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Your weekly North Carolina political news report.
Education
NEWS & OBSERVER: Superintendent’s reorganization shakes up the agency that oversees NC public schools
State Schools Superintendent Mark Johnson is using his newly granted powers to reorganize the state education agency that works with North Carolina’s 1.5 million public school students.
Economic Development
HICKORY RECORD: Specialty insurer Arch Capital gets tax breaks to move jobs
An insurance company that covers the risks of lenders and other insurers is moving hundreds of high-paying jobs from the New York City area to the tech hub near North Carolina’s capital city.
Elections
THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Gov. Roy Cooper just vetoed two bills affecting the November elections
Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has vetoed the two bills the Legislature passed earlier this week that would affect November’s midterm elections.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: Looking to 2020, Cooper, Forest keep to campaign fundraising
North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and a potential 2020 challenger keep vacuuming up campaign money.
Local Government
THE LAURINBURGE EXCHANGE: State officials forecast trouble for some localities
State Revenue Secretary Ronald Penny warns that some small municipalities in rural counties shedding residents and tax base might not survive. State Auditor Beth Wood says state officials should crack down on towns and counties with slipshod finances.
Healthcare
TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL: How a provider collaboration aims to save on costs ahead of NC’s Medicaid reform
Reform of North Carolina’s $14 billion Medicaid program involves moving from a fee-for-service model to a managed care model.
International News
NEWS & OBSERVER: After more than 600 days, NC pastor released from Turkish prison. But he’s still not free.
After two years of uncertainty in a Turkish prison, Pastor Andrew Brunson of Black Mountain, N.C., is finally being released.
In the Courts
GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD: N.C. attorney general appealing ruling that allows Duke Energy to hike rates for coal ash cleanup
The North Carolina Department of Justice has filed formal notice with state utility regulators that it will appeal a recent ruling that allows Duke Energy to charge customers for cleaning up its coal ash waste.
WRAL NEWS: NC school boards group filing complaint over longstanding lawsuit against state
The North Carolina School Boards Association and “many school districts” plan to file a complaint next Wednesday in a longstanding lawsuit against the state, the group announced Thursday.
Justice & Public Safety
UPI: Entire N.C. police department shut down after chief arrested
The entire police department in Southport, N.C., has been “functionally closed” after the arrest of its police chief and second-in-command following an FBI investigation.