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Your weekly North Carolina political news report.
Budget
CBS 17: Gov. Cooper presents full 2-year budget plan; 9% teacher raise included
North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper offered his ideas on how to spend state money for the next two years.
Education
WBTV: NC bill aims to arm educators, create ‘teacher resource officer’ position
Teachers could receive training to carry a gun and serve as law enforcement officers at schools under a bill filed this week in the North Carolina General Assembly.
Economic Development
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: N.C. begins 2019 with slight uptick in jobless rate to 3.8 percent
The state’s jobless rate ticked up slightly to begin 2019 at 3.8 percent in January, the N.C. Commerce Department reported Monday.
Healthcare
North Carolina Healthcare News: Medicaid expansion looms large in Cooper’s budget bid
Governor Roy Cooper rolled out his budget for the upcoming fiscal year Wednesday morning, presenting a $25.2 billion plan with one of the central provisions being extension of North Carolina’s Medicaid program to cover as many as half a million low-income residents of the state.
General Assembly
WRAL NEWS: School construction bond plan has bipartisan support in House
A proposal to seek voter approval next year on $1.9 billion in bonds for school and higher education facilities will go before House lawmakers next week and is expected to pass with strong bipartisan support.
Transportation
ISLAND FREE PRESS: N.C. Board of Transportation votes to name new Oregon Inlet Bridge after Marc Basnight
At their meeting on Thursday morning, March 7, the North Carolina State Board of Transportation unanimously voted to name the new bridge across Oregon Inlet the “Marc Basnight Oregon Inlet Bridge.” The segment of the old bridge that will become a pedestrian walkway will retain the Herbert C. Bonner name.
ABC 11: Proposed legislation would make it illegal in North Carolina to use cellphone while driving
A new bill proposed in the House Thursday would make it illegal in North Carolina to use hand-held communication devices, such as cellphones, behind the wheel while driving.