Tag Archives: NC

North Carolina Gov. Stein signs stopgap budget bill and vetoes opt-in bill helping school choice

North Carolina Gov. Stein signs stopgap budget bill and vetoes opt-in bill helping school choice

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has signed a stopgap spending measure as lawmakers remain stuck in a budget impasse. But he also vetoed a bill Wednesday that would otherwise sign off on state involvement in a federal tax credit program to boost school-choice options. Stein criticized the spending plan for not providing enough pay raises or covering increased Medicaid expenses. The new law includes funds for state construction projects and employee benefits. The tax-credit program bill approved by Republicans seeks to opt in to the financial benefits within President Donald Trump’s new law for donations to K-12 scholarship organizations.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Gov. Stein signs stopgap budget bill and vetoes opt-in bill helping school choice

North Carolina Gov. Stein signs stopgap budget bill and vetoes opt-in bill helping school choice

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has signed a stopgap spending measure as lawmakers remain stuck in a budget impasse. But he also vetoed a bill Wednesday that would otherwise sign off on state involvement in a federal tax credit program to boost school-choice options. Stein criticized the spending plan for not providing enough pay raises or covering increased Medicaid expenses. The new law includes funds for state construction projects and employee benefits. The tax-credit program bill approved by Republicans seeks to opt in to the financial benefits within President Donald Trump’s new law for donations to K-12 scholarship organizations.… Continue Reading

North Carolina residents can now seek state aid after Tropical Storm Chantal

North Carolina residents can now seek state aid after Tropical Storm Chantal

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Residents in several central North Carolina counties affected by last month’s Tropical Storm Chantal can now apply for state-funded financial aid. This assistance follows a state disaster declaration issued Tuesday by Gov. Josh Stein. The storm brought several inches of rain, causing record-breaking river levels and significant damage. At least six storm-related deaths occurred. Stein has also requested a federal disaster declaration to speed up federal aid for rebuilding infrastructure. Public assistance damage estimates have exceeded $42 million. Residents can seek aid for housing, property replacement and medical expenses at local disaster recovery centers.… Continue Reading

Funeral held for Dr. Greg Brannon, North Carolina tea party favorite and ex-Senate candidate

Funeral held for Dr. Greg Brannon, North Carolina tea party favorite and ex-Senate candidate

CARY, N.C. (AP) — A funeral has been held for Dr. Greg Brannon, a North Carolina physician and former figure in state Republican politics. A funeral home confirmed that Brannon died July 27. Brannon was 64. He was known for his involvement in the tea party movement and his runs for the U.S. Senate and House in the 2010s. He was an OB-GYN for 27 years and later founded a hormone replacement therapy company. Brannon is being remembered for his medical work, especially with challenging pregnancies. The funeral took place last Saturday in Raleigh. He is survived by his wife, seven children, and two grandchildren.… Continue Reading

North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale

North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles is the subject of two new audits looking to address long wait times for customers and low morale for workers. Republican Auditor Dave Boliek released them on Monday. The DMV struggles to keep up with the state’s growing population, leading to customer frustrations. It’s not unusual for customers to camp outside driver’s license offices in the wee hours. Boliek recommends making the DMV an autonomous agency separate from the Department of Transportation for better control over budget and operations. Other suggestions include using outside instructors for driving tests and creating “pop-up” license offices.… Continue Reading

College isn’t in the plans for many rural students despite stepped-up recruiting efforts

College isn’t in the plans for many rural students despite stepped-up recruiting efforts

PERRY, N.Y. (AP) — America’s rural high school students are less likely to go to college than their urban and suburban peers. Students in the most sparsely populated regions often face obstacles to attending college, including having to travel far to get to campus, a lack of public transportation, and inconsistent broadband access that limits access to online courses and financial aid. Family dynamics also often factor in, including a lack of exposure to college because parents didn’t attend and an underlying doubt about the value of a college degree and curriculum. Some colleges have stepped up efforts to recruit rural students.… Continue Reading

Cameron Young builds 5-shot lead at Wyndham Championship in search of first win

Cameron Young builds 5-shot lead at Wyndham Championship in search of first win

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Cameron Young is one round away from finally being a PGA Tour winner. He ran off four straight birdies in the Wyndham Championship and stretched his lead to eight shots at one point. Young made a pair of late birdies for a 65. That gives him a five-shot lead over Nico Echavarria. No one else is closer than eight shots. Young is widely considered the best player without a victory on a main tour. His bigger goal is trying to make the Ryder Cup. He grew up in New York and won a New York State Open at Bethpage Black.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Senate race sets up as a fight over who would be a champion for the middle class

North Carolina Senate race sets up as a fight over who would be a champion for the middle class

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats still in the dumps over last year’s elections have found cause for optimism in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for that state’s newly open seat with a vow to address voters’ persistent concerns about making ends meet. Republicans, meanwhile, are hardly ceding the economic populist ground President Donald Trump held in carrying the state last year. In announcing his candidacy for Senate on Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley credited Trump with fulfilling campaign promises to working Americans. Cooper’s plainspoken appeal represents the latest effort by Democrats to find their way back to power.… Continue Reading

Record-breaking heat wave scorches Southeast US

Record-breaking heat wave scorches Southeast US

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Residents in the Southeast U.S. are no strangers to hot weather in the summertime, but the sweltering heat this week set at least one record, and forecasters urged residents to limit being outside if possible and to hydrate. The all-time high temperature record at Tampa International Airport was broken on Sunday when the thermometer hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The previous record had been 99 degrees Fahrenheit set in June 2020. The National Weather Service said Tuesday that the prolonged heat wave was expected to peak in the southeast U.S. at mid-week.… Continue Reading

Wiley Nickel exits North Carolina Senate race the day after Roy Cooper announces candidacy

Wiley Nickel exits North Carolina Senate race the day after Roy Cooper announces candidacy

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel has decided to quit his bid for a Senate seat in North Carolina after Democrat Roy Cooper announced his candidacy. Nickel endorsed Cooper on Tuesday, citing leadership and inspiration by the former two-term governor. Cooper launched his campaign on Monday to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. On the GOP side, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is expected to run with Donald Trump’s support. Nickel had formally launched a Senate campaign in April, but his activities were always overshadowed by what Cooper decided to do next. Nickel hinted at future political endeavors in his Tuesday statement.… Continue Reading

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