The Senate is the clearest path forward for Cooper, but his political prospects are wide open. Whether he runs for a third term as governor, the Senate, or the presidency, he will likely find widespread support among North Carolina Democrats, who remember his defense of public education and efforts to expand Medicaid as governor fondly.
Read MoreWhile the details of the case remain ambiguous, a series of Associated Press interviews, court order reviews, and online posts show how a group of young, intelligent people met online, shared radical beliefs, and became increasingly violent — eventually culminating in six deaths across three states all believed to be tied to their group, the “Zizians.”
Read MoreNorth Carolina public schools lost tens of millions in federal grant funding in February and March due to the Trump Administration’s ban on programs suspected of engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Read MoreFoushee, who assumed office on January 3rd, 2024, acts as Chapel Hill’s current voice in Washington, representing North Carolina’s 4th congressional district. Compared to other nearby cities, Chapel Hill voters tend to lean more liberal, aligning with Foushee’s role as a Democratic House Representative. As a woman of color and Chapel Hill native, Foushee is best known for championing and amplifying causes such as protecting minority rights and education reform, among many others. When it comes to her vision for the future of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, there are a few key legislative issues she seeks to prioritize through the remainder of her term.
Read MoreAs of Wednesday, February 5th, the UNC System is no longer mandating course requirements for classes dealing with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). All general education and major-specific DEI graduation requirements besides the FC-POWER focus capacity have been suspended, reshaping how certain courses fit into students’ degree plans. Although FC-POWER is yet to be completely cut out from the curriculum given that the shift is so fresh, university leadership has suggested that further changes might be on the horizon.
Read MoreIn the last legislative session, House Republicans overrode 29 of Governor Cooper’s vetoes. Now, no override will occur unless Democrats are persuaded to work with Republicans or if a Democrat is absent during a General Assembly vote.
Read MoreOn November 5th, 2024, Allison Riggs was reelected to the NC Supreme Court with a narrow victory of 734 out of 5.5 million votes. Shortly after, Jefferson Griffin sued the North Carolina State Board of Elections, claiming that roughly 66,000 votes should be discounted from the total.
Read MoreIn the 2024 general election, North Carolina overall experienced decreased voter turnout compared to record numbers in 2020. National trends reflect a similar slight decrease in voter turnout this year, with a one-percent reduction between 2020 and 2024. Orange County evaded such a decrease and voter turnout was nearly the same as in 2020.
Read MoreLast month, the Chapel Hill Town Council agreed to participate in planning the Co-Gen Rail Transformation Project alongside Orange County and Carrboro. This project aims to convert a 10-mile rail line into a multimodal greenway that would bring economic and environmental benefits. Still, it is currently limited by UNC’s reliance on the coal the rail line provides.
Read MoreWhile the deadline for voter registration in North Carolina ended on October 11, 2024, the effort to increase voter turnout continues as we near election day. Early voting began in NC on October 17, 2024, and will end at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, 2024.
Read MoreFor generations, public universities have served as a hotbed of political activity and particularly, UNC-Chapel Hill. At a public university with a largely left-leaning student body ina swing state that has the ability to decide the election, student groups are more active than ever.
Read MoreOne of the most polarizing races on North Carolina’s ballot this year is the fight for Superintendent of Public Instruction, the chief administrative officer for the state’s public school system. Mo Green, the Democratic candidate, is the former Superintendent of Guilford County Schools. Michele Morrow, the Republican nominee, is a registered nurse from Cary who homeschooled her children, running on a platform of parental rights, a reorganization of educational institutions and funding, and opposition to critical race theory.
Read MoreIn 55 minutes, the Town Council—minus Karen Stegman, who was absent—discussed a development that wanted an exemption from light rules, trash in the Haw River, affordable housing, changes to a right-of-way, and updated stormwater regulations
Read MoreAs a Congressman who gained a large reputation on the app, many users saw this as an act of betrayal. On March 16, Jackson took to the platform to address the vote, apologizing for his lack of transparency. “I would feel like I deserved an explanation.”
Read MoreTurnout and interest in student government elections at UNC have not been particularly high in recent years. This year it was 7.22 percent.
Read MoreTo understand why one bond is required to fund two school systems within the same county, it’s important to go back to the history of the two school systems.
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 MoreH.B. 259’s health spending should be taken with a mixture of optimism and caution. Optimism, because the legislature has shown they can be convinced to make bipartisan decisions in the interest of the state, such as Medicaid expansion. Caution, because it took the state losing $5 billion federal dollars a year plus an extra signing bonus to reach that point. Optimism, as the bill makes historic investments in mental health and rural health infrastructure and workforce incentives. Caution, since these investments were made with one-time funding with no clear path to renewal in the context of aggressive tax cuts limiting future revenues.
Read MoreMost college-aged students today are aware of the opioid crisis and are or know someone who has been personally affected by it. With fentanyl, this can range from full-blown drug addiction to a one-time drug use gone wrong.
Read MoreChapel Hill’s polling stations will also find themselves busy, as the mayor’s office, four seats on the town council, and four seats on the school board are all up for election. Issues such as changes to zoning in Chapel Hill, progress on the Bus Rapid Transit line, and possibly more planned buildings on Franklin Street promise to make this election an impactful one for Chapel Hill’s future.
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