Discussion of the coronavirus dominated the first half-hour of the gubernatorial debate between incumbent Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. But at times, Cooper treated Forest like a proxy for the GOP-led General Assembly, as the governor attacked school choice, tax cuts, teacher pay, and other issue-driven fights between Cooper and...
This story will be updated regularly. Fewer than six weeks from the 2020 general election, two of the five members of the State Board of Elections walked off the job. Republicans are disgusted. They say they were misled by information from the board. Its staff. State Attorney General Josh Stein. Together, the Democratic majority handled...
For Tara Deane’s two youngest children, virtual learning has been a nightmare. Deane’s four children attend school in Wake County. Her two youngest are adopted from China and have severe disabilities. They struggle with basics like learning, speaking, and socializing. The teletherapy services provided by the school district aren’t working, Deane said. Her children are...
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. This report was updated to include new information. Beware of budget gimmicks: The state unexpectedly received $457 million in tax over-collections, but don’t try to spend the money, Sen. Harry Brown,...
The N.C. State Board of Education rejected a unanimous recommendation from the state’s Charter School Advisory Board to let 3,800 more students enroll at the state’s two virtual charter academies. The education board’s vote was 7-4. The advisory board said Wednesday, Aug. 12, that the state-run virtual charters should take more students to handle growing...
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. Dropped lawsuit: Lt. Gov. Dan Forest has dropped his lawsuit against Gov. Roy Cooper over the governor’s COVID-19 executive orders. Josh Stein, N.C attorney general, tweeted the news Thursday, Aug. 13....
Gov. Roy Cooper will keep North Carolina in his modified Phase Two of reopening for another five weeks. That could worsen the state’s economic problems. One of the state’s top economists say North Carolina’s economy might take two to three years to recover. Cooper paused the state’s reopening at a Wednesday, Aug. 5, news briefing....
Whether a judge rules in favor of Gov. Roy Cooper or decides to throw out Cooper’s executive orders, he knows his decision is likely to head straight to the N.C. Supreme Court. Judge James Gale is weighing Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s lawsuit to throw out Cooper’s COVID-19 executive orders. Forest says Cooper violated the...
Every North Carolina student, from kindergarteners to post-graduates, will have new health and safety rules to follow this fall. COVID-19 has complicated the traditional school day for all students, teachers, and faculty. Schools and universities are finalizing plans to provide an education with the infectious disease in mind. The fall reopening plans are as far-reaching...
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: Cooper vetoes: Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed eight bills on July 2, including three bills to reopen parts of the economy still closed under COVID-19 restrictions. The governor...
Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday, July 1, was vague in explaining why he delayed an announcement about how and when schools will start classes. All 115 N.C. school districts were asked to create three reopening plans, ranging from most to least restrictive. Wednesday was the deadline for Cooper to announce which plan all schools would...
