North Carolina

North Carolina Senate signs off on bill that would ban K-12 DEI instruction

Published

10 months ago

March 12, 2025

North Carolina Senate signs off on bill that would ban K-12 DEI instruction

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The North Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 227, “Eliminating ‘DEI’ in Public Education,” on Tuesday to “prohibit promoting discriminatory policies and practices in public schools.”

According to a release from Senate Leader Phil Berger’s office, SB 227 “reinforces the need for schools to focus on the core curriculum, foster a learning environment that respects and acknowledges those with differing opinions, and allow the freedom of speech and association to flourish in a K-12 setting.”

Christina Spears used to work in Equity Affairs in the state’s largest school district (Wake County Public School System) as a special education teacher. She is now the president of the Wake County Chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) and says she saw firsthand the benefits of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs for some students.

“We do see an achievement gap between black and brown boys,” said Spears.

My focus is, who gets to decide what makes people uncomfortable?

– Democratic Sen. Val Applewhite, who opposes the bill

She said she wishes lawmakers would focus on other legislation surrounding education, instead of one that would ban K-12 teachers from providing instruction on DEI.

“I’m not surprised, but it’s disappointing,” said Spears.

The Senate signed off on the DEI legislation, but not before a fiery exchange.

“My focus is, who gets to decide what makes people uncomfortable?” said Democratic Sen. Val Applewhite during a debate.

The GOP-sponsored bill is meant to comply with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order so the state continues receiving more than $3 billion in federal funding.

“The bill is not a ban on teaching history or discussing past injustices,” said bill sponsor Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover.

So-called DEI initiatives were pitched as a tool to help our children better understand our history, when in reality they’re merely a facade used by Democrats to alter curriculum to fit their agenda.

– Senate Leader Phil Berger

The bill would not prevent schools from teaching history but requires instruction to be impartial.

“Our schools should not be in the business of teaching inaccurate history or creating a learning environment that doesn’t allow for free thought or expression,” Berger, a Republican from Rockingham County said. “So-called DEI initiatives were pitched as a tool to help our children better understand our history, when in reality they’re merely a facade used by Democrats to alter curriculum to fit their agenda.”

Supporters of the legislation say DEI programs demand that students judge others based on race, sex, or other immutable factors.

“Our children are the ones disadvantaged when DEI policies take precedent over academic excellence,” Lee said. “Instead of spending thousands of dollars on unnecessary DEI trainings, school districts should put those funds toward student needs.”

Raleigh resident Jessica Strauss said she felt that a DEI ban could harm young adults.

“I think that’s going to be really detrimental because I think that they’re pushing a narrative that is not true,” said Strauss.

There would also be effects outside of the classroom in professional development, such as workshops, seminars and other training programs

SB 227 prohibits schools from having a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office, division, designated employee, or any other similar unit.

“As a parent, I want all children to get the fair and equal treatment they deserve when it comes time for their education,” Sen. Brad Overcash, R-Gaston, said. “No one should be overlooked or denied simply because of characteristics outside of their control. This bill will help schools get back to the basics and support all of our students.”

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Meanwhile, there’s another bill in the House that would raise teachers’ pay and reinstate education-based salary supplements.

“Let’s recruit and pay teachers, so we have more teachers to do the things we need to do,” said Spears.

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North Carolina

Former inmate buys NC prison to help others who have served time

Published

4 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Former inmate buys NC prison to help others who have served time

With the recent purchase of the former Wayne Correctional Center in Goldsboro, Kerwin Pittman is laying claim to an unusual title — he says he’s the first formerly incarcerated person in the U.S. to purchase a prison. Pittman, the founder and executive director of Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services, Inc. (RREPS), was sent to prison […]

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North Carolina

NC Foundation at center of I-Team Troubleshooter investigation could face contempt charge

Published

16 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

NC Foundation at center of I-Team Troubleshooter investigation could face contempt charge

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — New details in an I-Team investigation into a Durham foundation accused of not paying its employees.

The North Carolina Department of Labor filed a motion in court to try to force the Courtney Jordan Foundation, CJF America, to provide the pay records after the state agency received more than 30 complaints from former employees about not getting paid.

The ABC11 I-Team first told you about CJF and its problems paying employees in July. The foundation ran summer camps in Durham and Raleigh, and at the time, more than a dozen workers said they didn’t get paid, or they got paychecks that bounced. ABC11 also talked to The Chicken Hut, which didn’t get paid for providing meals to CJF Durham’s summer camps, but after Troubleshooter Diane Wilson’s involvement, The Chicken Hut did get paid.

The NC DOL launched their investigation, and according to this motion filed with the courts, since June thirty one former employees of CJF filed complaints with the agency involving pay issues. Court documents state that, despite repeated attempts from the wage and hour bureau requesting pay-related documents from CJF, and specifically Kristen Picot, the registered agent of CJF, CJF failed to comply.

According to this motion, in October, an investigator with NC DOL was contacted by Picot, and she requested that the Wage and Hour Bureau provide a letter stating that CJF was cooperating with the investigation and that repayment efforts were underway by CJF. Despite several extensions, the motion says Picot repeatedly exhibited a pattern of failing to comply with the Department of Labor’s investigation. The motion even references an ITEAM story on CJFand criminal charges filed against its executives.

The NC DOL has requested that if CJF and Picot fail to produce the requested documentation related to the agency’s investigation, the employer be held in civil contempt for failure to comply. Wilson asked the NC Department of Labor for further comment, and they said, “The motion to compel speaks for itself. As this is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

ABC11 Troubleshooter reached out to Picot and CJF America, but no one has responded. At Picot’s last court appearance on criminal charges she faces for worthless checks, she had no comment then.

Out of all the CJF employees we heard from, only one says he has received partial payment.

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North Carolina

N.C. Democrat runs as Republican to shed light on gerrymandering

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

N.C. Democrat runs as Republican to shed light on gerrymandering

Kate Barr is a Democrat.

What You Need To Know

Democrat Kate Barr is running in the Republican primary in N.C. Congressional District 14

Barr is running against former state Speaker of the House Tim Moore

Barr is running to make a point about gerrymandering

But when voters in North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District open their ballots in the March primary they’ll find an “R” next to her name.

She is literally a RINO or Republican In Name Only.

Barr considers herself a Democrat but said she’s running as a Republican to make a point about gerrymandering.

“Fundamentally… I hate gerrymandering. That is pretty much my core motivation for everything I do in politics,” Barr told Spectrum News 1.

The district, west of Charlotte, is solidly Republican.

The current congressman won by 16 points last election.

Barr said it speaks to just how gerrymandered North Carolina is. State Republican lawmakers recently approved a congressional map that favors Republicans in 11 of the state’s 14 congressional districts.

That’s in a state that only voted for President Donald Trump by three points in 2024 and elected a Democrat for governor.

“When the North Carolina state legislature passed the new congressional maps that further gerrymandered this state it became clear there has to be a political price for this behavior,” Barr said.

This is not the first unusual campaign for Barr.

In 2024 she ran as a Democrat in a district that heavily favored Republicans. The focus again was to draw attention to gerrymandering.

Her motto was “Kate Barr can’t win.”

She did not win, losing by 30 points.

But Barr was encouraged by some of the results she saw and in November launched her campaign for Congress.

This time she decided to run as a Republican.

She’s hoping that gives her an edge because in North Carolina voters not registered with either major party, known as unaffiliated, are the largest voting block in the state, and can participate in the Democrat or Republican primaries.

“Voters understand that the way to have a say is to choose which primary is actually going to elect their leader and vote in that primary,” Barr said. “I can absolutely win in this one… because primary turnout is so low it just doesn’t take that many people showing up and saying we’ve had enough to unseat an incumbent.”

Barr faces former North Carolina Speaker of the House and incumbent Republican congressman Tim Moore. His campaign told Spectrum News 1 that “Kate Barr’s latest stunt is an insult to Republican voters. Folks know a far-left fraud when they see one, and she doesn’t belong in our primary.”

Whether she wins or not, Barr hopes to encourage a fix to gerrymandering, an issue that’s front and center in North Carolina and around the country.

“Gerrymandering is wrong no matter which party is doing it, and we need to put an end to it. Period,” Barr said. “The goal, end result, is to have an independent commission in every state made up of citizens.”

Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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