Month: January 2025

4. ‘Taking dictation from the Hornets’: City attorneys say Charlotte economic development leader misled City Council

Steve Harrison/WFAE Radio As the city of Charlotte was negotiating a multimillion-dollar deal to help build a new practice facility for the Charlotte Hornets, attorneys for the city had deep reservations about how economic development director Tracy Dodson was handling the talks. They wrote in internal emails that they thought Dodson was misrepresenting the terms […]

Written by on January 19, 2025

5. How Trump’s expected executive actions could impact North Carolina

Brian Murphy & Will Doran/WRAL News Republican President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House on Monday, vowing swift action on a host of issues that could impact nearly every American — and could have a particularly profound effect on North Carolina’s economy. Trump, just the second person to serve non-consecutive terms as president, has […]

Written by on January 19, 2025

6. OrthoCarolina plans to sell its physical therapy business to a private-equity backed firm

Michelle Crouch/NC Health News & Charlotte Ledger OrthoCarolina, one of the nation’s largest independently owned orthopedic practices, is close to a deal to sell its physical therapy business to PT Solutions Physical Therapy, an Atlanta-based company backed by private equity, the Charlotte Ledger/NC Health News has learned. OrthoCarolina CEO and orthopedic surgeon Leo Spector declined […]

Written by on January 19, 2025

7. Southport planning board discusses 2050 plan, ETJ concerns linger

Peter Castagno/Port City Daily A Brunswick County town is in the final stages of finalizing a draft comprehensive plan to outline the community’s goals for growth and development. Officials and residents noted Southport’s ability to implement its vision is limited after losing authority of its extraterritorial jurisdiction to the county last year. Southport Planning Director […]

Written by on January 19, 2025

8. Election directors in NC are glad to finally get a break — for now

Sarah Michels/Carolina Public Press Between late September and the holiday break, Pasquotank County Election Director Janae Hedgepeth didn’t take a day off.  After her predecessor and the deputy director resigned just months before the 2024 general election, Hedgepeth quickly transitioned into the position — but found herself faced with one challenge after another. Every day. […]

Written by on January 19, 2025

9. City: Few impacts from code reform law

Pat Kimbrough/The High Point Enterprise High Point officials say the city is already compliant with provisions of a new state law aimed at expediting the approval process for new housing and other types of development. Senate Bill 166 imposed certain requirements on local governments that supporters describe as “regulatory reform” measures. Among the provisions, it […]

Written by on January 19, 2025

New Congress, new Lumbee bill

The late-hours attempt to push federal recognition of the Lumbee through the 118th Congress in December having come up short, it’s try, try again for North Carolina’s delegation in the 119th Congress. U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd and eight House members from North Carolina are again introducing the so-called Lumbee Fairness Act. “This […]

Written by on January 17, 2025

Charlotte, upstream communities at odds over the Catawba

There’s a water-rights battle shaping up in the Catawba River basin that may generate a push for legislative intervention during this year’s long session of the General Assembly. Charlotte’s water system is preparing to ask the state Environmental Management Commission to nearly double the maximum amount of water it can take from the Catawba without […]

Written by on January 17, 2025

Charlotte water

There’s a water-rights battle shaping up in the Catawba River basin that may generate a push for legislative intervention during this year’s long session of the General Assembly. Charlotte’s water system is preparing to ask the state Environmental Management Commission to nearly double the maximum amount of water it can take from the Catawba without […]

Written by on January 17, 2025

New Congress, new Lumbee bill

The late-hours attempt to push federal recognition of the Lumbee through the 118th Congress in December having come up short, it’s try, try again for North Carolina’s delegation in the 119th Congress. U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd and eight House members from North Carolina are again introducing the so-called Lumbee Fairness Act. “This […]

Written by on January 17, 2025

2. The North Carolina Education Lottery, by the numbers

Ben Humphries/Education NC It would be challenging to find a gas station or corner store in North Carolina that doesn’t sell lottery tickets. (But if you need help, there exists an interactive map of retailer locations.) Among scratch-off games sold are Triple Red 777’s, Xtreme Cashword, Money Bag, Pot of Gold, Power 20s, Loteria, and […]

Written by on January 16, 2025

3. New mill owner aims for flood-free Canton as he touts opportunities

Vicki Hyatt/The (Waynesville) Mountaineer The new owner of the Canton paper mill has vowed to do everything in his power to protect what he calls the town’s two most important assets — the mill site and its people. In a Monday interview, Eric Spirtas, owner of Spirtas Worldwide and Two Banks Development, discussed the next […]

Written by on January 16, 2025

4. Many Americans doubt Trump will be able to lower prices in his first year, an AP-NORC poll shows

Linley Sanders  & Amelia Thomson-Deveaux/The Associated Press Worries about everyday expenses helped return President-elect Donald Trump to the White House. But with his second term quickly approaching, many U.S. adults are skeptical about his ability to bring down costs. Only about 2 in 10 Americans are “extremely” or “very” confident that Trump will be able […]

Written by on January 16, 2025