The Carolina Journal News Hour on WBT

Republicans face three competitive legislative races in Wake County that could leave the state's most populous county without GOP representation in the General Assembly. Republican incumbents Erin Paré and Mike Schietzelt are defending their House seats, while Chris Stock challenges Democratic Sen. Haseeb Fatmi. Meanwhile, western North Carolina is receiving an additional $873 million in federal funding to repair roads, bridges, an...

President Donald Trump returned to North Carolina Tuesday night for a campaign rally in Greenville, where he urged voters to support Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley and congressional candidates Laurie Buckhout and Jennifer Balkcom. The program features audio from the rally, including Trump's criticism of former Gov. Roy Cooper's record on crime, immigration, and the economy as Republicans work to increase turnout a...

North Carolina is reporting the lowest gasoline and diesel prices in the nation following the temporary suspension of the state's 41-cent-per-gallon fuel tax. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has announced a settlement with UNC-Chapel Hill resolving federal investigations into allegations of antisemitism and racial discrimination, requiring changes to university policies and admissions practices. The administration has also rele...

Federal prosecutors have announced indictments against 10 noncitizens accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally voting in North Carolina elections, including the 2024 general election. The charges come as early voting gets underway across the state ahead of the November midterms. More than 27,000 ballots were cast during the first few hours of early voting Thursday. Meanwhile, Republican Court of Appeals Judge Apri...

Early voting begins today across all 100 North Carolina counties ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, with voters able to cast ballots through October 31. President Donald Trump is also preparing to return to North Carolina for an October 20 rally in Greenville, where he is expected to campaign for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley and congressional candidate Laurie Buckhout. Meanwhile, the North Carolina State...

Two Democratic members of the North Carolina State Board of Elections are questioning the accuracy of federal data identifying 1,599 registered voters as potential noncitizens. Theresa Opeka of Carolina Journal joins the program to discuss the findings, concerns raised by board members, and the state's ongoing review of voter eligibility. Meanwhile, a new report from the Reason Foundation ranks North Carolina tied for last in the n...

Democrats have narrowly regained their position as North Carolina’s largest registered political party, surpassing Republicans for the first time since January, although unaffiliated voters remain the state's largest overall voting bloc. Andy Jackson of the John Locke Foundation joins the program with the latest mail-in voting numbers, showing accepted absentee ballots running 23% below the same point in 2022. Meanwhile, Nort...

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has signed legislation temporarily suspending the state's 41-cent-per-gallon gas tax through November 30, while criticizing Republican lawmakers for not doing more to address the rising cost of living. Republican legislative leaders defended the measure as an example of the state's fiscal responsibility and commitment to providing relief for drivers. Meanwhile, the North Carolina State Health Plan has...

North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner is warning that Atrium Health’s new affordability program could accelerate financial problems for the State Health Plan by shifting additional costs onto taxpayers and plan members. Atrium maintains its program will help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients. Meanwhile, new data shows teacher vacancies across North Carolina declined even before recently approved pay raises took ...

North Carolina lawmakers have approved a temporary suspension of the state’s 41-cent-per-gallon motor fuel tax through Nov. 30, passing the measure 111-1 in the House and 41-0 in the Senate during Wednesday’s special session. The program features audio from the General Assembly as lawmakers debate the measure and its impact on drivers and transportation funding. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Instruction is asking ...

North Carolina lawmakers return to Raleigh today for a special session focused on rising fuel costs, with the House and Senate scheduled to convene at noon as lawmakers consider a temporary suspension or reduction of the state’s 41-cent-per-gallon gas tax. Donna King of Carolina Journal joins the program to discuss NCInnovation’s board approving its fiscal year 2026 audit despite an ongoing dispute over how millions of ...

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is facing expanding scrutiny, with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office joining state and local investigations into matters involving the district, while the State Board of Education says it will take whatever actions are authorized if violations of state fiscal requirements are established. North Carolina lawmakers are also returning to Raleigh Wednesday to consider relief from high fuel prices, i...

North Carolina lawmakers are returning to Raleigh this week to consider relief from rising fuel prices, including a possible suspension of the state gas tax. Meanwhile, the Senate Leadership Fund has paused additional advertising in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race between Republican Michael Whatley and Democrat Roy Cooper. Congress has also cleared legislation authorizing the transfer of roughly 20 acres of Fort Bragg prope...

A recently unsealed whistleblower lawsuit alleged fraud and misrepresentation involving North Carolina’s long-running Medicaid technology overhaul, although a federal judge dismissed the case in September for failure to state a claim; State Auditor Dave Boliek has separately relaunched an audit of the modernization project. Theresa Opeka of Carolina Journal joins the program to break down the allegations and the state’s...

North Carolina House K-12 Education Committee Chairman David Willis says the state’s school funding model is “broken,” as education leaders examine whether the current position-based system should be overhauled. Meanwhile, NC Ports is targeting refrigerated and cold-chain cargo as a major opportunity in its five-year growth strategy, including expanded activity at the Port of Wilmington. Mitch Kokai of the John Lo...

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is warning that Republican “purity tests” and an emphasis on loyalty to President Donald Trump could create challenges for the party as it seeks to maintain control of the U.S. Senate. Andy Jackson of the John Locke Foundation joins the program with the latest mail voting and voter registration numbers, including trends that could see Democrats again surpass Republicans in total registered voters i...

North Carolina election officials are welcoming a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the state to continue using the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of registered voters, while officials say voters will not be automatically removed based on database results. Meanwhile, a new Wake County school library policy is drawing criticism from House Majority Leader Brenden Jones, who is promising a legislative respon...

North Carolina is marking two years since Hurricane Helene devastated western communities, killing 107 people and causing nearly $60 billion in damage, while recovery and rebuilding efforts continue across the region. Governor Josh Stein has unveiled a long-term economic recovery plan developed with input from 28 counties and regional organizations, focusing on areas including infrastructure, housing, workforce development, tourism...

Renewed flooding around Lake Lure is raising questions about downstream safety, dam operations, and emergency monitoring nearly two years after Hurricane Helene destroyed the town’s upstream flood gauges. Heavy rainfall this week prompted additional releases from the Lake Lure Dam and downstream warnings, though no evacuations were required. Andrew Pomeranz of Carolina Journal joins the program for a two-part look at North Ca...