The #ncga is now done until Oct. 20, after a two-day session...here's what they did, and all the things they didn't manage to do: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

Republicans in the #ncga House have introduced a bill calling for tougher penalties for political violence in response to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

State lawmakers are back in Raleigh this week, but Republicans still haven't reached an agreement on a budget and Medicaid funding. www.wunc.org/politics/202...

#ncga crime bill in response to the Charlotte stabbing seemed to be getting some bipartisan support, but now Senate leader Phil Berger has made a last-minute change that could open the door to firing-squad executions: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

Today at the #ncga: No deal yet on Medicaid funding or a budget, but the Senate has some proposed spending bills and a ban on Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

There's a wrong way and a right way to report this

The former provost at UNC-Chapel Hill has filed a legal complaint against the school. Chris Clemens says the University’s BOT conducted a pattern of open session violations around faculty tenure votes and communicated secretly so as not to create public records. www.wunc.org/education/20...

New podcast: With Medicaid funding issues front and center at the #ncga this week, I talked with DHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai about the looming healthcare cuts, upcoming federal changes affecting Medicaid expansion, and this year's COVID vaccine landscape: play.prx.org/listen?ge=pr... #ncpol

Lowery didn’t specify what his new role will be but indicated he will be working in government in some capacity, saying he is “looking forward to continuing to be a public servant.”

Sign of the scary political times: I just walked past a political party's small picnic event in a town park. They had four police officers doing security there. #ncpol

I listened in to Republican NC Congressman Brad Knott's telephone town hall event this week, where he took questions on rural healthcare, gun legislation and more: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

NC's rural fire departments are struggling with fewer volunteers and higher equipment costs, and that's prompting the #ncga to take a closer look at the future of firefighting: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

Sound Rivers had alleged that Mungo Homes was polluting a pair of tributaries to Lick Creek in Southeast Durham while building a 216-acre development. www.wunc.org/environment/...

PBS North Carolina has begun laying off employees this week in response to the elimination of federal funding for public media. I'm trying to get details on how many, but so far there's been no public disclosure: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

AUDIO: An unoccupied house on the Outer Banks collapsed into the ocean, officials announced Tuesday. The home in Buxton is the 12th one to fall in five years along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

"A tracker set up by a public radio consultant has identified 332 layoffs in public media since July 18, when the Republican-led Congress, at President Trump's urging, defunded public media."

Aurora NC Mayor Clif Williams has died in a car crash. I spent time with him earlier this year for a Main Street NC story on his efforts to build an industrial park in the remote small town. www.wunc.org/politics/202...

By January, a new state law will require North Carolina school districts to restrict students’ cell phone use. Some schools were already trying similar policies, and students say they're less distracted in class. www.wunc.org/education/20...

New podcast: The #ncga House now has a Progressive Caucus, and I spoke with @marciamorey.bsky.social and @priceyharrison.bsky.social on where they think it can make a difference in a GOP legislature Highlights: www.wunc.org/politics/202... Full episode: play.prx.org/listen?ge=pr... #ncpol

Bleak. The NPR/PBS station in State College, PA is shutting down. WPSU just celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Missed this announcement last month: Oxford NC's newspaper, owned by the same family for 90-plus years, has been sold and merged with another Granville County paper: www.theledgernews.com/news/the-led...

The district is facing a deficit of more than $46 million. A recent report from State Auditor Dave Boliek found numerous decisions that resulted in it spending more money than it brought in. www.wunc.org/education/20...

Some nail-biters last night in #ncpol: 🗳️Rural Hall Town Council Rep primary decided by 1 (!) vote 🗳️Painttown district in the Eastern Band decided by 3 (!) votes It's all unofficial at this point, but both serve as good reminders that every vote counts.

I've seen enough: Two guys named Chris smoke Carr in Tobaccoville village council primary, advance to general election

It's election night in Charlotte and a few other random places in NC! Who else is pumped to see the results of the Tobaccoville Village Council GOP primary? #ncpol

In a rare move, the Republican National Committee is putting its resources (and money) behind Michael Whatley ahead of the 2026 GOP primary. The other Republican U.S. Senate candidate says that's the wrong approach: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

Transco's Southeast Supply Enhancement Project will deliver more natural gas to North Carolina. Critics say the pipeline poses safety and environmental risks. www.wunc.org/environment/...

Resolution from GOP group accuses NC Senate leader Phil Berger of 'party disloyalty' www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol #ncga

The bipartisan, GOP-majority state elections board reversed a policy guideline on how to deal with registered voters whose records contain mismatched numbers. www.wunc.org/politics/202...

The #ncga wants some state historic sites to open on Sundays, but the agency that runs them didn't ask for the change to be included in the recent "mini-budget" bill: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

Congrats to @lauraleslie.bsky.social on the new gig! Smart hire to lead the crew @ncnewsline.com

There's a new WUNC news quiz this week! Test your knowledge now on the latest North Carolina news. www.wunc.org/news-quiz?ut...

If part of Brier Creek will now be in the city of Durham, and part of it will still be in the city of Raleigh, will residents there say they're from "Raleigh-Durham"? www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...

NC gov again expressed frustration this week at speed of FEMA dollars trickling down for Helene. A couple TV stations reached out to the White House. Part of their response: "Gov. Stein’s request is evidence that he is unfit to run a state." www.wral.com/story/stein-... & wlos.com/news/local/w...

For more than a decade, North Carolina public schools have been rated with an A through F score. As WUNC's Liz Schlemmer explains, NC State Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green wants to reevaluate that system to give families more context around the grade. www.wunc.org/education/20...

North Carolina has been working on rectifying errors in its voter roll database, but a proposed agreement would go beyond missing data and provide the federal government a copy of the statewide voting roll if requested. #nccourts @courthousenews.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/north-caroli...

NC's new plan for a big chunk of federal internet funding is out...some of it will stay unspent for now, some will go to broadband providers and some to Starlink: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol #ncga

Sen. Thom Tillis, a Senate Banking Republican, says he will not consider a replacement for Lisa Cook's seat on the Fed board unless/until a court rules her firing was legal. Suggests Pres. Trump will NOT be able to fill her seat unless that happens. From Politico: www.politico.com/live-updates...

A group of North Carolina educators is organizing campaigns to challenge incumbent state lawmakers in next year's Republican primary elections. www.wunc.org/education/20...

Big loss for the #ncga press corps ... @lauraleslie.bsky.social has done fantastic work covering #ncpol for more than two decades

Come hang out with me on Sept. 24 in Durham! We'll be talking all things #ncpol, from the 2026 Senate race to the #ncga and more. Get tickets here: www.wunc.org/events-calen...

What's it take to bring high-speed internet to NC rural communities that still don't have it? An update on grant programs and a big infusion of federal funding here: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol #ncga

Fun conversation with the Do Politics Better Podcast on #ncpol reporting, the state of journalism and my own career and background: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Beautiful sunset over H&R Block tonight

If you were hoping the #ncga might pass a budget (or override vetoes, or do anything) this week, you're out of luck. Maybe we'll see some movement in September? www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

New @catawbacollege.bsky.social-YouGov Poll of North Carolina: Trump Approval: 45% Disapproval: 54% Stein Approval: 58% Disapproval: 30% Cooper App: 55% Disapp: 38% Whatley App: 30% Disapp: 35% Never heard of: 35% 8/11-18 of 1K NCians with MOE =/- 3.83% #ncpol www.catawba.edu/news/all-new...

New on the @wunc.org Politics Podcast: I sat down with NC DMV Commissioner Paul Tine about the latest efforts to fix the agency's long wait times #ncpol #ncga Highlights: www.wunc.org/politics/202... Full episode: play.prx.org/listen?uf=ht... #ncpol #ncga

Lovely Saturday to explore Halifax and Weldon, NC

The N.C. Utilities Commission directed Duke to work with wind energy developers to see if committing to a wind farm by the mid-2030s is cost effective. www.wunc.org/environment/...