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Your weekly North Carolina political news report.
Economy
Gov. Roy Cooper ended his first year in office with a flurry of jobannouncements in December that featured at least 10 projects, includingwhat he touted as the largest investment by a manufacturer ever in ruralNorth Carolina.
SALISBURY POST: November unemployment rates increased
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 99 of NorthCarolina’s counties in November and decreased in one.
Health Care
WRAL-NEWS: Opioid prescription limits take effect Jan. 1
As part of North Carolina’s battle against opioid abuse, new rules for howdoctors prescribe painkillers took effect Monday, Jan. 1.
In the Courts
GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD: Legislators argue special master reliedon race to redraw districts
An expert for the legislative defendants in North Carolina’s racialgerrymandering lawsuit has leveled sharp criticism at recently proposedelection maps because he said they likely stem from another consultant’suse of forbidden racial quotas.
WFAE-NEWS: Redistricting Special Master testifies about redrawn maps
Lawyers for Republican legislative leaders and for voters tried Friday toshape an upcoming decision by three federal judges about whether NorthCarolina legislative districts redrawn by a court-appointed expert shouldbe used in this year’s elections.
January Special Session
House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger have dropped a fewhints about what to expect during the legislative session that begins Jan.10.
WRAL-NEWS: House will take up short-term Gen-X measures this week
A House committee formed in the wake of GenX contamination in the Cape FearRiver greenlighted a series of “short-term measures” Thursday that wouldrequire state regulators to study and share data on emerging contaminants.
Judicial Redistricting
WRAL-NEWS: Senators roll out judicial appointments proposal
A proposal to appoint judges in North Carolina, with voters deciding lateron full terms, emerged at the statehouse Wednesday, but a lack of consensusleft unclear whether the General Assembly can approve any judicial branchchanges during a special session slated to begin next week.
WRAL-NEWS: Speaker: Joint judiciary review a go; judicial redistrictingshould be as well
The House will go along with a Senate request to name a new joint committeeto study judiciary reforms, but House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, saidThursday that he also expects the General Assembly to move this month onjudicial redistricting.
Justice & Public Safety
WRAL-NEWS: After prison worker deaths, DPS toughens penalties forinmate infractions
Inmates in North Carolina prisons will face tougher penalties for offensescommitted behind bars, starting this week, officials said Friday.
New Laws in Effect
NEWS & OBSERVER: New NC laws take effect Monday. What the changesmean to you.
All or portions of roughly 20 state laws took effect Monday in NorthCarolina, with some changing how judges are elected or how doctorsprescribe powerful pain medications.