The Carolina Journal News Hour on WBT

VP JD Vance visited Concord to call for law and order, praising and honoring police officers during his stop. Meanwhile, forecasters are monitoring multiple systems in the Atlantic as hurricane season remains active. North Carolina’s DOT is set to receive $1.15 billion in federal funding for Hurricane Helene recovery. At the General Assembly, House and Senate leaders have hit an impasse over Medicaid rebase funding as a loomi...

The North Carolina House has passed Iryna’s Law, with strong remarks from Rep. Tricia Cotham and Rep. Brenden Jones. The legislation advances just a month after the Charlotte light rail murder of Iryna Zarutska. Lawmakers also passed a political terrorism bill in response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, seeking tougher penalties for politically motivated violence. Meanwhile, polling shows a large majority of voters supp...

One month after the murder of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s light rail, the North Carolina Senate has passed Iryna’s Law, with Sen. Danny Britt providing remarks in support. The legislation now heads to the House for the next steps in the General Assembly process. Meanwhile, a federal appeals court has unsealed video footage connected to a 2019 Charlotte law enforcement shooting, drawing renewed public interest.

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Senator Ted Budd has introduced legislation to strengthen cybersecurity protections in agriculture. As the General Assembly returns to session this week, Donna King provided a preview of the agenda, including key bills and debates ahead. Lawmakers will also be considering House Bill 307, known as Iryna’s Law, in response to the Charlotte light rail murder of Iryna Zarutska. Meanwhile, the state’s top court has ruled aga...

Nick Craig of The Carolina Journal News Hour Fills In On This Friday Edition of The TJ Ritchie Show

Hour 1: 

​Segment 1: 

Subject: Nick begins the show by talking about a story at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington that is gaining national attention. The story includes several students defacing a memorial that the college's Turning Point USA chapter made for Charlie Kirk on the school's spirit rock. There is a...

A new Carolina Journal poll shows mixed public sentiment on the country’s direction, as well as approval ratings for President Trump and Governor Stein. The poll also highlights early numbers in the 2026 U.S. Senate race between Michael Whatley and Roy Cooper. Governor Stein’s trip to Washington, D.C., to request $13.5 billion in Helene recovery aid remains in the spotlight. At UNC Wilmington, classes are canceled Frida...

Governor Stein traveled to Washington, D.C., to request $13.5 billion in federal aid for North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene, while House Speaker Tim Moore announced $2.5 million in FEMA funding for a bridge in Lake Lure. The U.S. House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a field hearing in Charlotte following the recent light rail murder. Meanwhile, legal challenges continue as Democrats and clients of attorney Mar...

Utah prosecutors announced they will seek the death penalty against Tyler Robinson, the suspect charged in the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Meanwhile, new U.S. Census data shows North Carolina’s median household income climbed to $74,000 in 2024. Wiley Nickel has announced a run for Wake County district attorney. State Auditor Dave Boliek is raising concerns about transparency in Charlotte’s settlement with its CMPD c...

Governor Stein is requesting an additional $13.5 billion in federal funding to support North Carolina’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene, highlighting the immense scale of the disaster’s damage. At the same time, U.S. shipments have been disrupted following the expiration of the de minimis trade provision, raising concerns about supply chains and consumer costs.

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A suspect has been arrested in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, while several North Carolina teachers are facing backlash over comments they made about his death. Governor Stein is expected to request additional federal aid for Hurricane Helene recovery, outlining how much funding has been secured so far. Meanwhile, Stein has appointed a new NCDOT secretary following the retirement of Joey Hopkins.

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The North Carolina General Assembly is preparing to introduce new crime legislation following a high-profile murder, with Speaker Hall and Senator Berger emphasizing tougher enforcement. In western North Carolina, another $12 million in federal recovery funding has been approved to aid Hurricane Helene rebuilding. Nationally, the manhunt continues in Utah for the killer of Charlie Kirk, while the Carolina Panthers have fired a comm...

Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, has been killed at age 31 in a Utah campus shooting, sparking national shock and reaction from political leaders. Commentary is pouring in across North Carolina, where lawmakers also paused to reflect on the 24th anniversary of the September 11th attacks and addressed the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte. Meanwhile, NCInnovation is facing new legislative demands as leadership cha...

Federal charges have been announced in the Charlotte light rail murder, with U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson outlining the case. In response, Congressman Moore has introduced legislation to end cashless bail, tying it to public safety concerns raised by the crime. President Trump also weighed in, criticizing rising crime in U.S. cities. Meanwhile, State Auditor Dave Boliek has launched an investigation into the Charlotte transit system...

A Charlotte light rail murder has drawn national attention, sparking debate about safety on public transit. Farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene can now apply for a share of a $221 million federal block grant to aid recovery. North Carolina’s Supreme Court has ruled that bar owners may continue lawsuits against Governor Stein over COVID-era shutdowns. Additionally, a new state program aims to help private schools meet gr...

The NC Appeals Court has denied Governor Stein’s request to delay the judicial and utilities appointment case, keeping it on track for review. John Deere is warning of steep losses as tariffs weigh on the agriculture sector. The NCDOT will honor 23 fallen state troopers by naming bridges in their memory. Winston-Salem has been ranked among the most dangerous cities in the U.S. for crime. In economic news, an energy company ha...

New student testing data in North Carolina shows improvement but still falls short of pre-COVID levels. The U.S. Justice Department and the NC State Board of Elections have jointly filed a motion to end a lawsuit over incomplete voter registrations. Meanwhile, North Carolina has dropped in the rankings of states with the highest gas taxes. Congressman Brad Knott highlighted President Trump’s push to tackle crime in Washington...

A federal court has ruled that former President Trump’s tariffs were illegal, dealing a blow to the administration’s trade policy. Meanwhile, lawmakers and Treasurer Briner are opposing any delay in their ongoing court battle with Governor Stein. In sports and economic news, analysts are weighing the impact of a potential Major League Baseball team in either Raleigh or Charlotte. Court filings are also ramping up ahead ...

A Canadian citizen has been indicted for illegally voting in North Carolina elections. Western NC has been approved for more than $124 million in federal recovery funding for Hurricane Helene, while AmeriCorps has released additional disaster relief money despite ongoing scrutiny over failed audits. A new Martin Center report criticizes DEI-driven curricula in medical schools, and State Treasurer Brad Briner has uncovered $170 mill...