Mental health experts who are also parents with students in Wake County Public Schools are sounding an alarm over a rising mental health crisis due to a lack of full-time classroom instruction. “Stop hiding behind fear and listening to the politically based [N.C. Association of Educators],” said mental health specialist…
North Carolina’s Debt Affordability Advisory Committee says the state should set aside $100 million a year to help the state pension systems remain solvent. A draft released Wednesday, Feb. 24, of the committee’s 2021 debt affordability study also calls for North Carolina to maintain its 4%…
A new poll form the Pew Research Center shows that parents are increasingly concerned about learning losses due to pandemic-related school closures. At the same time, a smaller share of parents now prioritize health risks to students and teachers above academic declines due to virtual learning. Since last summer,…
The General Assembly is again considering a mild expansion of gun rights in this legislative session, a year after Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a similar Second Amendment bill. The potential laws would give concealed handgun permit holders more freedom to carry their firearms — allowing some…
Gov. Roy Cooper has signed into law House Bill 4, extending the delay on payment deadlines for the renewal of certain alcohol permits. The extension continues until 90 days after all executive orders limiting permittees’ full operation are rescinded or expire,…
A government watchdog criticized a plan by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners that could send $7 million to High Point to help pay for improvements around Truist Point ballpark, home of the High Point Rockers minor league baseball team. Now that the board has a…
A group of Wake County parents has written Gov. Roy Cooper asking him to reopen schools for in-person instruction. Wake is the state’s largest school system. “There is no rational basis for restricting public-school children in one set of schools while allowing private school children in…
New restrictions on poll-watchers proposed by the State Board of Elections would make the logistics of maintaining election integrity much more difficult for N.C. political parties. Another new rule would classify common campaign flags and yard signs as billboards — complete with paperwork requirements that would…
Private bars will open at limited capacity under a new executive decree from the governor, although at the same time he called for more direct government aid to prop up failing businesses. As opposed to easing restrictions even further, as states…
Legislation introduced by Republican lawmakers would mandate recipients of unemployment benefits actively search for work, a requirement that hasn’t been in place since the pandemic began in March. Traditionally, unemployment benefits have been linked to a job-search requirement. But in a March 10 executive order, Gov. Roy Cooper waived that…
