Most North Carolinians don’t approve of the state’s vaccine rollout. More North Carolinians favor getting the COVID-19 vaccine, but that doesn’t mean they can, according to an Elon University Poll of nearly 1,500 residents conducted Jan. 29-31. Elon released the poll just hours before Gov. Roy Cooper held a news conference announcing a new executive...
Update: The N.C. Senate on Tuesday, Feb. 9, passed Senate Bill 37 on its third reading, 29-15. The measure heads to the House. The N.C. Senate on Tuesday, Feb. 9, is expected to pass Senate Bill 37, giving K-12 students the option of returning to the classroom, at least part-time. Students with special needs could...
After a slow start, North Carolina is ramping up its COVID-19 vaccinations. Some 9.2% of residents got the first shot of COVID-19 vaccines by Monday, Feb. 8, when 970,162 people had received a first dose, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Two days earlier, an average 8.6% of COVID-19 tests came...
The Senate has tentatively voted to reopen schools, despite pushback from Democrats to block full in-person learning for older students. Republicans passed Senate Bill 37 on its second reading, 29-16, to give K-12 students the option to return to the classroom at least part-time. Students with special needs could choose full-time in-person learning. The Senate...
A bill seeking to extend a delay on payment deadlines for certain alcohol permits quickly cleared an N.C. House Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 3. The measure, House Bill 4, applies to businesses hurt by the governor’s executive order restricting travel and business operations, and mass gatherings. Payment of fees — according to...
Both political parties are throwing their weight behind school reopening in North Carolina. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, urged schools to allow students to return to the classroom. Republican lawmakers also Tuesday, Feb. 2 moved to mandate in-person learning as an option for all K-12 students. Lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 37 to reopen schools for...
When I tested positive, I knew it was because I had in fact received the real vaccine.
A new Senate COVID relief bill would spend $1.6 billion to outfit N.C. public schools for reopening, a massive investment that foreshadows the looming battle over how the next school year will unfold. The new school funding is part of a larger bill that makes significant adjustments to the state’s COVID relief finances. The additional...
With evidence mounting that schools can operate safely amid COVID-19, the General Assembly will soon consider a bill that would require North Carolina classrooms to be open for in-person instruction. The legislation, expected to be filed in the next few days, would mandate that every school district offer in-person learning in some capacity, while also...
Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday, Jan. 27, said North Carolina is entering a time of hope as COVID-19 numbers are leveling and more vaccines become available. Try telling that to the scores of businesses that have closed, entered into bankruptcy, laid off staff, or have fallen into tremendous debt simply trying to stay afloat. “The...
N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein wants lawmakers to use millions won from a settlement with Dish Network for violating telemarketing laws to expand internet access for students, but legislative leaders are so far non-committal on the proposal. In December, a federal appeals court agreed with a trial court’s judgment that held Dish Network accountable for...
