North Carolina
Parental rights or patient privacy? NC bill would limit medical confidentiality for minors
By Rachel Crumpler and Grace Vitaglione
Patient-doctor dynamics in an exam room could soon change for minors.
Republican lawmakers in the state House of Representatives have introduced a bill seeking to limit confidentiality between minors and their health providers — and to grant parents greater access to their children’s medical records and decision-making.
Lead bill sponsor Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R-Hendersonville) introduced House Bill 519 at the House Rules Committee on May 5, where it passed. Supporters say the bill, also known as the Parents’ Medical Bill of Rights, will help parents make informed decisions about their children’s health care and restore parental authority.
Over two dozen Republican lawmakers are co-sponsoring the bill, including three co-chairs of the House Health Committee: Reps. Larry Potts (R-Lexington), Donny Lambeth (R-Winston-Salem) and Donna White (R-Clayton).
Under the current state law, minors can independently consent to some medical care — for diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, substance use and mental health.
The bill would roll back the law to only allow minors to consent for treatment related to pregnancy, excluding abortion. Parental consent would be required for any other medical care or treatment, except in some limited scenarios outlined in the bill, such as in an emergency or if a medical provider believes a child could be experiencing parental abuse or neglect.
One exception would allow minors age 16 or older to access treatment for venereal disease without parental consent if the disease can be treated with a prescription duration of 10 days or less.
Becky Lew-Hobbs, a mother of three and chair of the Wake County chapter of Moms for Liberty, spoke in support of the bill at a House Judiciary meeting on April 29. She voiced her frustration with the current law, explaining that when she took her 14-year-old son to the emergency room for hurting himself, she was asked to leave the room so the doctor could ask him questions about his mental health and family alone.
“We as parents were treated as the enemy,” Lew-Hobbs said. “The doctor excluded us, preventing us from being part of the solution all because current North Carolina statute is used to exclude parents from their medical care.”
Bianca Allison, a pediatric primary care provider in the Triangle, said that confidentiality is the “cornerstone” of adolescent health care — it fosters open communication. And she added that confidentiality is not completely counter to parental rights — the goal isn’t to shut parents out. Instead, Allison said medical providers are often actively encouraging teens to involve their parents and help them work through why they may be hesitant to talk with them about their concerns.
Sometimes a health care provider is a more comfortable starting point to discuss sensitive topics, she said.
“Even as we provide that care confidentially to an adolescent, often we are having at the same time a conversation asking them, ‘Who is a trusted adult in your life who can help you navigate this situation? Can we help you have a conversation with your parents either here in the room or can I help give you a way to navigate that conversation outside of the exam room?’” Allison explained.
Change from decades-old law
When heard in committee, several doctors, including the president of the North Carolina Pediatric Society, quickly voiced opposition. They based their concerns on how the changes could worsen health outcomes for young people. They said teens would likely skip going to a provider in the first place if sensitive information, such as their sexual activity, will automatically be disclosed to a parent.
Erica Pettigrew, a family physician in the Triangle, explained to lawmakers that the conversations and questions she fields from teens won’t happen — or won’t be honest — if parents are in the exam room or have access to all communication. That will push teens to seek out information from unreliable sources such as TikTok instead, she said.
The state Department of Health and Human Services has also expressed opposition to this bill.
“The Parents’ Medical Bill of Rights would result in fewer children and youth seeking needed health care services, including mental health, substance use, services to treat sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention,” a DHHS spokesperson said in a statement to NC Health News.
Young people in North Carolina have had the ability to consent to these services since 1977.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the professional association of U.S. pediatricians, stated in an April 2024 position statement that confidentiality is an “essential component of high-quality health care for adolescents.” Other medical organizations support this stance.
However, state laws on consent and privacy for adolescents vary widely, according to a May 2022 analysis published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The analysis found that many do not reflect pediatric professionals’ standards of care.
A Planned Parenthood South Atlantic spokesperson said in a statement that, “This bill would mark a departure from historical and national trends around informed, medical consent for young people.”
Doctors, advocates push back
Allison worries about the risk of harm to youth in unsupportive environments if their parents were to have full access to medical records. Even though the number has dropped over the years, there are still tragedies within families. Of the 99 child homicides that took place in North Carolina in 2022, 31 of them were at the hands of a parent or caregiver, according to the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
“Removing confidentiality protections doesn’t necessarily, by default, foster open communication between parents and children,” Allison said. “Parents should still be attempting to build the skills and creating an environment where open conversations can happen, regardless of whether or not these confidential protections are in place.”
Erica, a mother of three in Moore County, including a transgender daughter, said she’s worried about the impact of taking away a trusted space for children to go.
“I’m a mom, so of course I want my children to be upfront and honest with me, and I try to facilitate an environment where they can talk to me about anything,” said Erica, who asked to only use her first name for privacy and safety concerns. “But some parents aren’t like that, and some kids aren’t like that, and they need to have an outlet to share. Otherwise it’s going to cause issues — physically and mentally.”
Allison emphasized that she and other medical providers don’t take lightly the responsibility that they might be the first to hear about sensitive topics during otherwise routine screenings with teenagers. Often those discussions are around sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual health.
“There’s a lot of benefits to confidential care in terms of open communication with physicians and the ability for a physician to potentially be seen as another trusted adult in this young person’s life, their ability to ask questions in an environment that is nonjudgmental, that doesn’t have the same implications of them potentially asking these things of their parents,” Allison said.
‘Undermine care’
Allison said this bill is part of the larger trend of state lawmakers seeking to dictate medical practice, particularly around controversial treatments.
In the last legislative session, lawmakers passed increased abortion restrictions over the objections of many doctors and several medical associations. The General Assembly also banned gender-affirming care for minors in North Carolina — except for those who had already started care before the law change.
“I just think that medical decisions should really be driven by best practices and the needs of individual patients — not politics and political ideology. As a provider, I just want my patients to know that they are seen, respected and safe,” Allison said. “Legislation like this can really threaten the sense of safety and undermine care for really everyone that we take care of — even if individuals aren’t necessarily coming in for more sensitive care and treatment right now.
“If and when it becomes relevant to them, they may fear.”
North Carolina
North Carolina (NCHSAA) High School Softball 2026 State Playoff Brackets, Matchups, Schedule – May 11
The 2026 North Carolina high school softball state playoff brackets are out, and High School On SI has all eight brackets with matchups and schedules for every team.
The first round begins on May 5, and the playoffs will culminate with the NCHSAA state championships being played May 27-30 at Duke University in Durham.
2026 North Carolina High School Baseball State Tournament Schedule
May 5: First Round
May 8: Second Round
May 12: Third Round
May 15: Fourth Round
May 19-23: Regionals
May 27-30: State Championships
North Carolina (NCHSAA) High School Softball 2026 State Playoff Brackets, Matchups, Schedule – May 11
CLASS 1A BRACKET (select to view full bracket details)
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Bear Grass Charter vs. No. 5 Vance Charter
No. 3 East Columbus vs. No. 2 Northside – Pinetown
No. 1 Robbinsville vs. No. 5 Falls Lake Academy
No. 6 Bethany Community vs. No. 2 Oxford Preperatory
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 North Duplin vs. No. 8 Camden County
No. 5 Rosewood vs. No. 4 East Carteret
No. 3 Perquimans vs. No. 11 Pamlico County
No. 10 Franklin Academy vs. No. 2 Manteo
No. 1 South Stanly vs. No. 9 East Wilkes
No. 5 South Stokes vs. No. 4 Starmount
No. 3 Swain County vs. No. 6 Murphy
No. 7 Highland Tech vs. No. 2 Roxboro Community
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Midway vs. No. 9 Providence
No. 12 Wallace-Rose Hill vs. No. 4 Heide Trask
No. 3 Farmville Central vs. No. 11 Ayden – Grifton
No. 10 Northwood vs. No. 2 McMichael
No. 1 West Lincoln vs. No. 8 Union Academy
No. 5 Draughn vs No. 4 Pine Lake Preperatory
No. 3 West Davidson vs. No. 11 East Surry
No. 7 Walkertown vs. No. 2 West Wilkes
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Randleman vs. No. 9 Nash Central
No. 5 Bunn vs. No. 4 East Duplin
No. 3 Southwest Onslow vs. No. 6 Roanoke Rapids
No. 7 Ledford Senior vs. No. 2 Central Davidson
No. 1 West Stokes vs. No. 8 Forbush
No. 5 Pisgah vs. No. 4 West Stanly
No. 19 North Surry vs. No. 11 Foard
No. 10 Mount Pleasant vs. No, 2 Bunker Hill
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Southeast Alamance vs. No. 8 C.B. Aycock
No. 5 Seaforth vs. No. 4 Rockingham County
No. 3 Eastern Alamance vs. No. 6 West Carteret
No. 7 South Brunswick vs. No. 2 Southern Nash
No. 1 Enka vs. No. 9 Oak Grove
No. 5 Crest vs. No. 13 West Rowan
No. 3 North Davidson vs. No. 6 Franklin
No. 10 East Rowan vs. No. 2 North Lincoln
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Union Pines vs. No. 9 South Johnston
No. 5 South View vs. No. 4 Gray’s Creek
No. 3 J.H. Rose vs. No. 6 Harnett Central
No. 7 Triton vs. No. 2 West Brunswick
No. 1 Kings Mountain vs. No. 8 Charlotte Catholic
No. 5 Alexander vs. No. 13 T.C. Roberson
No. 3 Piedmont vs. No. 6 Central Cabarrus
No. 10 A.C. Reynolds vs. No. 2 South Caldwell
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 D.H. Conley vs. No. 8 Wake Forest
No. 5 Purnell Sweet vs. No. 4 Cleveland
No. 3 Heritage vs. No. 6 Topsail
No. 7 South Central vs. No. 2 New Bern
No. 1 Weddington vs. No. 8 Mooresville
No. 5 A.L. Brown vs. No. 4 Hickory Ridge
No. 3 East Forsyth vs. No. 11 Porter Ridge
No. 7 Ronald Reagan vs. No. 2 South Iredell
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Willow Spring vs. No. 4 Hoggard
No. 3 E.A. Laney vs. No. 2 Cornith Holders
No. 1 Providence vs. No. 4 Hough
No. 3 West Forsyth vs. No. 2 Apex Friendship
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North Carolina
Perspective | What North Carolina gets right about workforce: Progress beyond politics
Across the country, workforce development is often framed as a policy challenge. In North Carolina, we’ve come to understand it as something more fundamental: a shared responsibility between educators and employers that works best when it rises above politics. It is a nonpartisan priority with bipartisan support — and a clear focus on outcomes.
North Carolina’s approach to workforce and talent development offers a different model — one grounded in collaboration, consistency, data, and a relentless focus on student and employer needs.
Over the past several years, our state has aligned around an ambitious goal: ensuring that 2 million North Carolinians ages 25-44 hold a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree by 2030. myFutureNC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, led by a bipartisan Board of Directors, that was created to champion this work.
This goal is not owned by a single administration or political party. It is the state’s attainment goal — codified in law with bipartisan support and signed by the governor — to ensure North Carolina remains economically competitive now and into the future. The work is guided by leaders across business, education, policymakers, and philanthropy.
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This kind of alignment doesn’t happen by accident. It requires trust, discipline, and a willingness to prioritize long-term impact over short-term wins — placing the needs of students and employers above the silos that often define education and workforce systems.
North Carolina’s leaders don’t agree on everything, and unanimity is not what makes this work. There is broad agreement on a set of essential truths: Talent is the top driver of economic development. Education fuels economic prosperity, public safety, and healthier communities. Having a robust educational system and an educated population is one of our state’s greatest assets. Economic mobility matters. And preparing people for meaningful work benefits everyone.
This alignment is delivering results. North Carolina has been named the No. 1 state for business three out of the past four years and ranks No. 1 for workforce — reinforcing what’s possible when leaders stay focused on shared priorities.
This strong foundation has enabled progress in areas that often stall in partisan debate. Through strategic policy and philanthropic investments, the state has expanded pathways into high-demand careers, strengthened connections between education and industry, and increased access to work-based learning opportunities, including apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.
That same foundation is shaping how policy is developed in real time. The proposed Workforce Act of 2026 reflects North Carolina’s cross-sector approach — bringing together business and education leaders, policymakers, and philanthropists to strengthen pathways into high-demand careers and expand access to work-based learning. Rather than introducing a new direction, this Act builds on what is already working, demonstrating how alignment can translate into coordinated action.
The bipartisan-led Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships puts this approach into practice. Building on the state’s existing foundation, the council brings together leaders from industry, education, and government to strengthen coordination across the workforce system. Its value lies not in setting a new direction, but in reinforcing and accelerating a shared one.
This is what it looks like to build systems designed to last. Workforce development is not a one-year initiative or a single funding cycle — it is a long-term investment in people, communities, employers, and the educational infrastructure that supports them. North Carolina’s progress is rooted in structures that bring partners together consistently, align efforts across sectors, and create continuity beyond political cycles.
By embedding collaboration into how the work gets done — not just what gets prioritized — the state has created a model that can evolve over time while staying focused on its goals.
Work remains to be done. Gaps in attainment persist, and ensuring opportunity reaches every corner of the state will require continued focus and innovation. But North Carolina’s significant progress and continued success being No. 1 nationally in many related categories demonstrates what is possible when leaders choose partnership over partisanship.
At a time when it’s easy to focus on what divides us, North Carolina offers a reminder: Some of the most important work we do — preparing people for the future of work and ensuring employers have access to skilled talent — is our north star and unifying force.
And in our shared goal of 2 million by 2030, we are not just building a stronger workforce. We are building a stronger state — for today and for generations to come.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — (AP/WNCN) — The remains of a U.S. Army soldier with ties to North Carolina who went missing during military exercises in Morocco a week ago have been recovered in the Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. military said Sunday. Military teams are still searching for a second missing soldier.
The remains found are those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, who was one of two U.S. soldiers who fell off a cliff during a recreational hike in Morocco while off duty.
Key, 27, from Richmond, Virginia, was a graduate of Methodist University in Fayetteville.
The two were reported missing on May 2 after participating in African Lion, annual multinational military exercises held in Morocco.
Key earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Methodist University in Fayetteville, with minors in international business, entrepreneurship, and business administration.
“A Moroccan military search team found the Soldier in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time May 9, within roughly one mile of where both Soldiers reportedly entered the ocean,” U.S Army Europe and Africa said in a statement.
The two went missing around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, a terrain characterized by mountains, desert and semidesert plains, according to the Moroccan military.
Their disappearance triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and other military partners. The operation deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.
Search efforts will continue for the missing second soldier, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly on the issue.
The official said a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the multinational war games ended Friday to provide command and control and to continue search and rescue operations.
Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, U.S Army Europe and Africa said.
He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, according to the statement.
Key is survived by his father, Kendrick Key Sr.; his mother, Jihan Key; his sister, Dakota Debose-Hill; and his brother-in-law, U.S. Army Spc. James Brown.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY NEWS
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The search-and-rescue operation, now in its ninth day, has covered more than 12,000 square kilometers of sea and littoral zone, currently adding around 3,000 square kilometers per day.
The soldiers had been taking part in African Lion 26, a U.S.-led exercise launched in April across four countries – Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal – with more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations. Since 2004, it has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa.
In 2012, two U.S. Marines were killed and two others injured during a helicopter crash in Morocco’s southern city of Agadir while taking part in the exercises.
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