Month: February 2024

9. Wilson churches expand effort to wipe out medical debt

Wilsonians are again reaching into their wallets to raise cash to abolish medical debt for folks they don’t even know. Father Paul Castelli, rector at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Wilson, is leading the Easter Medical Debt Jubilee for the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina’s Rocky Mount Convocation. The campaign is being held during Lent. […]

Written by on February 26, 2024

10. Frankly speaking: complaint alleges Edwards abused free postage rules

A complaint filed by the chair of the Henderson County Democratic Party alleges Western North Carolina Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) violated United States Code and U.S. House of Representatives rules by mailing “hyper-partisan” fliers, thus abusing his congressional franking privilege. “It is my opinion that Congressman Edwards knew or should have known that a partisan […]

Written by on February 26, 2024

1. Josh Stein’s challenge with black voters

The black-and-white ad that launched Mike Morgan’s campaign for governor last fall generated lots of buzz. Produced over two weeks for $60,000, the ad begins with footage of an actor portraying Morgan as a child, in his Sunday best and a bowtie, entering a schoolhouse in New Bern, where he grew up. Young Mike takes […]

Written by on February 26, 2024

2. Some lawmakers call for review of decades-old law that governs hospital authorities like Atrium Health

Three North Carolina legislators said they are interested in revisiting the state law that gives special privileges to hospital authorities such as Atrium Health, noting that today’s multibillion-dollar hospital systems are nothing like the ones lawmakers had in mind when the law was written. The hospital authorities act was written in 1943, “when a lot […]

Written by on February 26, 2024

4. How ShotSpotter did in Durham during its one-year pilot

A new Duke University report reveals the AI-powered gunshot detection technology ShotSpotter helped Durham police make several gun-related arrests last year. But it also often sent reports that police ultimately could not find evidence for. Why it matters: Durham launched a yearlong pilot of ShotSpotter — now rebranded as SoundThinking — in a three-mile area […]

Written by on February 26, 2024

5. Here’s a microscopic look at photo ID law’s impact in NC

Early voting is underway for the March 5 primary — the biggest election North Carolina has held under the state’s photo ID law. To get an idea of the impact of photo ID, Inside Politics is looking at the November 2023 election, which was mostly city and town contests across the state. A photo ID […]

Written by on February 26, 2024

6. Those who know Haywood best will help determine economic path forward

The economic shakeup in Haywood following the Pactiv Evergreen mill closure created an opportunity to re-envision the future, and that’s what is happening. County commissioners have approved a $56,338 agreement with Shining Rock Ventures consulting firm to develop a vision for the next three to five years, to be created with input from key individuals […]

Written by on February 26, 2024

7. Lawsuit filed against HCA by local municipalities can proceed, judge rules

The legal battles involving HCA Healthcare, the owner of Asheville’s Mission Hospital, took another twist this week. On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that a June 2022 lawsuit filed against HCA by the city of Brevard can go forward. Buncombe and Madison Counties and the City of Asheville joined the lawsuit shortly after it was […]

Written by on February 26, 2024

8. Underserved communities face the lasting effects of the Weaver fire

In February 2022, a fire ignited at the Weaver Fertilizer Plant, causing Wake Forest students and Winston-Salem residents within one mile to evacuate from the area. Two years later, the city is still feeling its effects. The Weaver Fertilizer Plant sat next to underserved block groups in Winston-Salem –– which means majority-minority and low-income community […]

Written by on February 26, 2024

4. The Triangle’s biotech growth has skyrocketed in the past decade

In less than a decade, the Triangle’s biotech industry has more than doubled its lab space and added tens of thousands of new workers, as the region’s profile among investors and companies soars. The big picture: Some of the nation’s oldest biotech hubs, like Boston, now see the Triangle as one of their biggest rivals, […]

Written by on February 25, 2024

5. Davidson County Democrat excluded from candidate forum

A Democratic candidate running for a state Senate seat representing Davidson and Davie counties was excluded from a candidates forum where her opponents were given the opportunity to speak. Davidson County resident Tina Royal, who is running for N.C. Senate in District 30, said she was not invited to attend the event sponsored by the […]

Written by on February 25, 2024

8. App State’s decision to begin receiving 911 calls receives pushback from local safety officials

Appalachian State University is planning to launch its own 911 dispatch center. The move comes as a surprise to Boone officials who spent years consolidating emergency services between the town and county. It’s raising tensions and questions over the emergency response implications for local residents. App State is in the process of constructing its own […]

Written by on February 25, 2024