Pardon Our Dust
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Agriculture & Natural Resources
WRAL-NEWS: NC fishing fight moves inland
The long-running battle between commercial and recreational fishermen movedTuesday to Raleigh, where both sides and lawmakers parried with their polesand nets over a proposal to put more regulations on commercial fishingalong the North Carolina coast.
WRAL TECH WIRE: Solar changes bill breeze through NC House
A proposal to rewrite the state’s renewable energy laws breezed through theHouse Wednesday with strong support and little debate — an unusualdevelopment in a chamber more often known for attempts to limit the solarindustry.
GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD: Cooper: North Carolina will continue tosupport climate pact
Gov. Roy Cooper has become the ninth U.S. governor to join in support ofthe global Paris Agreement that aims to reduce pollution.
Budget Negotiations
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: 7 budget items that the NC House and Senate(mostly) agree on
House and Senate leaders started budget negotiations this week, and onelawmaker reported a 15-hour day of talks Tuesday as the two chambers seek adeal in a matter of weeks.
Education
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES: Can WNC colleges compete with $500 tuition?
The plan to lower tuition at three of North Carolina’s public universitiesshould save families money, but it could have unintended consequences forsome of the state’s small, private colleges.
Elections & Legislative Districts
WRAL-NEWS: Ruling leaves no one on merged NC elections, ethics board
A new panel with no members is supervising North Carolina’s elections,ethics, lobbying and other duties.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Should all even-year primaries be held in March? NCHouse votes yes
Even-year primary elections would be held in early March starting in 2020under a bill that passed the N.C. House Tuesday.
NEWS & OBSERVER: US Supreme Court affirms NC legislative districtsas racial gerrymanders
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request from state lawmakers toreview a lower court’s ruling that struck down the 2011 state legislativedistricts, but sent the case back for reconsideration of whether electionsshould be held in 2017 as ordered by the lower court.
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES: NC GOP refuses Cooper’s session demand
North Carolina Republican legislative leaders refused Thursday to hold aspecial redistricting session demanded by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper,calling his decree faulty and unconstitutional.
NEWS & OBSERVER: Federal court leaves open possibility for specialelections in NC this year
The three federal judges who could decide whether North Carolina will havespecial elections this year in state legislative races issued notice Fridaythat they plan to act quickly.
NEWS & OBSERVER: US Supreme Court affirms NC legislative districtsas racial gerrymanders
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request from state lawmakers toreview a lower court’s ruling that struck down the 2011 state legislativedistricts, but sent the case back for reconsideration of whether electionsshould be held in 2017 as ordered by the lower court.
Governor’s Cabinet
NEWS & OBSERVER: IT chief heads toward confirmation
The governor’s final Cabinet nominee breezed through a Senate committee onWednesday on his way toward confirmation.
WRAL-NEWS: Confirmation resumes as Cooper revenue chief OK’s by panel
The North Carolina Senate is scrutinizing the members of Gov. Roy Cooper’sCabinet who have yet to be confirmed.
Justice & Public Safety
WCNC-NEWS: NC House approves bill to carry concealed handguns withoutpermit
The North Carolina House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill thatwould allow state residents to carry concealed handguns without a permit.It now goes to the state Senate.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Lawmakers decry ‘shocking’ prison corruptionuncovered by the Observer
Calling the findings of a Charlotte Observer investigation “shocking” and”intolerable,” North Carolina lawmakers this week said the state mustescalate its battle against prison corruption.
Regulatory Reform
NEWS & OBSERVER: NC Senate moves to make newspaper carriers companyemployees
Newspapers would have to treat carriers like employees rather thanindependent contractors under a bill the Senate approved Monday.
WITN-NEWS: Bill upholding “casino nights” clears House
Legislation spelling out when and where nonprofit groups can operatecasino-style games for charity in North Carolina has cleared one GeneralAssembly chamber.