News

State forecasts $1.4 billion budget surplus

The North Carolina General Assembly's Fiscal Research Division projects that while inflation and interest rates are still up, the state will have $400 million over in collections in the current fiscal year and $1 billion additional revenue coming into the state coffers in FY 2024-25.

CJ Staff
News

NC Rate Bureau requests rate increase of up to 83% for mobile home insurance

After requesting an average rate hike of 42% in homeowners’ insurance rates in January, now comes word that the North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB) wants to raise mobile home fire policies (MH-F) an average of 83% and 50% for casualty policies (MH-C), both broken down over a three-year period. That’s according to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI).

Theresa Opeka

Help Support Non-profit Journalism & Donate Today

News

EPA sets new regulations on ‘forever chemicals’ in US drinking water

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan was in Fayetteville this week to announce new rules on PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) also known as “forever chemicals” in drinking water systems across the US. 

CJ Staff
News

RTP Biotech company granted $15 million JDIG agreement

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, a division of Japanese parent company Fujifilm Corp, plans to expand its job force at its Holly Springs location with an additional 680 jobs and a $1.2 billion investment as part of a $15 million Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) awarded by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Economic Investment Committee (NCEIC).

Theresa Opeka
News

NC clears decades-long backlog of untested rape kits

Local law enforcement agencies, state lawmakers, the Department of Justice, and State Crime Lab have been focused on the backlog that dates back to when Gov. Roy Cooper was attorney general for 16 years. Now, 11,841 kits have been tested leading to DNA matches and more than 100 arrests.

CJ Staff
Video

The Debrief: Is this the end of DEI on campus?

This week on the Debrief, Vice President Kamala Harris is back in North Carolina, for the second time in two weeks, and there will be s a new name on your November presidential ballot. What is a “benefits cliff?” We’ll explain how a raise can be a net loss for those on entitlement programs, plus...

News

Treasurer Folwell talks loss of State Health Plan coverage for weight loss drugs

North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell gave more insight Tuesday as to why the State Health Plan decided to end coverage of popular weight loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, as of April 1. During the Council of State meeting, he said the drugs had the potential of costing the SHP $170 million this year for 22,000 people. He said it would be the same cost as a 4% bonus to 253,000 employees and would double the individual premium for everyone else on the state health plan from $25 to $50.

Theresa Opeka