NC Politics in the News

Economic Development

WBTV: Concord City Council approves economic development incentive for NASCAR expansion in Concord
Concord City Council voted Thursday to approve an economic development incentive for NASCAR to support the company’s expansion in Concord. NASCAR plans to invest over $28 million in a new technology center, adjacent to the existing NASCAR Research and Development Center in West Winds Business Park.

WLOS: Airbnb, Visit North Carolina partner to boost tourism, money flow into rural WNC
A new partnership between Airbnb and Visit North Carolina aims to boost tourism across the rural areas of the state. The goal of their “Dream Big in Small Town NC” collaboration is to get people out of the city and off the grid — increasing tourism to more rural areas and boosting local economies, said Haven Thorn, Airbnb North America communications manager.

Education

WRAL: NC education board upholds Torchlight Academy charter revocation
The North Carolina State Board of Education has upheld its decision to close a Raleigh charter school at the end of June. Torchlight Academy serves 557 K-8 students. Since the state board revoked its charter in March, the school has fired its top leadership.

CNN: Fights over school boards share ballot with North Carolina’s Senate primary
North Carolina’s Senate race is among the most competitive in the nation this year. But voters across the state are also weighing in on highly contested school board races fueled by parents who felt voiceless throughout the pandemic and a conservative focus on how topics like race and sex are taught in public schools.

Elections

WLOS: Primaries spotlight coming battles over state supreme courts, including North Carolina’s
The headliners for North Carolina’s primary on Tuesday include Republicans challenging for an open U.S. Senate seat and candidates hoping to give the GOP a shot at veto-proof majorities in the Legislature.

Government

THE RICHMOND OBSERVER: Gov. Roy Cooper releases proposed 2022-23 budget adjustments
His budget recommendations released Wednesday include giving additional raises for all state workers, increasing funding for clean energy and environmental issues, fully funding the third year of the Leandro education plan, and expanding Medicaid, which was included in his last budget proposal.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: How Tuesday’s NC primary election will — and won’t — change the General Assembly
The North Carolina primary will shape the future of the state legislature, with a few current lawmakers losing their seats no matter what the results.

Healthcare

FOX8: Atrium Health, owner of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, merging with Advocate Aurora Health
Healthcare giants Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health have announced their merger on Wednesday. “The world of healthcare as we know it is changing at warp speed – and it is rapidly becoming more digital, personalized, scientific and complex,” said Eugene A. Woods, president and chief executive officer of Atrium Health.

WCNC: StarMed Healthcare to hand out formula Tuesday
StarMed Healthcare announced it will be handing out baby formula this week for parents who are unable to find formula for their children due to the nationwide shortage. 

Politics

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Can Donald Trump Get This 26-Year-Old Elected to Congress?
Bo Hines, a leading candidate in a Republican House primary next week in North Carolina, has little political experience but holds major campaign advantages, including money and powerful backers.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Who’s trying to influence NC elections? Club For Growth, AIPAC, Realtors and more
In many of North Carolina’s primary elections for open seats in Congress, it’s outside special interest groups — and not the candidates themselves — who have dominated the ads and messaging. It’s happening in Democratic and Republican primaries alike, in dozens of races across the state, from Congress to City Council. Perhaps the biggest player is the Club For Growth, a Washington-based group that has been active in conservative circles for decades.

Transportation

WORKBOAT: US Watercraft delivers new 130-passenger ferry to North Carolina
US Watercraft, Hubert, N.C., announced today that the aluminum passenger ferry Ocracoke Express has received its Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection and will begin carrying passengers to Ocracoke Island for the North Carolina Department of Transportation on May 17.