News

State urges U.S. Supreme Court to take up dispute over health plan premiums

N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein has filed paperwork urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a dispute involving premiums charged to government retirees on the State Health Plan. The state hopes the nation’s highest court will overturn a March 11 ruling from the N.C. Supreme Court. State justices ruled by a 4-2 vote that 220,000 state government retirees had a contractual right to premium-free health care benefits that had been promised to them.

CJ Staff
News

State Supreme Court will tackle voter ID, redistricting on back-to-back October days

The N.C. Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in two high-profile election-related cases on back-to-back days next month. Justices will address the state’s voter identification law on Oct.3, then the state’s legislative and congressional election maps on Oct. 4.

CJ Staff
News

New school accountability measure in the works for N.C. schools

Changes are on the way for the grading system that measures school quality and student success across North Carolina. N.C. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt spoke about the deficiencies of the current system at Tuesday’s Council of State meeting, held at the Department of Transportation, Raleigh.

Theresa Opeka
News

State wants N.C. Supreme Court to overturn Ace Speedway’s win in COVID shutdown dispute

The state’s top health official is asking the N.C. Supreme Court to reverse a unanimous Appeals Court ruling against him. Appellate judges determined that owners of an Alamance County racetrack could sue the official over a COVID-related shutdown in 2020.

CJ Staff
News

Brunswick charter school asks U.S. Supreme Court to take up dress code dispute

Operators of a Brunswick County charter school are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to “review and reverse” an Appeals Court decision striking down the school’s uniform policy. A petition Monday asks the nation’s highest court to take up the case involving Charter Day School. Critics had complained about the school’s requirement that female students wear skirts, jumpers, or skorts.

CJ Staff
News

GOP lawsuit claims NC Board of Elections ignoring absentee, observer laws

A lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee, the N.C. Republican Party, and Clay County GOP Chair Barbara Deas over state election rules as early voting by mail began. The suit, filed Sept, 9, seeks to reign in what Republicans see as illegal tampering with election law by the Democrat-majority N.C. State Board of Elections (NCSBE), especially regarding the absentee-ballot deadline and limits on election observers.

David Larson
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Opinion

Opinion

University research needs better publishing guidelines

A UNC System spokesperson told CJ that they currently do not have any guidelines or best-practices on which journals professors should publish their research in and that those matters “are generally handled at the institutional, departmental or faculty level.”

David Larson
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Elections

Opinion

Should NC reform its primary system? The case to return to 40% threshold

In a Carolina Journal poll conducted shortly after the November elections, 43% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the 2024 primaries, stating that they did not produce the best candidates for the general election. While 46% were satisfied and 10% were unsure, the significant level of dissatisfaction highlights potential issues within North Carolina’s primary system.

Donna King
News

Trump nominates Bishop to be deputy director for budget at OMB

"Dan has been a tireless fighter for our MAGA Movement in the House of Representatives on the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees," Trump said in a press release issued Tuesday night. "Dan will implement my cost-cutting and deregulatory agenda across all Agencies, and root out the Weaponized Deep State."

Theresa Opeka
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
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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...

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Culture

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Civil Society

Opinion

For healthy civil society, politics needs to stay in its lane

Political and cultural causes are important. They motivate us to make the world around us better and hone our sense of justice. Also, the excitement of fighting the good fight can be, for lack of a better word, fun. But everything has its time and place. And even if we think a particular political issue...

David Larson
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