Tag Archives: nc

North Carolina budget plan advances as Senate Republicans double down on tax cuts

North Carolina budget plan advances as Senate Republicans double down on tax cuts

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Senate Republicans have advanced a two-year budget for the ninth-largest state. The proposal that received initial Senate approval on Wednesday spends less than what the new Democratic governor requested and doubles down on already enacted income tax cuts. Gov. Josh Stein’s budget pitch sought to spend roughly $1 billion more each year than what the Senate decided in part by halting broad tax rate cuts. But GOP senators are content with their spending, taxes and cost-cutting. The Senate bill locates another $1.3 billion for Hurricane Helene aid and seeks to eliminate hundreds of vacant state positions. The House will soon pass a competing measure.… 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

Ex-congressman Nickel entering race to unseat North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026

Ex-congressman Nickel entering race to unseat North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel of North Carolina has announced himself as a candidate to try to unseat Republican Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026. Nickel revealed his plans Wednesday. Nickel had signaled his interest in a Senate bid in late 2023, when the Raleigh-area congressman decided against seeking a second U.S. House term because redrawn district lines made it essentially impossible to win again. Nickel said a “fighter for what’s right for our state” is needed, and he criticized Tillis for backing President Donald Trump’s agenda. There is still time for other Democrats to enter the race. Former Gov. Roy Cooper is considering it.… Continue Reading

Deputies kill armed man inside North Carolina hospital ER, sheriff says

Deputies kill armed man inside North Carolina hospital ER, sheriff says

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say deputies fatally shot a man inside a North Carolina hospital’s emergency room Tuesday after he pointed a gun at them. Law enforcement arrived at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center in Elizabeth City early Tuesday morning after receiving reports of an armed man pointing a gun at several emergency room staff members. Authorities say they found the man in the emergency triage room and three of the deputies fired at him after he aimed his handgun at them. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. None of the deputies were injured. Officials did not immediately release additional details about the suspect.… 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

The skyrocketing cost of weight-loss drugs has state Medicaid programs looking for a solution

The skyrocketing cost of weight-loss drugs has state Medicaid programs looking for a solution

Some of the more than a dozen states that cover the high cost of GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Zepbound through Medicaid or state employee insurance programs are scrambling to lessen the budgetary squeeze from fast-rising costs. In Pennsylvania alone, Medicaid coverage of the drugs is projected to cost $1.3 billion. That’s up from practically nothing several years ago. Pennsylvania and Connecticut are looking to tighten guidelines for people who want to use GLP-1s solely for weight loss. But there remains interest in covering the drugs. An Associated Press analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural shows at least a half-dozen states have bills this year proposing Medicaid coverage.… 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

Rare greenhouse gas law in NC could get pulled back by GOP legislators

Rare greenhouse gas law in NC could get pulled back by GOP legislators

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina enacted a rare energy law in the South in 2021 that directed power plant emissions be sharply reduced. But now the state’s GOP-controlled legislature is seeking to repeal a key element in that law. The Senate wants to do away with the requirement to take “all reasonable steps to achieve” reducing carbon dioxide output 70% from 2005 levels by 2030. Bill sponsors say regulators have already delayed the deadline as the law allows and the change would help Duke Energy assemble less expensive power sources now. Bill critics say the interim goal is useful to meet a 2050 carbon neutrality standard that still would be in place.… 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

First disappointment and then a celebration as video captures high school band’s big surprise

First disappointment and then a celebration as video captures high school band’s big surprise

SNOW HILL, N.C. (AP) — A small high school in eastern North Carolina is celebrating the highest ranking its band has won at a statewide musical competition. The surprise reaction of the students learning they had won a superior ranking was captured on video. It started when band director Andrew Howell solemnly stepped onto the bus and told his students what they had gone through was a learning experience. Some of the students groaned or dropped their heads. Then he pulled out a plaque awarding the band with the competition’s highest ranking. The students erupted with screams and cheers. The video of their celebration has been seen by millions after being posted on TikTok and social media sites.… Continue Reading

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