North Carolina’s court cases are on hold due to coronavirus. Most Superior and District court cases will be paused for 30 days, with “some limited exceptions,” N.C. Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley announced. The rule goes into effect March 16. Beasley’s announcement Friday, March…
The threat of a coronavirus outbreak has pushed North Carolina into waiving state caps on hospital beds. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Thursday, March 12, temporarily lifted a regulation requiring hospitals to get state permission to add beds. The rule said hospitals couldn’t…
Each week, staff at Carolina Journal looks back at the week in N.C. politics and chooses several interesting, relevant stories you may have missed. Here’s this week’s review: No runoff: Rep. Yvonne Lewis Holley, D-Wake, can breathe a sigh of relief after her competitor for the…
Retired health care workers will be able to regain licensure more quickly as North Carolina prepares for a potential outbreak of the coronavirus. The N.C. Medical Board expedited the process for retirees who want temporary emergency licenses. The board adopted the emergency rule Wednesday, March 11,…
North Carolina’s General Assembly has no plans to hold a special session to address coronavirus, but while Gov. Roy Cooper and state health leaders issue new recommendations for residents, lawmakers remain watchful, House and Senate leaders say. With at least 15 coronavirus cases diagnosed in North…
Spirits tastings in N.C. ABC stores have gone on without complaint or problem since September, when lawmakers amended state rules governing liquor. Some 50 boards — 140 or so stores — around the state have allowed tastings, with about 600 more scheduled, said A.D. “Zander” Guy,…
Teachers and retirees are suffering without a budget in place, two freshman Democratic lawmakers said during a March 10 news conference. A spokesman for the Republican leader of the Senate said the General Assembly has passed a budget, but obstinate Democrats — including Gov. Roy Cooper — continue…
State retirees and their dependents beginning next year won’t pay premiums on Medicare Advantage plans. The State Health Plan awarded Humana a new contract that will save taxpayers $590 million over three years. The savings will allow the State Health Plan to erase retirees’ monthly premiums…
Each week, staff at Carolina Journal looks back at the week in N.C. politics and chooses several interesting, relevant stories you may have missed. Here’s this week’s review: County resolutions: A number of N.C. counties want the budget stalemate to end. The commissioners of Avery, Sampson,…
Fears of a global economic slowdown, fueled in part by the coronavirus outbreak, took a $4.2 billion chunk out of North Carolina’s state pension plan. The coronavirus has sent stocks tumbling worldwide. North Carolina’s pension plan is more conservatively managed than most, so it slid only…
