NC Politics in the News

July 13, 2020

Pardon Our Dust

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Agriculture

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: COVID-19 hasn’t nixed the NC State Fair, yet. For now, preparations ‘still underway’
State officials announced the cancellation of the Mountain State Fair on Tuesday, but North Carolina’s biggest show of the fall is still a big question mark: The N.C. State Fair


Economic Development

THE WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: Unemployed, furloughed North Carolinians face steep cuts in benefit payments
The countdown is at 13 days — and ticking — until the average North Carolina unemployment claimant potentially loses two-thirds of his or her weekly COVID-19 pandemic-related benefit.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: PPP loan data gives glimpse at spread of COVID-19 economic damage in North Carolina
The U.S. Small Business Administration released long-awaited data Monday disclosing the names of the largest recipients of Paycheck Protection Program loans — specifically naming companies and nonprofits that received more than $150,000.


Education

ABC 11: North Carolina parents anxiously await Gov. Cooper’s school reopen recommendations this week
Parents and guardians across North Carolina are anxious. Will Governor Roy Cooper reopen schools under the new coronavirus pandemic?

WCNC: ‘Completely unprecedented’ | NC state superintendent bracing for new year amid COVID-19 pandemic
The upcoming school year is going to be a major challenge and North Carolina education leaders still aren’t sure how they’ll handle reopening this fall.

THE VIRGINIAN- PILOT: Foreign students in NC fear online classes mean deportation
Although most North Carolina universities — including Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State — still plan to bring students back to campus for some in-person classes starting next month, international students are fearful of what could happen if classes move entirely online.


Healthcare

WRAL NEWS: Testing sites full as NC hits highest number of daily virus cases
Confirmed coronavirus cases are growing in North Carolina, which just had another record-breaking weekend.

THE WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: N.C. governor signs into law bill allowing continued wearing of face masks in public during pandemic
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper took little time to sign into law Friday a bill that, for an indefinite period of time, permits the wearing of masks during a declared public-health emergency.

WNCT: NCDHHS to send community health workers to underserved COVID-19 hot spot
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) issued a Request For Proposals for an initiative that will send up to 250 Community Health Workers to historically underserved areas with high COVID-19 caseloads.


Government

WXII 12: North Carolina Gov. Cooper announces new programs for communities, students, nonprofits during pandemic
Gov. Roy Cooper and the North Carolina Coronavirus Task Force announced new programs Thursday to help students, local governments, nonprofits and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABC 11: Gov. Cooper’s new Racial Equity Task Force promises to turn words into action against systemic racism
Governor Roy Cooper has signed a lot of Executive Orders lately, but none like this.

WRAL NEWS: LOCAL NEWS Early last call: Orange County to halt alcohol sales at 10 pm during pandemic
Orange County officials plan to prohibit businesses from selling alcohol after 10 p.m. during the pandemic to curb late-night gatherings where coronavirus could spread.


Transportation

WECT: NCDOT overspent on salary increases by $39M, audit says
The North Carolina Department of Transportation overspent on salary adjustments by $39 million during the 2018-19 fiscal year, according to a state audit.

THE COASTAL REVIEW: FEMA, State Reimburse NCDOT $6.3M
The state and Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, have approved reimbursing North Carolina Department of Transportation $6.3 million for debris removal costs following Hurricane Florence, bringing the total reimbursement to more than $44.2 million.