Across the UNC System, campuses face a crisis of confidence

By Joe Killian

At N.C. State and UNCG, recent faculty votes reflect cultural, philosophical and political tensions

When members of N.C. State University’s College of Education faculty voted to express “no confidence” in the university’s chancellor and provost last weekend, it was a first in the university’s history. But the largely symbolic vote reflects greater tensions on campuses across the UNC System, as faculty say they feel locked out of high level decision-making by administrators and political appointees. [Read more...]

Bonus read: Former UNC System presidents: less politics, more diversity needed in governance

Students remember Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s ‘cruel comments’ on Parkland shooting anniversary

By Greg Childress

On the sixth anniversary of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., North Carolina students have released a video about what they say are “cruel comments” Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson lodged against its survivors.

Robinson, R-Guilford, is a gubernatorial candidate.

Seventeen students and faculty died during one of the nation’s deadliest mass shootings at the high school, which has since been demolished.[ Read more …]

Crowded GOP Lt. Governor’s race includes NC newcomer who’s never voted in the state

By Lisa Sorg  

A prophetic evangelist who said God told her she was Jewish. A long-time Democrat turned Republican. A sheriff. Another Christian minister endorsed by Ted Nugent. Several current and former state lawmakers. A head of the opaque “Election Education Foundation.” And a paramedic from Florida who believes COVID is a hoax, has never voted in North Carolina, and has lodged unfounded accusations about the integrity of the election process.

Eleven Republicans are running in the March 5 primary for lieutenant governor; the winner will face one of three Democrats — state Sen. Rachel Hunt, Ben Clark or Mark H. Robinson — in the General Election this fall. [Read more...]

On rancor and rhetoric: North Carolinians search for civility in an uncivil political season

By Clayton Henkel

When Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02) is in her home district, she loves taking her dog Wiley to the local parks.

“A lot of people see me walking my dog all around Raleigh,” said Ross, who enjoys the chance to make a personal connection with her constituents. “It really breaks down that grassroots feel, knowing your member of Congress.”

But Ross is increasingly aware those interactions can be combative and unpleasant in today’s heated political climate.[ Read more …]

Backsliding, toothless enforcement are making a mockery of North Carolina’s campaign finance laws (commentary)

By Rob Schofield

There was a time in North Carolina, not that many years ago, when the state’s political establishment – elected leaders, judges, regulators, lobbyists, reporters, reform advocates – were hugely and rightfully obsessed with the laws governing campaign finance and political influence peddling.

In the early 2000s, spurred on by the energetic muckraking of a nationally acclaimed government watchdog named Bob Hall and, in particular, his courageous investigations of Democratic state House Speaker Jim Black, campaign finance laws and lobbying laws (and the corruption they were designed to police) frequently dominated lawmaking in the Legislative Building and the state’s political news headlines. [ Read more …]

DHHS putting $5.5 million into behavioral health program for formerly incarcerated people

By Kelan Lyons

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will award $5.5 million to a program that provides psychiatric and physical health care services to people coming home from jail or prison, the agency announced this week.

The money will go to the FIT Wellness Program, a part of the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program in the UNC School of Medicine. The initiative helps imprisoned people with serious mental health conditions as they try to navigate life outside the confines of a cell, helping them with their health needs and, once they’re free, connecting them with community supports like housing and transportation. [Read more…]

Bonus read: Prison reentry council sets ambitious goal for helping people released from prison

Federal judges seem split on ordering new Senate districts Black voters are challenging

By Lynn Bonner

Two federal judges on a three-judge panel were wary of immediately ordering new state Senate districts that Black voters in northeastern North Carolina said illegally weakened Black voting strength.

The voters are appealing a federal district court judge’s decision denying their request to order two Senate districts be redrawn in the state’s Black Belt counties in time for this year’s election.  A Fourth Circuit Court three-judge panel heard oral arguments in the appeal Thursday morning. [Read more.…]

Chemours asks federal appeals court to negate EPA health goal for GenX

By Lisa Sorg 

Chemours, the company responsible for polluting the drinking water of 800,000 people in the Lower Cape Fear River Basin with GenX, is asking a court to negate the EPA’s health advisory for the toxic chemical.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeal s, based in Philadelphia, heard arguments last week. There is not a timetable for a decision.

A ruling for Chemours could save the company hundreds of millions of dollars because it would not have to provide alternate water supplies to households whose private wells contain GenX between10 parts per trillion and 140 ppt. [ Read more...]

NC Board of Elections endorses adjustments to voter ID rules for use after the primary

By Lynn Bonner 

The state Board of Elections on Thursday endorsed permanent voter ID rules for use in future elections.

The new proposed rules must be approved by another state commission before they go into effect. Rules for voter ID  in use since last year remain in place for the current primary elections. [Read more…]

Bonus read: From IDs, to selfies to guns: what NC voters need to know about early in-person voting

Five recommendations North Carolina lawmakers may consider to tackle HOA disputes

By Clayton Henkel

Members of the House Select Committee on Homeowners’ Associations are moving closer to advancing a draft bill designed to level the playing field between homeowners and their HOAs.

Following two public hearings in January, five recommendations were presented Tuesday to the committee by legislative staff.

The first recommendation involves an association’s obligation to provide records for examination by its members. [Read more…]