All in State Government
Gov. Roy Cooper is encouraging high school students in North Carolina to explore careers in cybersecurity by participating in CyberStart America, an online cybersecurity talent search and competition sponsored by the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation and SANS Institute.
On Saturday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley conceded the race for Chief Justice to fellow Justice Paul Newby. The race came down to about 400 votes out of 5.4 million as recounts and court challenges delayed the victory declaration since the November 3rd election.
When I announced North Carolina had its first known COVID case on March 3rd, most of us didn’t expect to be living like this in December. Instead of preparing for beloved holiday traditions, we’re making virtual gathering plans and mourning the loss of more than 290,000 Americans from COVID-19.
The North Carolina Criminal Justice Analysis Center has released its latest study of statewide trends regarding “who” and “why” individuals are involved in traffic stops in its December 2020 issue of the Justice Analysis Review. This second report is part of the North Carolina Traffic Stop Reporting Program Series, first issued in July 2020.
Legislative leaders and Gov. Roy Cooper reached a deal to ensure $30 million is allocated as promised to the GREAT rural broadband program.
Attorney General Josh Stein today sued Facebook Inc., alleging that the company used its monopoly power to buy competitors and cut services to others to maintain its monopoly, which ultimately harms people by reducing privacy protections, degrading services, and stifling competition. Attorney General Stein was part of the executive committee leading the multistate investigation into Facebook.
Governor Roy Cooper today announced changes to his administration as several cabinet secretaries announced they will step down in coming weeks during his transition to a second term.
Effective Friday, December 11th at 5:00pm, the State of North Carolina will be under a Modified Stay at Home Order. Businesses are required to close by 10pm. All alcohol sales to end by 9pm.
NC Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall will convene the 58th meeting of the North Carolina Electoral College on Monday, December 14, in the Capitol Building’s Old Hall of the House of Representatives at noon. The electors will cast their ballots for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States.
Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is one of 16 governors who holds only virtual press briefings without reporters in the room. He has scheduled one for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, when he’s expected to issue tighter coronavirus regulations.
On Sept. 3, a bipartisan supermajority in the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $30 million for rural broadband to help rural areas impacted by the pandemic. The next day, Gov. Roy Cooper issued a press release, taking credit for our work, with the following statement: “This budget followed my recommendations on school enrollment funding and invested in important areas like high-speed internet access…” Seventy-five days after the legislation passed, and 74 days after Gov. Cooper touted the investment, his administration quietly ripped this money and broadband from the hands of rural North Carolinians.
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein today reached a $86.3 million settlement with Nationstar Mortgage, the nation’s fourth-largest mortgage servicer. In North Carolina, 1,938 borrowers will receive a combined $1,940,880.50 in relief.
Stein also reached a $210 million settlement with Dish Network for engaging in illegal nationwide telemarking in violation of do-not-call laws. North Carolina will receive $13,986,000, the largest penalty ever obtained in the state over do-not-call violations. Most of the funds will go to North Carolina’s public schools.
The ballots have been counted. Twice. Some will be counted again. Maybe all of them. Even after that, North Carolinians may not know who will be the chief justice of the state Supreme Court in 2021.
From family photos with Big Foot to choose-and-cut Christmas trees, there is an abundance of fun holiday activities waiting for visitors at area farms this season.
Through the NC Rate Bureau, North Carolina's insurance companies have collectively proposed a 25 percent increase on property insurance premiums. On December 10 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will hold a virtual public hearing on this issue.
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in October. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.5 percent while Watauga County had the lowest at 4.1 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Fayetteville had the highest rate at 8.3 percent while Raleigh and Durham-Chapel Hill each had the lowest at 5.3 percent. The October not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 6.1 percent.
On Thursday, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded more than $2.4 million in funding to support agriculture, economic development, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and disaster recovery through projects across North Carolina. The Board also heard from its strategic planning consultants on the results of outreach and data gathering efforts launched over the summer. The Board is expected to adopt a strategic plan in the first quarter of 2021.
All 100 North Carolina counties have completed the statewide recount in the North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice contest. After the machine recount, Republican Paul Newby leads Democrat Cheri Beasley by 401 votes out of nearly 5.4 million cast in that race. “The recount showed minor differences from canvassed vote totals, but did not change the outcome of the contest,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce released the county tier designations for 2021 today. The designations, which are mandated by state law, play a role in several programs that assist in economic development.
On Wednesday State Auditor Beth Wood released the results of a performance audit at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The audit was of Coronavirus Relief Funds allocated to the DPI from the 2020 COVID-19 Recover Act. The objectives were to ensure that Coronavirus Relief Funds were spent in accordance with the 2020 COVID-19 Recovery Act and subsequent amendments as well as that the programs that received Coronavirus Relief Funds accomplished their intended purpose.
