NC Politics in the News

Economic Development

WRAL TECH WIRE: New flyExclusive expansion in Kinston to bring 200 more jobs to Eastern NC
There’s more investment, and more jobs, coming to Eastern North Carolina, as Kinston-based flyExclusive opened a 48,000 square foot expansion facility at its headquarters this week.

THE CENTER SQUARE: Report gives North Carolina’s Cooper good marks for fiscal policies
Gov. Roy Cooper ranks among the top governors nationwide for tax and small government policies, according to a Cato Institute study. The free-market think tank released its Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors on Wednesday to grade governors based on their fiscal policies from a limited-government perspective.

Education

WRAL: NC education committee holds off vote on teacher licensure overhaul
The committee contemplating changes to North Carolina teachers’ employment requirements declined to approve recommendations Thursday. The Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Committee (PEPSC) will meet again Nov. 10 to discuss a handful of lingering concerns brought by committee members.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: How federal cash will help NC’s small farmers put local food on the school lunch table
[Governor Roy] Cooper was in Durham to celebrate a $13.2 million injection of federal cash that will put more locally grown food in North Carolina public schools.

Elections

THE CAROLINA JOURNAL: Uphill battle for GOP supermajority in the N.C. General Assembly
What are the chances of the GOP winning a supermajority in North Carolina’s General Assembly in this November’s General Election? While the probability of that happening looked pretty good earlier in the year, many experts say the chances for that happening have now diminished.

WCNC: Early voting starts this week in North Carolina
The 2022 Midterm Election is fast approaching, which means voters are gearing up to participate, but in-person early voting beings this Thursday for North Carolinians. 

Government

THE FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER: Spring Lake manager process in limbo after NC treasurer objects to embattled candidate
The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen’s choice for a new town manager is in jeopardy after the state treasurer said Thursday that he will not approve funds for the hire.

Healthcare

THE CENTER SQUARE: North Carolina health agency struggles with long program waitlists and staff turnover
Despite funding for chronic shortfalls in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services during the last legislative session, the department continues to struggle with long waitlists and chronic staff turnover. DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley updated lawmakers on the department’s finances and services during a hearing in the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services on Tuesday.

Politics

ABC NEWS: North Carolina’s ‘boring’ Senate race is one of the country’s closest: Locals say it’s being ignored
For years, North Carolina has been a battleground that both Democrats and Republicans have poured time and money into — but this year, not so much. Operatives and voters alike say the contest between Democrat Cheri Beasley, a former state chief justice, and Republican Rep. Ted Budd to succeed retiring Sen. Richard Burr has flown under the radar for most of the 2022 cycle while attracting comparatively less funding and attention from big-name surrogates.

THE CAROLINA JOURNAL: Legislators urge federal judge to toss out unaffiliated voters’ election lawsuit
North Carolina’s top legislative leaders believe a federal judge should dismiss a lawsuit that aims to add unaffiliated voters to the state’s elections board.

House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, and Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, filed a motion Friday to dismiss the case Common Cause v. Moore.

Transportation

WECT: North Carolina receives $1.4 billion in transportation funding
North Carolina has been awarded $1.4 billion for transportation work throughout the state from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Senator Thom Tillis announced the funding in a release on Thursday, October 13.