Mar 26, 2018
NC Politics in the News
Your weekly North Carolina political news report.
Education
THE ROBESONIAN: UNCP a candidate for Health Sciences College
A study outlining the positive effects of a College of Health Sciences at
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke is headed to the General
Assembly after being approved last week by the UNC Board of Governors.
THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: CMS leader wants $9 million to fortify schools. But he’s not eager to share details.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Superintendent Clayton Wilcox plans to seek about $9
million in county money to fortify schools with fences, cameras and
“hardened” doors, he said this week.
Elections
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NC Gov. Cooper appoints an elections board
member Republicans fought
The four Democrats and four Republicans on the new state elections board
went 'round and 'round Wednesday, casting tie vote after tie vote, as they
looked for the board's ninth member.
Energy & Environment
WRAL: Dem mailers target eastern Republicans over pipeline fund
The state Democratic Party has sent out mailers targeting Republican
lawmakers from eastern North Carolina, telling voters they "raided" money
that would have helped create jobs in the area.
WILMINGTON STAR NEWS: In ongoing battle, N.C. fishermen want commercial licenses to remain unchanged
A controversial proposal that would tighten the definition of a commercial
fisherman in North Carolina is stalled at the Division of Marine Fisheries
for now, even as it still sparks strong feelings with both commercial and
recreational fishermen.
WILMINGTON STAR-NEWS: Wilmington will host public hearing on proposed toxic chemical increase
Residents will have a chance to further weigh in on a Wilmington facility
that has asked the state for permission to become the nation’s leading user
of a toxic chemical, a N.C. Department of Environmental Quality official
said Thursday.
Health and Human Services
WINSTON SALEM JOURNAL: Cardinal Innovations plans to disclose investigation results of former CEO, board
The results of an independent investigation into controversial actions by
Cardinal Innovations’ former executive director and board of directors will
be revealed Monday at the agency’s Charlotte headquarters.
Housing
THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Charlotte spent $2 million for housing project.
After 11 years, it hasn’t been built.
In the summer of 2007, the city of Charlotte struck a deal with a prominent
developer to build affordable housing adjacent to the Scaleybark light-rail
station. But after waiting nearly 11 years and spending $2 million from the
city’s Housing Trust Fund, the apartments haven’t been built.
WINSTON SALEM JOURNAL: Greensboro Housing Hub aspires to be 'one-stop shop' for people needing affordable housing
N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday morning anointed the city’s latest
affordable housing effort “an innovation solution” that he said could be
replicated elsewhere in building stronger communities.
In the Courts
WFAE NEWS: At Appeals Court, Dems And Republicans Argue Over Judicial Primaries
North Carolina's primaries are just seven weeks away, but it's still not
clear if they'll include votes for local judges. A three-judge panel at the
U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, heard arguments
Tuesday over whether those primaries can go forward this year.
THE FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER: Ruling could help landowners in path of Fayetteville Outer Loop
Dozens of Cumberland County property owners in the path of the Fayetteville
Outer Loop will benefit from three decisions the Court of Appeals issued on
Tuesday, said lawyer Neil Yarborough of Fayetteville. “It’s a big win,”
Yarborough said. The rulings were issued in Forsyth County eminent domain
lawsuits that the N.C. Department of Transportation filed to take people’s
property for the construction of a highway around Winston-Salem.
Justice & Public Safety
WRAL NEWS: Outside experts looking for ways to make NC prisons safer
After a deadly year for the state prison system, the Department of Public
Safety is looking to outside experts for advice on how to improve safety
and security for prison workers.
Technology
Elizabeth City DAILY ADVANCE: Szoka: Green technology driving policy changes
Green technologies are driving rapid technological change and policymakers
are working to keep up, a leading member of the N.C. House of
Representatives said during Saturday's “Green Saves Green Expo” in
Elizabeth City. The first featured speaker of the expo, state Rep. John
Szoka, R-Cumberland, spoke on lawmakers' efforts to support — and adapt to
— the growth of electric vehicles and to bolster solar energy production.