The Wake County Public School Board voted for making masks recommended but not required for athletics immediately. The vote includes extracurricular activities, ending masks requirements on Friday, Feb. 25, and for classes starting March 7.
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OPINION: Court should have heeded O'Connor's warning about redistricting
It's a shame the N.C. Supreme Court ignored a valuable lesson from the writing of the politically savvy Sandra Day O’Connor. That lesson could have helped the court avoid its recent decision rejecting state election maps.
Freedom. U.S. dips to record low in global rankings
The Heritage Foundation’s 2022 “Index of Economic Freedom” puts the United States at a record low ranking, falling from 20th in 2021 to 25th this year out of 177 countries ranked.
Op-Ed: Money does not have a causal relationship with a baby's brain activity
An article published by NC Policy Watch caught my attention the other day. The piece ran with the headline, “Boosting low-income mothers’ income increased their babies’ brain activity.” After seeing the headline, I asked myself, “How can the disbursement of money to the mother have an impact on a baby’s brain activity?” Of course, I had to read the article to find out what was going on.
Strain of bird flu detected in NC
Vigilance but not panic is being advised for poultry farms and others with poultry in their backyards after a strain of Avian Flu was recently detected in 65 hunter-harvested wild waterfowl at three sites in North Carolina and other nearby states as of Feb. 4. It’s also the reason why the North Carolina Zoo closed its aviary to the public on Jan. 26.
Legal challenge to governor's emergency powers one step closer to three-judge panel
A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Roy Cooper's emergency powers has moved closer to a resolution. The senior resident Superior Court judge for Wake County has agreed the case should head to a three-judge panel.
OPINION: Should big tech shield us from science, even if it’s controversial?
A bill before the South Carolina Legislature seeks to affirm a sacred American right – the right to our conscience. Co-sponsored by every Republican member of the subcommittee – the legislation is a reaction to a Columbia city ordinance that restricts a counselor or therapist’s ability to bring in biblical worldviews on issues related to human sexuality and sexual orientation.
Robinson raises $1.5 million for campaign
With campaign finance reports coming later this month, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's campaign announced that he has raised more than $1.5 million. The donations come from 12,691 donors, according to his latest campaign finance report. Semi-annual reports for all candidates for office in N.C. are due Jan. 31.
Senate passes bill banning county board of elections from taking private money
The N.C. Senate on Monday, Nov. 29, passed a bill that would ban county boards of elections from accepting private donations to conduct election services or hire election workers. Senators approved Senate Bill 725 by a vote of 27-19.
State legislature passes flurry of bills, including adjournment resolution
Both chambers of the N.C. General Assembly passed an adjournment resolution Monday evening, Nov. 29, coming amid a flurry of other measures making their way through the legislature.
State controller goes to court to block Leandro funding order
State Controller Linda Combs is going to court to block a recent ruling in the long-running Leandro school funding case.
Operation Christmas Child continues despite rising costs, supply chain issues
Rampant inflation, supply chain issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic aren’t dampening the Christmas spirit at the international Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse.
General Assembly releases N.C. budget plan, including input from Cooper
The N.C. General Assembly will begin votes Tuesday on the newly-released 2021-23 conference budget. The 2021-22 budget plan of $25.9 billion represents a 4.3% increase over the previous plan. The fiscal 2022-23 portion of the biennial plan is $27 billion, and the state’s rainy day fund grows to $4.25 billion by the end of the biennium.
Cooper’s teacher advisory committee lopsided to favor Dem voices
Of the 25 active members of Gov. Roy Cooper’s Teacher Advisory Committee, only one is a registered Republican, a review of voter registration records by Carolina Journal shows. The ratios bring into question how adequately the advisory committee represents the diverse viewpoints of teachers from across North Carolina.
Afghanistan: Lawmakers representing N.C. in Washington demand answers
Republicans in Congress, including those representing North Carolina, are seeking detailed answers from the Biden administration over the United States’ catastrophic exit from Afghanistan.
As school board meetings heat up, officials take sides
The N.C. Task Force for Safer Schools is finalizing a statement chiding parents for strongly voicing their views and at times disrupting recent school board meetings.
Questionable criteria on NC worker ranking begs a deeper dive
North Carolina’s economic health seems strong. Taxes are low, cost of living is below average, and a recent CNBC study gave the state a No. 2 ranking as “Best for Business” because of solid growth, quality workforce, business friendliness, and technology.
N.C. has run up less taxpayer debt than most states, financial watchdog says
One of the nation’s leading financial watchdogs says North Carolina has fared better than most states in terms of balancing its budget, but the picture isn’t all rosy as the state has an average debt burden of $1,400 per taxpayer.
Governor’s agency to pay settlement after investigation into volunteer grants
The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service under the office of Gov. Roy Cooper has agreed to a settlement with the federal government after an investigation alleged falsified timecards and compliance documents for grants from the federal AmeriCorps program.
N.C. congressman wants school choice for students facing mask mandates, CRT
A Republican congressman from North Carolina would expand school choice for students across the nation facing mask mandates or classroom instruction based on Critical Race Theory.