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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...

By Ray Gronberg

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...

By Ray Gronberg

January 17, 2025

Hunt stocks staff with campaign vets

Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt has hired Meghan Quick, a former fundraising director for the Senate Democratic Caucus, to serve as her chief of staff. Quick is part of a senior staff in the lieutenant governor’s office whose “experience and skills will strengthen our work to make North Carolina a better...

By Ray Gronberg

January 15, 2025

Inflation risk still confronts the Fed, UNCC economist says

The Federal Reserve needs to clamp down on inflation now even if the cost is pushing the U.S. economy into a recession, UNC Charlotte economist John Connaughton says. Speaking at the NC Chamber’s annual economic forecast, Connaughton said that without counting energy and food costs, the underlying inflation rate is...

By Ray Gronberg

January 15, 2025

Cooper touts “Finish Line” grants for community college students

Gov. Roy Cooper’s end-of-tenure victory lap around North Carolina brought him to Durham on Tuesday, where he touted a couple of initiatives he and his aides launched in hopes of boosting community-college completion rates. Cooper focused mostly on the N.C. Community Colleges’ Finish Line Grants, small allocations of up to...

By Ray Gronberg

December 18, 2024

Wanted: the definition of “surrounding”

North Carolina’s Supreme Court handed down a decision in a charter-school case last week that could have implications for how the majority handles other land-use disputes. Ruling for a company called Schooldev East, the court’s 5-2 Republican majority found that officials in Wake Forest overstepped back in 2020 when it...

By Ray Gronberg

December 18, 2024

State lands furniture and wire makers

State recruiters on Tuesday rolled out two more incentive packages that they hope will between them facilitate the creation of at least 583 new jobs and $244.6 million in new corporate investment. One of deals targets a furniture factory that a Lithuanian company, SBA Home, proposes to build in Mocksville....

By Ray Gronberg

December 18, 2024

Pless still undecided on SB 382 veto override

Rep. Mark Pless, R-Haywood, one of the GOP mountain-county dissenters from last month’s House vote on Senate Bill 382, reiterated this week that’s he’s going to wait until the last minute to decide whether or not he’ll vote to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the bill. “I guess I’ll...

By Ray Gronberg

December 10, 2024

Burke County hires incoming House Speaker Hall as its attorney

Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, has a new gig. And no, we’re not talking here about his impending accession to House speaker. On Dec. 2, Burke County Commissioners voted 3-2 to hire Hall and his law firm, Wilson, Lackey, Rohr & Hall, as county attorney. He replaces former County Attorney James...

By Ray Gronberg

December 10, 2024

Sasser to NCInnovation

Outgoing Rep. Wayne Sasser, R-Stanly, will be joining the board of NCInnovation via an appointments bill legislators passed just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Sasser will become one of the House’s four appointees to the board. The Albemarle pharmacist, 74, replaces Beth Friedrich, a former aide to outgoing Speaker Tim Moore...

By Ray Gronberg

December 4, 2024

Randolph County falls in updated county tier rankings

The state Commerce Department’s annual update of county tier rankings of economic distress is out, and as always, there are a number of moves up and down the list. Two of the 18 tier changes struck us as particularly notable: Randolph County’s slide to Tier 1 (the 40 most-distressed counties)...

By Ray Gronberg

December 4, 2024

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