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Erin Wynia of the NC League of Municipalities discusses the state’s housing crisis
North Carolina is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. With a fast-growing population – particularly in urban areas – this problem has been present for years, but it’s grown appreciably more dire since the onset of the pandemic, with the median price of a home shooting up 25 percent just since 2021. Recently […]
Sen. Graig Meyer discusses abortion restrictions, vouchers, and future transportation funding
As anyone who pays attention to North Carolina politics is well-aware, the General Assembly was rocked recently by the decision of State Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County to switch her political allegiance from the Democratic Party to the GOP. The move gives Republicans a supermajority in both legislative chambers and would seem to boost […]
Weekend reads: Targeting tenure, transgender sports, and ‘significant strides’ recovering from pandemic learning loss
In this issue: 1. New bill targets tenure, calls for scrutiny of research at UNC System campuses, community colleges Faculty tenure at UNC System universities and community colleges would end under a new bill filed Tuesday. House Bill 715 would “prospectively eliminate academic tenure and establish uniform contracting procedure for faculty at constituent institutions and […]
NC Child Health Policy Director Kaylan Szafranski discusses the 2023 Children’s Health Report Card
Read this year’s report card. One of the most important and worrisome impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath has been the hugely negative impact on the mental health of our nation’s youth. Recently, the children’s advocacy group NC Child partnered with the North Carolina Institute of Medicine to prepare and release a 2023 […]
Disability Rights NC attorney Susan Pollitt and investigative reporter Kelan Lyons
It’s a hard truth that North Carolina’s criminal justice system regularly metes out wrongful and inequitable sentences, and recently, NC Newsline investigative reporter Kelan Lyons detailed one such deeply disturbing case. Bobby Norfleet was convicted of a crime in 1979 as a young man – trying unsuccessfully to set a fire to a house – […]
‘I’m scared to become a teacher’: Gun violence sparks frank assessment by aspiring educator
“Mike Hill, 61 Katherine Koonce, 60 Cynthia Peak, 61 Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9 Hallie Scruggs, 9 and William Kinney, 9.” Kurstin Howe opened her remarks to the Wake County School Board last week remembering each victim of the Nashville, Tennessee, school shooting in March. Howe is a Meredith College student and part of the future […]
Weekend reads: NC’s new Teacher of the Year, UNC losing faculty and staff, and one word makes a big difference for NC’s environment
In this issue: 1. One-word change in Farm Act could increase greenhouse gas emissions from hog farms A one-word change in the Farm Act could allow hog farmers to capture methane from their waste lagoons, but choose not to use the gas for energy. Instead, the farmer could merely send the potent greenhouse gas through […]
Beyond medical marijuana, a bipartisan group of NC legislators wants to study psychedelics
Editor’s note: This story mentions PTSD and suicide. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. North Carolina’s Compassionate Care Act, a bill that would legalize medical marijuana for certain patients, faces an uncertain future in the state House this […]
Rep. Marcia Morey discusses sports wagering, repeal of the state’s pistol permit system
State Rep. Marcia Morey of Durham County provides an update on the events at the General Assembly – including the disturbing votes to repeal the state’s pistol permit system and introduce online sports gambling to the state.
NCSU Prof.Michael Schwalbe on efforts to stifle discussions of race and privilege in our schools
One of the top agenda items for Republican leaders at the General Assembly this year is legislation that would micromanage the teaching of U.S. history and discussions of race – mostly for the purpose of limiting discussion and assuring that white students in particular, aren’t made to feel guilty or uncomfortable. Unfortunately, as North Carolina […]
Congresswoman Deborah Ross talks Medicaid, gun violence, energy policy, and the Trump indictment
State and federal lawmakers are now into some of the busiest days of their respective 2023 sessions, and as NC Newsline was was reminded once again in a conversation with Congresswoman Deborah Ross of North Carolina’s Second District, policy divisions on a host of key issues remain stark. On matters as diverse as gun violence, […]
Weekend reads: Rep. Cotham’s big jump, absentee ballot restrictions, and what’s in the House budget
1. Rep. Tricia Cotham’s party switch gives the House GOP a veto-proof majority Rep. Tricia Cotham formally announced she is switching parties to become a Republican, giving the GOP a veto-proof majority in the state House. Cotham bashed Democrats at a news conference Wednesday morning where Republicans welcomed her to the GOP. Cotham said Democrats had […]