News - Carolina Journal

NC Rate Bureau requests rate increase of up to 83% for mobile home insurance

After requesting an average rate hike of 42% in homeowners’ insurance rates in January, now comes word that the North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB) wants to raise mobile home fire policies (MH-F) an average of 83% and 50% for casualty policies (MH-C), both broken down over a three-year period. That’s according to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI).

State audit finds reporting and oversight errors with millions in federal pandemic funds for NC schools

A Statewide Single Audit released by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor finds the state's public school system did not effectively track millions in federal pandemic recovery funds.

Feds reject proposal to split Lindberg, Gray retrials on bribery, fraud charges

Federal prosecutors oppose a plan to split the bribery and fraud retrials of Greg Lindberg and John Gray. Both are scheduled to return to federal court on May 6. The government submitted its latest court filing Friday.

Eight GOP lawmakers urge NC Supreme Court to take forced vaccination case

Eight Republican members of North Carolina’s House of Representatives would like to see the state Supreme Court take up a case dealing with the forced COVID vaccination of a 14-year-old boy in 2021. Lower courts have ruled against the teen and his mother.

Three-judge panel will keep case challenging NC voter ID, tax cap amendments

A three-judge panel has rejected plaintiffs’ request to send a lawsuit challenging two North Carolina constitutional amendments back to a single Wake County judge. One amendment places a photo voter identification requirement in the state constitution. The other lowers a cap on state income tax rates.

Cities differ on public safety tech

The police department in Winston-Salem uses a commercial product called ShotSpotter, a network of audio sensors and software, to identify possible incidents of gunfire and ensure a faster response to them. Since its implementation in 2021, the system appears to have reduced the number of aggravated assaults and saved at least two lives of gunshot...

John Hood

NC State players offer touching thank you to fans

For Terry and Lara Reed, along with countless other NC State fans, a final touching tribute from the ACC champion and Final Four men’s basketball team put the cherry on top of magical double Final Four weekend. For Lara, it was a trip with her two daughters to Cleveland to see NC State’s women take...

Dallas Woodhouse

Federal spending drives inflation, but NC lawmakers can offer relief

If you’re like many North Carolinians, you’ve had to make more hard choices recently, like between paying your bills and buying your medicine. You might have even skipped meals to fill up your gas tank. We got here because big-government politicians put the yoke of regulations on your shoulders and spent money we don’t have...

Robert Bortins

Mainstream newsrooms, like universities, function best with intellectual diversity

A recent article in The Free Press, by Uri Berliner, a NPR senior editor who has worked at the iconic news station for 25 years, exposed how his organization, like many other mainstream media publications, lost the trust of the American people. Berliner identifies himself as part of the wealthy, white progressive elite, the stereotype...

David Larson

Robbing ourselves with student loan ‘forgiveness’

In honor of Financial Literacy Month, it’s worth taking a moment to consider one of the biggest financial challenges facing Americans of all generations — their student loan debt. For those who may not be familiar with the student loan process, there are two loan types that students and their parents can explore to pay...

Claire Olson

Jon Hardister to resign effective April 8

Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, announced Thursday that he will resign his position in the North Carolina House, telling Carolina Journal that he would not rule out a return to public service at some point in the future, but for now he will be working in the private sector.

Theresa Opeka, Jeff Moore

Simmons elected to chair the NC Republican Party

As expected, the North Carolina Republican Party’s executive committee selected current Executive Director Jason Simmons as the new chair in Selma on Tuesday.

NCSBE certifies 2024 Primary and gets ready for May 14 runoff

The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) certified the March 5 primary during a board meeting Tuesday.

Trailing in the NC polls, Biden and Harris return to Raleigh

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were in Wake County to deliver speeches with Gov. Roy Cooper, a fellow Democrat, on healthcare costs. The visit comes during the week of the 14th anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act under the Obama administration.

EXCLUSIVE: Trump doubles down on endorsement in NCGOP chair race

The Republican Party of North Carolina will elect a new chair, by vote of their executive committee, next Tuesday, March 26. As the vote approaches, former President Donald Trump is doubling down on his endorsement for the next leader of the NCGOP.

Senate Dems block Budd’s ‘Laken Riley Act’

On Thursday, Senate Democrats rejected a bill one day after it was introduced by Republican U.S. Sens. Ted Budd-NC and Katie Britt-AL, that was named for the 22-year-old University of Georgia nursing student who was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant last month.

Carolina Journal’s Donna King analyzes CJ Poll numbers for president, governor

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses the latest Carolina Journal Poll numbers in North Carolina’s races for president and governor. King offered these comments during the April 12, 2024, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Donna King

The Debrief: Republican runoffs ahead, DOJ clears decades-long backlog, and the latest CJ Poll

This week on the Debrief, former president Donald Trump wades into the Republican runoff for Congressional District 13, the state finally clears an embarrassing backlog of more than 10,000 untested rape kits that sat on shelves for decades, and the state’s high court hears arguments in big cases. Plus, the latest Carolina Journal poll reveals...

The Debrief: Is this the end of DEI on campus?

This week on the Debrief, Vice President Kamala Harris is back in North Carolina, for the second time in two weeks, and there will be s a new name on your November presidential ballot. What is a “benefits cliff?” We’ll explain how a raise can be a net loss for those on entitlement programs, plus...

Carolina Journal’s Donna King analyzes voter ID use in 2024 NC primaries

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses North Carolina voters’ use of photo identification in the 2024 primary elections. King offered these comments during the March 29, 2024, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “State Lines.”

Donna King

The Debrief: Shining more light on NCInnovation

This week on “The Debrief”: President Biden returns to Raleigh. The North Carolina Republican Party elects a new chairman. Primary election results are in the books. Carolina Journal digs deeper into the details of NCInnovation. CJ shines light on state budget reserve funds that hide spending increases. Lawmakers take another look at plans to reduce...

The Debrief: Death Threats, IVF, and the Second Amendment

An armed terror watchlist suspect is arrested in North Carolina, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, receives a death threat over TikTok, and a gun rights case from Maryland gets the attention of the John Lock Foundation. All that and more this week on the Debrief.

TikTok bill is consistent with US Constitution

Ever since Rep. Mike Gallagher (WI-8) introduced House Resolution 7521 — formally known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act — early last month, there has been a whirlwind of responses: United States Sen. Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, received a voicemail threatening his life if he voted in favor of...

Michael Bruce

Knott campaign targeted by photoshopped campaign ads

Brad Knott's campaign target by fake ads generated by AI.

Katherine Zehnder

NC State players offer touching thank you to fans

For Terry and Lara Reed, along with countless other NC State fans, a final touching tribute from the ACC champion and Final Four men’s basketball team put the cherry on top of magical double Final Four weekend. For Lara, it was a trip with her two daughters to Cleveland to see NC State’s women take...

Dallas Woodhouse

Wolfpack fans hit with travel delays in flights to Final Four

Two sold out charter airplane flights from RDU to Phoenix, packed with NC State fans were significantly delayed Friday morning. The flights were suppose to depart Friday morning at 10:00 and noon, but now won't get there in time for Friday's women's game.

Protecting the Pack: NC State cracks down on counterfeits amid Final Four Frenzy

"It's been a great story, it's been a great run, a lot of success," said Gregg Zarnstorff, director of Trademarks and Brand Protection at NC State University. "You know what happens with success is everybody wants to try to profit from it. Sometimes legally and sometimes not."

Brayden Marsh

Flashback: North Carolina’s Easter Monday tradition forged on the baseball diamond

On Good Friday state offices will be closed in North Carolina for Holy Week, along with 10 other states. However, that has not always been the case in North Carolina. The Monday after Easter — rather than Good Friday — was a legal holiday in North Carolina for 52 years, and for many years before...

Dallas Woodhouse

Carolina Journal’s Donna King discusses Disney going ‘woke’

Donna King, Carolina Journal editor-in-chief, discusses Disney’s controversial programming changes. King offered these comments during the April 8, 2022, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “Front Row with Marc Rotterman.”

Donna King

Locke’s Mitch Kokai discusses New York Times’ warning about free speech

Mitch Kokai, John Locke Foundation senior political analyst, discusses the New York Times’ column warning about America’s “free-speech problem.” Kokai offered these comments during the March 25, 2022, edition of PBS North Carolina’s “Front Row with Marc Rotterman.”

Mitch Kokai

Jordan Peterson returns to Durham 4 years after city moves to ‘cancel’ him

Canadian professor, author, and psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson on Thursday offered a non-political and largely academic lecture on the psychology of beauty, dreams, and purpose. The reaction from city officials and activists to the address at the Durham Performing Arts Center was night-and-day from the one leading up to his appearance four years earlier. It...

David Larson

Ukrainian people in NC rally to support homeland

As the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine continues to escalate, North Carolina’s local Ukrainian population is rallying to bring attention to the suffering of people in their homeland and to gather supplies to help them. Donna Goldstein, co-president of the Ukrainian Association of North Carolina, finds herself at the forefront of these efforts. Goldstein has...

David Larson