RALEIGH — Gov. Roy Cooper has signed an energy bill that includes provisions supporting the solar energy industry. At the same time, the governor signed an executive order designed to blunt the impact of an 18-month wind power moratorium. Cooper had been weighing a potential veto of the legislation because…
North Carolina’s clerks of Superior Court are countering criticism from State Auditor Beth Wood over a failure to correct ongoing problems. “We emphatically deny that any clerk has or will refuse to correct identified serious problems,” Steven Cogburn, Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court and president…
A joint legislative redistricting committee met Wednesday to begin the court-ordered process for redrawing a minimum of 28 legislative electoral maps. Sen. David Lewis, R-Harnett, chairman of the House redistricting committee, said the goal is to get input from public hearings in August, September, and October.
Ten years ago — July 26, 2007 — one of North Carolina’s most spectacular economic development boondoggles hosted its first performance. Dolly Parton’s brother Randy performed his first public show at the Roanoke Rapids theater that would bear his name. Parton had a contract to perform at the 35,000-square foot, 1,500-seat…
The State Board of Education has approved $2.5 million in budget cuts to the Department of Public Instruction. The savings will come from staff cuts and operating expenses. An additional $737,285 will be cut in a few weeks to meet the $3.2 million cut required by the 2017-19…
Ron Heiniger just wanted to be a farmer. He encouraged research to avoid solar industry encroachment on North Carolina’s prime farmlands. But because of his academic study, the respected crop and soil scientist has become an unwilling poster child for anti-solar activists, vilified by the…
Traditional public schools saw about 5,000 fewer students walk through their doors for the 2016-17 school year. Charter, private, and home schools, on the other hand, all saw increases in the number of students at their campuses. The state Department of Public Instruction reports…
Spanish-speaking customers frequently came to Concepto Latino in Durham for notary public services. Then Washington politics had an indirect hand in elevating the volume. “I know that when President Trump started initiating his immigration actions a lot of people were bringing in letters to notarize,” showing they were in the…
Brent Woodcox, former co-chair of the short term rental task force, has launched a political action committee, called Share Raleigh, to educate people about the debate over short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs. While short-term rentals are technically illegal in Raleigh, city…
With Gov. Roy Cooper’s desire to expand Medicaid withering on the vine, legislative leaders decided to dismiss a lawsuit that sought to block what they saw as unconstitutional action. “We are pleased Gov. Cooper abandoned his plan to defy state and federal law and unilaterally expand…
