by Andrew Dun, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — The General Assembly will consider a measure to enshrine North Carolina’s right-to-work policies in the state constitution. Sens. Carl Ford, R-Rowan, and Jim Burgin, R-Harnett, have introduced a bill — Senate Bill 624 — that would guarantee N.C. workers would not be forced to join a labor union…

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by Andrew Dunn, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — A bipartisan group of senators is crafting legislation that would find ways to expand broadband access in North Carolina. The bill, filed Monday, appears unfinished. Several sections remain unfilled, presumably with details to come in later editions. But the goals are significant, starting with the title: “Innovative Statewide…

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by Andrew Dunn, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — N.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell says N.C. hospitals aren’t being transparent on their pricing, despite federal rules requiring them to do so. In 2019, President Trump signed an executive order requiring hospitals to make public the prices they charge for standard procedures. The federal government soon followed through with…

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by Andrew Dunn, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — The federal government sent nearly $4 billion in COVID relief money to North Carolina, but a sizable chunk of it was returned, unwanted, a new report from the state auditor’s office finds. The report from State Auditor Beth Wood determined North Carolina’s budget office properly distributed the $3.6…

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by John Trump, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — Gov. Roy Cooper is further easing restrictions on state residents and businesses that began one year ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooper’s latest executive order takes effect 5 p.m. Friday, March 26, and expires April 30. The state’s general mask mandate remains in effect. Cooper says 31%…

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by Dallas Woodhouse, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — The General Assembly is set to add new members to the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors. The board governs the consolidated system, encompassing 16 public universities across the state and the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics. The board has 24 voting members, elected by…

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by John Trump, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — N.C. Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, has introduced a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent in the Tar Heel State. House Bill 307 asks Congress to allow North Carolina to use daylight time year-round. The state now switches its standard time twice each year. People set clocks…

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by David Bass, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican lawmakers have reached an agreement on reopening public schools for in-person instruction under a compromise plan that returns most decision-making autonomy to local school boards. The compromise, announced at a news conference Wednesday, March 10, means that most students could be back…

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by Andrew Dunn, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — North Carolina may run out of room to borrow money for transportation projects in just a few years, according to a new report released this week by State Treasurer Dale Folwell. This puts in jeopardy the state’s Build NC Bonds, a $3 billion transportation package approved in 2018.…

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by Andrew Dunn, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — Lawmakers in the General Assembly have filed a series of bills that would exempt counties they represent from some or all of Gov. Roy Cooper’s COVID restrictions. These so-called “local bills” only apply to a small number of counties each. But unlike statewide legislation, these bills don’t require…

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