NC House plan would bolster, expand access to rural healthcare
A bill that would set up a new grant and loan program to build and renovate rural hospitals is moving through the NC House.
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As Trump looks to punish foes, Democratic states find ways to push back
The Trump administration has begun wielding federal resources as a weapon against states, using dollars to cajole and threaten them into complying with its political agenda. President Donald Trump is moving unilaterally, bypassing lawmakers and speaking plainly about punishing political rivals — defining an era in American history that scholars call “punitive federalism.”
Democrats have a shot at flipping state legislatures across the country
Following a string of special election victories, Democrats have a path to flip several Republican-held legislative chambers and break GOP supermajorities in states across the country this November. High prices and overall voter dissatisfaction with Washington have put control of the U.S. House and Senate in play this year — a dynamic that has trickled down, with heightened Democratic enthusiasm in many state contests.
States move to limit classroom screen time
After school cellphone bans passed many statehouses with bipartisan support in recent legislative sessions, state lawmakers are turning to legislation governing how long students should spend looking at screens. This year, four states passed laws restricting or regulating screen time for students from childcare through fifth grade.
Stein signs public safety bills for police retention, online safety for minors in NC
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed two public safety bills into law on Thursday.
North Carolina slams brakes on EV megafactory deal after years of delay
In 2022, Vietnamese carmarker Vinfast announced it would build a megafactory to produce EVs and batteries in Chatham County, bringing $4 billion in investment and 7,500 jobs. Four years later, the state wants its land and its money back.
When teens drive less, they don’t register to vote. Here’s how civic groups are adapting.
Since Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act in 1993, nearly all states must allow residents to register to vote at motor vehicle offices. But fewer teens are obtaining driver’s licenses today, translating into fewer trips to the local Department of Motor Vehicles and more missed chances to register.
Gov. Stein announces funding for housing in Western NC
This week, Gov. Josh Stein announced federal awards of more than $69 million to bring affordable rental housing to Western North Carolina.
DHS removes interview requirement for asylum seekers, possibly speeding removals
USCIS estimates more than 444,000 pending asylum applicants could be affected by the rule. It could also affect hundreds of thousands of Haitians, who are set to lose their legal protections as the Trump administration plans to revoke Temporary Protected Status.
Duke University’s Jackson Ewing on a massive merger between NC’s two largest electricity providers
A massive merger is underway between North Carolina’s two largest electricity providers, and we’ll discuss the potential pluses and minuses in a two-part conversation with one of our state’s top energy policy experts, Duke University’s Dr. Jackson Ewing