North Carolina

Editorial: Cooper offers N.C. legislature a prescription it must fulfill

Published

2 years ago

March 7, 2023

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Editorial: Cooper offers N.C. legislature a prescription it must fulfill

CBC Editorial: Tuesday, March 7, 2023; editorial #8830

The next is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Firm

Gov. Roy Cooper offered the North Carolina legislature with a prescription it should fulfill.

“A accountability to be taught from adversity and make issues higher,” he mentioned as he opened his State of the State Tackle Monday night within the Home Chamber of the State Legislative Constructing which is celebrating its sixtieth yr of occupancy. Cooper harkened to a different milestone of that point – the institution of the Analysis Triangle Park – demonstrating “the foresight and resolve to spend money on new concepts which have revolutionized our state impacting the generations that adopted.”

The type and presentation have been in line with the way in which Cooper’s ruled – urgent for cooperation, conciliation and funding sooner or later whereas eschewing confrontation, partisan low cost pictures and unproductive lamentations on a false previous.

Nonetheless, he was direct and agency in regards to the agenda North Carolina wants. Cooper wasn’t reserved about letting legislative leaders know what must be accomplished and the place he believes they’re going astray. The 35-minute speech was interrupted 31 instances with affirming applause.

In direct distinction to legislative leaders’ declaration that tax cuts have been their high precedence, Cooper known as for investments.

“Progress is rarely passive,” he reminded the legislators. “You’ll be able to solely make progress once you set formidable targets.” These instances, he mentioned, current “once-in-a-generation alternatives (that) require once-in-a-generation investments.”

A top quality workforce depends on a top-quality public training – from pre-school via our public universities. “A sound, primary training, as required by our state structure, requires certified academics in each classroom, expert principals in each faculty, glorious counselors and funding to help each pupil from each stroll of life.”

He known as on the state Supreme Court docket to not backtrack. “The courtroom ought to uphold a long time of bipartisan Supreme Court docket precedent that comes down on the aspect of kids,” he mentioned.

“We’ve got the cash,” Cooper declared and promised a funds that may “spend money on the whole training plan ordered by the courtroom” to provide academics and principals double-digit raises, be sure that youngsters can get to highschool and that these faculties are protected. “It doesn’t elevate taxes and it balances the funds.”

Hear it clearly, as Cooper mentioned about his proposals and the funds he’ll ship to the Basic Meeting. “We don’t want to lift taxes,” whereas including with equal emphasis: “We don’t want extra tax breaks for firms and the wealthiest North Carolinians.”

Alongside along with his concern over the 25 years of procrastination in assembly the wants of North Carolina’s faculty youngsters, Cooper rightly known as on legislators to finish the decade-long refusal to broaden Medicaid and do it now — with out their deliberate delay.

“Each month we wait to broaden, not solely price lives, however prices our state greater than $521 million a month in federal healthcare {dollars},” he mentioned, including the warning that “if we don’t broaden quickly, we forfeit a further $1.8 billion.”

That’s dangerous administration that hurts the state funds no in another way than failure to broaden Medicaid has damage greater than 600,000 North Carolinians who haven’t been in a position to entry the well being care they want.

Avoiding any direct confrontation or bullying finger-pointing, Cooper did pay attention to the sorts of laws that, within the first weeks of the legislative session, has taken high precedence. Cooper famous that when he took workplace six years in the past, one of many first acts was to put off the ill-conceived and dear so-called “lavatory invoice” that resulted in cancelled financial growth initiatives and moved or cancelled billions of {dollars} in conference, athletic championship and tourism enterprise.

“I problem the Basic Meeting to maintain us off the frontlines of these tradition wars that damage individuals and value us jobs so we will proceed our profitable bipartisan work.”

He closed with a name for unity of objective that was in stark distinction to the heated and confrontational rhetoric that so appears to dominate our public discourse.

They’re phrases value taking to coronary heart – no matter political affiliation.

“Use public faculties to construct a brighter future, not bully and marginalize LGBTQ college students. Don’t make academics re-write historical past. Hold the liberty to vote in attain for each eligible voter. Go away the selections about reproductive healthcare to girls and their docs.”

Legislators ought to embrace Cooper’s deal with the issues that matter most – a more healthy, higher educated state with a workforce that earns an honest dwelling and the chance to stay lives “of objective and abundance.”

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North Carolina

Live Updates: Ball State vs No. 16 North Carolina At Battle 4 Atlantis 2024 – FloHoops

Published

8 hours ago

November 23, 2024

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Live Updates: Ball State vs No. 16 North Carolina At Battle 4 Atlantis 2024 – FloHoops

No. 16 North Carolina and MAC favorite Ball State face-off in the Bahamas for a special one to kick off two weeks full of holiday college basketball tournaments coming live to FloHoops. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 23 and is the second of many in the 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis Women’s College Basketball tournament.

The Paradise Island, Bahamas-based tournament hosts eight teams including No. 18 Baylor, Indiana, and Texas A&M.

No. 16 North Carolina is 3-1, coming off of a close loss a week ago to No. 2 UConn, falling 58-69 to the Huskies. They hold wins this season against NC A&T, UNC-Wilmington, and Charleston Southern.

Currently undefeated, Ball State will be hoping to upset North Carolina to add an important win to their resume en route to a potential at-large bid to the NCAA tournament at the end of the season. They have defeated Northern Iowa, IUPUI, Memphis, and Old Dominion so far this season.

Read the live updates, watch highlights and view scores after the game tips off at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Live Updates: Ball State vs No. 16 North Carolina Score At Battle 4 Atlantis

Refresh the page for live updates, highlights and scores from today’s game in the Bahamas. Tip off is at 6:30 p.m. ET.

While You Wait…LIVE NOW: Watch Columbia vs Indiana

Click here to tune in live to more women’s college basketball live on FloHoops.

we’ve got a 3️⃣ point game y’all 👏@CULionsWBB | #Battle4Atlantis | @B4AOfficial pic.twitter.com/9Rg0GzJtl6
— FloCollege | Basketball (@FloCollegeHoops) November 23, 2024
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Earlier Today On FloHoops: Baylor Puts Up 15 Threes, Hits Triple Digits vs Southern Miss

After four great quarters of basketball between Southern Miss and Baylor—the Lady Bears come out on top of game one of the Battle 4 Atlantis Women’s tournament.

Five Baylor players had more than 14 points today against the Lady Eagles and were 44% (15-34) from behind the three-point line, making that the most threes for them this season. Fontleroy and Andrews both tallied four.

For Southern Miss, Grayson and Evans led the points with 12, despite Grayson fouling out.

Despite their quick start, the Eagles were unable to keep up with Baylor and will be looking for redemption against the loser of Columbia vs Indiana. Baylor will play the winner.

Read the full game recap.

Battle 4 Atlantis Women’s Tournament Schedule

Saturday, November 23

Sunday, November 24

Monday, November 25

Battle 4 Atlantis Women’s Bracket

Battle 4 Atlantis 2024 Women’s Teams

How To Watch The Battle 4 Atlantis 2024 Women’s Tournament

Every game except the championship of the Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis will be streaming on FloHoops, FloCollege and the new FloSports streaming app.

Game replays, highlights and more will be available on all platforms.

How To Watch College Basketball On The FloSports Network

Basketball games are streaming all year long on FloHoops, FloCollege and the new FloSports streaming app. Game replays, highlights and more will be available on all platforms.

Watch NCAA Women’s Basketball On FloHoops

The NCAA Women’s Basketball is streaming live on FloHoops and the FloSports app.

The BIG EAST Digital Network is also on FloHoops and the FloSports app.

FloHoops Archived Footage

Video footage from all events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloHoops subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

Join the College Basketball Conversation on FloHoops Social

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North Carolina

North Carolina A&T now offers degree in artificial intelligence

Published

16 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

North Carolina A&T now offers degree in artificial intelligence

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina A&T State University is now offering a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence.

It is a milestone for the university to be the first in our state and one of only a handful in the nation to offer this program.

In the program, students can pick one of two concentrations: Advanced AI Systems through the College of Engineering and Applied AI in the College of Science and Technology. Courses are available both in-person and online.

Some schools already offer a concentration in artificial intelligence, but A&T will be offering a full program dedicated to AI. The university said there are talks to develop a graduate studies program in AI.

School officials report that AI jobs are increasing in North Carolina, which will help in workforce development. According to a recent Hanover Research report, North Carolina is projected to grow at a pace over three times faster than the overall labor market, potentially generating more than 20,000 new jobs.

“Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are increasingly part of everyday life with the potential for profound and far-reaching impact on virtually every facet of society,” Chancellor James R. Martin II said in a news release. “Collaborating with federal and state agencies, major industry leaders and fellow research universities, we have created a rich AI learning environment that is well informed by the latest in science and policy. Our new bachelor’s degree will prepare students for immediate impact, especially in the critical area of human interaction with AI.”

They anticipate enrolling their first group next fall.

SEE ALSO | James Martin II announced as new chancellor for NC A&T after UNC BOG unanimous vote

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North Carolina

As energy needs grow, North Carolina faces solar roadblocks

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

As energy needs grow, North Carolina faces solar roadblocks

North Carolina’s solar energy landscape is at a crossroads as the state works to meet its ambitious climate goals.

Under House Bill 951, passed in 2021, North Carolina is required to cut carbon emissions in the energy sector by 70% from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. However, meeting these targets is proving difficult as energy demand surges.

Jeff Hughes, a commissioner with the North Carolina Utilities Commission, says that it’s challenging to maintain grid reliability while pursuing aggressive decarbonization goals.

“If we have two gigawatts of load coming in the next three or four years, it’s going to be very difficult to model our way, to solarize our way out of it,” Hughes said, pointing to the growing demand from industries like AI-driven data centers.

Duke Energy, the state’s largest utility, has said fossil fuels are essential to ensuring reliable power amid increasing demand. Critics argue that the company’s reliance on natural gas and coal could derail progress toward cutting emissions.

North Carolina has long been a leader in solar energy, initially driven by smaller, five-megawatt projects. Today, the focus has shifted to larger installations, which are more efficient but face growing local opposition.

Carson Hart, CEO of Carolina Solar Energy, said scaling up has been key to increasing clean energy capacity. “Moving to these bigger projects has been really beneficial for getting more megawatts in the ground and meeting the state’s climate goals,” Hart said. But she noted that large projects often draw pushback from residents concerned about aesthetics and land use.

Rural areas are at the heart of the state’s solar boom, hosting about 80% of large-scale projects. Reginald Bynum Jr., director of community outreach at the Center for Energy Education, said rural North Carolina plays a critical role in meeting the state’s clean energy goals.

“My job is to make sure rural communities don’t miss the movement,” Bynum said. “These projects bring jobs, economic growth, and opportunities to areas that desperately need them.”

The economic impact of solar energy is substantial. In counties with significant solar development, property tax revenues have increased by as much as 1,600%, according to the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. These funds have supported schools, infrastructure, and emergency services in areas facing population declines and economic challenges.

The state’s clean energy sector also supports more than 110,000 full-time jobs, according to a report from e2, with many more expected as solar development continues.

Hughes said the state’s carbon plan, which is updated every two years, will play a key role in charting a path forward.

“There’s a lot of check and adjust that will occur over the next few years,” he said.

As North Carolina advances its solar energy ambitions, balancing the needs of developers, communities, and environmental goals will be essential to achieving a sustainable and reliable energy future.

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