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Sowing Resilience Heroes: Dr. Peter Morris
Dr. Peter Morris, executive director of Urban Ministries talks about food deserts and food insecurity in Wake County.
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Questions surround much of NC’s $12.3 billion in PPP loans
Questions surround Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that were forgiven, including some in North Carolina, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Wilson women are latest to plead guilty in nationwide COVID fraud scheme
Two women from Wilson are the latest North Carolinians to plead guilty to fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Act (PPP) loans in a nationwide multi-million COVID-19 fraud scheme.
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N.C. has run up less taxpayer debt than most states, financial watchdog says
One of the nation’s leading financial watchdogs says North Carolina has fared better than most states in terms of balancing its budget, but the picture isn’t all rosy as the state has an average debt burden of $1,400 per taxpayer. In its annual report, Chicago-based Truth in Accounting ranks North Carolina 14th in the U.S....
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N.C. school districts have spent just 13% of federal COVID-19 relief, analysis finds
Public school districts in North Carolina have received about $5.3 billion in COVID-related relief from the federal government. But, on average, school leaders have spent just 13% of that money. That’s according to an analysis of data from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction compiled by Dr. Bob Luebke, senior fellow for the Center for...
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Legislative leaders, governor announce deal on rural broadband funding
Leaders in the General Assembly and governor say they have reached a deal to ensure $30 million for the GREAT rural broadband program. GREAT is an acronym for Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology, which provides matching grants to internet service providers and electric membership cooperatives to provide broadband in poorer or rural areas....
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GOP lawmakers want to know why Cooper grabbed rural broadband money
Senate Republicans are asking Gov. Roy Cooper to reverse a move to eliminate relief money for rural broadband, hurting children and seniors. A new education partnership may be the reason for the move, but 15 Republicans who wrote the governor still want an explanation. The money was originally targeted for their districts, and they say...
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House, Senate budget writers unveil $1 billion COVID-19 relief package
Republican lawmakers presented a $1 billion COVID-19 package during a Tuesday, Sept. 1, news conference. The proposal — which they plan to pass this week during a two-day session — sets the stage for a showdown with Gov. Roy Cooper, who earlier released his budget priorities. Those priorities differ drastically from Republicans’ plans. The $1 billion plan...
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Public schools at all levels ask General Assembly for more COVID-19 money
North Carolina’s public schools and universities are asking the General Assembly for millions more to deal with COVID-19 challenges. The House Select Committee on COVID-19 education working group met for the first time in months to hear updates on how the state’s various education systems are handling the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. N.C. public schools and...
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Private K-12 schools don’t have to wait for Cooper’s reopening order
While public schools wait for Gov. Roy Cooper to decide how classes will look this year, private schools are finalizing plans for reopening. Unlike traditional public schools, private schools — which aren’t subject to the same rules — have more leeway in deciding how to reopen. The state is requiring all school districts to develop...
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Legislative roundup, week of June 8-12, 2020
Each week of the General Assembly’s short session, CJ staff will look back at several important bills lawmakers handled. Elections: An election bill awaits Gov. Roy Cooper’s signature. House Bill 1169, Bipartisan Elections Act of 2020, sends money to the N.C. State Board of Elections for COVID-19 expenses, and includes temporary reforms to absentee and vote-by-mail...
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Virtual meeting touts advances in telehealth COVID-19 has ushered in
The coronavirus forced reforms that could help patients access telemedicine and affordable health care, experts said during the “COVID-19 and Telehealth: A New Era In Virtual Care” Shaftesbury Society meeting Monday, May 18. COVID-19 transformed virtual health care in North Carolina. The virus dismantled regulatory restrictions on telehealth, blocked in-person medical visits, and pushed providers...
