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Economic Development
WRAL TECH WIRE: NC’s new Department of Commerce leader is veteran life science exec, NCSU grad
Veteran pharmaceutical company executive Machelle Sanders, a North Carolina native and former board member of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, was named Secretary of the Department of Commerce on Friday by Governor Roy Cooper.
BUSINESS FACILITIES: Gilead Sciences To Create 275 Jobs In North Carolina
Gilead Sciences, Inc. has selected North Carolina’s Research Triangle region as the location for a major business services and information technology hub, creating 275 jobs. The biopharmaceutical company will invest up to $5 million in Wake County.
Education
EDNC: NC Education Corps seeks applications for second cohort
In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our schools and our students, the North Carolina State Board of Education, the governor’s office, American Ripples, and local public school districts joined together to create the North Carolina Education Corps, a project to provide support to school districts while creating jobs for North Carolinians.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NC House passes bill requiring districts to reopen all schools in-person
The North Carolina House passed a bill Thursday that would require the state’s K-12 public schools to offer in-person instruction. It would also require an option for special needs students to have in-person, daily learning. The Senate already passed the bill, but because the House changed it, it needs to vote once more before it goes to Gov. Roy Cooper — who is likely to veto it.
Environment
WFAE: Senate Panel Advances North Carolina’s Regan As EPA Nominee
A Senate committee has endorsed President Joe Biden’s nomination of Michael Regan to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, setting up a vote in the full Senate. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advanced Regan’s nomination Tuesday on a 14-6 vote.
Government
GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD: North Carolina in better financial shape than anticipated, report shows
North Carolina is in a stronger financial position than budget analysts anticipated last year at the start of the pandemic, according to a report from a group of economists. The analysis from the Office of State Budget and Management and the General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division project the state will receive $4.1 billion more in revenue this fiscal year than expected. The change represents a nearly 18% increase than they had forecast in May 2020.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NC Gov. Cooper signs COVID-19 relief for schools, vaccine assistance, parent checks
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed the first COVID-19 relief bill of 2021 on Wednesday, which funds vaccine distribution and schools reopening as well as extending the deadline for parents to apply for $335 checks.
Healthcare
CBS 17: Educators, school personnel in NC eligible for COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 24
Gov. Roy Cooper announced Wednesday that teachers and other school workers will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Feb. 24. Educators and school personnel, which includes bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and custodians, will be the first in Group 3 to get the vaccine. This group is expected to be about 240,000 people.
PORT CITY DAILY: Flu numbers drop dramatically in N.C. as people mask up, stay home
Health officials around the globe are seeing the flu and other respiratory illnesses subside as people stay home, hand-wash more intently and don masks in public during the Covid-19 pandemic. These precautionary practices – dubbed “the 3Ws” by North Carolina’s top health official Dr. Mandy Cohen – are preventing people from catching less contagious respiratory diseases than Covid-19, while still slowing the spread of the new deadly virus that has infiltrated life over the past year.
WRAL: In vaccine distribution, NC tries to address inequities in health care, COVID-19 cases, deaths
The state of North Carolina is sending vaccines to health centers in under-served communities, including two centers in Edgecombe County. While a lot of the centers are only getting 100 or 200 doses per week, those will help vaccinate more people in Black and brown communities.
Politics
NBC News: Trump acquitted in impeachment trial; 7 GOP Senators vote with Democrats to convict
The Senate on Saturday voted to acquit former President Donald Trump on a charge of incitement of insurrection despite significant Republican support for conviction, bringing an end to the fourth impeachment trial in U.S. history and the second for Trump.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Burr votes guilty in Trump’s second impeachment trial, Tillis votes not guilty
North Carolina Republican Richard Burr voted to convict President Donald Trump on his lone impeachment charge Saturday, a surprising vote for the retiring senator. For the second time in little more than a year, fellow Republican Thom Tillis voted to acquit Trump.
THE HILL: North Carolina GOP to vote on Burr censure after impeachment vote
The North Carolina Republican Party will reportedly hold a vote Monday to decide whether Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) should be censured after he voted to convict former President Trump in his second Senate impeachment trial. According to The Associated Press, the chapter said its central committee will convene to conduct the vote on Monday night.
Transportation
WWAY 3: Dozens of residents use WAVE Transit for free rides to COVID-19 vaccination sites
The state announced in January that it would help pay for rides for people who need transportation assistance to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. WAVE Transit has released the number of residents who had taken advantage of the free service so far.