North Carolina court begins high-stakes partisan gerrymandering trial
By Melissa Boughton NC Policy Watch North Carolina voting rights groups and Democrats were compared to the legendary Pied Piper at the start of a highly-anticipated partisan gerrymandering trial on Monday – actors who would lure a state court with their legal flutes into a “thicket” of thorns. “There is no need for the thicket […]
Lawmaker ‘needed in Raleigh,’ gets 3rd continuance in cyberstalking case
JULY 10, 2019, BY FRANK TAYLOR N.C. Rep. Cody Henson was set to have his criminal case on a cyberstalking charge heard Tuesday at the Transylvania County Courthouse in Brevard, but his attorney instead requested and was granted a continuance in the case. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press July 23 is the latest hearing date […]
Dear Sen. Tillis: Eastern NC needs you to take action on the climate crisis
By Penny and Mark Hoope, NC POLICY WATCH Throughout North Carolina, the start of summer means late-night barbecues, well-earned vacations from work and breaks from school. But as we know all too well, this time of year also marks the start of hurricane season. Last year, Hurricane Florence devastated the North Carolina coastline, damaging military […]
Column: The Lt. Governor is Wrong
The Lt. Governor is wrong; multiculturalism is our hope for the future By Rob Schofield, NC POLICY WATCH It comes as little surprise that the inhabitant of the second highest elected office in the state of North Carolina would stoop to engage in the kind of dog whistle talk that one would normally associate with […]
What makes a good citizen? Voting, paying taxes, following the law top list
BY JOHN GRAMLICH Last year’s Fourth of July Parade in San Gabriel, California. (Xinhua/Zhao Hanrong via Getty Images) In a Pew Research Center survey in early 2018, around three-quarters of Americans (74%) said voting in elections was very important to what it means to be a good citizen, and around seven-in-ten said the same about paying taxes (71%) […]
Wheeler versus Caulder-WoFF Trespassing Case Dismissed
RUTHERFORDTON —”The Wheeler for NC” campaign case filed in small claims court against Jayne Caulder over an alleged trespassing case at the Word of Faith Fellowship (WoFF) church has been dismissed. Wheeler, appearing pro se, was suing for the $4500 in legal fees spend to defend him, Wayne Guffey, and John Huddle against the trespassing […]
Justices take federal courts out of political gerrymandering question
BY KIRK ROSS, Carolina Public Press The US Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the US Constitution gives state legislators the power to draw congressional districts and the federal courts should not interfere with whether gerrymandering has been too partisan. The North Carolina General Assembly meets in the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, seen here in […]
Lawmakers bring forth another bad budget for kids
By Rob Thompson Progressive Voices House and Senate leaders released their compromise budget proposal Tuesday. With a few exceptions, the proposal fails to include important funding and policy changes, including Medicaid expansion, that are sorely needed to help children and families thrive in North Carolina. Here’s a quick rundown of what we’re most concerned about: […]
Supreme Court ruled against adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census
FROM THE ACLU… The Supreme Court ruled against adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census. As ACLU proved in court, the Trump administration’s goal in adding a citizenship question to the census was to depress response rates and in turn harm communities by reducing their political representation and federal funding. Those uncounted would be […]
The hidden budget provision to kill sex ed in North Carolina
By Kris Nordstrom, NC Policy Watch Anyone who has spent much time around the General Assembly is familiar with Alan Hoyle, even if they might not know the name. Hoyle is a Lincolnton, NC street preacher. But around Raleigh, he’s most notable for circling the General Assembly in his red truck adorned with anti-gay messaging, […]
