News
Cooper allows anti-rioting and hotel safety bills to become law
Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has allowed two bills, H.B. 40, Anti-Rioting, and S.B. 53, Hotel Safety, to become law without his signature.
Carolina Journal
Video
Exposing problems linked to decarceration and depolicing
Rafael Mangual, Nick Ohnell fellow and head of research for policing and public safety at the Manhattan Institute, discusses key findings in his book “Criminal {in)Justice: What the Push for Decarceration and Depolicing Gets Wrong and Who It Hurts Most.”
Video
Carolina Journal’s Donna King leads ‘State Lines’ discussion about Medicaid expansion
Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses legislative votes to expand Medicaid in North Carolina. King offered these comments during the March 17, 2023, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”
News
New Leandro funding order could be three weeks away
The judge overseeing North Carolina’s long-running Leandro education funding lawsuit signaled Friday that he might issue a new spending order in the case within three weeks. That announcement followed more than 2 1/2 hours of courtroom debate over the amount of money to be included in that order. Judge James Ammons confirmed he will not order state officials to transfer money out of the state treasury.
News
NC Pension Plan has “small exposures” in collapse of CA banks
North Carolina’s state pension system was a victim of the recent collapse of two large Silicon Valley, California banks, with the loss of millions in stock at both banks.
News
Childcare subsidy bill introduced by bipartisan group of lawmakers
A group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers recently announced in a press conference that addressing early childhood education policy would be a priority this legislative session. Legislators are considering five bills this year that would impact early childhood education in North Carolina. Collectively, the bills increase state funding for childcare subsidies, create a pilot program...
News
EPA announces national standards for PFAS levels in North Carolina
EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced a first of its kind National Primary Drinking Water Regulation at a press conference in Wilmington on Tuesday. The regulation applies to six PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) also known as "forever chemicals" that can be found in drinking water.
News
Cooper’s budget proposal spends on raises, clean energy, Leandro
Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled what he called his “First in Opportunity” budget at a press conference Wednesday, proposing to spend $32.95 billion in the first year of the biennium and $34.23 billion in the second year. The budget keeps $7 billion in reserve and doesn’t raise taxes, but halts some planned tax cuts.
News
Legislative leaders urge Leandro judge to cut spending number to $377 million
State legislative leaders want the new judge in the Leandro lawsuit to cut the case’s outstanding education spending obligation to $377 million. That’s $300 million less than other parties in the case have recommended.
Opinion
Jordan Stein
Gov Cooper should end duplicative and historically racist gun policies
David Larson
Outrageous story of the week: Government again mandates we pretend it’s an hour in the future
Dallas Woodhouse
Justice Earls openly flouting NC Code of Judicial Conduct
Elections
News
McHenry rejects ‘wokeness’ allegations in Financial Services Committee agenda
"North Carolinians made it clear last November when they helped elect a Republican House majority that woke mandates and progressive posturing was not their priority. That’s why, one of my first acts as Chairman was to eliminate that Subcommittee and put in its place a Subcommittee on Digital Assets,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-NC10.
News
Moss announces plan to run for Labor Commissioner
N.C. Rep. Ben Moss, R-Moore, announced on Tuesday that he intends to run for North Carolina Commissioner of Labor in 2024. The announcement comes after current Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson announced at the December Council of State meeting that he will not seek re-election.
News
DeSantis edges Trump 56% to 35% in new poll of N.C. GOP primary voters
A new poll of likely Republican voters in North Carolina gives Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a 56% to 35% lead over former President Donald Trump in a potential matchup in the 2024 primary. The first contests in the primary are more than 13 months away, but that isn’t stopping intense speculation about who on the Republican...
News
Rep. Jon Hardister is eyeing commissioner of Labor role
As soon as first-term Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson made the surprise announcement that he would not run again, Guilford County state Rep. Jon Hardister, a Republican, began hearing from supporters that he should consider the role. Contacted this week, Hardister told CJ he is highly motivated to seek the position after a successful decade in...