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Agriculture
STAR NEWS: Why the pearl in NC’s agriculture industry is running into choppy waters
For an industry that brings so many environmental benefits and economic promise, North Carolina’s oyster farmers have been facing some major headwinds.
FARM PRESS: The year N.C. agriculture hits $100 billion
North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler remains confident that 2023 will be the year when agriculture reaches his long-stated goal of being a $100 billion industry in the Tar Heel State.
Economic Development
BUSINESS FACILITIES: Businesses Boom In North Carolina
In 2022, North Carolina was recognized as the #1 in America’s Top States For Business by CNBC. With a tax rate of 2.5%, The Tar Heel State hosts one of the most competitive tax environments, with the goal of reaching 0% by 2030. In addition to having a low tax rate, the state also offers building costs, electricity costs, and cost of living all below the national average.
Education
THE NEWS OBSERVER: NC Board of Education wants higher teacher pay and new pay for performance model
The State Board of Education is calling on North Carolina lawmakers to both sharply raise pay for teachers and to let them test a model that would overhaul how educators are compensated. The board unanimously passed a resolution Thursday asking for in excess of a 10% raise for all teachers, as well as investments in beginning teacher pay to make North Carolina the leader in the Southeast.
THE CAROLINA JOURNAL: NC House OKs bill changing governance structure for schools for deaf and blind
Gov. Roy Cooper’s appointment power would be reduced under a bill passed March 1 by the North Carolina House. House Bill 11, Schools for the Deaf and Blind, would change the governance structure for three state-run schools — the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf, the North Carolina School for the Deaf, and the Governor Morehead School for the Blind.
Government
WFAE: NC Gov. Cooper giving State of the State address tonight
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is readying for what is likely his last State of the State address. The General Assembly invited the Democratic governor to speak to a joint meeting of the House and Senate on Monday night in Raleigh.
WUNC: North Carolina legislators seek to remove racist literacy test from state constitution
A North Carolina House committee voted Wednesday to give voters a chance to remove the Jim Crow-era literacy test requirement from the state’s constitution.
Healthcare
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: N. Carolina legislators reach Medicaid expansion deal
North Carolina legislative leaders announced Thursday an agreement to expand Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of additional low-income adults through the Affordable Care Act.
SPECTRUM NEWS: Medical marijuana closer to reality in North Carolina
The North Carolina Compassionate Care Act passed a full Senate vote Tuesday and will now head to the House. The bill would legalize medical marijuana in North Carolina, but only for a small group of people.
Politics
SPECTRUM NEWS: N.C. Sen. Rachel Hunt to run for lieutenant governor
North Carolina state Sen. Rachel Hunt, the daughter of former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt, announced Wednesday that she’ll be a candidate for lieutenant governor next year.
WRAL: NC lawmakers to propose new abortion limits as soon as next week, top Republican says
A Republican-backed bill to further limit abortion access will likely be filed at the state legislature as soon as next week, House Speaker Tim Moore told WRAL News.
Transportation
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NCDOT has a plan to cut pollution, promote electric vehicles. It wants your feedback
The N.C. Department of Transportation should form a dedicated team to help the state create a transportation system that relies less on fossil fuels, according to the draft of a plan released Wednesday. The Clean Transportation Plan outlines a strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in North Carolina, by promoting use of electric vehicles and encouraging transit and non-motorized ways of getting around.