Those we’ve lost in 2021
As we close the books on 2021, the year leaves stories for the future: an awakening from the pandemic, renewed attention to public school classrooms, and indications that the 2022 elections could bring a Republican wave.
News and Opinion
Officials encourage boosters as COVID-19 hospitalizations rise
With hospitalizations due to COVID-19 rising, getting a booster of the COVID-19 vaccine remains the most important thing North Carolinians can do to keep themselves and their loved ones out of the hospital, officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced.
State prepares for season’s first winter weather in mountains, Severe storms in other areas
Over the next 12-24 hours, portions of North Carolina could see severe storms, heavy rain, significant snowfall, gusty winds, and coastal flooding. Governor Roy Cooper urges North Carolinians to stay aware of the local weather forecast and prepare for the conditions expected in your area.
GOP senator calls out Democratic lawyer who drew ‘secret’ map in redistricting lawsuit
A co-chairman of the N.C. Senate's redistricting committee is drawing attention to a national Democratic operative's lead role in drawing alternative election maps for North Carolina. A redistricting lawsuit calls for courts to force North Carolinians to vote under the alternative maps in upcoming elections.
N.C.’s Apple deal named worst of 2021
The $846 million subsidy deal that North Carolina struck with Apple just topped the “year’s worst” list of a nonpartisan economic think tank. The Center for Economic Accountability selected the 39-year agreement to put Apple’s campus in Research Triangle Park as the “Worst Economic Development Deal of the Year,” saying that its annual $21 million cost to the state led the list of reasons.
North Carolina’s November county and area employment figures released
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in November by 12,364 to 4,896,622, while those unemployed decreased by 15,601 to 170,606.
Worker shortage won’t end soon
On a recent road trip through Western North Carolina and North Georgia, I had occasion to stop at service stations, restaurants, hotels, and small businesses. Each establishment had a sign on the door conveying the same message: help needed.
N.C. ABC creates additional board to address bureaucracy problems
The N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control system has a new commissioner. It gets continued reassurance from its boards and warehouse operator that they’ll get it right and, to that end, the newly created ABC Advisory Committee meant to push them to do so.
Controller urges N.C. Supreme Court to reject latest Leandro appeal
State Controller Linda Combs is asking the N.C. Supreme Court not to step into the latest dispute involving the long-running Leandro school funding case. At stake is $1.7 billion in taxpayer funds.
OPINION: There’s no easy path for throwing out unconstitutional N.C. law
Some laws turn out to be unconstitutional. It’s usually up to the courts to make that determination.
Protecting your right to grow your own food
Do you know where your food comes from? Aside from saying Harris Teeter, Food Lion, or Wegman’s, it is an important question to many North Carolinians.
Appeals Court to decide whether UNC, NCSU should refund student fees from COVID shutdown
The N.C. Court of Appeals will decide in the weeks or months ahead whether students from N.C. State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill can sue their schools for refunds of student fees.