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Your weekly North Carolina political news report.
Budget Update
HERALD-SUN: NC suicide hotline will ‘absolutely’ be funded, top Republican says
A center that answers North Carolina’s Suicide Prevention Lifeline will “absolutely” receive funding from the state government to continue operating, a top legislator rel=”noopener noreferrer” said on Friday.
WSOCTV: NC Senate votes to override Cooper budget veto
The North Carolina Senate voted Thursday to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of the state budget bill. The issue now goes to the House rel=”noopener noreferrer” of Representatives.
Education
Both State Schools Superintendent Mark Johnson and the State Board of Education are claiming victory in a N.C. Supreme Court ruling rel=”noopener noreferrer” over who is in charge of running North Carolina’s public schools.
WRAL: Lawmakers OK town charter schools for first time
By a 64-53 vote, House lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to allowing four towns in rel=”noopener noreferrer” Mecklenburg County to open charter schools under town management.
Economic Development
WRAL: Bill would up loan origination fees
Legislation moving at the statehouse would let banks triple origination fees on loans under $20,000. The new fee cap would be $150, the first increase since 1991. This would be part of a sliding rel=”noopener noreferrer” scale of fees contained in House Bill 810, with the fee for loans under $100,000 topping out at $2.
Elections
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: Voter ID resurfaces with attempt at N.C. constitutional amendment
The Republican-controlled state House is making another attempt at requiring North Carolinians to show photo identification at the polls. This time, GOP legislative leaders say they rel=”noopener noreferrer” want voters to decide the polarizing issue by approving a constitutional amendment on the November general election ballot.
Environment
WUNC: Environmental Advocates Call For Ban On Styrofoam
Environmental activists are calling for a statewide rel=”noopener noreferrer” ban on single-use polystyrene, better known as styrofoam. The plastic food and drink containers don’t biodegrade, and often end up in waterways and marine animals.
ROANOAKE RAPIDS DAILY HERALD: Plans approved to cover coal ash landfill
A plan to put the final cover on the coal ash “monofill” the county operates was approved on Monday.
Healthcare
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: NC police could get access to painkiller rel=”noopener noreferrer” prescription data
A proposal in North Carolina’s legislature would let law officers access a statewide database recording who is prescribing controlled drugs from morphine to codeine.
A N.C. Senate health-care committee on Thursday discussed what could be the first step toward giving North Carolinians access to a cheaper and skimpier health-insurance option.
Transportation
ASSOCIATED PRESS: Up to $3B in Transportation Debt Possible in Legislation
Republican legislative leaders support a proposal from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration to maintain the increased pace of road construction by authorizing debt, paid back using projected highway-building revenues.