News

State employees guaranteed ‘living wage’ in budget proposal

The minimum wage for state employees will rise to $15 an hour if the budget proposed by legislative leaders becomes law. GOP leaders announced some details of the $23.9 billion General Fund budget for 2018-19 Thursday, May 24, at an impromptu press conference. The briefing featured Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown, R-Onslow; senior House appropriator Rep....

CJ Staff
News

House Republicans spending more than Democrats, but fundraising remains close

Republican House candidates on average spent 21 percent more than Democrats leading up to the May 8 primary contests But the total fundraising gap between the parties was small. That’s one takeaway from an analysis done for the Jan. 1 to April 21 period by the N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation, which closely tracks state elections. “Despite...

Dan Way
News

Blue Cross Blue Shield paying school lunch debt in Piedmont area

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the state’s largest health insurance provider, is giving $159,000 to five counties to cut debt in their school lunch programs. School districts in Alamance, Guilford, Forsyth, Rockingham, and Davidson counties will get the money. “Blue Cross NC’s mission to improve the health and well-being of our state starts...

Lindsay Marchello
News

GenX concerns cloud possible expansion of solar facility

The state Utility Commission will weigh whether the GenX compound that has polluted the Cape Fear River Basin could contaminate the Wilkinson Solar Plant in the Terra Ceia community of Beaufort County. Opponents of the 74-megawatt, industrial-scale solar generating plant have spent the past year raising concerns during N.C. Utility Commission hearings. It may be...

Dan Way
Video

Professor Edward Lopez discusses N.C. judicial selection process

Dr. Edward Lopez, professor of economics and director of the Center for the Study of Free Enterprise at Western Carolina University, discusses North Carolina’s judicial selection process. Lopez offered these comments during an interview for Carolina Journal Radio.

Opinion

Elections

News

Democrats want federal court to address GOP challenge of 60,000 NC ballots

The North Carolina Democratic Party filed a lawsuit Friday to ensure challenges of 60,000 ballots in the state's latest election are addressed in federal court. Republicans filed the challenges with the State Board of Elections. The challenges could affect the outcome of the state Supreme Court race between Democrat Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin, along with a handful of state legislative contests.

CJ Staff
News

Griffin asks Appeals Court to order decision on election protests by Tuesday

Republican North Carolina Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin is turning to North Carolina’s second-highest court for an order that would force state election officials to make a final decision about Griffin’s election protests Tuesday. The State Board of Elections had planned to hear oral arguments about the protests the following day, according to a document Griffin filed Friday with the state Court of Appeals.

CJ Staff
News

Federal judge allows challenge of 225,000 NC voter registrations to move forward

A federal judge will allow state and national Republican groups to move forward with their lawsuit challenging 225,000 voter registrations in North Carolina. An order issued Friday denied requests from the State Board of Elections and Democratic National Committee to have the case dismissed.

CJ Staff

Videos

Video

America 250 and The Battle of Moore”s Creek Bridge

In this special episode of The Debrief, Jeff Moore sits down with Bob Rosser to discuss Running the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge and the Revolutionary War history behind one of North Carolina’s most important early battles. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this conversation explores the people, places, and legacy of Moores Creek —...

Video

NC’s Booming Sports Betting Industry + Gov. Stein’s DPS Selection

This week on The Debrief, The Center Square’s Alan Wooten joins the show with the latest on North Carolina’s booming sports betting industry as state revenues approach the $300 million mark ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Plus, the Carolina Journal team examines growing controversy surrounding Gov. Josh Stein’s selection to lead North Carolina’s Department...

Video

Bridge Safety, Abolishing The US Dept of Ed, and Teen Social Media Rules

This week on The Debrief, we break down the latest on Helene recovery efforts and Lake Lure bridge safety, where rebuilding, public access and long-term infrastructure questions remain front and center. We also bring you an update on North Carolina’s budget process, examine the renewed push to abolish the US Department of Education and what...

Video

The Debrief: Remaining Covid Lawsuits + Sam Hayes Interview

This week on The Debrief, Mitch Kokai and Donna King discuss the remaining covid lawsuits and other court cases in North Carolina. Plus, North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes sat down with Carolina Journal’s Theresa Opeka to talk about his first year in office, including his accomplishments and what’s on the...

Culture

Civil Society