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Agriculture
THE RICHMOND OBSERVER: USDA expands local, electronic communication options for North Carolina producers
Agricultural producers in North Carolina can now signup to receive free email and text messages directly from their local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center for information related to loans, farm disaster assistance, conservation programs, crop insurance and other USDA programs.
Economic Development
THE PILOT: Economic Development Grant Helps NC’s Small Businesses Tap Global Markets
North Carolina has received a $727,315 federal grant to help small businesses across the state grow by increasing their access to global markets. Grant funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) is managed at the local level by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC).
Education
SPECTRUM NEWS: N.C. to spend $800 million on early childhood programs still struggling from pandemic
North Carolina is opening a new grant program to spend $800 million in federal money on early childhood education, including funding for higher salaries for teachers and improving facilities, the governor announced Thursday.
WLOS: North Carolina third-graders struggling to meet reading goals, data shows
Far fewer North Carolina third-graders in public schools have demonstrated reading proficiency, compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, a troubling finding that state educators said needs to be urgently addressed.
WFAE: CMS enrollment stays flat this year, while Union and Cabarrus county schools see a rebound
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had been counting on getting back almost 3,800 students this year after last year’s pandemic slump. But early figures show there’s little change in enrollment over last September.
Environment
WFAE: After House vote, Cooper gets bill that would help meet climate goals
Energy reform legislation that offers a path to meeting the state’s climate change goals is headed to Gov. Roy Cooper. House Bill 951, “Energy Solutions for North Carolna,” passed the House in a 90-20 vote Thursday, after passing the Senate the day before.
Government
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: As redistricting kicks off in NC, here’s what we’ve seen so far and what’s still to come
North Carolina legislators have started drawing the political districts that, pending any legal challenges, will be used in every election for the U.S. House of Representatives and N.C. General Assembly for the next decade.
Healthcare
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The delta surge is waning in NC. Why? And what happens next?
After several weeks of surging, new COVID-19 cases have been coming back down in North Carolina since mid-September. Vaccinations did increase for a few weeks throughout July and August, which could be due to fears of the delta variant, a mutation of the coronavirus that’s more than twice as contagious as the original strain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
WUNC: NC health director delivers new data that shows masks significantly reduced COVID-19 clusters in schools
State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson delivered an update on protective measures in schools to the North Carolina Board of Education on Thursday. Tilson said state health officials have compared the rate of COVID-19 clusters in North Carolina schools without mask mandates to those that require masks.
Politics
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: What you need to know about the status of the NC state budget in 2021 vs. 2019
North Carolinians could be days, or possibly weeks, away from a state budget compromise between Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and the Republican-majority General Assembly. The three top North Carolina politicians who will make the final decisions on billions of dollars in state spending are expected to meet in person soon.
NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH NEWS: Six Republican counties in WNC pledged their support for Medicaid expansion. What’s changed?
For months, the CEO of the Cherokee Indian Hospital has quietly traveled to county commission boards throughout the western part of the state, giving presentations on the benefits of Medicaid expansion. As local leaders throughout the conservative region show support for the policy, will they change the minds of state Republicans?
Transportation
WITN: Board of Transportation approves funding for North Carolina airports
The North Carolina Board of Transportation has approved grant funding for 13 airports in our state. Several public airports in Eastern North Carolina are included in the grants.
WECT: Wave Transit launches microtransit service to improve quality of public transportation in Cape Fear region
On Monday, Wave Transit launched a new regional on-demand ride-sharing pilot service called RideMICRO. The program hopes to provide flexible transportation to portions of Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties.