More comments on the electric grid
Here’s a detail I’d missed about the Christmas Eve rolling blackouts: Duke Energy’s large industrial customers helped drop electricity demand by 400 megawatts through a voluntarily “load shed” program.
Advocacy groups detail their legislative agendas
While we’re still weeks away from the opening of bill filing at the General Assembly, the state’s most influential advocacy groups are already finalizing their wish lists for this year’s long session.
Hardister launches campaign for labor commissioner
N.C. Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, made it official on Wednesday: He'll run for labor commissioner in 2024. Hardister, the House majority whip, said last month he was considering a run. He'll face fellow Rep. Ben Moss, R-Richmond, and possibly others, in the Republican primary following Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson's decision to forego a re-election bid. No Democrats have announced their candidacy for the position yet.
State Health Plan drops Blue Cross
Wednesday’s announcement that the State Health Plan will cut ties with Blue Cross Blue Shield after more than 40 years will shake up the health care landscape in North Carolina.
N.C. History: The New Year's shooters
An odd centuries-old New Year’s Day tradition is still going strong in the Gaston County town of Cherryville and surrounding communities.
Contested race emerges to lead N.C. Democrats
It’s no secret that many N.C. Democrats are unhappy with their party’s leadership after an unimpressive showing in the 2022 elections. While the current chair, former Rep. Bobbie Richardson of Franklin County, announced that she’ll seek a second term, she won’t be running unopposed.
U.S. Rep. Don Davis talks about the new Congress
After more than a decade in the N.C. Senate, Democrat Don Davis takes over this week as the congressman for North Carolina’s 1st District in the northeastern corner – a seat that U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield represented for nearly two decades.
Inflation hits campaign contribution limits
Here’s an unfortunate sign of the economic times: The maximum campaign contribution for state races is increasing by $800 per election, from $5,600 to $6,400.
New details on Duke Energy rolling blackouts
New details emerged Tuesday about Duke Energy’s Christmas Eve rolling blackouts as utility executives spent hours answering questions from the N.C. Utilities Commission.
Get to know Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette
Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette has the rare distinction of leading two Cabinet agencies during Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration.
Leandro mandate about 60% funded
With a new Supreme Court coming in January, it’s not exactly what will happen next with the Leandro education funding case. But this week, the Office of State Budget and Management filed an affidavit in court that calculates a price tag on how much of the court mandate is still unfunded.
A look at NC's earmarks in omnibus spending bill
The $1.7 billion “omnibus” federal spending bill sailing through Congress this week includes an estimated 7,200 earmarks (or pork spending, if you prefer) totaling about $15 billion, according to The New York TImes.
Auditor finds most federal COVID funds unspent
How much of the state’s $5.4 billion federal COVID recovery funding windfall has been spent so far? Only a fraction of it, the office of State Auditor Beth Wood found in a report released this week.
Federal transit grant will help rural communities
The growth of “microtransit” – essentially an on-demand ride service for areas that don’t have a fixed-route bus option – got a big infusion of federal funding this week.
'Antiracism' in N.C. State professor job posting
Should an application to be an N.C. State microbiology professor include the job candidate’s “plans for implementing antiracism and equity-based practice” in the classroom?
Candidate Watch: Council of State
Hal Weatherman, the former chief of staff and campaign manager for Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, has filed paperwork to run for lieutenant governor in 2024.
Cooper names new appointments
Gov. Roy Cooper released a long list of appointments to state boards and commissions on Tuesday. You can see the full list here, but here are a few of the most notable names:
Supreme Court sides with Department of Revenue in sales tax case
A split N.C. Supreme Court has sided with the N.C. Department of Revenue in a long-running sales tax lawsuit involving an out-of-state company that employs a sales representative here.
Case will test free speech for election board members
The Dobson election wasn’t the only Surry County election drama on the State Board of Elections’ agenda Monday. The board also considered a petition from longtime election watchdog Bob Hall – as well as several left-leaning advocacy groups – seeking to remove the two Republican members of the Surry elections board.
GOP groups censure Burr, Tillis over marriage vote
The Granville County Republican Party passed a resolution last week to censure U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr for their support of the “Respect for Marriage Act” permanently legalizing same-sex marriage.
New election ordered in Surry County
John Jonczak isn’t dead. And thanks to a unanimous vote Monday by the State Board of Elections, neither is his candidacy for the Dobson town commission.
N.C. History: The infamous monkey bill
Sometimes an inside joke goes on so long that no one quite remembers the details of how it started (my book club has one of these, referencing a terrible book we read five years ago, and the jokes always confuse newer members). In the N.C. House, it’s the occasional reference to a giggle-filled 1 a.m. debate on an animal bill in April 2015
Indian Affairs commission backs Medicaid expansion
The N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs recently passed a resolution calling for the state to expand Medicaid.
Ruling shows it’s possible to draw districts that both parties can live with
Friday’s redistricting ruling from the N.C. Supreme Court was another not-surprising decision that fell along party lines.
Feds to consider tighter electric security rules
Citing the recent attack on electrical substations in Moore County, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday ordered a new review of its regulations addressing the electrical grid’s physical security.
Cooper picks Riggs for Court of Appeals seat
Gov. Roy Cooper named his pick Thursday to fill the N.C. Court of Appeals vacancy created by Republican Judge Richard Dietz’s election to Supreme Court.
Robinson's sky-high primary poll numbers
Bad news for Republicans who don’t want Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to be their nominee for governor in 2024: He’s extremely popular with primary voters compared to other potential GOP candidates.
3. North Carolina revenues already $1.2B ahead of schedule
North Carolina government revenues keep exceeding economists’ projections, despite broader worries about an economic downturn.
Candidate Watch: Labor commissioner
Following Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson’s announcement that he won’t seek re-election, N.C. Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, is looking at a 2024 run.
Sen. Richard Burr says goodbye to Congress
After 28 years of serving in Congress, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr made his farewell speech on Wednesday.
Disastrous hurricane recovery program prompts call for resignation
Gov. Roy Cooper’s top administrator overseeing a troubled hurricane recovery program faced intense questioning and even a call to resign from legislators Wednesday, as thousands of families impacted by hurricanes Matthew and Florence still await new homes or essential repairs.
Wiley Nickel, 'Blue Dog Democrat'?
There were no farewell speeches in the Senate as virtually no one was there for Tuesday’s skeletal session. Congressman-elect Wiley Nickel, D-Wake, wrapping up his three terms in the Senate, tried to speak during the session but Senate leader Phil Berger told him there’d be no “points of personal privilege” allowed.
Quotable farewells in the N.C. House
The House spent nearly two hours Tuesday hearing farewell speeches from departing lawmakers. Rather than highlighting a single quote as we typically do in this newsletter, I figured I’d share multiple noteworthy comments from the festivities.
The death of 'sine die'
The legislature will be holding skeletal sessions through the end of the month, thanks to the Senate’s unwillingness to return to Raleigh this week and a faulty adjournment resolution passed over the summer.
Redistricting, salaries, governor's powers on 2023 agenda
While nothing substantive happened at Tuesday’s General Assembly session, both House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger offered some previews of what to expect next year.
N.C. History: Old Christmas
Christmas is fast approaching, but did you know some North Carolinians used to celebrate the holiday later – around Jan. 5 – instead?
PBS NC to launch new political show
PBS North Carolina will launch a new weekly political show in January, replacing “Front Row with Marc Rotterman.”
Lawmakers' plans to address electric infrastructure security
Congressional and state lawmakers, as well as the N.C. Utilities Commission, plan to review this week’s Moore County electric substation attack to see if new laws or regulations are needed to prevent future incidents.
Cancer Society running Medicaid expansion ads
While legislative leaders have said they don’t expect further action on Medicaid expansion until next year, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network rolled out new basketball-themed ads this week calling for action.
Constitutional amendment proposed for State Board of Education
Should voters decide on a constitutional amendment that would shift educational oversight authority from the State Board of Education to the superintendent of public instruction?
Candidate Watch: Lieutenant governor
Former U.S. Senate candidate Chris Rey has filed paperwork to run for lieutenant governor in 2024.
Clemmons will be No. 2 Democrat next year
With several leading N.C. House Democrats moving to the Senate, the caucus elected new leadership this week to join House Democratic Leader Robert Reives, D-Chatham
McHenry, Foxx in line for key committee chair posts
As most expected, U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry was picked by GOP leaders Wednesday to serve as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee next year. He’s been the ranking Republican on the committee.
Reading the Supreme Court tea leaves
As oral arguments wrapped up in Wednesday’s U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the North Carolina redistricting case, legal experts and court watchers tried to read the tea leaves of the justices’ comments to speculate how the court might ultimately rule.
Legislative committee recommends more computer science education
Should computer science classes be required as one of the UNC System’s undergraduate admission requirements?
Banking regulator moving to a new home
The state’s Office of the Commissioner of Banks is looking to leave downtown Raleigh and move outside the Beltline.
Power attack could prompt security review
While we still don’t know who attacked two electrical substations in Moore County or why they did it, it’s clear that it’s exposed a security vulnerability in our power grid.
NC ranked uniquely conservative for a swing state
Speaking of rankings, a conservative group says North Carolina is the 15th most conservative state legislature in the country.
Pikeville hailed as success as more town struggle
State Treasurer Dale Folwell handed a ceremonial key to the Wayne County town of Pikeville on Tuesday to celebrate the N.C. Local Government Commission restoring local financial control to the town.
FCC draft broadband map not yet accurate for NC
The Federal Communications Commission recently released a draft of its new broadband infrastructure maps, which it calls “the best picture available to date of where broadband is and is not available across the country.”