Category Archives: State/Regional

North Carolina advances bill on book bans in public schools

North Carolina advances bill on book bans in public schools

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina House Republicans have advanced a bill that would create advisory committees to approve and remove books from libraries in public and charter schools. The legislation quickly moved through the House and passed Wednesday. It now moves to the Senate. The legislation outlines that advisory committees would be made up of parents and school employees. Those committees would then make recommendations to their school boards on what library material can be allowed. Supporters say the bill would protect students from explicit material. Opponents say the bill creates unnecessary censorship in schools.… Continue Reading

NC health officials relaunch ‘Fight the Bite’ campaign as tick and mosquito season begins

NC health officials relaunch ‘Fight the Bite’ campaign as tick and mosquito season begins

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – With spring in full swing and summer right around the corner, public health officials are reminding North Carolinians to be cautious about ticks and mosquitos. In 2024 alone, the state has already reported more than 900 cases of illnesses tied to these pesky biters. To help curb the spread, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human services is relaunching its “Fight the Bite” campaign to raise awareness and promote prevention. April has been declared by the governor as “tick and mosquito” awareness month. If you start to feel symptoms after being bit by a tick or mosquito you should make an appointment with a healthcare professional.… Continue Reading

North Carolina judges weigh GOP law shifting election board control away from Democratic governor

North Carolina judges weigh GOP law shifting election board control away from Democratic governor

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina trial judges will soon rule if legislative Republicans’ latest method to attempt to wrest control of the State Board of Elections from a Democratic governor is lawful. A three-judge panel listened to arguments Monday in a lawsuit filed by Gov. Josh Stein against GOP lawmakers. A law approved last year and taking effect soon would give board appointments to the state auditor. Republican Dave Boliek is now the auditor. The legislature has sought to erode or eliminate a governor’s authority to appoint the board for nearly a decade. At least four laws have been blocked and a constitutional amendment was defeated. Any ruling will assuredly be appealed.… Continue Reading

NC Attorney General settles with major landlord over AI-powered rent fixing

NC Attorney General settles with major landlord over AI-powered rent fixing

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced a settlement with a major landlord accused of illegally fixing rent prices using cutting-edge technology. Landlords were using RealPage, a property management software provider known for AI-powered solutions and services that has allegedly exploited landlords’ competitively sensitive information creating a pricing algorithm that inflated rent prices and violated antitrust laws. A settlement was reached with Cortland Management LLC, where they agreed to spot using sensitive data from its competitors. … Continue Reading

North Carolina Supreme Court rules most challenged ballots must stay in election count

North Carolina Supreme Court rules most challenged ballots must stay in election count

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court has ruled that tens of thousands of cast ballots challenged by the trailing candidate in November’s election for a seat on the court must remain in the election count. Friday’s decision by the justices partially overturns last week’s decision by the Court of Appeals that favored Republican Jefferson Griffin. But a majority of justices agreed with the lower court that thousands of additional ballots from two other categories were wrongly allowed in the tally. Friday’s prevailing order says some of those votes can still be retained in the count if voters provide information soon. Democratic Justice Allison Riggs currently leads Griffin by 734 votes.… Continue Reading

Court directive to notify voters in close North Carolina election blocked for now

Court directive to notify voters in close North Carolina election blocked for now

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court has temporarily halted enforcement of a decision by an appeals court that favored a Republican candidate in a close and unresolved November election for the state’s highest court. The Supreme Court blocked Friday’s order by a Court of Appeals panel that otherwise would have essentially taken effect immediately. Monday’s stay means a directive telling election workers statewide to identify and contact potentially tens of thousands of voters whose ballots were challenged by Republican Jefferson Griffin won’t be carried out for now. Justice Allison Riggs leads by 734 votes. Her attorneys asked for the delay over the weekend.… Continue Reading

North Carolina judges side with Republican colleague in close Supreme Court race

North Carolina judges side with Republican colleague in close Supreme Court race

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina appeals court has sided with the trailing candidate in a close state Supreme Court election from November. The intermediate-level Court of Appeals ruled Friday that ballots covering three categories should be disallowed. This overturns decisions of the State Board of Elections and favors Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin. He’s 734 votes behind Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs. Griffin’s postelection protests challenged over 65,000 ballots. The decision tells election officials to give voters in two of the categories about three weeks to provide needed information so their ballots could count. But the ruling first will likely be appealed to the state Supreme Court.… Continue Reading

What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death

What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death

ATLANTA (AP) — Experts say planning before a tornado threatens is key for staying safe. Weather radios, basements and bicycle helmets can all help save lives. Rick Smith of the National Weather Service says a weather radio is something that every home and business should have. There are also other ways of getting warnings, such as a cellphone app. Experts say having multiple, redundant warning methods is important. Smith advises people to seek shelter underground if possible. And recent research shows that closing your exterior and interior doors can be a good strategy to alleviate the high winds somewhat. That’s the opposite of the commonly held misconception that you’re supposed to open things up equalize the air pressure.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Senate Republicans pick Lee as next majority leader

North Carolina Senate Republicans pick Lee as next majority leader

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The next majority leader of the North Carolina Senate is a top budget-writer who has managed to keep his Senate seat by winning close swing district races. A news release says the Senate Republican Caucus elected Sen. Michael Lee of New Hanover County as majority leader by acclamation on Tuesday. He succeeds outgoing Sen. Paul Newton, who resigned from the Senate last week for a university job. The majority leader is considered a chief lieutenant to the chamber’s No. 1 leader, GOP Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger. Lee was first appointed to the Senate in 2014, lost his seat in 2018 but won it back in 2020.… Continue Reading

States sue Trump administration for rescinding billions in health funding

States sue Trump administration for rescinding billions in health funding

Attorneys general and other officials from 23 states and the District of Columbia are suing the Trump administration for its decision to claw back $11 billion that went to public health departments for COVID-19 efforts and addiction and mental health programs. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Rhode Island on Tuesday. The lawsuit says not paying the rest of the federal money will have a devastating effect on public health. Local and state public health departments are still assessing the impact of the loss of funds.… Continue Reading

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