It’s no surprise the number of homeschool families swelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the U.S. Census Bureau has released new data showing just how significant that growth has been. Nationwide, the number of homeschoolers doubled in 2020. Between April 25…
N.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell says N.C. hospitals aren’t being transparent on their pricing, despite federal rules requiring them to do so. In 2019, President Trump signed an executive order requiring hospitals to make public the prices they charge for standard procedures. The federal government soon followed…
Republican lawmakers are pushing forward two election-reform bills designed to shore up voting integrity following the 2020 general election debacle that included numerous accusations of fraud. Sen. Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus, talked through the two bills at a news conference and in the N.C. Senate Elections Committee on Wednesday, March 31.
The federal government sent nearly $4 billion in COVID relief money to North Carolina, but a sizable chunk of it was returned, unwanted, a new report from the state auditor’s office finds. The report from State Auditor Beth Wood determined North Carolina’s budget office properly…
A four-year federal investigation into voter fraud in North Carolina during the 2016 election has ended, netting 70 total charges, including 40 charges of individuals voting illegally. Others were charged with falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register to vote. The investigation highlighted tensions between federal prosecutors appointed by former President …
Some N.C. state lawmakers want local public school systems to pay a penalty if they drag their feet in sending money to charter schools. An amendment adopted in a House committee meeting could help win the proposal more support. The House Education K-12 Committee needed less than 10 minutes on…
Republican legislators in the N.C. Senate are pushing forward a bill meant to improve literacy among North Carolina public school students by the third grade. The Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021 would lay out a statewide roadmap for switching literacy instruction from a “look and…
Editor’s note: This story was updated March 30 to correctly identify Phil Lucey, N.C. Press Association executive director. A growing number of senators are signing on to a bill that would make more information available to the public on government employee performance. Under…
Republican senators have introduced a bill that would require lawmakers to sign off on any deal settling a lawsuit in which the legislature is a party. The move, Senate Bill 360, Prohibit Collusive Settlements by the Attorney General, prevents state agencies…
The N.C. State Board of Education has voted unanimously to switch social-distancing requirements under a “Plan A” return to public school classrooms to 3 feet rather than the previous six feet. The new rules are in accordance with new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
