Governor’s Office Announces Personnel Changes
RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper announced several recent senior personnel changes within the Governor’s Office.
Politics
Unemployment benefits likely to be tied to job search again
Legislation introduced by Republican lawmakers would mandate recipients of unemployment benefits actively search for work, a requirement that hasn’t been in place since the pandemic began in March.
State Board of Elections moves to restrict poll watchers
New restrictions on poll-watchers proposed by the State Board of Elections would make the logistics of maintaining election integrity much more difficult for N.C. political parties.
Groups see opportunity to persuade conservatives to back carbon tax
A former South Carolina congressman says it’s possible to get N.C. conservatives to back a carbon tax and other progressive climate change policies if the left uses an economic argument to do so.
Constitution, Green parties face uphill battle to stay on N.C. ballot
Two third-party options could be off the North Carolina ballot unless each gathers enough signatures to petition the State Board of Elections to be added again for future elections.
Speaker Moore Responds to Governor’s Modification of Restrictions on N.C. Businesses and Gatherings
State House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) responded Wednesday to Governor Cooper modifying certain restrictions on businesses and gatherings in North Carolina. "North Carolina has lagged behind most of our neighboring states when it comes to reopening. I am glad the Governor has taken this step and the General Assembly will continue to advocate for safely reopening schools and the economy."
State Board of Elections recommends delaying 2021 elections, 2022 primary
With new U.S. Census data not expected until September, the State Board of Elections is recommending moving all of this year’s municipal elections to 2022.
Top 2022 GOP prospects strike different tones on Burr’s impeachment vote
As N.C. Republicans grappled with how to respond to Sen. Richard Burr’s surprise vote to convict former President Trump, the leading GOP prospects for Burr’s seat in 2022 had starkly different reactions, with sharp differences in tone.
Governor Cooper appoints Jim Weaver as DIT secretary
Governor Roy Cooper announced James “Jim” Weaver will serve as Secretary and state Chief Information Officer at the Department of Information Technology. Thomas Parrish has served as Acting DIT Secretary and CIO since Tracy Doaks’ departure last June.
Lawmakers look to implement summer school for at-risk students
As state lawmakers try to sort out when students can go back to school full time, members of the House are sponsoring a bill that would offer a voluntary summer school program for North Carolina students.
North Carolina’s members of Congress absent more often than peers
Twelve of 15 members of Congress from North Carolina missed more votes in 2020 than the median absences of their peers. In addition, both Tar Heel state U.S. senators outpaced most other senators for missed votes, a government watchdog reports.
N.C. Republicans wonder what’s next after Trump?
N.C. GOP Chairman Michael Whatley says former President Trump will inevitably cast a long shadow in North Carolina politics for the foreseeable future. He believes the policies Trump championed are still winning policies for 2022 and beyond.