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Agriculture
NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH NEWS: Cannabis confusion pushes states to ban smokable hemp
Lawmakers came and left Raleigh this week to return in April, leaving many issues unresolved. One of the big questions is what to do about smokable hemp, which some law enforcement worry looks too much like marijuana.
Economic Development
THE TIMES NEWS: Economic development at a high in Alamance County
Alamance County’s economic stability is near the highest it’s ever been. The county is within the top 26 most economically stable in North Carolina, according to the 2020 Development Tier Designations report from the N.C. Department of Commerce.
Education
WITN: Federal Government to give NC $56 million for early education
The federal government is giving North Carolina up to $56 million over the next seven years to help improve early childhood education and health outcomes for at-risk children. Gov. Roy Cooper announced the grant awards on Thursday at a Cary child development center.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NC social studies classes are about to change. And some teachers aren’t happy about it.
North Carolina is overhauling what students will learn in social studies classes, putting more emphasis on managing credit cards and spending less time on U.S. history. Newly approved changes mean high schools students will have to take a course on personal finance before they graduate.
Elections
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The 2020 primaries are starting. Here’s how to vote in North Carolina.
The 2020 primary elections have begun in North Carolina, with mail-in ballots now available for people who choose to use absentee voting. In-person early voting won’t start until Feb. 13, through, and Election Day isn’t until March 3. So undecided voters still have time to make up their minds.
Healthcare
WFAE: What’s Next For Medicaid in North Carolina?
North Carolina is still without a full state budget after state senators did not hold an expected vote to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto Tuesday. That means planned changes to how Medicaid pays healthcare providers are up in the air.
Government
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: No raises for NC teachers. Vote upholds Cooper veto; legislature goes home until spring
It’s a new year, but the state budget stalemate is the same as in 2019. In Raleigh for a one-day session of the legislature Tuesday, the state Senate failed to override Go. Roy Cooper’s veto of a teacher pay raise bill, with Cooper’s fellow Democrats saying it wasn’t enough money.
Transportation
TRANSPORTATION TODAY: North Carolina hosts first successful demonstration of autonomous air taxi
North America’s first demonstration of an autonomous air taxi took flight this week in North Carolina, showing off the viability of a new chapter in air travel in the state where it all began.
THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: North Carolina is one of the best states for driving, study says. Here’s why
Don’t scoff, commuters, but North Carolina has been named one of the best states for drivers. The Tar Heel State offers the third-most “positive driving” experience in the country, the personal finance website WalletHub said in findings released Tuesday.