Legislature
’11 North Carolinians every day’: Senators move to increase punishments as fentanyl overdoses rise.
State Sen. Michael Lazzara has seen more than his share of families crushed by the scourge of fentanyl in his home district of Onslow County. “In 2021, we lost 11 North Carolinians each and every day from drug overdose,” Lazzara said Tuesday, urging his colleagues to fast-track stiffer penalties against dealers who traffic heroin or fentanyl. […]
HPU Poll looks at favorability for governor, presidential candidates
The results of the latest High Point University Poll, released Wednesday, give some insight into how North Carolinians view everything from the job being done by Gov. Roy Cooper and President Joe Biden to the name recognition of potential candidates to replace them both in office. Cooper continued to have the strongest support of any […]
Cooper stresses support for education in State of the State speech
Education as a key to expanding the state’s skilled workforce and maintaining its economic competitiveness was a central theme in Gov. Roy Cooper’s State of the State speech Monday night, a speech that included references to priorities in his next budget. He encouraged investment in the “education pipeline” that begins in early childhood. “A great […]
New Meredith College poll looks at views on discrimination, Equal Rights Amendment
New polling from Meredith College examines North Carolinians’ views of discrimination and the Equal Rights Amendment, which seeks to provide protections for those experiencing it. The full report on the poll, produced in partnership with the ERA-NC Alliance, was published Monday. It delves into how different North Carolinians see discrimination against an array of different […]
NC Senate Republicans continue to push for health policy changes as part of a Medicaid expansion bill
DonnaMarie Woodson was without health insurance for about a year after her husband was laid off from his job during the recession. When she was able to sign up for insurance again through the Affordable Care Act, Woodson said she went right away for a cancer screening. “Before I had even left the building, my […]
Berger, Moore seek to defend state’s abortion pill laws in federal court
Republican legislators want to defend state laws in a federal suit that challenges the legality of North Carolina’s restrictions on prescribing the abortion pill. This comes after the Attorney General’s office said the objection to state restrictions the lawsuit raises is on point. To recap, an Ob/Gyn who practices in Orange County sued the state, […]
ReBuild NC’s modular home program still faltering; hurricane survivors now receiving different housing types
ReBuild NC’s highly touted modular home program, which state officials have claimed would be the fastest way to get hurricane survivors out of motels and into permanent housing, continues to falter, according to state data. Numbers provided by ReBuild NC to Policy Watch this week show that Rescue Construction Solutions has built 20 modular homes […]
“Change is coming”: Medical marijuana legislation advances in NC legislature
Supporters of medicinal marijuana are one step closer to seeing the measure legalized in North Carolina. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee gave the green light to the NC Compassionate Care Act on Tuesday after approving a handful of new amendments. Bill sponsors say their intent is prioritize the protection of public health and safety […]
Reproductive rights advocates tell legislators to reject more abortion restrictions
Janice Robinson recalled a scary time when she was a pregnant 15-year-old in South Carolina, almost 50 years ago. Her mother took her to have an abortion. Her mother took her not to a medical doctor, but someone unlicensed and working in secret. Robinson said she didn’t have a say in any of it. “I […]
Legislators could prohibit police from releasing mugshots
Legislators will consider a bill this session that would bar police from releasing people’s mugshots. The proposal would ban law enforcement agencies from releasing booking photographs taken when a person is processed when they’re admitted to jail. Those mugshots would not longer be subject to public records laws. There’s a notable exception: police could release mugshots in […]
Plastics, natural gas and substation attacks: environmental bills to watch this week
With Medicaid, guns and anti-LGBT legislation consuming lawmakers’ time, only a few environmental bills have been introduced this session. The pace usually picks up — a gut-and-amend bill here, an ambush provision there — so enjoy the relative quiet while you can. That said, here are several bills worth watching this week as they emerge […]
NC House gives final approval to its Medicaid expansion bill
The state House made quick work of its proposal to expand Medicaid to more low-income adults, moving the bill through committees, floor votes, and out to the state Senate in three days. The chamber gave final approval to its version of Medicaid expansion with a 92-22 vote Thursday. About 600,000 adults in North Carolina fall […]