North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein delivers his inaugural address at the Capitol Building in Raleigh on Jan. 11, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
Josh Stein pledges long-term Helene support, urges GOP cooperation in first address
By Galen Bacharier
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein delivers his inaugural address at the Capitol Building in Raleigh on Jan. 11, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
Gov. Josh Stein pledged in his inaugural address Saturday to continue rebuilding western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene “for as long as it takes,” outlining a range of broad priorities and calling for bipartisan work with the Republican-led legislature.
“Today we must overcome the unprecedented storm that ravaged our state, and the everyday struggles that impact our neighbors,” Stein said. “And we will.” [Read more…]
A federal appeals court will hear the NC Supreme Court elections case
Voters line up outside the Durham Main Library in the November 2024 election. (Photo: Lynn Bonner)
By Lynn Bonner
Ruling comes hours after a state court judge denied a GOP request for immediate action to invalidate votes cast in November
The federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday said it will hear Republican State appeals court Judge Jefferson Griffin’s elections case, where he’s seeking to invalidate more than 60,000 votes in the race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court.
The federal court agreed to incumbent Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs’ request to put the case on a fast track, scheduling oral arguments for Jan. 27.
The state Supreme Court is also considering Griffin’s case.
Republican cases to invalidate North Carolina votes occupied two courts on Friday. [Read more...]
Bonus read:
* Republican lawsuit seeks to throw out votes in all North Carolina statewide races
NC legislature returns, with Hurricane Helene aid and oversight as top priorities
North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) speaks to reporters after the legislative session’s opening day on Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
By Galen Bacharier, Lynn Bonner and Christine Zhu
Republican leaders say more relief is coming, and plan to scrutinize how the state responds to disasters
North Carolina lawmakers returned to Raleigh on Wednesday, kicking off a session that is expected to feature continued Hurricane Helene relief and scrutiny for natural disaster efforts past and present.
Over the coming months, the General Assembly will debate the state’s budget, as well as a wide range of contentious issues — most prominently the ongoing recovery in the mountains.
The new House Speaker, Destin Hall (R-Caldwell), said a bill setting out more relief for Helene would be coming “very soon.” [Read more…]
Western North Carolina to receive $1.65B in federal disaster grants
Gov. Josh Stein (right) inspects a trailer on visit to western North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of the governor’s office.)
By Greg Childress
Western North Carolina received good news Tuesday in its struggle to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
Gov. Josh Stein and HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman announced the region will receive two Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) awards totaling $1.65 billion. [Read more…]
Bonus read: New team in governor’s office will spearhead Helene recovery, led by ex-Wake County commissioner
NC Treasurer: Premiums to rise with State Health Plan in dire financial shape
NC Treasurer Brad Briner said rising health care costs may force an increase in premiums for teachers and state employees on the State Health Plan. (Photo: Screengrab from state Treasurer’s YouTube channel)
By Clayton Henkel
A week into his position as North Carolina’s state treasurer, Brad Briner had to deliver some uncomfortable news at Thursday’s meeting of the State Board of Education. Briner told board members that the state health plan is running a $507 million deficit even after “a record appropriation expectation the General Assembly.”
Briner’s predecessor, Republican Dale Folwell, warned last August the health insurance plan covering teachers and state employees needed the legislature to reimburse it $250 million for COVID costs. But the state also needed to develop a better strategy to address rising healthcare costs over the long term. [Read more…]
Nonprofit led by Mark Robinson’s wife wins reduction in disallowed expenses
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and his wife Yolanda greet supporters at a campaign event in Elon, North Carolina on Nov. 3, 2024. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
By: Ahmed Jallow
NC DHHS says Balanced Nutrition, Inc. now owes the state $101,142 and will have 30 days to pay
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has revised its findings from a compliance review of Balanced Nutrition Inc. — the nonprofit that was led by former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s wife.
Balanced Nutrition was a “sponsoring organization” that contracted with the state to help childcare centers apply for and receive federal funding for children’s meals. Yolanda Hill, who led Balanced Nutrition Inc., announced in April that she was shutting down the nonprofit as the state prepared to conduct a compliance review. [Read more...]
Appeals court revives sexual abuse case surrounding former NC State sports medicine director
The Lewis F. Powell Jr. federal courthouse in Richmond is home to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. (Photo: Ned Oliver/ Virginia Mercury)
By Brandon Kingdollar
The lawsuit alleges that the school enabled alleged sexual misconduct spanning a decade.
A case concerning alleged sexual abuse by a sports medicine official at NC State will return to the federal district court in Raleigh after a unanimous three-judge Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals panel vacated its dismissal on Tuesday.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina will now consider whether the university was “deliberately indifferent” to misconduct complaints against Robert Murphy, who served as the school’s director of sports medicine.[Read more…]