All in State Government
Chief Justice Paul Newby has appointed Superior Court Judge Andrew T. Heath as director of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC), effective today, January 8. His role will be to manage and oversee the administrative services provided to the Judicial Branch’s more than 6,400 employees and hundreds of courthouses and facilities in every county of the state.
The Marc Basnight Bridge in Dare County has been named 2020’s ‘Bridge of the Year’ by American Infrastructure magazine, a leading industry publication.
Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced new appointments to boards and commissions across North Carolina.
Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) today announced his intended committee appointments for the 2021-22 legislative biennium.
N.C. Department of Public Safety, including its divisions of Emergency Management and the N.C. National Guard, are actively planning and coordinating with N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to create options for how Guard personnel may augment existing vaccination resources.
RALEIGH — Today, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced that Food and Nutrition Services recipients will see a temporary increase in the amount of benefits they receive. This increase is part of the federal Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020. The maximum benefit amount for households receiving FNS will increase by 15% until June 30, 2021. This increase will end on June 30, 2021, when benefit amounts will return to their current levels.
RALEIGH – North Carolinians have two chances to take home a jackpot of more than $400 million in this week’s Powerball and Mega Millions drawings.
Chief Justice Paul Newby became the 30th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina over the weekend. He took the oath of office shortly after midnight, administered by Superior Court Judge Andrew Heath in the Newby home. Chief Justice Newby holds the highest judicial office in North Carolina and heads the Judicial Branch, the third and co-equal branch of state government. A formal ceremonial investiture is scheduled for January 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. and can be viewed from the Supreme Court’s YouTube page.
Donna Stroud became the chief judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals today. She took the oath of office this morning, administered by Chief Justice Paul Newby.
Governor Roy Cooper announced that he has appointed North Carolina State Representative Darren Jackson to a seat on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He will fill the vacancy created by Phil Berger Jr., who has been elected to the North Carolina Supreme Court.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced beginning Jan. 4, households can apply for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) and the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) online at www.epass.nc.gov.
Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 184, extending North Carolina’s evictions moratorium through January 31, 2021. Research shows that eviction moratoriums help prevent the spread of COVID-19. States that let their eviction moratoriums lapse saw a COVID-19 incidence rate that was 1.6 times higher than states that kept a moratorium in place.
Effective Jan. 1, 2021, the contribution limit for North Carolina political campaigns will increase by $200, from $5,400 to $5,600. No individual or political committee may contribute more than $5,600 to a candidate committee or political committee in any election.
Chief Judge Linda M. McGee and Judge Wanda G. Bryant, both serving on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, are retiring today, December 31, 2020. Both judges have served long and distinguished careers and were recently honored for their service by Governor Roy Cooper with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. This high honor was presented by Attorney General Josh Stein at a retirement luncheon for both judges.
Chief Justice Cheri Beasley announced the following appointments effective Friday, January 1, 2021.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced it had updated its vaccination plan to align with new federal recommendations issued last week. The changes simplify the vaccine process and continue the state’s commitment to first protect health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19, people who are at the highest risk of being hospitalized or dying, and those at high risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Governor Cooper just can’t seem to win for losing these days. The North Carolina Democratic Governor is popular with ordinary citizens, but not so much within the bar and restaurant community. The industry blames him for a wide range of woes since being placed under restrictions enacted in March to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The State Highway Patrol proudly welcomed 50 new troopers at a graduation ceremony held for the 152nd Fast-Track Basic Highway Patrol School. The ceremony commemorates a historical first for the fast-track program as the cadets spent nine consecutive weeks at the training academy without visiting home. This training schedule was designed to ensure maximum protection for the cadets from outside exposure to COVID-19.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently received approval to use federal matching funds to expand services for the evidence-based early childhood program, Reach Out and Read. Research shows that children who Reach Out and Read have improved literacy and language comprehension, and clinics have improved patient-clinician relationships and well-child visit attendance. This partnership with Reach Out and Read is one of the first in the country among Medicaid programs.
In June, Gov. Roy Cooper established the Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice. I was honored when he asked Associate Justice Anita Earls and me to lead its work. Our charge was substantial: to identify ways to bring about meaningful change in the criminal justice system so that every North Carolinian is safe.
