for the March 15 primary.
NEWS & OBSERVER: NC legislature to begin work on new congressional maps Monday
The legislature will hold meetings starting Monday to draft new congressional maps in response to a court order, House Speaker Tim Moore announced Fridayafternoon.
WRAL-NEWS: Despite litigation, North Carolina voter ID begins March 3
The future of voter ID in North Carolina ultimately will be resolved by the courts. But pending lawsuits challenging its legality based on alleged racialdiscrimination haven’t changed the fact the photo identification mandate will begin statewide in three weeks.
Personnel Changes
NEWS & OBSERVER: Administration Secretary Daughtridge leaving McCrory
There’s been another departure from Gov. Pat McCrory’s original Cabinet. The governor announced Friday that state Administration Secretary Bill Daughtridgehas been appointed to the N.C. Industrial Commission.
Public Safety
NEWS & OBSERVER: Forum on use of body cameras in western NC
Asheville area law enforcement agencies are holding a public meeting on the use of body cameras.
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