RALEIGH — It was 250 years ago this week that North Carolinians fought in their first formal battle for American independence. But they didn’t fight it in North Carolina — and they didn’t fight British redcoats.
Attorneys General Jeff Jackson and Derek Brown Launch Nationwide Bipartisan AI Task Force
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Utah Attorney General Derek Brown announced the formation of a groundbreaking bipartisan AI Task Force. In partnership with leading AI developers, including OpenAI and Microsoft, the task force will tackle the fast-evolving landscape of AI. Its mission will be to identify emerging issues related to AI and develop safeguards that AI developers should follow to protect the public as this transformative technology accelerates.
NC Legislative Leaders Reject Gov. Stein’s Call to Session as Unconstitutional, Unnecessary
Raleigh, NC — Today, North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger jointly informed Governor Josh Stein via letter that the state legislature will not reconvene next week in response to his call for an extra session.
Statement on Speaker Hall and President Pro Tempore Berger’s Refusal to Fund Medicaid
(RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein released the following statement on Speaker Destin Hall and President Pro Tempore Phil Berger’s failure to fund Medicaid:
John Hood: Treasurer Seeks to Reform Health Plan
RALEIGH — Pointing to a projected $1 billion budget hole in North Carolina’s health plan for teachers and other public employees by 2027, State Treasurer Brad Briner and his team are implementing an array of program changes and premium hikes. Their response may not be popular among beneficiaries — but reform is essential if the state is to continue providing health benefits at a reasonable cost.
Governor Stein Volunteers at Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Presents $3.34 Million Donation As SNAP Benefits Stall
(RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein and Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt joined state and elected local officials in volunteering at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina as federal food assistance continues to stall. During his visit, Governor Stein presented a $3.34 million check from the State of North Carolina, part of his ongoing initiative to surge public and private donations to food banks.
North Carolina Prepares for Workforce Pell, Expanding Access to Workforce Training Programs
(RALEIGH) Governor Josh Stein has directed the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships to make recommendations to effectively implement the newly created Workforce Pell grants to help North Carolina students take advantage of additional career training opportunities. The Council includes representatives of key stakeholders, including the North Carolina Department of Commerce, North Carolina Community College System, the University of North Carolina System, and North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.
Increasing Access to Care for Veterans in North Carolina
(RALEIGH) The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) today announced extended hours for NCServes and the launch of AskMeNC, two initiatives that expand access to care for North Carolina’s veterans and their families. These efforts strengthen the state’s coordinated network of support and underscore NCDHHS’s commitment to ensuring the more than 600,000 veterans who live in North Carolina have timely access to mental health care, housing, employment, and peer support services.
John Hood: Democratic Wave Crushes GOP Candidates
RALEIGH — The odd-year elections yielded precisely what all the warning signs of 2025 portended: a strong Democratic wave that crushed Republican nominees in the gubernatorial races of New Jersey and Virginia, gave Democrats their largest legislative majorities in decades in both states, delivered left-wing results in various ballot initiatives, and elected a hate monger as attorney general of Virginia and a socialist as mayor of New York.
Private Partners Amplify the State’s Efforts to Address Hunger in North Carolina, Totaling Nearly $22 Million
(RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein announced that organizations across North Carolina have stepped up to donate nearly $4 million to fight hunger in North Carolina. These donations follow last week’s announcement that the State of North Carolina and other partners would grant $18 million to fight hunger across the state.
Governor Stein Calls Extra Session to Fund Medicaid
(RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein highlighted the stories of Medicaid patients and providers while calling an extra session of the North Carolina General Assembly on November 17, 2025, to fund Medicaid. Governor Stein was joined by disability advocates Demi Eckhoff and Betsy MacMichael and Dr. Karen Smith, all of whom shared the impact of Medicaid on their lives.
Governor Josh Stein Hosts Roundtable on Medical Debt Relief Highlighting Benefits for Millions of North Carolinians
(RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein hosted a roundtable discussion in Greensboro to hear from advocates, faith leaders, practitioners, and patients about the burden of living with medical debt and how relief aids North Carolina families and the economy. In October, Governor Stein announced that the state’s medical debt relief program had erased more than $6.5 billion in medical debt for more than 2.5 million North Carolinians over the past year.
Op-Ed: Main Street Depositor Protection Act a poor plan to protect main street
In addition to my role as State Senator for North Carolina’s 35th district in the State General Assembly, I am also a small business owner, helping run my family-owned business, Johnson Insurance Management. As both a State Senator and small business owner, I want to speak out in opposition to proposed federal legislation that claims to be in the interest of small business owners like me and many others across North Carolina but, in reality, only benefits big businesses.
John Hood: Low Debt Burden Aids North Carolina
RALEIGH — Because I’m a fiscal conservative, you might think I reflexively oppose government borrowing. You’d be mistaken. I believe that public finance and toxicology share a common rule: the dose makes the poison.
Senator Budd Releases Statement After DHS Announces $155M in Disaster Aid for Western North Carolina
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem today, announced $155 million in public assistance reimbursements for Western North Carolina.
NC’s 1 million ACA enrollees set to see higher health care costs in 2026
Open enrollment starts Nov. 1. Higher premiums and expiring tax credits could combine for spikes in costs.
Speaker Hall Statement on Rep. Brockman's Resignation
Raleigh, NC — North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall issued the following statement on the resignation of Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford):
Governor Stein Announces Nearly $18 Million in Contributions for North Carolina Food Assistance
(RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein announced that the State of North Carolina will grant $10 million to local food banks across the state. The State is joined by AmeriHealth Caritas, which will give $5 million, The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, which will accelerate $2.5 million from a previously announced $10 million gift, and other donors. These announcements come as food banks prepare for an influx of need following the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s decision to suspend the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November.
John Hood: North Carolina Still Isn’t Very Urban
RALEIGH — According to the latest count by the U.S. Census Bureau, North Carolina has added yet another metropolitan area. Has our state become an urban colossus?
Budd Publishes Op-Ed in The Hill, Demanding American Sanctions on CCP Officials Responsible for Religious Persecution
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) published an op-ed in The Hill entitled, “China’s crackdown on religious freedom demands American sanctions,” arguing for strict American sanctions to hold Chinese Communist Party officials accountable for their repeated record of brutality toward religious minorities. Senator Budd’s op-ed follows the largest the reported crackdown on practicing Christians in China since 2018 that occurred earlier this month.