North Carolina lawmakers file ‘No Veteran Left Behind Act’
A bill introduced by House Majority Leader John Bell, R-Wayne, is meant to help improve crisis intervention and services for veterans suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues.
Politics
House approves amendment to restrict eminent domain amendment
A supermajority of the N.C. House has approved a proposed constitutional amendment to strengthen private property rights against eminent domain land takings. The proposed amendment, House Bill 271, would hit the ballot in 2022. The bill passed the House, 101-17, Thursday, March 25.
Governor Cooper Announces Accelerated Timeline for Vaccination Eligibility
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D., announced today an accelerated timeline for moving to Groups 4 and 5 for vaccine eligibility with the rest of Group 4 eligible on March 31st and all adults eligible beginning April 7th.
Governor Cooper proposes budget to invest in a strong, resilient and ready North Carolina
Governor Roy Cooper released a recommended budget for FY 2021-2023 that will strengthen North Carolina to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and ignite recovery for all North Carolinians. The Governor’s plan recommends significant investments in schools and increased pay for teachers, action to strengthen health care access, and expanded economic opportunities and infrastructure investments.
GOP lawmakers blast elections director for ‘secret settlement’ with Democrats
Republican lawmakers grilled State Board of Elections Director Karen Brinson Bell over her handling of the 2020 election in a testy back-and-forth hearing.
Biden plan bribes N.C. to expand Medicaid
State lawmakers will give Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget director Charlie Perusse his first legislative grilling on the governor’s 2021-22 budget proposal Thursday morning at 8:30. Expect Perusse to push large raises for teachers, school support staff, and state employees.
Suburban voters form largest bloc
If you think about regional differences in North Carolina politics, economics, or culture in terms of urban blue and rural red, you are missing a thick slice of the story: the suburbs. And, no, you can’t just paint the suburbs purple. That’s an oversimplification.
General Assembly advances bill to rein in governor’s emergency powers
More than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic brought North Carolina to a screeching halt, Gov. Roy Cooper shows no sign of relinquishing the sweeping and open-ended emergency powers he has claimed under state law.
Trends continue to stabilize as COVID-19 vaccine eligibility opens for some members of group 4
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. gave an update on the state’s current data, trends and vaccination progress. Today also marks the opening of vaccine eligibility for people who have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk for severe illness or who live in certain congregate settings.
Lawmakers introduce bill to make daylight saving time permanent
N.C. Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, has introduced a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent in the Tar Heel State.
COVID stimulus bill is reckless
The $1.9 trillion “COVID relief” bill just enacted by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden gives out $1,400 checks to most Americans. It boosts the child-tax credit, keeps weekly unemployment-insurance checks $300 higher than normal, and throws lots of other (borrowed) money around.
Kinston attorney Jimbo Perry appears on NC Judicial Branch’s podcast
A new episode of the North Carolina Judicial Branch podcast All Things Judicial was released today. In this episode, hosted by Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism Executive Director Mel Wright and entitled “The Way to Practice Life,” Mel welcomes Kinston attorney James S. “Jimbo” Perry.