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Economic Development
FOX 8: NC budget item may target Toyota for Greensboro-Randolph Megasite
A provision buried on Page 293 of the state budget that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law on Thursday has resurrected chatter about the potential for a new tenant for the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite. Senate Bill 105 approves $338 million toward improvements that could lure a manufacturer to the 1,800-plus acres of Randolph County, just south of the Guilford County border, near Liberty.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: As nation’s supply chain struggles, a new rail hub opens in Eastern North Carolina
A new link in North Carolina’s supply chain quietly opened near Rocky Mount last month and was celebrated Thursday with speeches and a ribbon cutting that included the governor.
Education
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The UNC System will get more money than it asked for in the state budget. What’s in it?
Public universities across North Carolina are getting more money than they asked for in the state budget that was signed into law Thursday. UNC System President Peter Hans celebrated the historic higher education funding that includes raises for faculty, an online learning program focused on working adults and significant investments for construction at campuses across the system.
WRAL: Budget plans moving UNC System offices, potential remake for downtown Raleigh government campus
The new state budget makes a down payment on a long-discussed move for the University of North Carolina System offices from Chapel Hill to Raleigh, a change that could end up overhauling parts of the state government campus in downtown Raleigh.
THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL: NC school districts use federal COVID-19 education relief funds for bonuses
Some North Carolina school boards have announced they will use federal COVID-19 relief funds to give bonuses to educators. The Randolph Record reported that the Randolph County Public School System will pay every employee a $5,000 bonus, according to a resolution adopted by the school board on Oct. 25. The resolution described the bonuses as “retention” and “premium pay.”
Environment
WFAE: North Carolina can expect less snow, warmer temps this winter
North Carolina has a diverse climate for snow. The mountains can get a yearly average of 10 inches according to the National Weather Service, while the southeastern coast may only get a dusting of an inch. This year, those who keep an eye on the weather say everyone — from the mountains to the coast — can expect less snow than usual.
Government
WBTV: Gov. Roy Cooper signs $25.9 billion North Carolina state budget into law
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has signed the first state budget in three years into law on Thursday. Governor Cooper made the following statement on the budget after saying he would sign the budget into law despite “missed opportunities” and “politically and unnecessary missteps.”
AP NEWS: Rules formalizing NC prep sports oversight heads to governor
Legislation that likely will create a formal agreement between the nonprofit body currently governing North Carolina high school sports and state education leaders received final approval on Wednesday.
WRAL: NC lawmakers move up absentee ballot deadline, push other elections changes
Absentee ballots would have to be received by the time polls close on Election Day to count, under legislation that cleared the General Assembly on Thursday.
That change and a measure that would prohibit elections officials across North Carolina from accepting donations from private groups are headed to Gov. Roy Cooper, where one or both are likely to be vetoed.
Healthcare
NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH NEWS: COVID funds beef up health care spending in proposed state budget, which still lacks Medicaid expansion
After months of closed-door negotiations between legislative leaders and members of Gov. Roy Cooper’s staff, North Carolina will have a budget for the first time since 2018. Expanding the state’s Medicaid, a policy that has been a Holy Grail for Democrats and a non-starter for Republicans, continued to hold up negotiations and disappoint Cooper.
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: Forsyth health-care initiatives gain $93 million in state budget funding
Forsyth County’s health-care sector will receive about $93 million in funding from the 2021-23 state budget, highlighted by $25 million for a crisis behavioral health program.
Politics
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The fallout from congressional redistricting ripples across North Carolina politics
Since state lawmakers released new congressional district maps earlier this month, it’s as if they’ve launched a political version of “Survivor” seeing which candidates can outwit, outsmart and outplay one another. There’s a lot to unpack in the days since the map’s release.
THE WASHINGTON POST: Democratic Rep. G.K. Butterfield announces retirement, lashes out at North Carolina GOP’s ‘partisan map’
Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), who has served in Congress since 2004 and is a past chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, will not seek reelection in 2022 after North Carolina Republicans redrew his district in a way he calls “racially gerrymandered.”
SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS: Corbin will run for re-election to Senate, not NC-14
Saying that he feels he can “offer more to the citizens of Western North Carolina as a senator than as a freshman congressman,” Franklin Republican Kevin Corbin has removed himself from the milieu of Republicans supposedly seeking the 14th Congressional District seat.
Transportation
WCNC: Biden infrastructure plan could help finish $82 million improvement to I-85 interchange
Like many states across the country, North Carolina has thousands of roads, bridges, and highways in dire need of funding. In President Joe Biden’s new infrastructure measure, signed into law Monday, North Carolina roads and highways are set to receive about $7.2 billion over the next five years.
THE TRANSYLVANIA TIMES: DOT Yearly Litter Collection Exceeds 12 Million Pounds
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) crews, contractors and volunteers have collected more than 12 million pounds of litter from roadsides, further solid-ifying this year as a record-setting one.