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Dems ahead on generic General Assembly ballot?

Speaking of polls, the Strategic Partners survey for Conservatives for Clean Energy served up a somewhat different picture of the generic ballot for the General Assembly than another recent poll. It found a 2.1 percentage point split among the 650 registered voters who participated. Democrats were favored by 44.9%, Republicans by 42.8%....

By Ray Gronberg

May 29, 2025

Buc-ee’s building plan review is underway

In the spirit of tying up a loose end, I can report that the folks at Buc-ee’s have submitted building plans to Mebane officials for review. This occurred just a week ago, said Richard Allred, building plan reviewer in the Alamance County city’s Permits and Inspections office. It also comes a year and four...

By Ray Gronberg

May 29, 2025

NC voters back nuclear expansion, oppose utility surcharges, favor renewables over fossil fuels

While they don’t like the state Senate’s approach, North Carolina voters do seem receptive to legislation that would make it easier to build new nuclear power plants in the state. A poll conducted for Conservatives for Clean Energy found that 58.2% of the people Strategic Partners Solutions interviewers talked to in March...

By Ray Gronberg

May 29, 2025

Wayne, Mecklenburg land new businesses

North Carolina’s business recruiters have scored two more wins, via projects that promise to bring 216 jobs to Wayne County and 276 jobs to Charlotte. The Wayne County project will, if successful, become the first U.S. outpost of Pelsan Tekstil, a Turkish company that also operates in Russia and Switzerland. A...

By Ray Gronberg

May 28, 2025

Activists mobilize against gas station developments in Alamance and Pitt counties

Triangle-area activists are hoping to use disputes about the construction of gas stations in Alamance and Pitt counties to mount a broader campaign to further restrict the siting of such businesses. The primary flashpoint for the N.C. Environmental Justice Network and a like-minded group, 7 Directions of Service, is the planned 120-pump Buc-ee’s...

By Ray Gronberg

May 28, 2025

Lazzara pushing redevelopment tax break

A bill’s moving through the Senate committee process that would set up a process for some projects to get a property tax abatement. Sen. Michael Lazzara’s Senate Bill 695 made it through the chamber’s State and Local Government committee before the Memorial Day holiday and is now in the hands of the...

By Ray Gronberg

May 27, 2025

Country club case confounds YIMBYs

There’s been some media attention paid to the Raleigh Country Club’s litigation against the city over its willingness to allow a 16-unit townhouse project next to its 11th green and 12th tee. What’s flown a bit under the radar, however, is the scope of the club’s latest lawsuit. It has two big claims that...

By Ray Gronberg

May 27, 2025

Old-school pitchers shine as Peterson and Skubal go the distance

Since the start of the baseball season, I’ve been giving my MLB.tv subscription a workout. This past weekend was no exception, and it served up a couple of gems for folks like me who are fans of old-school pitching. The new school, if it’s been a while since you’ve tuned in, is...

By Ray Gronberg

May 27, 2025

Railroads ticketed for aid in House Helene bill

Deep in the fine print of the House’s latest hurricane-recovery aid package, there are two proposed appropriations that would help a pair of western North Carolina short-line railroads. House Bill 1012’s proposed allocations include a $9 million grant to the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad and $1 million for the Great Smoky Mountains...

By Ray Gronberg

May 23, 2025

The Dems who supported a toll-road ban

To tie up a loose end from Wednesday, I checked the vote lineup on the House’s decision to add a ban on tolling U.S. 1 in Wake County to its draft of the budget. The 71-37 vote came at the behest of Rep. Mike Schietzelt, R-Wake, who represents Wake Forest and other parts...

By Ray Gronberg

May 23, 2025

Berger may tie hurricane aid to budget talks as House pushes for separate vote

Senate leader Phil Berger appears willing to use the House’s new $464.8 million hurricane-aid bill as leverage to get his chamber’s way in upcoming House-Senate budget negotiations. Berger was non-committal on Thursday when asked whether the Senate will take up the aid package, House Bill 1012, as a standalone piece of...

By Ray Gronberg

May 23, 2025

House budget forbids tolling of U.S. 1

The House budget bill will ban the N.C. Department of Transportation from spending state money to make any part of the Wake County portion of U.S. 1 a toll road. Members amended the bill at the behest of Rep. Mike Schietzelt, R-Wake, whose Wake Forest-area district in northern Wake straddles U.S. 1,...

By Ray Gronberg

May 22, 2025

Buncombe jail in arrears to former inmates

Buncombe County jail inmates haven’t always gotten back from the county Sheriff’s Office the money they arrived with, or the money friends and relatives provided for them to use while they were in custody. A probe by State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office found that the jail hadn’t returned, all told, $19,272 to...

By Ray Gronberg

May 22, 2025

NC House unveils $60M Hurricane Helene business relief plan

House leaders’ latest Hurricane Helene relief bill includes a $60 million set-aside to establish and fund a “business recovery” grant program within the state’s Department of Commerce. If approved, the program would offer one-time grants to businesses that suffered economic losses of $25,000 or more because of Helene and that have been...

By Ray Gronberg

May 22, 2025

Boliek: I’m going to investigate Charlotte

State Auditor Dave Boliek has notified Charlotte officials that his office is going to investigate its rumored “settlement” with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings. “The Office of the State Auditor will be asking how much money has reportedly been paid, whether a payment exists, where did money for a payment...

By Ray Gronberg

May 21, 2025