Three years after the N.C. electorate decided to add a voter identification requirement to the state constitution, Republican lawmakers are defending voter ID in court.
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N.C. average teacher pay $54,392 per year, second best in Southeast
Public school teachers in North Carolina receive an average annual salary of $53,392 for the current school year, according to the latest figures from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. That puts the state second best in the Southeast — behind Georgia — in average teacher pay.
State senators move to make nonprofit donor names private
A new bill supported by influential N.C. senators would protect the confidentiality of donors to nonprofit organizations and charities.
Corporate tax should be priority
North Carolina state government is headed into the 2021-22 fiscal year with nearly $5 billion in unanticipated revenue and unencumbered savings. Even after making critical deposits into the state’s rainy-day fund, reserve for repairing and renovating state buildings, and other accounts, there’ll be enough money left on the table to start a fight.
General Assembly to consider adding ‘right-to-work’ to N.C. Constitution
The General Assembly will consider a measure to enshrine North Carolina’s right-to-work policies in the state constitution. In essence, employees have the right — but not the obligation — to join a labor union.
Legislature sends Cooper bills designed to address learning losses
Two bills sitting on Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk are designed to remediate learning losses for K-12 students left behind by classroom closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bipartisan Senate group to push for broadband expansion in new bill
A bipartisan group of senators is crafting legislation that would find ways to expand broadband access in North Carolina.
"Partisan" reading bill passes easily
On March 31, the North Carolina Senate passed the hugely controversial SB 387, titled the Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021, by margin of 48 senators in favor, none opposed.
Political fantasies can be costly
It’s hard not to play along when children come up with cute untruths. Unfortunately, many politicians have yet to grow out of the toddler phase when it comes to spotting and discarding spurious correlations. The most naïve and destructive examples stem from misusing the concept of the multiplier effect.
GOP lawmakers move forward bills to "restore trust" in election system
Republican lawmakers are pushing forward two election-reform bills designed to shore up voting integrity following a 2020 general election that included numerous accusations of fraud.
Folwell says hospitals not so transparent on prices, despite federal rules
N.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell says N.C. hospitals aren’t being transparent on their pricing, despite federal rules requiring them to do so.
Federal investigation of 2016 state election shows ‘failure of oversight’
A four-year federal investigation into voter fraud in North Carolina during the 2016 election has ended, netting 70 total charges, including 40 charges of individuals voting illegally. Others were charged with falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register to vote.
More than $120 million in COVID relief money was returned, auditor finds
The federal government sent nearly $4 billion in COVID relief money to North Carolina, but a sizable chunk of it was returned, unwanted, a new report from the state auditor’s office finds.
Bill would promote early literacy among N.C. public school students
Republican legislators in the N.C. Senate are pushing forward a bill meant to improve literacy among North Carolina public school students by the third grade.
State has too much debt already
Thanks to the fiscally responsible policies of the North Carolina General Assembly, state government has some $5 billion in unspent funds and unanticipated revenues in its General Fund
Senators push for more transparency in government worker personnel records
A growing number of senators are signing on to a bill that would make more information available to the public on government employee performance.
GOP lawmakers move to bar ‘sue-and-settle’ schemes after settlement
Republican senators have introduced a bill that would require lawmakers to sign off on any deal settling a lawsuit in which the legislature is a party.
No, inequality isn’t increasing
Every argument has three parts: definitions, premises, and logical reasoning. When conservatives and progressives disagree about a specific issue, each side often leaps to the conclusion that the other side is being illogical (or dishonest, or stupid).
Three-judge panel to hear case against Emergency Management Act
A Greenville bar owner’s lawsuit challenging the state Emergency Management Act is heading to a three-judge panel. The panel will decide whether the act is unconstitutional because of the power it grants to Gov. Roy Cooper.
House approves amendment to restrict eminent domain amendment
A supermajority of the N.C. House has approved a proposed constitutional amendment to strengthen private property rights against eminent domain land takings. The proposed amendment, House Bill 271, would hit the ballot in 2022. The bill passed the House, 101-17, Thursday, March 25.