North Carolina Government News Archives

U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick wants to drill for oil off the North Carolina coast and she thinks $4.00 per gallon gasoline might encourage approval this year.

HEADLINES: _ Subcommittees approve budget plans; no hefty pay raise for teachers in House budget _ House Finance Committee backs increase to earned income tax credit program _ Governor's plan for tax holiday on ...

Traffic will be detoured from a section of U.S. 17 beginning June 6 for work on the railroad crossing in Bridgeton.

South Carolina license plates that read "CHOOSE LIFE S.C." were unveiled Wednesday, four years after a court doomed a similar anti-abortion tag, and in North Carolina a "Choose Life" tag won approval from a ...

Students in North Carolina's private and public colleges would be required to mentor public school-age children to receive a bachelor's degree after 2012, under a bill filed this week.

Landmark Legislation Would End State's Use of Coal from Controversial and Destructive Mining Practice This just in: the North Carolina state legislature may take the destructive and despicable practice of ...

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand has offered another bill to reduce the number of inmates in the state's prisons.

A Senate committee plans to hold a hearing on several bills to change the way sales taxes are imposed on small businesses.

State Sen. Robert Pittenger resigned Tuesday from the General Assembly to focus on his bid to become North Carolina's lieutenant governor, defusing a potential rivalry on the chamber floor between him and the ...

CHARLOTTE - Two airlines that only months ago won federal approval to begin highly coveted routes to China are postponing the launch of the new services because of high fuel costs.

Joan Myers, former president of the North Carolina Technology Association, is taking on a new role with a project she advocated while running the state's largest trade group focused on technology.

So-called fiscal conservatives from both sides of the aisle representing North Carolina voted for Massachusetts liberal, Rep.

Employees for the North Carolina Lottery will be getting bigger raises than most state workers.

A new state report says diabetes is an epidemic that shows no sign of slowing down in North Carolina.

They sought more money for community-based services in a public treatment system that keeps struggling under the weight of reforms started in 2001.

In the last decade, the number of people with diabetes in North Carolina has increased by 102 percent, according to the North Carolina Diabetes Prevention and Control.

The Senate Rules Committee approved legislation that would toughen penalties for people who commit crimes as part of their affiliation with a gang.

Some medically ill prison inmates who pose no danger to society could be released from custody under legislation headed to the floor of the North Carolina House.

A coalition of environmental groups wants the General Assembly to boost funding for conservation programs by $66 million in the wake of this past year's drought.

“We're almost required by the oath of our office to do something on drought this time.”

Mike Easley's plan to help North Carolina better respond to future droughts. But some members of the Environmental Management Commission suggested the proposal needs some work. via News Observer

Gov. Mike Easley could have chosen to put together a budget in his final year in office that included no tax increases. via Kinston Free Press

Republican leaders in the General Assembly began shooting down Gov. Mike Easleys proposed budget during the first day of the new session Tuesday. via NBC17.com

Mike Easley's proposed spending plan and the challenges the state faces. In one meeting, a legislative fiscal analyst told lawmakers that projections show the state could need an addtional 6,100 beds to keep up ... via The Item

“I'm looking forward to the day when people don't think it's remarkable that a woman is running.”

North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall believes her 1996 victory over NASCAR legend Richard Petty provided a path for other female political hopefuls looking to advance to Victory Lane at the top ... via The Dispatch

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 It's all about money - Associated Press 05.14.2008 The North Carolina Legislature returned to business Tuesday to adjust the state's two-year budget and was greeted by a second request ... via NC Mental Hope News

Gov. Mike Easley has submitted his last spending plan to the North Carolina General Assembly. via Asheville Citizen-Times

“I believe that every North Carolinian, everyone residing in our state who will ultimately become a part of our work force, should be educated”

North Carolina's community colleges should drop a lenient admissions policy for illegal immigrants and return to more restrictive rules that follow federal law more closely, the state Attorney General's Office ... via Asheville Citizen-Times

“We need to have some progress on transportation this session.”

The North Carolina Legislature returned to business Tuesday to adjust the state's two-year budget and was greeted by a second request for funding in as many days - this time to consider a bond of at least $1 ... via Wral.com

“Our open houses will give people considering train travel an opportunity to become familiar with the benefits of riding the train in North Carolina.”

State-sponsored North Carolina's Amtrak will celebrate National Train Day on Saturday, May 10, by holding open houses at train stations from Charlotte to Fayetteville. via WITN

Governor Mike Easley wants to raise taxes to pay for competing jobs in the global economy and mental health services. via WECT-TV Wilmington

A glance at some of the issues and questions before the North Carolina Legislature, which begins its "short session" on Tuesday. via Myrtle Beach Online

“Everybody has family and a place to go.”

Gov. Mike Easley toured tornado damage Saturday in three North Carolina counties and said in addition to one fatality that eight people were injured and scores of homes were damaged. via Buffalo News

“It could have been much worse than it was.”

Mississippi Department of Transportation road crews work to clear downed trees and power lines from streets in Tupelo Miss. via Athens Banner-Herald

“The national economic cycle is affecting us and we needed to get ahead of that and acknowledge that right now”

North Carolina tax collections remain in the black. The state received $90 million more than projected through the April tax return filings, state officials said Wednesday, and North Carolina should record a ... via Asheville Citizen-Times

“Unfortunately, the existing body of research on maternal weight gain is inadequate to permit a more comprehensive assessment”

Women who gain more or less than recommended amounts of weight during pregnancy are likely to increase the risk of problems for both themselves and their child, according to a new report by the RTI ... via PhysOrg Weblog

“By track record, McCrory has done an outstanding job”

North Carolina's time to speak out in the historic race for the White House arrived Tuesday as voters steadily cast ballots for the presidential nomination, a race that overshadowed primaries for governor, ... via Charlotte Channel 9

Several state lawmakers took the next step toward retaining their seats Tuesday during primary elections that attracted dozens of candidates looking to oust or succeed members of the House and Senate. via Charlotte Channel 9

“I want to give Miss Liddy Dole a pair of ruby red slippers and let her click her heels three times and go home to Kansas with Bob.”

North Carolina State Senator Kay Hagan comfortably beat openly gay candidate Jim Neal in North Carolina's Senate primary yesterday: "'You know what I want to do?' Hagan said smiling in front of a crowd of ... via Towleroad

Highlights from exit polling Tuesday in the Indiana and North Carolina Democratic primaries for The Associated Press and television networks:

THE WRIGHT STUFF

Nearly half the voters in the Indiana and North Carolina Democratic primaries said the situation with Barack Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, was important to their vote. Most of them voted for Clinton: about seven in 10 in Indiana and six in 10 in North Carolina.

In both states, those who said Wright was not a factor leaned clearly toward Obama. In North Carolina, Obama won more votes from people who said the issue wasn't important than Clinton did among those who said it was, while in Indiana the two groups were about equal in size. Read more

North Carolina voters were deciding a stiff primary challenge to the congressman who famously renamed french fries "freedom fries," while a former Democratic congresswoman and an architect were in a tight race ... via StarTribune

“It's good for democracy. In this country you have hard-fought political battles, and then you have people vote on a day like this and it's over.”

' North Carolina's pivotal primary day arrived Tuesday and voters across the state began casting ballots that could sway a historic race for the White House and an equally competitive campaign for governor. via Salisbury Post

Posted: Today at 6:20 a.m. Editor's note: Dr. Mike Walden is a William Neal Reynolds Professor and North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics of N.C. ... via Local Tech Wire

“If you decide that this election is bigger than flag pins and sniper fire or the comments of a former pastor, bigger than the differences between what we look like or where we come from or what party we belong to.”

Barack Obama is trying to close the deal with undecided voters with a speech entitled "closing argument." Barack Obama, Democratic Presidential Candidate: "If you decide that this election is bigger than flag ... via WLNS-TV Lansing

“To commit privately to another candidate is to commit a fraud on the party”

South Carolina Democrats elected a supporter of Barack Obama for an open superdelegate slot at their state convention Saturday. via HendersonvilleNews.com

“The word is considered by many to be a demeaning and degrading reference to gay men. We encourage all those engaging in political rhetoric to stay away from using language that is considered defamatory toward any group of Americans.”

North Carolina governor Mike Easley's words drew a critical reaction when he said that Sen. via Gay.com

“The facility was a clinic that had a doctor's name associated with it, but that doctor had not recently been associated with that establishment”

Three women who received derriere-enhancing injections at an unlicensed clinic in North Carolina developed kidney failure after the procedure. via WTNZ-TV Knoxville

“We just got slammed with that last week”

An e-mail being circulated throughout North Carolina describing new legislation prohibiting cell-phone use while driving is a hoax. via Mountain Xpress

Women Vote took the extra step of attempting to stop the remaining mail from being delivered to homes. via South Texas Chisme