LATEST NEWS AND OPINION

(RALEIGH) Today, Governor Josh Stein spoke to the NC Sheriffs’ Association at their annual spring conference to share his appreciation for the work they do to keep North Carolinians safe. The Governor highlighted his proposals to address staffing shortages and create a dedicated Cold Case Unit and a Fentanyl Control Unit. 

Raleigh, N.C. – Today, the N.C. Senate approved a bill to provide local school districts additional flexibility to set their academic calendars and implement penalties to hold school district officials accountable if they break the law.

North Carolina is growing—with over 600,000 new North Carolinians moving to the Tar Heel State over the past five years. And as is almost always the case, driving that population increase is economic expansion. North Carolina is a top state for manufacturing and business, and many companies are looking to come to or expand in North Carolina, bringing with them tens of thousands of high paying jobs and further cementing the state’s status as an economic powerhouse in the South.

North Carolina Treasurer Brad Briner has nominated former N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Donald van der Vaart to the North Carolina Utilities Commission.  Van der Vaart is an engineer and attorney by trade, with a background in the energy and utilities sectors. He has served on the EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board and the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission. 

Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced that Deputy Solicitor General Nick Brod will become North Carolina’s Solicitor General on May 1, succeeding Solicitor General Ryan Park. The Solicitor General handles important, strategic litigation on behalf of the state and manages appeals in the Department of Justice’s civil cases.

(RALEIGH) Today, Governor Josh Stein spoke to the NC Sheriffs’ Association at their annual spring conference to share his appreciation for the work they do to keep North Carolinians safe. The Governor highlighted his proposals to address staffing shortages and create a dedicated Cold Case Unit and a Fentanyl Control Unit. 

U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Senate lead on the Promoting Employment and Lifelong Learning (PELL) Act, applauded the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for including provisions from his PELL Act in the budget reconciliation. The PELL Act was the original framework for the workforce Pell Grant expansion that the House included yesterday in its reconciliation bill, the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan. 

Today, State Auditor Dave Boliek filed a response in support of a petition from Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall disputing the recent Superior Court ruling blocking transfer of elections board appointments from the governor to the state auditor. 

(RALEIGH) Today, Governor Josh Stein announced the following judicial appointment: 

In rural communities, like the many we have here in North Carolina, local public schools are often community hubs, serving as places of learning as well as connection and growth. Likewise, local businesses are often important pieces of what makes a rural community what it is, making relationships between the two not just beneficial, but essential.