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Agriculture
HEMP INDUSTRY DAILY: With North Carolina exit, will more states give up hemp oversight?
States are becoming increasingly wary of running their own hemp-production programs because of mounting costs and labor requirements for compliance testing and enforcement.
USA TODAY: Ready, aim, fire ants: Why the irritating insects are intruding in North Carolina
Since first reaching North Carolina soil in Brunswick County in 1957, the fire ants’ colonization of the Tar Heel State has been all but unstoppable. Now, climate change is giving them another leg up, prompting state officials to worry about whether fire ants will be able to soon survive in higher elevations thought beyond the available habitat of the warm-loving insects.
Education
ROBESONIAN: Testing results show effect of COVID-19 on state’s public schools, students
Students across the state scored poorly on tests in the 2020-21 school year after a year of educational disruptions and challenges caused by COVID-19, according to state officials.
YES! WEEKLY: A&T Headcount Jumps Historically on Strength of 37% Spike in First-Year Enrollment
More than 13,300 students are enrolled at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University this fall – the largest headcount ever for the 130-year-old university, campus leaders announced today.
Economic Development
THE CENTER SQUARE: $19M investment to bring nearly 200 jobs to North Carolina
Vitamin and dietary supplements manufacturer Nature’s Value will invest more than $19 million to expand into Winston-Salem, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s office said.
TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL: Why NC’s Covid vaccination rate could make or break economic development deals
Time will tell if states with lower Covid-19 case counts can actually leverage their statistics in edging out the competition. But some consultants say it’s likely – as it’s already part of the site selection algorithm for some of their clients.
Environment
CBS17: Climate change, pollution blamed for algae bloom and fish kill in NC river
Environmental experts said an abnormal algae bloom in the Pamlico River this week was caused by a warming climate and pollution.
Government
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Cooper signs 3 laws focused on police accountability, but says NC needs to go further
The bills passed by the Republican-led legislature and signed by the Democratic governor aim to hold officers accountable, provide law enforcement with mental health resources and track officers when they get into trouble.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NC legislature passes anti-Critical Race Theory bill. Here’s what comes next
The national discussion over teaching about race in schools has also spent the summer in North Carolina, as the state legislature debated bills from both the House and Senate that would outlaw teaching Critical Race Theory.
Healthcare
HEALTHCARE DIVE: North Carolina amends certificate of need in bill headed to governor’s desk
As the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19 rises across the Carolinas, Atrium Health says hospitalizations have also increased, resulting in fewer available beds. Most of these new patients are unvaccinated, according to data from multiple health agencies and hospital systems.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Prominent NC attorney David Freedman has died. He had been hospitalized for COVID-19
He was 64. He was hospitalized about two weeks ago at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Freedman had been vaccinated.
Politics
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Texas law, Supreme Court cases push abortion into spotlight for 2022 NC elections
The new Texas law banning most abortions after six weeks, and the Supreme Court’s decision not to block it, has already heated up the abortion debate into an election issue for 2022 congressional races.
Transportation
CAROLINA REVIEW: NCDOT designs with resilience in mind for coastal roads
NCDOT is currently building the Rodanthe “Jug Handle” Bridge to bypass the S-curves, which he said should be open by late this year or early next.