State lawmakers look to eliminate hand-held cellphone use by drivers
State lawmakers are trying again to eliminate the use of hand-held cellphones by operators of motor vehicles.
Latest News and Opinion
Strong, Resilient, Ready: Governor Cooper proposes emergency budget supplement to turn corner on COVID-19 and invest in a stronger future for NC
Governor Roy Cooper today outlined a plan for allocating federal COVID-19 relief funds for immediate needs and investing state resources to help North Carolina communities build back as the state turns the corner on the pandemic.
Attorney General Josh Stein reaches $573 million settlement with McKinsey over Opioids
Attorney General Josh Stein today announced that he has reached a $573 million multi-state settlement with one of the world’s largest consulting firms, McKinsey & Company, resolving investigations into the company’s role in advising opioid companies how to promote their drugs and profit from the opioid epidemic. Attorney General Stein, who has made confronting the opioid epidemic one of his top priorities, played a lead role in negotiating the bipartisan settlement with a coalition of 53 attorneys general from around the country.
Vaccine hotline expands capacity and hours; search tool finds nearby vaccine locations
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released new tools to help North Carolinians get their COVID-19 vaccine questions answered and to find vaccine locations in the state.
North Carolina Commission of Indigent Defense Services re-appoints juvenile and capital defender
The North Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense Services has announced that its members voted to re-appoint Eric Zogry as the juvenile defender and Robert E. Sharpe as the capital defender during the Commission’s quarterly meeting on January 22, 2021.
Lawmakers, governor support reopening N.C. schools
Both political parties are throwing their weight behind school reopening in North Carolina. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, urged schools to allow students to return to the classroom. Republican lawmakers also Tuesday, Feb. 2 moved to mandate in-person learning as an option for all K-12 students.
North Carolina’s December county and area employment figures released
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 55 of North Carolina’s counties in December, decreased in 28, and remained unchanged in 17. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.2 percent while Watauga County had the lowest at 4.3 percent.
Chief Justice Newby appoints Chief District Court Judge in Davidson and Davie counties
Chief Justice Paul Newby has appointed Judge Jimmy L. Myers to serve as chief district court judge for Judicial District 22B (Davidson and Davie counties). The appointment, made January 29, 2021, became effective February 1, 2021.
John Hood: Build on North Carolina’s strengths
When will North Carolina’s economy return to normal, or at least to a “new normal”? Unfortunately, that destination is many months away, if not years. Still, we’ll know we’re making progress when we can see the most damaging events of 2020 only in our rearview mirrors.
Chief Justice Newby orders extension of time in bail bond forfeiture proceedings
In response to COVID-19, Chief Justice Paul Newby issued an order today further extending time in certain bail bond forfeiture proceedings.
Attorney General Josh Stein leads bipartisan coalition fighting to defend robocall protections
Attorney General Josh Stein and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita today took action to ensure state attorneys general can continue to fight against robocalls. Attorneys General Stein and Rokita led a bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in Lindenbaum v. Realgy. In their brief, the states argue that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s robocall ban was enforceable from 2015 to 2020. Fighting robocalls is one of Attorney General Stein’s top priorities.
Early North Carolina broadband survey data shows mediocre access
North Carolinians can now view results from an ongoing survey designed to show gaps in coverage in the state, which so far indicates a lack of access to broadband.