UPDATE: Wake County, including the capital city of Raleigh, will end its indoor mask mandate starting Feb. 25. That announcement came on Friday afternoon, February 18, 2022 The Wake County Public School System announced in a letter to parents on its website Friday, Feb. 18, that masks will become optional in their schools “in the...
Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday, Feb.17, called for an end to local mask mandates for schools and local governments, though state lawmakers are seemingly forcing his hand. Cooper, a Democrat, cited declining COVID-19 cases, vaccines and boosters, expanded testing, available PPE, and treatments. Kody Kinsley, state health secretary, echoed Cooper’s comments in a news conference...
State Sen. Brent Jackson and Rep. Tim Moffitt earn the top marks in the latest legislative ratings from the N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation. Jackson, R-Sampson, earns a 100.3 rating from NCFREE. That allows him to top Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, who ranks second among senators with a 99.7 rating. On the House side, Moffitt, R-Henderson,...
The roots of the N.C. ABC extend to Prohibition, the unintended consequences of which shattered the country. The Alcoholic Beverage Control system, as designed, was meant to control the sale and consumption of liquor. It has done anything but. Rather, this antique system has enabled problem drinkers, even catering to alcoholics needing a large quantity...
Leadership or staff from the company contracted to operate the state’s liquor warehouse and delivery system won’t meet with lawmakers to explain why N.C. ABC stores around the state have so many empty shelves. The state warehouses are stocked with popular products such as Jack Daniel’s and Tito’s vodka, yet those same products aren’t showing...
The staff of the N.C. ABC met Tuesday, Nov. 9, with representatives from 34 local ABC boards across the state to talk about ways to improve the distribution of high-demand, low-supply, allocated spirituous liquor products. “Local ABC boards and their employees are on the front lines of spirituous liquor sales and have direct insight into...
Lawmakers held a hearing recently focused on the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control system. Their goal was to learn why ABC store shelves are empty and why bars and restaurants are scratching and scraping for typically ubiquitous brands such as Jameson’s and Titos. The ABC blames problems with the global supply chain, but that’s only part...
Spiritous liquor is still in short supply in ABC stores across the state, and supply still isn’t keeping up with demand. Republican lawmakers say things are getting even worse. Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Henderson, and other members of the N.C. House Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee spent more than two hours Wednesday, Sept. 29, trying to determine...
Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has signed House Bill 890, omnibus legislation to make changes to laws governing the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. The bill, in large part, aims to level the playing field for distillers, making rules more consistent with those governing breweries and wineries. H.B. 890 was one of nine bills Cooper signed...
The N.C. Senate has passed House Bill 890, an all-encompassing measure that could help distillers succeed in a crowded and burgeoning industry. The bill passed the Senate on third reading, 35-7, Wednesday, Sept. 8, with a couple of technical amendments. The bill, in large part, aims to level the playing field for distillers, making rules...
A form of art, growing and nurturing communities. A block on which to build neighborhoods, relationships. Simple phrases, lacking description but begging for illustration, detailed, contextual description. What’s coming is a common refrain from me, used many times in myriad fashions. Yet it’s always true. Places such as breweries, distilleries, wineries have taken the point...
