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Economic Development
WRAL TECH WIRE: NC’s Rural Infrastructure Authority awards grants to help create nearly 400 jobs, $91M in private investments
The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 11 grant requests to local governments totaling $4,478,850. These grants are for projects that have committed to creating 383 jobs and will attract more than $91 million in private investment. The Rural Infrastructure Authority is a 17-member board that awards Rural, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and Utility grant funds, which include the Building Reuse Program and the Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account program.
WSOC-TV: ‘We’re the best in the world’: NC recognized for economic development excellence
For the second year in a row, North Carolina won the Platinum Shovel Award for its economic growth and job creation. The Platinum Shovel Award recognizes states that go above and beyond the gold standard for investment and job creation, the N.C. Department of Commerce wrote in a press release.
Education
THE CAROLINA JOURNAL: Parents Bill of Rights clears NC House committee
After lying dormant for over four months, a Parents Bill of Rights is once again on the move in the North Carolina General Assembly. On Wednesday, the House Education Committee passed Senate Bill 49 after a brief debate. Supporters say the measure is needed to protect children and ensure that parents have knowledge about what their kids are being taught in public schools. Opponents, on the other hand, claim the bill would create a discriminatory environment against LGBTQ youth.
Government
WSOC-TV: North Carolina governor vetoes annual farm bill and state government ESG prohibitions
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed on Friday the General Assembly’s annual farm measure and another bill that would prevent state government activities like pension investing from being directed based on environmental or social justice concerns.
CBS17: NC Gov. Cooper signs bill allowing ‘civilians’ to investigate minor traffic accidents
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 140 into law on Friday, which allows police departments across the state to form civilian investigation teams. These teams can only be called to accidents to write incident reports and coordinate clearing road blockage. They will not carry a badge or a gun, will have different uniforms, different cars and they cannot make arrests.
Agriculture
WRAL TECH WIRE: NC A&T, partners win $18M federal grant for ag professional program
North Carolina A&T and its partners, including N.C. State, have been awarded an $18 million grant for a new agricultural professional development program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday it had awarded $262.5 million in grants “to foster the next generation of diverse agricultural professionals across the nation.” Each program will be funded five years the USDA said.
Healthcare
WITN: Transgender healthcare restrictions gain steam in North Carolina
Proposals to ban or to restrict access to gender-affirming health care for transgender youth advanced Wednesday in both chambers of North Carolina’s Republican-controlled General Assembly in the final weeks of the session. The House voted 66-47 along party lines for a bill prohibiting public healthcare facilities, such as public hospitals or University of North Carolina affiliates, from performing any surgical gender transition procedure on a minor or providing them with puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones
WRAL NEWS: Medical marijuana struggles to reach the finish line at NC legislature
A partial legalization of medical marijuana, which has passed the North Carolina state Senate two years running, has stalled again in the state House, where supporters are struggling to put together enough backing in the Republican majority to get the bill across the finish line.
Politics
WRAL NEWS: State legislators grill NC elections director Karen Brinson Bell, as GOP leaders push to overhaul election rules
North Carolina’s top elections leader was summoned to the state legislature Thursday, where she talked about efforts to combat voter fraud, request funding and answer questions under oath about elections administration in the state and how officials can improve voters’ trust at the ballot box. Karen Brinson Bell’s two-hour testimony comes as GOP leaders in the state legislature are trying, again, to overhaul the state elections board to reduce Democrats’ influence on the board and transfer power over it from the governor to the Republican-led legislature.
Transportation
RESTORATION NEWS MEDIA: NCDOT holds hearing on plans for Capital Boulevard North
The N.C. Department of Transportation wants to improve traffic flow on Capital Boulevard North, and it’s giving people a chance to review and comment on the $793 million project. NCDOT on June 21 held a public meeting on the proposed changes and upgrades, spanning from Interstate 540 in Raleigh to Harris and Purnell Roads in Wake Forest.