North Carolina
Editorial: Legislators – Take care of business and pass Gov. Cooper’s budget
CBC Editorial: Monday, April 29, 2024; #8926
The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company
It is an election year and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has done legislative candidates, regardless of their partisan affiliation, a favor with the budget adjustments he’s proposed.
Much apropos to Cooper’s moderate ideological temperament, it is essentially consensus recommendations that Republican and Democratic legislators can embrace, accomplishing key needs a broad majority of North Carolina voters embrace while avoiding campaign trail “gotchas” and votes that would be fodder for negative attacks.
It is balanced, cuts some business taxes and provides attention to critical areas of need including education, public safety, infrastructure, the environment and economic development. Perfect? Of course not. But for those who can liberate themselves from reflexive partisanship and ideological tricks and twists – not very much of an effort – it is a budget that does what it should to meet the needs of the state.
Is there anything about the status of private school vouchers – a highly controversial issue – that requires immediate action? While there certainly are a variety of concerns to be addressed – regardless of what the position is on this issue – waiting until after the election won’t cause any undue hardships.
Legislative leaders could also forego the agonizing and irritating horse-trading and pork barrel payoffs to win support of reluctant legislators. They could quickly get the budget taken care of, deal with any other local issues that must be addressed and leave to the campaign trail the contentious arguments over: restrictions on voting, gambling/casino expansion, women’s health issues, gerrymandering, marijuana, “DEI (diversity, equity inclusion)” in schools and public universities and the like.
Cooper’s budget embraces consensus needs.
For education, key recommendations in his budget include:
- Much-needed increases in teachers and other public school workers’ pay – an average of 8.5% teacher pay raises while lifting starting teacher salaries and a $1,500 retention bonus for most teachers.
- Providing 700 elementary school teaching assistants in grades K-3.
- Allowing $2.5 billion in school construction bonds – that would only be imposed after local referendums. Our state’s schools have a $13 billion backlog in needs for new and renovated schools,
- Investing $34.7 million to expand “Read to Achieve” to middle school students.
- Expanding the pipeline for new teachers with $11 million to strengthen opportunities for more people to pursue careers in teaching including expanding the Teaching Fellows program
North Carolina faces a crisis in childcare that both threatens providers, parents in need of services as well as employers who face workforce challenges in finding workers. Cooper’s budget provides:
- $745 million to strengthen childcare and early education for working families – including $200 million for Childcare Stabilization Grants and $128.5 million for subsidies to increase reimbursement rates in rural and low-wealth communities.
State government is facing severe challenges in keeping and attracting workers to provide citizens with the services they expect. Across state government there’s a 23% vacancy rate. It was 13% before the COVID pandemic. Turnover rate among first-year state workers is even more severe – 33% compared with 14% before the pandemic. Cooper seeks to address this with:
- 5% raises for all state workers – in addition to the 3% already in the budget passed last year.
- Modestly increase annual leave for state workers earlier in their career – for example from 14 days to 17 for workers with 1 to 5 years service.
- $195.8 million to help state agencies, universities, and community colleges with flexibility to address hard-to-retain positions.
In addition to addressing the childcare crisis that would help employers, Cooper’s budget helps grow the state’s economy by:
- Cutting $49 million from unemployment insurance taxes employers with 500 or fewer workers must pay.
- Providing $9 million to help small businesses acquire federal funds through One NC.
To deal with key needs of the state’s communities along with their health and environment Cooper’s budget proposes:
- Establishing a $100 million fund for local communities to clean their water of pollutants such as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
- Reissuing the state’s conservation tax credit encourages preservation of critical habitats.
- $20 million to reduce flooding with waterway and drainage upgrades.
- $5 million for new equipment to help the state’s Forest Service better deal with wildfires.
Cooper’s budget is basic and to the point. There are no dramatic initiatives, no hot-button or controversial schemes.
It is an approach well worth emulating. Pass Cooper’s no-frills budget, focus on taking care of business and keep the “short” session short.
The sooner they do that, the quicker legislators can get on the campaign trail, inflate their rhetoric and ignite all the controversies they choose.
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United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities will be flying at half-staff May 15 in North Carolina in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Yearly on May 15, the day recognizes men and women in law enforcement who lost their lives or were injured in the line of duty.
Gov. Roy Cooper made a statement on the lowering of flags in an May 14 news release.
“Today, we honor the memories and sacrifices of brave law enforcement officers in North Carolina,” Cooper said. “We owe a deep debt of gratitude to those who risk their own safety to protect our communities.”
More: Charlotte, North Carolina shootout leaves 4 officers dead, 4 officers injured; What we know
Why are the flags at half-staff in North Carolina?
Cooper ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in observance of National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
The holiday, established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, is intended to be a celebration of members of law enforcement who are slain or injured on the job. President Joe Biden commented on the holiday in a May 10 news release.
“We recognize the incredible courage of our Nation’s police officers and honor the fallen heroes, whose ultimate sacrifice we can never repay,” Biden said.
How long will flags be at half-staff?
U.S. and N.C. flags will be flown at half-staff beginning at sunrise on Wednesday, May 15, in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day and ending at sunset the same day.
More: Vance Monument removal resumes in Asheville
Why do flags fly at half-staff?
Usa.gov states that the American flag flies at half-staff when the country or a state is mourning. The president, a state governor or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff.
An American flag flying at half-staff generally indicates one of these three things:
- The death of a government official, military member or emergency first responder.
- A national tragedy.
- Memorial Day or another national day of remembrance.
Where will flags be flown at half-staff?
Cooper ordered all state facilities in N.C. to fly flags at half-staff.
While only state facilities are ordered to lower flags, the news release encouraged individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions to fly flags at half-staff for the day to celebrate fallen and injured law enforcement officers.
More: Aurora borealis was dazzling. Will northern lights be visible in Asheville, NC again soon?
Is it half-mast or half-staff?
Previous reporting from Memphis Commercial Appeal explained that flags are flown at half-mast on ships and at naval stations ashore, and at half-staff elsewhere.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
North Carolina
NC State Board of Elections urge voters to head to the polls for the second Republican primary
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Some North Carolina voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide on the Republican primary run-offs.
Nearly 500,000 voters in Wake County are eligible to vote in the second primary. This includes registered Republicans and unaffiliated voters who voted Republican in the primary or did not cast a ballot in March.
Several key statewide contests are on the ballot, including:
- Republican nomination lieutenant governor: Hal Weatherman, Jim O’Neill
- Republican nomination for state auditor: Jack Clark, Dave Boliek
There is a runoff for the 13th congressional seat, including six counties and parts of Wake and Granville counties. It was supposed to be a heated race, but Kelley Daughtry dropped out after Former president Donald Trump endorsed Brad Knot.
North Carolina State Board of Elections recently shared that fewer than one percent of eligible voters have taken part in the second primary so far.
More than 1.8 million registered North Carolinians voted in the primary, a 24% turnout, according to a press release.
“There’s still time to make your voice heard,” Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the State Board of Elections, said. “All too often we see low voter turnout in second primary elections yet votes cast in these contests will decide the nominee in the Republican Party for the general election in these particular contests.
Polls are open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
North Carolina
North Carolina man accused of stabbing girlfriend before pouring fuel on her, lighting house on fire
A North Carolina man is behind bars after he allegedly stabbed his girlfriend and then poured fuel all over her before lighting their home on fire, WBTV reported.
Just before 1 a.m., on Friday, WBTV reported that the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office was called out to a home for a possible arson and stabbing.
Upon arrival, deputies found a mobile home on fire.
Detectives told WBTV that they believed Tamra Marie Clemans was at her home with her boyfriend, James Joseph Gunnerson, 48, when they got into an argument.
MINNESOTA WOMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING 2 CHILDREN, SETTING HOUSE ON FIRE
Authorities have arrested James Joseph Gunnerson, 48, for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend and pouring fuel over her and her home before lighting it on fire. (Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office)
During the course of the argument, detectives said Gunnerson allegedly stabbed Clemans, poured fuel all over her body and the home – then lit them on fire.
Clemans was able to escape and seek shelter at a neighbor’s home, deputies told WBTV. She was seriously injured and airlifted to a burn center, where she remains in critical condition.
GEORGIA MAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING LAW STUDENT, SETTING FIRE TO APARTMENT IN 23-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE DENIED BOND
Gunnerson was charged with first-degree arson and attempted first-degree murder, according to Forsyth County jail records. (Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office)
Fire crews stated that they found Gunnerson hiding in the backyard, armed with a knife. Deputies allegedly had to Taze him “numerous” times to take him into custody, WBTV reported.
Gunnerson was also burned and required treatment. He was arrested after he was released from the hospital and charged with first-degree arson and attempted first-degree murder, according to Forsyth County jail records.
He is being held without bond.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
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