General Assembly passes COVID relief, to consider fully reopening bars
The General Assembly has passed with a unanimous vote a new COVID relief bill that would direct nearly $1.7 billion in aid across the state.
State Government
Efforts to reopen N.C. classrooms ramp up, despite Cooper’s veto
The N.C. State Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday, March 4, calling on all public school districts to give parents the option of in-person learning by the end of March. The education board’s action is the latest step in a growing consensus to swiftly reopen school classrooms across the state.
North Carolina WIC program receives telehealth intervention strategies grant
The North Carolina Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is one of seven WIC State Agencies to receive a U.S. Department of Agriculture/Tufts Telehealth Intervention Strategies for WIC (THIS-WIC) grant. Selected through a competitive review process, the $1 million grant will use innovative telehealth solutions to deliver nutrition education and breastfeeding support to WIC participants to overcome barriers to access, particularly those encountered in rural settings.
Governor Cooper appoints new members to state boards and commissions
Governor Roy Cooper announced new appointments to North Carolina boards and commissions.
Attorney General Josh Stein shuts down massive charity fraud robocall operation
Attorney General Josh Stein, along with the Federal Trade Commission and 46 agencies from 38 states and the District of Columbia, today shut down a massive telefunding operation by Associated Community Services (ACS) and a number of related defendants that bombarded 67 million consumers with 1.3 billion deceptive charitable fundraising calls.
NCDHHS updates County alert system, shows continued progress in NC
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today updated the COVID-19 County Alert System, which shows six red counties — a decrease from 27 red counties on the previous Feb. 22 County Alert System and the fewest red counties in the state since the start of the County Alert System.
NCDHHS expands access to COVID-19 rapid testing in K-12 schools
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will be expanding access to COVID-19 rapid testing in K-12 public schools to protect students, teachers and staff from COVID-19. When schools implement testing combined with the state’s strong mitigation strategies, they can detect new cases to prevent outbreaks and reduce the risk of further transmission.
COVID-19 cases declining rapidly in North Carolina long-term care settings
New COVID-19 cases in North Carolina long-term care facilities have declined rapidly in the last several weeks. Case rates are down over 15-fold in skilled nursing facilities, adult care homes and other licensed facilities since the peak of transmission in January 2021.
North Carolina running out of room to borrow for road projects
North Carolina may run out of room to borrow money for transportation projects in just a few years, according to a new report released this week by State Treasurer Dale Folwell.
NCDHHS Updates Guidance for K-12 Schools, Instructs Schools to Open for In-person Instruction
K-12 schools are expected to open for in-person instruction for K-12 students following the StongSchoolsNC health guidance released today by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Senate to try again to override veto of school-reopening bill
After coming up one vote short in its first effort to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill to reopen schools, the Senate is moving to try again.
Governor Cooper receives a COVID-19 vaccine
Today, Governor Roy Cooper received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at WakeMed Raleigh Campus.