NORTH CAROLINA POLITICS

We looked into rumors that N.C. Speaker Tim Moore is going for UNC-System President

By Michael Taffe

After interim UNC-System President Bill Roper said he will not seek to serve in his role in a permanent capacity, the search for a new system president became even more uncertain. Though the names of candidates have not been released, one controversial public figure has been the topic of recent rumors: Tim Moore.  Moore, the speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives, has made his name by supporting fiscal prudence and controversial moves such as HB2. Some say Moore would be a poor leader for the UNC System given his history in the General Assembly, while others argue that he could be a viable candidate. 

Column: Addressing campus sexual assault

Graig Meyer, the state representative for House District 50 covering portions of Orange and Durham counties, discusses campus sexual assault.

Despite little movement on state budget, stand alone spending measures move to Cooper

By Hannah Correll

The majority of recent bills that the General Assembly has passed are above the continuation budget from the last fiscal year. Gov. Cooper has signed all but one of the mini-budget bills that were copied from the budget he vetoed in June. 

Another gerrymandering lawsuit filed in N.C. challenges congressional district lines

By Ben Humphries

The suit requests that the court order the 2016 congressional district lines unusable and enforce the drawing of new, compliant district lines before the 2020 elections.

New state legislative maps head to N.C. superior court for approval

By Brent Van Vliet

New legislative maps have passed in the N.C. Senate and N.C. House and now require approval from the three-judge panel in the Common Cause case to be finalized.

N.C. House Republicans hold surprise vote to override Gov. Cooper’s budget veto

By Brent Van Vliet

“Yesterday was incredibly disappointing. People hate when politicians lie, cheat and steal. I hate when politicians lie, cheat and steal, and that’s what we have this week,” said N.C. Rep. Graig Meyer, D-Caswell, Orange.

What's happened since N.C.'s congressional maps were ruled unconstitutional

By Diane Adame

North Carolina lawmakers have less than a week to redraw districts. So far, they have agreed on baseline maps to use as a starting point in the redistricting process. 

Republicans hold onto two districts in NC special elections

By Michael Taffe

Two of North Carolina's 13 House districts held special elections last night following the death of Republican Rep. Walter Jones Jr. in the third district and allegations of "unlawful" election fraud in the ninth district.

Two N.C. congressional districts have elections on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know.

By Ben Humphries

Special elections for North Carolina’s 3rd and 9th Congressional Districts are happening next week. Here's why the elections are happening and what you need to know. 

North Carolina's legislative maps are unconstitutional, court rules

By Sofia Lesnewski

A three-judge panel of the Wake County Superior Court has ordered the General Assembly to create new legislative maps within two weeks.

Precinct changes may simplify voting for students but raises concerns from rural voters

By Brent Van Vliet

Students living on campus at UNC are split among four election precincts, complicating the voting process for thousands. Proposed changes to Orange County’s election precincts aim to direct students to a single voting location for the upcoming primary and general elections.  

'It's just not working': UNC politics professor talks death penalty in N.C.

By Jamey Cross

Assistant City & State Editor Jamey Cross spoke with UNC Political Science Professor Frank Baumgartner to get his thoughts on the death penalty in North Carolina and its future. 

Gov. Cooper vetoes a bill that would require sheriffs to honor ICE detainer requests

By Ben Humphries

Cooper’s veto included a brief paragraph attributing the bill to being “simply about scoring partisan political points and using fear to divide North Carolina.” He also noted that a sheriff’s violation of this policy would be the only specifically named violation that could result in the removal of the sheriff from office. 

Here's how N.C. A&T students are responding to their divided congressional district

By Sofia Lesnewski

While traveling through campus, students at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University commonly cross between North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District to its 13th district. A Republican lawmaker acknowledges that the strange division was a result of partisan gerrymandering. In the wake of a 2016 decision, students are fighting for proper representation. Students at North Carolina A&T demand representation that they can identify with, especially as Black voters represent a significant portion of the state's population. But gerrymandering goes even beyond misrepresentation; it can lead to extreme policy making that doesn't involve cooperation between parties. 

The General Assembly, Cooper haven't budged on N.C.'s budget

By Michael Taffe

With the last fiscal year having come to a close in June, changes were expected to be made to the state budget, especially where Medicaid, teacher pay and corporate tax cuts were concerned.  But, Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the Republican budget proposal just three days before. A consensus needs to be made, but discussion is slowed with differing ideas about what to do with an $800 million revenue surplus. Republican senators have expressed their displeasure over Cooper’s “Medicare expansion ultimatum,” and are blaming Cooper for the breakdown in negotiations.  Because this is on the state level, a government shutdown isn't imminent, but that doesn't mean the pressure is off. Without a budget, there cannot be any proper funding for crucial state departments that feed into and serve North Carolina communities and provide vital wage raises, public school funding and more. 

North Carolina leads the South in cutting funding for conversion therapy for minors

By Alice Bennett

While the state will no longer fund conversion therapy for minors, some activists are still frustrated that the practice will remain legal. 

Hillsborough activists decry mass shootings and demand gun reform at August rally

By Anna Pogarcic

Several representatives and local organizers came together to demand gun control legislation.

N.C. legislators work to modernize the way alcohol is bought and sold

By Jamey Cross

Currently, craft distilleries in North Carolina face much harsher regulations than the state’s craft breweries. The North Carolina General Assembly is looking to modernize the state's alcohol laws.  

Rise and fall: The 110 year history of UNC's Confederate monument, Silent Sam

By Preston Lennon

Conceived in 1908, completed in 1913, then torn down in 2018, Silent Sam was a lightning rod symbol on UNC's campus for over 100 years. Even now, as the one-year anniversary of its toppling approaches and the statue remains hidden in storage, Silent Sam continues to spark conversations on race and history. 

Lydia Lavelle running for re-election, looking to complete unfinished business

By Brent Van Vliet

Lydia Lavelle, mayor of Carrboro announced on April 17 that she will run for re-election hoping to continue working on her visions and goals for the town.