Each week, staff at Carolina Journal looks back at the week in N.C. politics and chooses several interesting, relevant stories you may have missed. Here’s this week’s review: Prison lawsuit: The N.C. NAACP, the ACLU of North Carolina, and the Disability Rights North Carolina, have filed…
The coronavirus did what years of lawmaking and lawsuits failed to do — pushed North Carolina to temporarily waive barriers on telemedicine and the controversial certificate of need laws that restrict the supply of health care. Ambulatory surgery centers can now act as temporary hospitals. Out-of-state…
North Carolina merchants will have even fewer shoppers next week, thanks to an executive order Gov. Roy Cooper announced at a Thursday, April 9 news conference. Beginning Monday at 5 p.m., stores still allowed to operate must limit the number of…
Ashley Arthur, a Raleigh resident and former software company employee, was laid off in January — before the coronavirus pandemic buried the N.C. Division of Employment Security in new claims from laid-off workers. Charlotte residents Tim and Dee Worley, both former…
The general counsel of the NC Chamber offered an ominous prediction this week. More than half of the state’s small businesses will close by mid-April if Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order remains, Ray Starling told the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic Support Working Group.
A recession is coming, if it’s not already here, the state budget director at the N.C. Office of State Budget and Management told lawmakers in a meeting of the House Select Committee on COVID-19. The Continuity of State Operations working group…
Expect Gov. Roy Cooper to set new limits on shopping alongside new benefits for child care centers serving health care and other “essential” workers. At a Coronavirus Task Force briefing Tuesday, April 7, Cooper also defended the Division of Employment Security as it faces…
Plymouth Church (Photo provided by Dr. Chris Partin) Things at Plymouth Church in Raleigh are mostly quiet. The church’s administrative assistant still comes in, but just once a week. Dr. Chris Partin, Plymouth’s pastor, can’t visit…
Gov. Roy Cooper has held regular news briefings on the COVID-19 pandemic, taking a handful of questions from reporters on a teleconference. He’s done interviews with local broadcast media outlets and Spectrum News’ statewide program “Capital Tonight.” Questions have dealt with unemployment insurance benefits, the safety of prison staff and…
North Carolinians who have filed for unemployment insurance because of COVID-19 won’t see payments for at least two weeks, state officials said during a Friday, April 3 news conference. The head of the state’s employment office also said roughly 41,000 people have gotten payments.
