Month: April 2025

9. Farmland at risk

Vicki Hyatt/The (Waynesville) Mountaineer What makes Haywood County a special place to live — and visit — comes from its rural character, pastoral scenes and fertile agriculture land. It is an attraction that’s disappearing fast, warned speaker after speaker at the Haywood County Farm Bureau Legislative Breakfast on Monday. Don Smart, president of the organization, […]

Written by on April 17, 2025

10. Military, farmland proposal unanimously supported in North Carolina House

Alan Wooten/The Center Not a single member of the North Carolina House of Representatives opposed a prohibition of hostile foreign governments such as China or Russia from purchasing farmland and property within 75 miles of a miliary installation. N.C. Farmland and Military Protection Act, or House Bill 133, would bar governments designated by the U.S. […]

Written by on April 17, 2025

1. North Carolina budget plan advances as Senate Republicans double down on tax cuts

Gary D. Robertson/The Associated Press North Carolina Senate Republicans have advanced a two-year budget for the ninth-largest state that spends less than what the new Democratic governor requested and doubles down on already enacted income tax cuts. Largely along party lines, the GOP-controlled Senate gave initial approval Wednesday evening to a proposal to spend $32.6 […]

Written by on April 17, 2025

2. DOGE cut a CDC team as it was about to start a project to help N.C. flood victims

Yuki Noguchi/National Public Radio In and around Asheville, N.C., there are still visible signs of devastation that remain from the floods of Hurricane Helene six months ago: rusted debris in the yards of water-damaged residences in ruins. But Helene, a federal disaster worker who coincidentally goes by the same name as the storm, also worries […]

Written by on April 17, 2025

3. Raleigh OKs Lenovo Center area rezoning fueling west Raleigh’s transformation

Anna Roman/The (Raleigh) News & Observer Plans for a $1 billion sports and entertainment district around the Lenovo Center cleared a significant hurdle Tuesday afternoon. The Raleigh City Council unanimously agreed to rezone 81 acres to allow up to 40-story buildings, the city’s tallest, dramatically changing west Raleigh. “There are huge economic benefits, but I […]

Written by on April 17, 2025

4. Cone Health buys Novant Health out of Medicare Advantage plan

Rylee Wilson/Becker’s Hospital Review Greensboro-based Cone Health is now the sole owner of HealthTeam Advantage. Cone Health purchased Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health’s stake in the plan, according to an April 15 news release. Novant Health became a co-owner of the plan in 2022. HealthTeam Advantage has more than 22,000 Medicare Advantage members. The plan expanded […]

Written by on April 17, 2025

5. Elections Board says 1,675 ballots will be impacted in Riggs-Griffin race

Steve Harrison/WFAE Radio The North Carolina Board of Elections said in a court filing Tuesday that only 1,675 voters will be impacted by Republican Jefferson Griffin’s challenge against Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs for a seat on the state Supreme Court. The board said it will require 1,409 overseas voters in Guilford County to provide photo […]

Written by on April 17, 2025

6. A decision is coming soon on a big Raleigh road project

Bradley George/WUNC Radio Planners have come up with four options to relieve congestion on Capital Boulevard between Interstate 540 and Wake Forest. Drivers would have to pay tolls on all of them. The Raleigh City Council got its first look Tuesday afternoon at four pricey options for converting a ten-mile stretch of Capital Boulevard into […]

Written by on April 17, 2025

8. Dare towns register their opposition to proposed housing bill HB 765

Mark Jurkowitz/Outer Banks Voice  A number of Dare County municipalities are expressing opposition to HB 765, a proposed measure titled “An Act To Reform Local Government Development Regulations In This State.” Filed in early April, its sponsors say the bill is intended to address affordable housing needs, but critics say it would represent a dangerous […]

Written by on April 17, 2025

9. ‘More than a facelift’: Community celebrates newly-refurbished Memorial Stadium as space for all Ashevillians

Felicia Sonmez/Blue Ridge Public Radio  Renée White laughed and jumped for joy Tuesday evening when she lay eyes on Asheville’s newly-refurbished Memorial Stadium for the first time. “This is worth all the blood, sweat and tears!” White, president of the East End/Valley Street Neighborhood Association, said as she surveyed the scene. “It’s beautiful up here. […]

Written by on April 17, 2025

1. Less spending, taxing keeps North Carolina No. 4 in Rich States, Poor States

Alan Wooten/The Center Square  North Carolina is ranked No. 4 in the country in economic outlook in the 18th annual Rich States, Poor States ranking. Fifteen state policy variables are measured in the ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index, released Tuesday by the American Legislative Exchange Council. Better scores go to states spending and taxing less […]

Written by on April 15, 2025

2. House Dems, advocates for transparency blast NC Senate’s ‘broken’ budget

Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline As the North Carolina Senate fast tracks a newly released two-year budget proposal through the chamber this week, members of the state’s Progressive House Caucus held a press conference Tuesday to call out what they say is the lack of public input and accountability in the budgeting process. Rep. Deb Butler (D-New […]

Written by on April 15, 2025