Author

Lynn Bonner

Lynn Bonner

Investigative Reporter Lynn Bonner covers the state legislature and politics, as well as elections, the state budget, public and mental health, safety net programs and issues of racial equality.

A tentative Oct. 1 launch date for Medicaid expansion in NC depends on legislative action

By: - July 26, 2023

North Carolina could launch Medicaid expansion on Oct.1 if the legislature acts by Sept. 1, the Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday.  The state legislature approved Medicaid expansion in March, but tied it to passage of the state budget.  The new state budget year started July 1, but Republican House and Senate budget […]

Rep. Keith Kidwell speaks into a microphone

Republican from the extreme right wing joins race for NC House Speaker

By: - July 25, 2023

Rep. Keith Kidwell announced on Facebook that he is running for NC House Speaker. Kidwell, a Beaufort County Republican, is serving his third term in the House. He is a leader of the House Freedom Caucus, a group that often takes positions more conservative than other Republican legislators. The position of House Speaker is one […]

the entrance to a voting precinct

NC lurches toward elections with voter photo ID

By: - July 25, 2023

Pamela Pearson knows that getting a photo ID for some people isn’t as easy as heading to the DMV. Pearson is the North Carolina coordinator for VoteRiders, an organization with a mission to help eligible citizens get IDs they need to vote.  Getting an ID can be tough if you can’t take time off to […]

NC Elections Board approves list of university and government IDs that can be used for voting

By: - July 17, 2023

Student IDs from all UNC system universities meet state requirements that allow them to be used for voting, according to information the state Board of Elections released Monday.  Most of the community colleges, private universities, charter schools, and local governments that asked the state elections board to approve their student and/or employee IDs for voting […]

NC House Democrats criticizes budget delay. Final plan may be weeks away.

By: - July 12, 2023

Republican legislators’ failure to agree on a state budget is delaying Medicaid expansion, teacher and state employee raises, and state retiree cost-of-living increases.  House Democrats criticized the lack of a new spending plan at a news conference Wednesday. The new budget year started on July 1, but negotiations between legislative Republicans may drag on for […]

Medicaid managed care plans for NC residents with disabilities delayed again

By: - July 11, 2023

Updated 7/14 with response from Atrium Health The rollout of Medicaid managed care health plans for people with behavioral or developmental disabilities is delayed for a third time, the state Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday.  The launch of what the state calls “tailored plans” has been pushed back since last year. Last […]

Ultrasound documentation requirement for abortion pills will remain on hold

By: - July 10, 2023

The court-ordered freeze on a section of North Carolina’s new abortion law will remain in place  to allow more time for more written arguments.  The initial, 14-day freeze on the requirement that doctors prescribing abortion pills confirm that fertilized eggs had implanted in the uterus was set to expire this week. Most sections of the […]

the entrance to a voting precinct

Colleges, universities, governments ask to have their IDs approved for voting

By: - July 6, 2023

All universities in the UNC system applied to have their student IDs approved for voting purposes in the lead-up to implementation of the state’s photo ID law this year.  All but one of the state’s public universities asked the state Board of Elections to also approve use of their employee IDs for voting.  Private colleges […]

a photo of the L. Richardson Preyer Federal Courthouse

NC abortion restrictions begin Saturday, with one requirement in the new law put on hold

By: - June 30, 2023

A federal judge decided that North Carolina legislators’ bill resolving discrepancies and inconsistencies in the new law restricting abortion adequately addressed many of the problems abortion providers identified in a lawsuit this month. U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Eagles on Friday issued a 14-day freeze on the requirement for ultrasound evidence documenting the location of […]

a photo of the L. Richardson Preyer Federal Courthouse

Federal judge won’t stop NC’s 12-week abortion ban from starting July 1

By: - June 28, 2023

U.S.  District Court Judge Catherine Eagles was clear Wednesday that she would not put a freeze on the state’s recently enacted 12-week abortion ban, meaning that most of the restrictions will take effect July 1.  Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and a Duke University OB/GYN sued to stop the law from taking effect, at least temporarily. […]

NC Republicans lose US Supreme Court case on legislatures’ power over federal elections

By: - June 27, 2023

Updated with comments.  The US Supreme Court rejected North Carolina Republican legislators’ argument that the state courts cannot review laws legislatures pass governing federal elections.  Republican legislators claimed the Elections Clause in the U.S. Constitution makes legislatures the sole state authorities on federal elections law,  including congressional redistricting. Critics said the high court’s endorsement of […]

NC Senate votes to change the new abortion law while Republicans reject a dozen amendments from Democrats

By: - June 27, 2023

The state Senate approved changes to a new law limiting abortions just days ahead of a federal court hearing in a lawsuit brought by abortion providers.  The law banning most abortions after 12 weeks is set to go into effect on July 1. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and a Duke University OB-GYN are seeking a […]