Posts

Former U.S. attorney general calls North Carolina “ground zero” for partisan and racial gerrymandering

By Alanna Joyner / February 23, 2021 / Comments Off on Former U.S. attorney general calls North Carolina “ground zero” for partisan and racial gerrymandering

Last week, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder slated North Carolina as being the “ground zero for partisan and racial gerrymandering”. From The News & Observer: Expect more redistricting litigation in North Carolina backed by a national Democratic group that Eric Holder leads unless state Republicans accept anti-gerrymandering reforms this year, the former U.S. attorney…

Read More

WRAL: Bill requiring in-person learning relies on luck not reality. Needs more work.

By Alanna Joyner / February 22, 2021 / Comments Off on WRAL: Bill requiring in-person learning relies on luck not reality. Needs more work.

The Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly’s latest bill to swiftly reopen schools falls flat in ensuring students across North Carolina have access to a safe and healthy learning environment. Senate Bill 37 leaves out various safety measures including funding to ensure health personnel are at each opened school, social distancing guidelines and funding for substitute…

Read More

Ella Baker: The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement

By Alanna Joyner / February 18, 2021 / Comments Off on Ella Baker: The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement

In an effort to celebrate Black History Month, Progress NC Action is highlighting prominent Black leaders from North Carolina, who have shaped our state through their contributions to arts, sciences, politics, etc. Ella Baker, known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement”, inspired and guided several leaders, including W. E. B. Du Bois, Thurgood…

Read More

School reopening: Legislative leaders are simply too cheap to do it right

By Alanna Joyner / February 16, 2021 / Comments Off on School reopening: Legislative leaders are simply too cheap to do it right

Last week, N.C. House lawmakers approved a bill for K-12 school districts to offer partial in-person instruction, but the Senate did not agree to send it to the governor due to recent changes made to the proposal. The changes included allowing educators to receive special accommodations that could allow them to continue teaching remotely if…

Read More

The News & Observer: On the impeachment vote, one NC senator represented us well

By Alanna Joyner / February 15, 2021 / Comments Off on The News & Observer: On the impeachment vote, one NC senator represented us well

On Saturday, the Senate found Trump not guilty of inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection after a majority of Republicans voted against convicting the former president. Democrats’ needed 17 Republicans to join them in order to reach the two-thirds threshold needed to convict.  Seven senators, including North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, stood with Democrats in upholding…

Read More

N.C. General Assembly Debate School Reopening, COVID-19 Relief

By Alanna Joyner / February 9, 2021 / Comments Off on N.C. General Assembly Debate School Reopening, COVID-19 Relief

Last Thursday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper laid out his budget recommendations for COVID-19 relief spending, which includes one time bonuses for teachers and school personnel, recovery for businesses and further efforts to stop the spread of the virus. Cooper’s budget recommendations for allocating federal funding comes as the Republican-led General Assembly already passed an…

Read More

Trump’s second impeachment trial starts tomorrow

By Alanna Joyner / February 8, 2021 / Comments Off on Trump’s second impeachment trial starts tomorrow

Trump’s second Senate impeachment trial will start tomorrow — just over a month after the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, in which the House has charged him with inciting. The House will need the support of 17 Republicans to convict Trump.  From CNBC: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Monday afternoon that…

Read More

Raleigh’s First Black Mayor: Clarence Everett Lightner

By Alanna Joyner / February 8, 2021 / Comments Off on Raleigh’s First Black Mayor: Clarence Everett Lightner

In an effort to celebrate Black History Month, Progress NC Action is highlighting prominent Black leaders from North Carolina, who have shaped our state through their contributions to arts, sciences, politics, and more. Clarence Everett Lightner was Raleigh, North Carolina’s first, and to date, only, Black mayor in its history. Lightner was also the first…

Read More

NC Republicans promise bill to force schools open

By Alanna Joyner / February 2, 2021 / Comments Off on NC Republicans promise bill to force schools open

Last week, North Carolina Republican lawmakers announced that they are working on drafting legislation to reopen schools. From WRAL: The bill would likely require all public school districts to offer in-person learning but also give parents the option of virtual learning if they choose. Such a measure would attempt to force Gov. Roy Cooper’s hand,…

Read More

In trial vote, Sens. Burr and Tillis put party before country

By Alanna Joyner / February 1, 2021 / Comments Off on In trial vote, Sens. Burr and Tillis put party before country

North Carolina’s two Republican U.S. senators voted last Tuesday against the Senate holding a trial on the impeachment of Trump for “incitement of insurrection,”. According to FiveThirtyEight, Burr and Tillis’ votes should come at no surprise, as both Senators have repeatedly shown loyalty to Trump — voting in accordance to Trump’s position nine out of…

Read More