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Briner defends treatment of ECU Health

The ink’s barely dry on the State Health Plan’s new preferred-provider system and it’s already drawing fire from Down East because it lacks one in that part of the state. “As usual, rural North Carolina gets the [dirty] end of the deal,” says Steve Biggs, president and CEO of the...

By Ray Gronberg

July 14, 2026

Abram political donations focus mainly on Triangle

Durham entrepreneur Ben Abram’s biggest campaign donations are to his wife, state Sen. Sophia Chitlik, D-Durham, but she’s not the not the only candidate for whom he’s pulled out his wallet. State Board of Elections records show that the co-founder of Modern Energy and American Efficient has given money to...

By Ray Gronberg

April 22, 2026

6. Mease unseats Wilke in Republican sheriff primary

Aarik Long/The Waynesville Mountaineer Haywood County Sheriff Bill Wilke has been ousted from his seat during the Republican primary. Challenger Mark Mease won a commanding 57.8% of the votes. “I am so humbled by the support we’ve got through the community,” Mease said. “The people decided they wanted something different....

By Welcome

March 4, 2026

Grocers, retailers worry about future of food stamps

Food stamps are about the only thing keeping some groceries in rural North Carolina afloat, the head of the N.C. Retail Merchants Association told legislators this week. “SNAP is not supplemental in many counties,” said Andy Ellen, the group’s president and general counsel. “It’s what stabilizes your local food economy....

By Ray Gronberg

January 14, 2026

Fed panel approves MVP Southgate

Federal regulators gave the green light to the MVP Southgate gas pipeline from southern Virginia into Rockingham County. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday approved an amended “certificate of public convenience and necessity” for the 31.1-mile-long pipeline. The commission rejected calls from environmental groups to force the project’s sponsors...

By Ray Gronberg

December 19, 2025

Brockman update

House leaders are in the process of putting together a select committee to ponder the legislative future of Rep. Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, who faces criminal charges accusing him of statutory sexual assault. Brockman, 41, has faced calls for his resignation from both sides of the aisle since the allegations against...

By Ray Gronberg

October 22, 2025

Justices shield Kinston fuel company

State Supreme Court justices have tried to resolve a dispute about the control of a Kinston-based fuel supplier in a way that keeps its doors open. Their 6-0 decision found that a 1998 shareholder buyout agreement between the owners of Cherry Oil — now Cherry Energy — offers a way...

By Ray Gronberg

October 22, 2025

Sanderson charged with DWI

State Sen. Norman Sanderson, R-Pamlico, faces a driving while impaired charge after being arrested Saturday in Raleigh by a State Highway Patrol trooper. The seven-term senator also faces charges of failing to obey an officer and an open-container violation, according to Wake County court records. He went free on an...

By Ray Gronberg

October 20, 2025

Stein: $6.5B in medical debt off the books

A late-term initiative by former Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration convinced the state’s 99 acute-care hospitals to eliminate more than $6.5 billion in patients’ debt, benefiting more than 2.5 million residents. That “surpasses initial financial projections” for the initiative, Gov. Josh Stein and his aides said Monday as they announced the...

By Ray Gronberg

October 16, 2025

Helene aid

The Stein administration’s grumbling about extent and handling of post-Helene federal disaster aid is getting louder. One of the governor’s point man on the recovery effort, Matt Calabria, warned Monday that the feds have yet to OK any hazard-mitigation grant awards to western North Carolina families waiting for buyouts. “We’ve...

By Ray Gronberg

October 16, 2025

Treasurer’s office, CVS Caremark end their dispute

Peace has broken out between State Treasurer Brad Briner’s office and CVS Caremark. On Tuesday, the treasurer’s office announced the successful conclusion to talks with the pharmacy benefits manager. They resulted in an agreement, officials said, that secures “hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of the members of the State...

By Ray Gronberg

October 8, 2025

7. Housing Task Force moves to create Dare Housing Foundation nonprofit

Mark Jurkowitz/Outer Banks Voice As the Dare Community Housing Task Force (DCHTF) moves toward creating a non-profit housing organization by the end of the year, some details about the proposed Dare Housing Foundation were outlined in a presentation by DCHTF Chair Donna Creef at its Sept. 23 meeting. The presentation...

By Welcome

September 29, 2025

An incentives reset for Apple?

A portion of the legislature’s latest mini-budget could give Apple more time to deliver on the promises it made in 2021 to obtain the state’s promise of a $845.8 million incentive grant. The provision in House Bill 358 applies to so-called “transformative projects” and would allow Apple to ask and...

By Ray Gronberg

September 26, 2025

Wolfspeed gets OK to proceed with Ch. 11 plan

A federal bankruptcy judge has approved Wolfspeed’s Chapter 11 reorganization, court records and the company say. Wolfspeed CEO Robert Feurle called Monday’s decision an “important milestone,” given expectations that the company will now be able to reduce its debt load by 70%. Feurle and his team expect the company to...

By Ray Gronberg

September 9, 2025

Stein and AI

Gov. Josh Stein is setting up a new “AI Leadership Council” to help craft a strategy for the state government to follow as it deals with the many issues that stem from the wider use of artificial intelligence. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley and state CIO Teena Piccione will co-chair the...

By Ray Gronberg

September 3, 2025