One of the most interesting contrasts between the legislature and Gov. Roy Cooper’s budgets involves construction spending. The surplus means there’s up to $1 billion available to build stuff, and the governor and legislative leaders have very different ideas of what they’d like to build.

Lawmakers want to dramatically reshape the state government complex with $300 million in construction funding – the first major change in decades.

The pending state budget released Tuesday includes a $112.5 million appropriation for an economic development project in Chatham County that would involve at least $4.8 billion in investment and 1,800 new jobs.

If you’re eager to read the budget bill, get ready to spend this evening repeatedly hitting refresh on the legislature’s website.

The state’s infusion of American Rescue Plan money is starting to trickle down to individual projects, and the result is that small towns across the state are able to tackle some big projects they might not otherwise afford.

After a surprising, narrow defeat on the House floor Wednesday, the future of sports betting looked murky Thursday. And the bill’s chief proponent in the House, Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, said he’s not yet sure of the next steps for the measure.

In a sign that budget talks may be faltering, legislative leaders raised the possibility Thursday that session could wrap up next week without a new spending plan.

The budget bill might not be ready for a vote next week after all.

Legislative leaders said Tuesday that they’re close to reaching a budget agreement, raising the possibility that floor votes could come as early as next week.

The tiny town of East Laurinburg in Scotland County will cease to be a town on June 30, and the county government will take over all town-owned buildings, property and bank accounts.

Legislation legalizing sports betting could finally start moving in the House this week, House Majority Leader John Bell told me Thursday.

The N.C. House is trying to expand a sales tax exemption for the aviation industry that supporters say could attract more jobs. House Bill 1046, which sailed through the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, addresses the sale of parts and accessories used to repair and maintain aircraft.