NC Government Archives

More Roy Cooper lieutenants staying on the job in North Carolina Gov.-elect Stein’s Cabinet

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Several more top lieutenants of outgoing North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper have agreed to work for fellow Democrat and successor Josh Stein’s administration. They include Cooper’s transportation and public safety secretaries and the state budget director — all of whom will stay in their current posts. Each of them have had significant roles responding to Hurricane Helene. Stein already said this week that two other Cooper department secretaries will be on his team as well — albeit leading new departments Stein was elected governor last month and will take his oath of office early in the new year.… Continue Reading

After 1 year, Medicaid expansion in North Carolina nears its enrollment goal

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Enrollment in North Carolina’s new Medicaid coverage for low-income adults has nearly reached the state’s goal of 600,000 in only a year. So says Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration, which reports that over 590,000 are enrolled in Medicaid expansion. At the start of expansion in December 2023, Cooper’s administration had estimated 600,000 would be reached within two years. Cooper celebrated the enrollment news and other health care accomplishments during a speaking event in Greenville. The Democratic governor leaves office at the end of the month after two terms. He’s also citing more money for mental health treatment and an effort to rid hospital patients of medical debt.… Continue Reading

Democrats gain another statewide position in North Carolina with Rachel Hunt victory

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The group of North Carolina elected executive branch positions known as the Council of State will have equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans come January. Democrats flipped the positions of lieutenant governor and superintendent of public instruction, while a Republican defeated the incumbent Democratic state auditor. Rachel Hunt’s victory for lieutenant governor capped other top Democratic wins, including Josh Stein for governor and Jeff Jackson for attorney general. Hunt is the daughter of former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt. Meanwhile, Republicans continued their recent dominance in appellate court races by winning three seats and leading narrowly in a fourth.… Continue Reading

North Carolina’s governor vetoes private school vouchers and immigration enforcement orders

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed a bill that allocates hundreds of millions of dollars to expanded private school vouchers and immigration enforcement. The Republican plan that Cooper rejected Friday also orders sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigrant agents searching jails for people who may be in the country unlawfully. The veto was expected; Cooper is a longtime critic of spending taxpayer dollars to send K-12 children to private schools. He also vetoed previous versions of the immigration bill in 2019 and 2022. Republicans now hold veto-proof majorities in the House and Senate, however, and could override this latest veto in the fall.… Continue Reading

North Carolina judge won’t prevent use of university digital IDs for voting

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina trial judge has refused to block students and employees at the state’s flagship public university from being able to show a digital identification to comply with a largely new photo ID law. Wake County Superior Court Judge Keith Gregory denied on Thursday a temporary restraining order sought by the Republican National Committee and state GOP. They argue that state law only allows the State Board of Elections to approve physical cards. The mobile UNC One Card is the first such ID posted from someone’s smartphone that the board has OK’d. The ruling can be appealed.… Continue Reading

North Carolina’s highest court hears challenge to law allowing more time for child sex abuse suits

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s highest court is weighing whether a state law that gave adults who were victims of child sexual abuse two additional years to seek civil damages is constitutional or not. The state Supreme Court heard Wednesday five cases involving individuals who sued based on changes in a 2019 law. Victims used to have until age 21 to sue. The law raised that age but also gave other victims whose time period still had expired to file lawsuits in 2020 or 2021. The court gave no indication when it would rule on the constitutionality. Since 2002, 30 states revived previously expired child sex abuse claims with expansions of claim periods.… Continue Reading