Addressing the N.C. Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Summit, State Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said the more than $4.5 billion surplus tax revenue North Carolina has in its coffers is both a “blessing and a curse.”
Rep. Julia Howard, R-Davie, has been removed from her powerful role as senior chair of the state House’s tax-writing Finance Committee. Howard has been reassigned to the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, where she’ll serve as a member at large.
Today, sixty-five North Carolina House Republicans sent Governor Roy Cooper a letter opposing the creation of a “vaccine passport” or any other form of government-required identifications to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.
Healthier Together, a public-private partnership between North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and NC Counts Coalition, is releasing a Request for Proposals for community-based organizations to apply for grants ranging from $5,000 - $20,000 (or up to $50,000 for collaborative proposals). Grants will support groups that will help North Carolina achieve its goal of delivering equitable access to vaccines.
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. laid out a timeline for lifting current pandemic restrictions today. With stable trends and continued vaccination success, the state expects to lift mandatory social distancing, capacity, and mass gathering restrictions by June 1. The Governor plans to issue an executive order next week outlining safety restrictions for the month of May.
Today, the state House unanimously approved the No Veteran Left Behind Act (HB 370), which seeks to help law enforcement better serve veterans who are dealing with mental health and substance abuse emergencies. A group of severely wounded veterans attended the House session and were honored by the lawmakers on the floor during the bill's consideration.
The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved legislation sponsored by Sens. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick), Jim Burgin (R-Harnett), and Carl Ford (R-Rowan) to rein in Gov. Roy Cooper's emergency powers.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has begun mailing reminder notices to Medicaid beneficiaries that open enrollment for NC Medicaid Managed Care ends on May 14. The notices are being sent to encourage beneficiaries to choose a primary care provider and a health plan for their families’ care in preparation for the launch of NC Medicaid Managed Care on July 1.
Attorney General Josh Stein today announced that the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory has been commended by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for its use of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).
More than 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered through the federally supported vaccination center that opened March 10, 2021 in Greensboro, N.C. The center has been successful in reaching underserved communities with recipients praising the staff and service.
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the firebrand conservative who skyrocketed onto the political scene several years ago, announced Monday that he would not run for U.S. Senate after considering the move for several weeks.