North Carolina
Opinion: NC’s HOP program has led to healthier residents, lower medical costs. It needs funding
The best way to lower health care costs is to reduce the need for expensive medical services by preventing illness in the first place. Thanks to the foresight of North Carolina lawmakers, our state tested a pilot program that does just that. In only two years, people are healthier and health care costs are lower. But despite its success, the future of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot is unclear.
As the two most recent secretaries of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, we launched HOP by working with the Republican-led General Assembly and with the first Trump administration, which approved the pilot. North Carolina’s innovation has since become a model for other states and earned national attention for its impact.
HOP is based on a simple idea — it costs less to keep people healthy than to treat them after they get sick. We spend most of our money in this country treating diseases, rather than preventing them. Evidence from HOP has shown that investing in things that impact your health such as food and housing not only prevents disease but also saves money.
Recent studies show HOP reduces health care costs by $1,020 per participant each year. The savings come from people needing fewer trips to the emergency room and fewer hospital admissions. People are staying healthy because local farmers, nonprofits, and small businesses deliver meals so people have healthy food, make home repairs that get rid of mold and help avoid asthma attacks, and help patients get preventive care and medicine when they need it, not after it becomes an emergency.
In Western North Carolina, families displaced by Tropical Storm Helene faced similar challenges. One mother, whose child suffered from asthma, received support from HOP to make their new home safer by removing mold and other triggers through the Breathe Right program. The result? Fewer ER visits and a healthier future. In the Cape Fear region, a young single mother was struggling with unsafe housing, food insecurity, and her children’s health problems. With support from HOP — including help with housing, food access, and parenting resources — she found stability. She secured full-time work, moved her family into a safe home, and saw their health improve dramatically.
And yet, despite these successes, North Carolina lawmakers have not included specific funding for HOP in either the House or Senate budget proposals. Without funding, millions in federal dollars will be pulled out of our rural communities, emergency department and hospital visits will likely rise again, health care costs will increase, and people’s health will be at risk.
Cutting programs like HOP does not save money. It just shifts costs to emergency rooms, schools, and long-term care facilities — and drives up costs for all of us. It’s why lawmakers funded Healthy Opportunities in the first place. And now that it’s delivered on the promise of saving costs, it’s time to double down on what works. In December of last year, noting the proven success of HOP, the federal government approved expanding the pilots statewide, which could unlock amazing opportunities across all of North Carolina. As North Carolina faces tough budget choices, sustaining and growing programs like HOP is the fiscally responsible decision. It supports healthier families, stronger communities, and a more sustainable health care system.
With uncertainty at the federal level and no funding included for HOP in either the North Carolina House or Senate budgets, the program’s future hangs in the balance. If it ends, the consequences will be real — lives, jobs, and hurricane recovery efforts will all be at risk. In a time when so much feels uncertain, this is a solution we can agree on. The evidence is clear, the need is urgent, and the stakes are high. Our state must continue to lead the way with common-sense improvements to our health system.
The question is not how we can afford to do this; it is how we cannot?
Dr. Mandy Cohen and Kody Kinsley are former Secretaries, NC Department of Health and Human Services.
Should the CFP committee rethink the playoff schedule format?
Extended breaks and logistical challenges have reopened questions about whether the College Football Playoff committee should adjust the playoff schedule format.
Bill Belichick is adding an experienced offensive coordinator to his coaching staff at North Carolina football for the 2026 college football season.
On Friday, Jan. 9, the Tar Heels announced the hiring of Bobby Petrino as the offensive coordinator. Petrino spent the last two seasons with Arkansas as the offensive coordinator and was promoted to interim head coach following the firing of Sam Pittman.
Belichick and the Tar Heels opted to part ways with former offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens on Dec. 12, after one season.
“We are fortunate to add an elite coaching talent in Bobby to our staff,” Belichick said in a statement. “He brings an extensive background and a proven record of success on offense at every level of football. Bobby has consistently built great offenses everywhere he has been, and we look forward to having him work with our program.”
UNC finished 2025 as one of the worst offenses in college football. Out of 136 FBS teams, the Tar Heels finished No. 131 in total offense and No. 121 in scoring offense (19.3).
Petrino brings previous head coaching experience to Belichick’s staff, with stops at Louisville (2003-06), the Atlanta Falcons (2007), Arkansas (2008-11), Western Kentucky (2013), Louisville (2014-18) and Missouri State (2020-22).
With the Cardinals, Petrino coached 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time ACC Player of the Year Lamar Jackson. Last season, the Razorbacks ranked 19th nationally in total offense with 454.8 yards per game.
“I’m extremely excited to join Coach Belichick and the Carolina football program,” Petrino said. “This is an incredible opportunity to work with one of the best at a storied institution. I cannot wait to get started in Chapel Hill alongside this coaching staff and student-athletes.”
North Carolina
North Carolina Democrats, Republicans share takes on deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina political leaders disagree heavily on what happened during a deadly-ICE involved shooting in Minnesota and what should happen next.
Several videos immediately circulated depicting the moment when Renee Good was shot in her vehicle by an ICE agent. Democrats and Republicans dispute what the video actually shows.
“I’m horrified and I’m disgusted,” Democratic state Sen. Sophia Chitlik said.
Chitlik represents Durham where immigration enforcement agents had a large presence a few weeks ago. She stated the video shows why she and some of her constituents don’t want the agents back.
“Get out,” she said. “We do not want ICE and CBP in our community. Not only do citizens and constituents not want them here, law enforcement doesn’t want them here. Our sheriff’s office, our police department, is very focused on keeping people safe, which is why crime is down. We manage public safety here.”
Matt Mercer, the communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party, stated the video shows the ICE agent acting in self-defense.
“I think what you see is the video speaks for itself,” Mercer said. “You had a federal agent acting in self-defense after potentially being rammed by someone in a vehicle, which is unfortunate. You just hate to see what happened.”
Chitlik disputes the notion that the ICE agent acted in self-defense, saying, “It’s not true. The video shows that it’s not true. [Good] was trying to back up, not move forward, trying to leave the situation. They aggressively pursued her.”
Republicans continue to back the federal agents in Minnesota and across the country, arguing it’s what millions of Americans voted for.
“It’s already shown a lot of progress,” Mercer said. “You’ve had over two million illegals deported or self-deported from our country, which is exactly what President [Donald] Trump campaigned on.”
Some Democrats say immigration enforcement agents don’t make communities safer and instead incite violence fear.
“ICE is not here to keep us safe,” Chitlik said. “ICE is here to police us. ICE is here as an agent of fascism in our cities. They are not welcome here.”
Republicans say the immigration agents aren’t the ones raising tensions.
“Anytime you see people using an iPhone app and saying there’s ICE [in the area], it’s intentionally provoking and stoking tensions,” Mercer said. “You’d like to see people using their right to protest in a way that’s not obstructing the mission these hardworking officers are doing every day.”
CBS 17 has not heard of any plans for the immigration agents to return to North Carolina.
This offseason has been a complete quarterback carousel for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Following the debacle of last season, it was obvious that North Carolina needed to make significant changes at quarterback.
In Bill Belichick’s first year as the head coach, the Tar Heels compiled a 4-8 record and failed to qualify for bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. There were several factors that led to the lackluster season, but the production and effectiveness from the quarterback position may take the cake, in terms of who should be blamed the most for North Carolina’s failure of a season.
In 11 games, Gio Lopez threw for only 1,747 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions while attempting 6.7 yards per pass. If you don’t possess a quarterback who can operate at a competent level, it is virtually impossible to compete with that player leading the offense.
As mentioned, it was apparent that the front office had to venture out in the transfer portal to potentially find their next quarterback. The Tar Heels did land 2026 four-star quarterback recruit Travis Burgess, but it was not yet known that both Max Johnson and Bryce Baker would enter the transfer portal this offseason.
Not to mention, after recently announcing that he will return to Chapel Hill in 2026, Lopez became the latest quarterback to leave the program, making his intentions of entering the portal known on Monday. On Wednesday, Lopez officially signed with Wake Forest.
Here is what general manager Michael Lombardi and North Carolina’s front office orchestrated to add depth to the quarterback room, and how those moves affect that position.
Assessing the Tar Heels’ Quarterback Situation
With three total quarterbacks leaving the program, North Carolina needed to orchestrate multiple moves to improve the depth at the position. While the Tar Heels landed Billy Edwards Jr. and Miles O’Neill, those two additions do not instill a ton of confidence in a room lacking experience and proven production.
In four years, Edwards Jr. has one year of starting, while O’Neill has eight appearances over the last two seasons. The Texas A&M transfer possesses more potential than Edwards Jr., as he still has three years of eligibility remaining. There is more room to grow for O’Neill. We already know what Edwards Jr is: a backup quarterback who could play here and there as a starter.
Meanwhile, Au’Tori Newkirk played sparingly during his freshman season in 2025, and Burgess will be a true freshman in 2026. None of these quarterbacks provide both high potential and experience. They possess one or the other, which could become problematic if no one establishes themselves as the clear-cut starter.
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