Pardon Our Dust
We recently launched this new site and are still in the process of updating some of our archived content. Some details of this article may be incomplete, links may be broken, and other elements may not display properly yet. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Education
NEWS & OBSERVER: Governor’s School alums appeal to keep state moneyfor the enrichment program
Devoted alumni of a high school summer enrichment program — who don’t wantthis year’s class to be the last – are flooding state legislators withtestimonials on how the experience changed their lives.
WFDD-NEWS: NC lawmakers advance bill that would raise money for schoolconstruction
A proposal in the legislature could give public schools in the state muchneeded funding for capital improvements.
Executive Branch
WWAY-TV NEWS: Gov. cooper announces $31 million grant to fight opioidepidemic
Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday that North Carolina has received a $31million federal grant to help address the opioid epidemic.
WNCN-NEWS: Cooper in DC to push for more Matthew aid after 99 percentdenied by federal government
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is visiting the nation’s capital to speak ata conference organized by a liberal advocacy group before huddling with thestate’s congressional delegation to redouble efforts to obtain more federalHurricane Matthew relief.
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES: Cooper vows executive order to expandprotections
Gov. Roy Cooper vowed Tuesday to act on his own to improve LGBT protectionsin North Carolina, where he faces criticism for compromising withRepublicans to partially repeal a law limiting anti-discriminationprotections.
Health Care
NEWS & OBSERVER: NC hospitals fight legislative effort to open uphealth care market to competitors
Jay Singleton, an eye surgeon in New Bern, has grown increasinglyfrustrated that there is just one surgical facility serving patients in histhree-county area.
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES: Mental health agency denies lavish spending inaudit
A regional managed care mental health agency that receives taxpayer fundsspent excessively on salaries for top executives, conferences and Christmasparties, a state audit said Thursday, but Cardinal Innovations HealthcareSolutions defended its actions as lawful.
NEWS & OBSERVER: With patients waiting, new beds stay empty atCherry Hospital
For the last nine months, more than 100 beds for patients who need acutepsychiatric care in Eastern North Carolina have stayed empty, even aspatients wait for treatment.
NEWS & OBSERVER: Fighting to spare mental health from NC budgetcuts
Advocates for people with mental illnesses are fighting to save regionalmental health offices from state budget cuts they say jeopardize plans forbetter community care.
WRAL-NEWS: Senate budget would cut off food aid to 133,000
An estimated 133,000 people in North Carolina would lose access togovernment food assistance programs under a provision tucked into theSenate budget approved last week.
NC HEALTH NEWS: Budget axe aims at Wright School – again
People in the mental health community are reacting to the news that for thesixth time budget writers in the North Carolina Senate have eliminatedfunding for the Wright School, a Durham-based facility serving kids withsevere mental and behavioral health problems.
In the Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that North Carolina lawmakers reliedtoo heavily on race when drawing congressional districts in 2011, affirminga lower-court ruling that forced legislators to create new maps last year.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Angry Charlotte craft brewers take fight to court,alleging ‘cronyism’
Hoping to win in court what they lost in the General Assembly, twoCharlotte craft brewers sued the state of North Carolina Monday, arguingthat state laws that limit their production are unconstitutional.
Justice & Public Safety
WRAL-NEWS: Budget provision limiting ALE, ABC law enforcement powers‘all politics’
Criticism continues to mushroom over a provision in the Senate budget thatwould limit the law enforcement powers of state Alcohol Law Enforcementagents and county Alcoholic Beverage Control officers.
GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD: NC lawmakers weight expanding rights ofvictims
More than 20 years ago, North Carolina voters first enshrined the rights ofcrime victims in the state Constitution to talk with prosecutors, speak incourt when their assailants are sentenced and learn when they’re releasedfrom prison.
WRAL-NEWS: Opponents raise concerns, but ‘raise the age’ proposalclears House
The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday in favor of legislation that wouldend North Carolina’s practice of trying 16- and 17-year-olds as adults forcrimes.
Regulatory Reform
WRAL-NEWS: Small cell tower compromise moves ahead
An industry-backed proposal to limit local regulation of small cell towerinstallation is moving ahead in the North Carolina House, but the latestversion preserves some local oversight.
NEWS & OBSERVER: ‘Grill bill’ heads to Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk aheadof Memorial Day
Legislation allowing restaurants to cook on outdoor grills is headed to thegovernor’s desk after a final Senate vote Thursday.
Transportation
WSOC-CHARLOTTE: $1.36M fine levied on I-77 toll lane contractor byNCDOT
The company responsible for toll lane construction on Interstate 77 hasbeen fined $1.36 million by the North Carolina Department ofTransportation.
WRAL-NEWS: Senate leaders tap brakes on ‘platooning’ trucks
State Senate leaders delayed a vote Wednesday on a bill to allow commercialtrucks to “platoon” using computer-assisted braking technology, saying themeasure may be too permissive.
WRAL-NEWS: House eyes driver retraining school
A measure in the state House would require drivers whose licenses aresuspended for moving violations to attend and pass a driver retrainingprogram to get their licenses reinstated.