NC Politics in the News

September 18, 2017

Pardon Our Dust

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Economy

WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: State jobless rate remains at 17-year low of 4.1percent in August

North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged in August at 4.1 percent,still the lowest jobless rate in almost 17 years.

Elections

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Kenny Smith planned to run against Roberts. Willhis strategy work against Lyles?

For more than a year, Republican City Council member Kenny Smith hasplanned to run against Mayor Jennifer Roberts, a polarizing figure whomSmith believed would be vulnerable, even in a heavily Democratic city.

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: City Council incumbents Kinsey, Fallon losere-election bids

Two City Council incumbents were defeated in their re-election bids in theDemocratic primary Tuesday.

NEWS & OBSERVER: 3 candidates for Raleigh mayor differ on how bestto spend your money

The three candidates for mayor of Raleigh are hitting the campaign trailwith different ideas about how Raleigh should spend taxpayers’ money andset priorities such as parks and affordable housing.

NEWS & OBSERVER: When it comes to voter registration, Republicansare no longer in NC’s top 2

Unaffiliated voters now make up the second-largest group of voterregistrations in North Carolina, with more registrations in that categorythan registered Republicans.

Energy & the Environment

FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER: Answers elusive for residents concerned aboutchemicals

Residents who live near the Chemours plant in Bladen County got some oftheir questions answered Thursday about potentially harmful chemicals foundin groundwater at the facility, but state officials acknowledged that not alot is known about the compounds.

NEWS & OBSERVER: North Carolina regulators take more time forpipeline review

Environmental regulators in North Carolina say they need more informationand more time to evaluate the water quality implications of the AtlanticCoast Pipeline.

In the Courts

BURLINGTON TIMES NEWS: Lawyers: 12 NC legislative districts remainillegal

Illegal and unconstitutional boundaries remain within North Carolina’s newstate legislative districts, lawyers who sued successfully over the oldmaps told federal judges Friday while asking for another redraw.

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Judges delay giving NC superintendent control overthe education department

State Superintendent Mark Johnson will have to wait at least a month beforegaining more control over the running of North Carolina’s public schools, athree-judge panel ruled Thursday.

WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: NC partisan gerrymandering trial date set inGreensboro

A trial on whether North Carolina Republican legislators used illegal,excessive partisanship last year in drawing congressional districts thatfavored the GOP is scheduled for next month.

Judicial Redistricting

NEWS & OBSERVER: Are NC lawmakers moving toward abandoning electionof judges and overhauling courts?

Two and a half months after his surprise release of a plan to redrawdistricts used to elect North Carolina judges and district attorneys, stateRep. Justin Burr, R-Stanly, opened a meeting related to his proposal onTuesday with more discussion about changing how judges are chosen thanabout the first sweeping overhaul of the judicial maps in 62 years.