RALEIGH — Partisan map-drawers must weaken their party’s power in certain districts to strengthen their power in others. GOP lawmakers diluted Democratic strength in key congressional districts at the expense of the incumbents in the 3rd and 6th districts.
RALEIGH — (Updated) Bev Perdue, the state’s first female governor, today announced she will not seek a second term. In a statement, the governor cited partisanship as a reason for her decision.
RALEIGH — Similar to the lawsuit in North Carolina, the Texas suit claimed that Republicans in the legislature illegally diluted the voting power of black and Latino residents. Legal experts say that the case’s impact could reach to the Tar Heel State.
DURHAM — Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, co-chairs of a congressional committee created through President Barack Obama’s executive order to address the nation’s fiscal hurdles, spread the blame evenly between the political parties for the country’s $15 trillion debt.
RALEIGH — The challenge from Republican leaders comes a week after Perdue announced that she would include a sales tax increase in her proposed budget for the new fiscal year. She wants to dedicate the additional funds to public schools.
RALEIGH — Under the present schedule, North Carolina’s primary is May 8, and a runoff election, if needed, is June 26. But a motion filed by Democrats and civil rights groups calls for the primary and runoff to be deferred two months. The first primary would be held July 10, and a runoff Aug. 28.
RALEIGH — The Republican-led legislature allowed a temporary 0.75 cent tax increase to sunset in June. Democrats claim the tax-hike expiration forced draconian cuts to public education, while Republicans say layoffs haven’t been extreme and the private market has benefited from the decreased tax rate.
CARY — In 2009, supporters of the deal to buy the ex-speaker's land claimed it would fetch at least the $500,000 he owed for a conviction on corruption charges. Instead, nearly three years later, the Town of Matthews made an initial offer to purchase it for less than $300,000.
RALEIGH — Two dozen candidates have expressed in running for one of the nine statewide executive-level offices. Aside from lieutenant governor, the remaining Council of State officials may be elected for an unlimited number of terms.
RALEIGH — So far, no other executive-level office in North Carolina has attracted as much interest as the race for superintendent of public instruction. So far, seven candidates from both parties have suggested they may run for the position.
Young people are flocking to Occupy protests because they think they've gotten a raw deal. But some of their financial wounds are self-inflicted.
