Today's NC Political News briefs
State briefs: wildfire risks, tax charges, consumer protection and agency updates
Several recent state government items touch on public safety, tax enforcement, consumer protection, public health, agriculture, coastal permitting and workforce policy.
Stein points to wildfire risk from Helene debris
Gov. Josh Stein visited Buncombe County with the N.C. Forest Service on May 13 and called for continued investment in wildfire prevention as western North Carolina continues recovering from Hurricane Helene.
Stein said more than 16 million cubic yards of debris have been removed from western North Carolina, but remaining storm debris continues to increase wildfire danger. The Forest Service said North Carolina has already seen more than 4,300 wildfires in 2026, with 99% caused by human activity.
The governor previewed the Forest Service’s Disaster Mitigation Program, which the state said will allow property owners to request no-cost hazardous debris removal, improve fire breaks and promote prescribed burning.
Henderson County businesswoman charged in $1.2 million state tax case
The N.C. Department of Revenue said Rachel Ann Rose, 50, of Asheville, was arrested May 11 and charged with four counts of felony embezzlement of state property and multiple misdemeanor tax filing charges.
The department said indictments allege Rose, president of Four Seasons Plumbing Inc., aided and abetted the corporation in embezzling, misapplying or converting about $1.19 million in North Carolina sales taxes from May 1, 2022, through Aug. 31, 2025.
NCDOR said Rose was placed under a $200,000 unsecured bond and had a first appearance scheduled for May 18 in Wake County Superior Court. The charges are allegations, and the case remains pending.
DOJ says meat data exchange settlement targets grocery prices
Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s office said a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement shutting down a data exchange that officials said allowed meat producers to set higher prices for chicken, pork and turkey.
The May 11 announcement framed the case as a consumer pricing issue. DOJ said meat producers would no longer have access to the data exchange.
NCDHHS continues monitoring hantavirus outbreak involving NC passenger
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said it is monitoring a hantavirus outbreak connected to the M/V Hondius. The agency said the CDC confirmed one person from North Carolina was aboard the ship and was evacuated with remaining U.S. passengers to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s National Quarantine Unit.
NCDHHS said the risk of infection in North Carolina remains extremely low. The agency held a virtual media availability May 12 to discuss preparedness and response.
Farmland preservation advocates push for more support
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler was scheduled to address Farmland Preservation Advocacy Day on May 13 in Raleigh.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said the event was intended to highlight farmland preservation and the demand for increased funding. Division staff and stakeholders planned to meet with state representatives to advocate for more support.
DEQ plans coastal permit officer training
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management will hold spring training May 20-21 in Swansboro for local permit officers in the central and southern regions of its 20-county coastal service area.
State Board of Community Colleges meets May 14-15
The State Board of Community Colleges is scheduled to meet May 14-15 at the North Carolina Community College System Office in Raleigh.
Committee meetings were scheduled for noon Thursday, with the full board meeting set for 9 a.m. Friday. The system also announced an executive committee meeting for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, with some portions potentially held in closed session under state law.
