Month: June 2025

Stein and Lilly go to Paris

Gov. Josh Stein’s aides confirmed Thursday that their boss and state Commerce Secretary Lee Lilly have been in France this week to attend the Paris Air Show. The trip comes on the heels of the recent announcement that California-based JetZero will build an airliner factory at Piedmont Triad International Airport, with the prospect of bringing more […]

Written by on June 20, 2025

PBM bill heads to conference

There’s going to be a House-Senate conference to resolve the differences the chambers have on the question of how to regulate pharmacy benefit managers. Senators on Thursday voted 31-9 against accepting the House’s attempt to reconcile the competing bills on the issue that have been pending this session. The dissenting votes came from Democrats, with a majority […]

Written by on June 20, 2025

Senate unveils aid program for shrimpers

Senators on Thursday passed and sent on to the House the bill that would bar shrimp trawling in Pamlico Sound and other waters inside North Carolina’s barrier islands. The 39-2 vote on the rewritten House Bill 442 came only hours after Republicans rolled out a parallel measure that would at least partly compensate shrimpers affected by the […]

Written by on June 20, 2025

NC Legislature passes bill easing nuclear expansion for Duke Energy

A bill that backers hope will make it easier for Duke Energy to meet the state’s carbon-reduction targets by building more nuclear reactors is headed to Gov. Josh Stein’s desk. The final version of Senate Bill 266 cleared its last hurdle on Thursday when the Senate accepted the changes the House made to the bill and passed […]

Written by on June 20, 2025

2. Senate leadership ponders rural hospital fund to sway megabill holdouts

Jordain Carney & Robert King/Politico Senate Republican leaders are working to assuage a group of key megabill holdouts — “the Medicaid moderates” — as they try to lock down votes next week for President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Finance Chair Mike Crapo of Idaho are […]

Written by on June 19, 2025

3. Development could ease UNC Asheville housing struggles

David Beasley/The Center Square The University of North Carolina at Asheville plans to lease some of its land for a $250 million mixed-used development that will include student housing, a soccer stadium and retail space, the university said Wednesday. The project, which will create 300 jobs, will not cost the university system anything, but will […]

Written by on June 19, 2025

4. North Carolina judges side with GOP lawmakers for who gets say on highway patrol commander

Makiya Seminera/The Associated Press A panel of North Carolina judges dismissed one of Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s cases against Republican legislative leaders Monday, upholding part of a power-shifting law that prevents Stein from selecting the State Highway Patrol commander. Three Superior Court judges made the decision unanimously. The judges’ decision means that the dispute won’t […]

Written by on June 19, 2025

5. NC launches new system to track child welfare cases

Jennifer Fernandez/NC Health News The second time appears to be the charm when it comes to North Carolina building a statewide system to assess and track children in its child welfare system. The Partnership and Technology Hub, or PATH NC, launched in 15 counties on June 2 and has been running smoothly, North Carolina Department […]

Written by on June 19, 2025

6. NC lawmakers send sweeping foster care reforms to governor

WRAL News North Carolina lawmakers approved sweeping foster-care reforms Wednesday, sending a comprehensive bipartisan bill to Gov. Josh Stein. House Bill 612, which sponsors call the Fostering Care in NC Act, would give the state more power to hold county-run social services departments accountable. House lawmakers on Wednesday unanimously approved changes proposed by the Senate, […]

Written by on June 19, 2025

7. Hope Renovations CEO talks ways to ‘fight’ after federal funding deemed ‘wasteful’ by Trump administration

Brighton McConnell/WCHL Chapelboro Exactly 13 months ago, Hope Renovations in Carrboro was hosting a special guest: the acting U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Julie Su. She visited the award-winning nonprofit to see firsthand the efforts being supported by a $713,000 grant from her office’s Women in Apprenticeships and Non-Traditional Occupations (WANTO) initiative. The goal of […]

Written by on June 19, 2025

8. Renew NC offers aid to repair and rebuild storm-damaged homes

Hendersonville Lightning The state is accepting applications for a new program to repair or rebuild homes in Western North Carolina that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene, Gov. Josh Stein announced on Monday. The program is the first of a series of recovery initiatives to be offered by the North Carolina Commerce Department’s Division […]

Written by on June 19, 2025

10. Cumberland County bans exploding targets at gun ranges

Paul Woolverton/CityView Explosive targets are now prohibited at outdoor gun ranges in Cumberland County. The county Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 on Monday to pass the ban. The vote was a win for board Chair Kirk deViere, who spearheaded the ordinance that had previously failed twice to win enough votes from commissioners.The ban applies to […]

Written by on June 19, 2025

Shrimp trawling spawns wild floor debate

Pending a third-reading vote today, the Senate’s on the verge of supporting a ban on shrimp trawling in North Carolina waters other than in the Atlantic Ocean more than a half mile offshore. Senators on Wednesday voted 44-4 in favor of House Bill 442, which unexpectedly got amended in committee this week to include the ban. Proponents […]

Written by on June 19, 2025