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Elections

Berger: “I intend to run”

Senate leader Phil Berger says he’s going to run for another term as the senator for Rockingham and rural Guilford counties. “My intent has been, all along, to run again,” Berger said during a post-session gaggle with reporters on Tuesday. “I felt that the appropriate thing would be to make...

By Ray Gronberg

February 19, 2025

Berger-Page: The warm-up

So if he runs again, Senate leader Phil Berger will have a home-county opponent in the GOP primary, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. What can we expect from here forward? First, Berger has some thinking to do. I haven’t been taking it for granted he’s going to run again, regardless...

By Ray Gronberg

February 17, 2025

Stein announces additional staff hires

Gov. Josh Stein has added 10 more people to his senior staff, bringing on board more veterans of predecessor Roy Cooper’s administration as well as some hires from further afield. Former U.S. Justice Department antitrust lawyer Adam Chandler heads the list, joining up as the governor’s policy director. The Burlington...

By Ray Gronberg

February 14, 2025

Easley Jr. joins Golden LEAF board

Among former Gov. Roy Cooper’s last moves was to appoint Michael Easley Jr., the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, to the Golden LEAF Foundation board. Two of Cooper’s five appointments to the 15-member board were up on Nov. 30. Darryl Moss, former mayor of Creedmoor, is leaving the board...

By Ray Gronberg

January 15, 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

Hunt stocks staff with campaign veterans

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

Stein lays out agenda

Gov. Josh Stein’s inaugural address on Saturday stressed hurricane recovery, economic development, education and public safety in an appeal for bipartisanship on the key issues facing North Carolina in 2025. The predicted snowstorm prompted a downsizing of the ceremony, but several Triangle TV stations streamed Stein’s 15-minute address from the...

By Ray Gronberg

January 13, 2025

Senate committee assignments set

When Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters after session on Wednesday that he’d have committee assignments finished this week, he really meant they’d be ready on Thursday. The list is noteworthy for some changes in chairmanships and the first assignments for the Senate’s new members. Chair shuffles targeted among others...

By Ray Gronberg

January 10, 2025

House Dems set leadership slate

House Democrats have shuffled part of the leadership team serving under their leader, Rep. Robert Reives, D-Chatham. Reps. Cynthia Ball, D-Wake, and Brandon Lofton, D-Mecklenburg, are continuing as deputy Democratic leader and legislative chair, respectively. The whip team changed, with Reps. Gloristine Brown (Pitt) and Ya Liu (Wake) joining holdover...

By Ray Gronberg

January 10, 2025

Hall announces staff hires

House Speaker-designate Destin Hall has filled out his new office’s staff, and there’s no shortage of familiar faces there. Neal Inman, chief of staff under former Speaker Tim Moore, is staying on in that role, as are Communications Director Demi Dowdy, General Counsel Sam Hayes, Deputy General Counsel/Senior Policy Adviser...

By Ray Gronberg

January 8, 2025

Briner picks four for investment panel

State Treasurer Brad Briner named four new members to the state’s Investment Advisory Committee, which counsels the $123 billion retirement system. Three of the new appointees are from out of state. Robert Durden is CEO of the University of Virginia Investment Management Co. in Charlottesville; Michael Kennedy is a former...

By Ray Gronberg

January 8, 2025

Stein’s first orders

Gov. Josh Stein marked his first full day in his new office by signing five executive orders he and his aides believe will bolster western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene. Stein’s Executive Order No. 1 gives the Department of Public Safety and Department of Administration permission to waive a...

By Ray Gronberg

January 3, 2025

Briner names Friedman, Auth to posts

Incoming State Treasurer Brad Briner named Duke Health manager Thomas Friedman to the executive administrator post for the State Health Plan, which spends more money on healthcare than any other N.C. entity. Before his six years at Duke Health, Friedman worked at the State Health Plan as director of policy,...

By Ray Gronberg

December 17, 2024

Lumbee money in elections

There’s more to say regarding Monday’s item about Rep. Jarrod Lowery’s complaints about the presence of Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians Chief Michell Hicks’ presence on Gov.-elect Josh Stein’s transition team. The Robeson County Republican and former Lumbee Tribal Council member noted that the Eastern Band is a regular...

By Ray Gronberg

December 12, 2024

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