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Your weekly North Carolina political news report.
Education
WRAL NEWS: Post-Parkland bills increase NC psychologists appear stalled for this session
Lawmakers focused on improving school safety for months have planned to address a significant shortage of school psychologists, but none of the related bills filed by legislators look like they are going anywhere during this legislative session.
NEWS & OBSERVER: These programs push viable – and cheaper – paths to NC State or UNC degrees
N.C. State has a new plan to admit more graduates from eight regional community colleges, widening the pipeline of students on a more affordable path of higher education.
Economic Development
WRAL NEWS: Online sales tax ruling to boost state, local budgets
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling Thursday that states can require online retailers to collect sales tax on purchases made by their residents could be a boon for state and local budgets in the coming years.
Elections
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: Voter ID, hunting rights amendments on tap in final week of N.C. legislature
The North Carolina legislature is entering what’s expected to be the final week of this year’s session ready to act on proposed constitutional amendments and any more vetoes by Gov. Roy Cooper.
NEWS & OBSERVER: What if Burr or Tillis resigns? The GOP wants a say in their replacement.
A proposal on the governor’s desk changes the way North Carolina would fill an open U.S. Senate seat.
Environment
WRAL NEWS: Duke gets some coal ash costs, but loses out on multibillion grid charges
Duke Energy won’t be able to charge customers up front for $13 billion it wants to spend burying power lines and making other changes to its electric grid, the North Carolina Utilities Commission said Friday.
NEWS & RECORD: Greensboro works on its PFOS problem as evidence of harm grows
Greensboro water supervisors are considering the next step after test wells at Piedmont Triad International Airport produced inconsistent results that have dimmed hopes for pinpointing a major source of the problem chemical PFOS, a harmful compound once heavily used in firefighting foam.
General Government
US NEWS: March Primary, Opioid Crime Measures Signed by Cooper
North Carolina’s even-year primary elections are moving from May to March and police will get new tools to track illegal opioid transactions as Gov. Roy Cooper signed nearly 30 bills into law Friday.
Healthcare
HERALD-SUN: Critics warn bill could ‘swallow the NC budget’ – but its creator killed it
In an unexpected move Thursday, a North Carolina House Democrat moved to kill her own bill that would have started the process to create a statewide universal health care system.
In the Courts
NEWS & OBSERVER: Supreme Court sends NC partisan gerrymander case back for arguments
The U.S. Supreme Court won’t immediately take up arguments about whether North Carolina Republican lawmakers went too far in 2016 when they redrew the state’s 13 congressional election districts to intentionally give their party a 10 to 3 advantage.
WTVD NEWS: ‘Bathroom Bill’ fight returns to North Carolina courtroom
Transgender plaintiffs who think the compromise that replaced North Carolina’s “bathroom bill” is still discriminatory are heading to court.
Justice & Public Safety
HERALD-SUN: Crime victims would get new rights under plan that could go to NC voters
The state Senate is moving forward with a proposed constitutional amendment that would add more protections and rights for crime victims in the legal process.