With 3 Atlantic Coast Conference teams from NC in the Sweet Sixteen combined with legalized sports betting, revenue was pouring in for the state. The NC Education Lottery Commission released early projections of revenue generated from sports betting and the numbers included $141 million paid out in winnings and a $42.7 million dollar “gross wagering revenue,” of which the state gets an 18% cut in taxes.
Read MoreUnaffiliated voters are now the largest voting block in North Carolina, with Democratic voter share beginning to shrink. But what does this mean for the upcoming 2024 election?
Read MoreNorth Carolina is a presidential battleground, going red in every election since 1980—except for 2008 when Barack Obama won the state. President Joe Biden believes he can win over states like North Carolina as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
Read MoreWhile it is unclear whether Robeson County will remain conservative for the foreseeable future, given the Republican Party’s embrace of former President Trump and their committed investment in Robeson, it seems Republicans can count on winning Robeson in the next election.
Read MoreIt may seem like North Carolina is working harder than the devil to disenfranchise voters with one or multiple marginalized identities. Though when everything’s said and done, the efforts will backfire.
Read More“With the recent announcement from the White House and an increasing number of states legalizing marijuana, North Carolinians are left wondering about the future of marijuana legalization in their state. While both Governor Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein have voiced their support for legalization of marijuana, the ultimate decision lies in the hands of North Carolina’s Republican-controlled state legislature.“
Read More“The dispute currently playing out is no isolated incident, but rather the most recent episode in a decades-long fight against a discriminatory system that speaks to broader questions about who bears the burden of ecological crises and the fight against climate change.”
Read More“A three-judge panel recently struck down North Carolina Senate Bill 824, a law enacting a photo voter ID requirement, saying that it would unfairly target Black voters and is therefore unconstitutional. How did we get here and what is next for voter ID requirements in the Tar Heel State?”
Read More“Cooper’s claim that the bill [regarding protests] is an attempt to deter people from exercising their constitutional rights is highlighted by the timing of the bill’s introduction during a wave of protests in which many of the participants were African-American, alongside the fact that Republicans have passed legislation considered discriminatory against African-Americans before.”
Read More“While the 2020 elections were monumental for a number of reasons, the Republican victories in North Carolina’s legislature have given the party the opportunity to shape the state’s politics for the next ten years.”
Read More“The town hall, which was held in the Pit at UNC-Chapel Hill and directed at student journalists, is one of several events throughout Beasley’s campaign to connect to North Carolina college students.”
Read More“In examining the bills, the impact of input by pro-law enforcement organizations like the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association (NCSA) is evident. For example, while HB 436 mandates mental health awareness training for officers, it requires only two hours of training every three years – hardly a step up from the previous requirements, and a win for the NCSA in maintaining the status quo.”
Read More“A debate rages over a program that has distributed over $750,000 in state funds to help low-income families afford private school tuition — North Carolina Opportunity Scholarships. In the 2020-2021 school year, 456 private schools received money from Opportunity Scholarships, with 12,284 families receiving scholarships. Opponents of Opportunity Scholarships argue it is wrong to take public funding and invest it into private schools largely unaccountable to the state.”
Read More“The fractious national debate about COVID-19 has perhaps been most divisive on issues related to schools and education. In North Carolina, however, this debate was surprisingly tame.”
Read More“It is likely that marijuana will be legalized in North Carolina, however, whether it will be for recreational use or medical use remains to be seen. Additionally, a legalization timeline is still unknown. There is no doubt many people believe marijuana could be beneficial, especially for those with medical issues; there could also be economical benefits that could cause a boom in North Carolina’s economy. Democrats are already in support of the issue, but they will need more Republican support if they want to secure “joint” support on the issue.”
Read More“North Carolina voters could be forgiven for forgetting about North Carolina’s Voter ID requirements, as they did not have to deal with them last fall due to injunctions issued by a federal judge and by the North Carolina Court of Appeals in separate cases. The State’s current Voter ID Law, Senate Bill 823, was passed in late 2018, over the veto of Governor Cooper, and is currently being challenged as unconstitutional for intentionally discriminating on the bases of race in the case of Holmes v. Moore, a tough thing to prove given the legislative history of the bill.”
Read More“Asheville was the only city in N.C. to enact budgetary changes in response to the Black Lives Matter protests, but the new bill would apply to all N.C. local governments. If the bill passes, any city or county that cuts more than 1% from their police budget will be penalized with reduced state funding.”
Read More“The Campaign for Accountability, a non-profit and non-partisan watchdog group that holds public figures accountable, has filed an ethics complaint against Madison Cawthorn (R-NC 11). Cawthorn is one of three Republicans the Campaign for Accountability is alleging incited the violent attack on the Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021. The organization is also arguing that Cawthorn broke a federal regulation and local law that prevented him from bringing his firearm into the building.”
Read More“The North Carolina Right to Life organizations had their 23rd annual rally this weekend, featuring keynote speaker N.C. Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. This march comes quickly after the transition of power following the November election, ensuring this policy is quick to the NCGA legislation table.”
Read More“For N.C., the help of the National Guard teams could be critical in speeding up the process to get North Carolinians their COVID-19 shots. North Carolina, like many states, is experiencing difficulties meeting vaccination goals, and currently ranks as the state with the sixth lowest vaccination rate in the country.”
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