NC Politics in the News

Agriculture

THE CAROLINA JOURNAL: Lawmakers call to fight SEC rule devastating to small farms
The North Carolina House recently voted 78-31 in favor of a resolution urging Congress to oppose a proposed Securities and Exchange rule that could potentially hurt small farms. “I am not coming here today to argue climate change,” said Rep. Jeffrey McNeely, R-Iredell, sponsor of House Resolution 1174. 

Economic Development

CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS: Grant program helps small NC towns use ARPA funds to boost economy
For small towns, community development and economic growth are often synonymous. “There’s a relationship between building that sense of place (and) supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in downtown districts,” said Kenny Flowers from the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division. 

WRAL TECHWIRE: Tech workers still in high demand in NC, even as labor market overall expected to slow
Technology workers are still in high demand in North Carolina, with more than 57,000 openings in the state according to the latest IT Job Trends report from the North Carolina Technology Association, NC TECH. In fact, the report tracks a 60% increase in job openings in May 2022 compared to May 2021, with a total of 57,182 job openings for tech roles across the state last month.

Education

WFMY: Six Triad parents to help shape what education looks like in North Carolina
Forty-eight parents were selected out of 3,000 applicants to help shape what education looks like in North Carolina. They’re part of the state’s Parent Advisory Commission. 

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NC board sets expectations after several charter schools close under financial cloud
North Carolina is tightening its expectations around charter schools following several closures of schools over financial and conflict of interest issues. The State Board of Education voted Wednesday to modify the agreement that charter schools sign that list their obligations and responsibilities. The revised agreement adds wording on areas such as limiting control of outside groups, following conflict of interest rules, how to spend state money and what to do when a charter school is ordered to close.

Environment

WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL: NC Supreme Court backs homeowners in HOA solar dispute
A ruling last week by a divided N.C. Supreme Court effectively clarified ambiguities in state law that some homeowners associations have exploited to block residents from installing rooftop solar panels. In its 4-3 opinion, the court found that a Raleigh HOA had no legal right to order a couple to remove a $32,000 solar array installed in 2018 on the rooftop of their home in the Belmont subdivision.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: An earthquake was recorded in the North Carolina mountains overnight, USGS reports
A 1.8 earthquake registered in the North Carolina mountain town of Weaverville early Saturday according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake struck at 1:16 a.m. and was centered about 3.1 miles northwest of Weaverville, the USGS reported. The earthquake had a depth of 0.8 miles, according to the USGS.

Government

WASHINGTON EXAMINER: North Carolina lawmakers hesitate to send out checks as gas prices rise
Lawmakers in North Carolina are struggling to pass a law that would give residents cash to help them deal with rising gas prices. Democrats have attempted to pitch a summer tax break, which would give North Carolina drivers a $200 tax rebate. However, the Republican-controlled state Senate has been hesitant to pass it and has continued to support longer-term tax cuts.

Healthcare

THE VIRGINIA PILOT: North Carolina appeals court rejects doctor’s request to strike down medical certificate law
A state appeals court on Tuesday rejected a request by an eastern North Carolina eye doctor to strike down a state law that requires regulators to agree new operating rooms are needed in his region before they could be built. A three-judge panel of the intermediate-level state Court of Appeals court ruled the state’s certificate of need law doesn’t violate the constitutional rights of Dr. Jay Singleton and the Singleton Vision Center when it comes to the situation the ophthalmologist wants to change.

THE CAROLINA JOURNAL: Berger, Moore say they’ll fight to reinstate N.C. abortion laws blocked by Roe/Casey
Both of North Carolina’s top legislature leaders — House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland; and Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham — vowed to fight to reinstate the abortion laws on the books, some of which were blocked by federal precedent in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Statements by both also indicated they have no plans for further abortion-related legislation before the end of the current session, which is likely to end in a matter of days.

Politics

NBC NEWS: Supreme Court says North Carolina Republicans can defend photo ID law in court
The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 on Thursday that leaders of North Carolina’s Republican Legislature can step in to advocate in court for a voter ID law that they believe the state’s Democratic attorney general isn’t fighting hard enough to defend. The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law, but the governor and his attorney general are Democrats, giving rise to a case that presents a dispute about what happens when political parties don’t control all the branches of state government.

Transportation

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: 2 Raleigh-Charlotte Piedmont trains are temporarily suspended
Passengers on two of the six Piedmont trains that run between Raleigh and Charlotte each day will have to choose another one to ride on through mid-July, NC rail officials said. In a service alert on Twitter on Friday, state rail officials said Piedmont trains 74 and 75 won’t operate from Monday, June 27, through Thursday, July 14.