North Carolina set another record for new business creation in 2021.
All by Andrew Dunn
U.S. slips in economic freedom rankings; Canada in freefall
With an ever-expanding federal government, the U.S. has fallen out of the top five countries for economic freedom, according to a new report from the Fraser Institute.
Charlotte school district criticized over failure to properly investigate sexual assaults
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools continues to come under fire for how it has handled allegations from students who say they were sexually assaulted on campus.
Rowan County’s Gold Hill fights plans for massive solar farm
In the 1820s, a gold rush brought people from across the state to Rowan County to try to strike it rich. Now, energy companies are coming for much the same reason: To cash in by building solar farms.
Charlotte set to approve new nondiscrimination ordinance, its first since H.B. 2
The city of Charlotte is set to approve an ordinance aimed at barring businesses and employers from discriminating against people based on transgender identity and other “protected classes.” The measure is similar to the one that launched the “Bathroom Bill” controversy in 2016 and led to a significant fundraising advantage for Democrats in that year’s elections.
Suburban, rural schools make masks optional; urban counties keep mandates
Given the freedom to choose whether to mandate masks for students, school boards across the state have begun voting to make face coverings optional for the coming school year.
Help wanted: Lucrative benefits persuade almost 2 million to turn down work, poll finds
Nearly 2 million Americans have turned down jobs because the unemployment benefits are too lucrative — backing up a Republican-led plan in North Carolina to curtail emergency pandemic benefits.
State Medicaid system transitions to managed care
After years of delays, North Carolina’s Medicaid program has finally transitioned to a managed care system — becoming the last large state to do so.
N.C. county pushes back against corporate ‘wokeness,’ bans Coke machines
Surry County commissioners are pushing back against major corporations for what they describe as a “bigoted, left-wing divisive political agenda.”
N.C. towns face insolvency as financial oversight falls short
After a decade of financial struggle, the small town of East Laurinburg in Scotland County could soon cease to exist. It could be the start of a trend: State Treasurer Dale Folwell now warns that a growing number of North Carolina towns are at risk of insolvency.
Lawmakers want to recognize occupational therapy licenses of other states
Occupational therapists who move to North Carolina would have an easier time getting back to work under a bill in the General Assembly.
Senate advances trio of health care bills aimed at reducing costs
The Senate is close to approving a trio of health care bills aimed at reducing costs and increasing transparency in the system.
Not enough Extra Credit grants got to low-income families, audit says
Gov. Roy Cooper’s Department of Revenue did not do enough to get “Extra Credit” grants to low-income families eligible for them, a new audit finds.
Two-thirds of North Carolinians worry about side effects of COVID vaccine
Nearly two-thirds of North Carolinians worry about harmful side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, even as a growing majority say they’ll take it to get back to normal life.
State senators move to make nonprofit donor names private
A new bill supported by influential N.C. senators would protect the confidentiality of donors to nonprofit organizations and charities.
General Assembly to consider adding ‘right-to-work’ to N.C. Constitution
The General Assembly will consider a measure to enshrine North Carolina’s right-to-work policies in the state constitution. In essence, employees have the right — but not the obligation — to join a labor union.
Bipartisan Senate group to push for broadband expansion in new bill
A bipartisan group of senators is crafting legislation that would find ways to expand broadband access in North Carolina.
Senators push for more transparency in government worker personnel records
A growing number of senators are signing on to a bill that would make more information available to the public on government employee performance.
Cooper’s budget proposal pushes for more spending, Medicaid expansion
Gov. Roy Cooper introduced a $55.9 billion budget proposal on Wednesday, March 24, that includes many of the goals he’s had since taking office. But this time he claims they’re needed due to the COVID pandemic.
General Assembly to consider bill to protect women’s sports
The General Assembly will soon consider a bill that seeks to protect women’s sports by preventing boys and men from being allowed to compete on female teams in middle school, high school and college.