House Freedom Caucus stymied in voting machine probe
Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the N.C. State Board of Elections, is blocking attempts by the N.C. House Freedom Caucus to inspect voting machines for possible irregularities.
Politics
NC now has a state-certified COVID-19 vaccination card. What does that mean?
Earlier this year, Governor Roy Cooper said his administration was exploring the development of a vaccine passport for residents of North Carolina.
Berger says he will combat Critical Race Theory ‘with everything that I have’
The exclusive teaching of Critical Race Theory in public school classrooms would be outlawed under a bill making its way through the N.C. Senate.
Right and Left differ on personal agency
Because political behavior is a rich and fascinating field of study, you can find many valid and useful theories to explain why conservatives and progressives disagree about the proper role of government. Here’s one with salience right now: the Right and Left disagree about personal agency.
Costs and control in focus as major energy legislation discussed in House
An energy bill under consideration by state lawmakers prescribes retirement for certain coal-fired plants, increases sourcing from renewables, and significantly alters the oversight authority of the N.C. Utilities Commission.
Hooks retires after four years of storms, riots, and a pandemic
Hooks, secretary of the state Department of Public Safety, has served in the role since the beginning of Cooper’s first term. He helped oversee North Carolina's response to hurricanes, violence in understaffed prisons, mob teardowns of Confederate statues on public property, last summer’s riots and protests, and the COVID pandemic.
Legislative policy experts call to rein in governor’s power
It’s now a time in North Carolina to dismiss policy based on politics and embrace a move toward legislation focusing on common sense, John Locke Foundation legislative experts said in a policy debate forum on Monday.
Electoral Outcomes Aren’t Inevitable
Will North Carolina Republicans have smashing victories in the 2022 midterms? Many politicos are acting as if they will, and it isn’t hard to understand why.
Cooper vetoes at a record high, reshaping political strategy
Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed more legislation than all other North Carolina governors combined. With the past three vetoes stamped over the past three weeks, Cooper’s total comes to 57 vetoes, and the session isn't over.
Robinson helps national campaign against anti-American indoctrination
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is backing a national group's fight against "anti-American indoctrination," including critical race theory, in public school classrooms. The group 1776 Action released a video this week with Robinson explaining his support for the campaign. The group released the video on Twitter.
Chief District Court Judge Charlie Brown reappointed as chair of the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission
Rowan County Chief District Court Judge Charlie Brown has been reappointed as chairman of the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission by Chief Justice Paul Newby.
Democrats’ N.C. Supreme Court majority on the line with two seats up in ’22
N.C. Appeals Court Judge Lucy Inman is aggressively campaigning for a seat on the state Supreme Court. Inman announced her intentions shortly after being defeated by fellow Court of Appeals Judge Phil Berger Jr. in 2020 for an open seat on the state's highest court. Berger defeated Inman 51% to 49%, a margin of 71,517 votes.