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North Carolina official overseeing hurricane rebuilding efforts is no longer in role

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The chief operating officer for the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency is no longer working in the position as of Wednesday. An office spokesperson confirmed Laura Hogshead is out of the role and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s legislative lobbyist Pryor Gibson will serve in the interim. Hogshead’s departure comes after a scathing rebuke of her work by GOP state lawmakers during a Monday hearing. The recovery office is facing a more than $220 million deficit to continue housing projects in parts of eastern North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence. Republican legislators say the office has mismanaged its funds.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Republicans complete a veto override of voucher, immigration bill

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Republican-dominated North Carolina legislature has completed its override of Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of legislation that addresses both private school scholarship grants and immigration. The Senate voted on Wednesday to enact the bill despite Cooper’s objections, one day after the House conducted a similar vote. Republicans hold veto-proof majorities in each chamber. The bill is now law. It means that about $463 million will be provided to the Opportunity Scholarship program in part to eliminate a waitlist of families. The bill also directs local sheriffs to comply with federal immigration agents’ requests to detain inmates believed to be in the country illegally.… Continue Reading

Hurricane Helene isn’t the only big storm North Carolina is still recovering from

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republicans are voicing frustration over how the state is still struggling to recover from two hurricanes that ravaged the region long before Hurricane Helene hit in September. The issues bubbled to the surface Monday during a legislative committee hearing about a budget shortfall in the state Office of Recovery and Resiliency. At issue are projects stemming from hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper asked for money to eliminate the shortfall last month as part of a larger package to address Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding. One top recovery official says pausing projects is an “option on the table” if lawmakers don’t come up with enough cash.… Continue Reading

Outgoing North Carolina governor grants 2 pardons, 6 commutations

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has commuted what have been lengthy sentences served by six criminal offenders in state prisons and granted pardons to two others. Five of the commutations went to people who were convicted of murder. Those pardons of innocence the outgoing governor also signed on Wednesday gives the persons wrongly imprisoned for erroneous felony convictions the ability to seek monetary compensation. One such pardon went to a man ultimately acquitted in the deaths of an elderly couple. The other pardon went to a man exonerated in a convenience store robbery.… Continue Reading

North Carolina offers schools $1 million to help take students on field trips

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — There’s a new $1 million pilot project to help North Carolina public schools get financial reimbursements for taking students on field trips to places like state museums, aquariums and historic sites. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and his administration’s natural and cultural resources secretary on Wednesday unveiled the new “Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund.” K-12 schools can seek reimbursements for the cost of students visiting dozens of state-managed attractions for things like entry fees, transportation or meals. Schools with high percentages of students from low-income families will receive priority. And there will be a set-aside for western schools affected by Hurricane Helene.… Continue Reading

North Carolina governor picks labor chief to serve until next commissioner is sworn in

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Gov. Roy Cooper has named a veteran North Carolina Labor Department administrator to lead the state agency until the next labor commissioner takes office. Cooper announced Friday that Kevin O’Barr will serve as commissioner until Luke Farley is sworn in early next year. O’Barr succeeds Commissioner Josh Dobson, who decided not to seek reelection this fall. Dobson announced his resignation on Wednesday, the day after Farley, a Republican, defeated Democrat Braxton Winston in the election for a four-year term. The North Carolina Constitution gives the Democratic governor the authority to fill the vacancy. A commissioner otherwise is elected to lead a department separate from a governor’s administration.… Continue Reading

Senate leader cites ‘incompetence’ and criticizes Governor Cooper’s latest request for state relief funding

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — North Carolina legislators returned to work Thursday to address further relief efforts following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, but Senate president Phil Berger doesn’t expect any action on Governor Cooper’s $3.9 billion request for disaster relief. State lawmakers approved an initial $270 million relief package last month, but Berger said he expects lawmakers will approve additional funding for Helene recovery efforts. However, he cautioned against rushing to spend all the state’s reserves so soon. Berger criticized Gov. Cooper’s administration for failing to get aid to Hurricane Matthew and Florence victims, including some people who lost their homes in 2016.… Continue Reading

North Carolina government calculates Hurricane Helene damages, needs at least $53B

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina officials say the catastrophic flooding and destruction from Hurricane Helene likely caused at least $53 billion in damages and recovery needs in the state. Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration generated the preliminary figure in a report released Wednesday that also includes Cooper’s request to the General Assembly for $3.9 billion. The request was disclosed the day before the legislature planned to meet for a one-day session to advance additional Helene recovery legislation. Cooper says the previous record for storm damage in North Carolina was $17 billion after Hurricane Florence in 2018.… Continue Reading

North Carolina governor signs Hurricane Helene relief bill

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has signed the state’s first relief package to address Hurricane Helene’s devastation. The bill signed Thursday allocates $273 million for immediate needs and gives flexibility to agencies and displaced residents in western counties. The Republican-dominated legislature approved the measure unanimously the day before. Nearly all the money will be used to meet the federal government’s match for state and local disaster assistance programs. Other provisions help nutrition workers in closed schools. The money is coming from the state’s large savings reserve. The bill also changes how upcoming elections are conducted in 25 counties. More Helene relief legislation could advance in two weeks.… Continue Reading

Governor Cooper declares State of Emergency as Hurricane Helene approaches North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — Governor Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency today as North Carolina braces for the arrival of Hurricane Helene, which is expected to bring life-threatening conditions to the state through Saturday morning. The declaration activates the National Guard and deploys swift-water rescue teams in preparation for the storm. Hurricane Helene is forecast to bring heavy rainfall, flash flooding, landslides, and damaging winds, particularly in the mountains and Piedmont regions. Widespread power outages and tornadoes are also possible, according to weather officials.… Continue Reading