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The continuing domino effect of North Carolina’s rejection of Medicaid expansion

By Alanna Joyner / February 27, 2020 / Comments Off on The continuing domino effect of North Carolina’s rejection of Medicaid expansion

A recent state-by-state report by The Kaiser Family foundation, found that North Carolina, the 10th largest state in the nation, is fairing worse than the national average in health care.  With 33.5 percent of North Carolina residents below 200% of the Federal Poverty level in 2018, Medicaid is much-needed for those without financial accessibility.  In…

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News & Observer: How the Greg Lindberg bribery trial is playing out in the GOP primary for governor

By Alanna Joyner / February 26, 2020 / Comments Off on News & Observer: How the Greg Lindberg bribery trial is playing out in the GOP primary for governor

The federal bribery trial for political mega-donor Greg Lindberg and former NCGOP leader John Palermo, began last Tuesday in Charlotte.  Lindberg, along with two associates and Palermo, were indicted on numerous federal charges last March, that tied the insurance executive to attempted bribery and corruption. Lt. Gov. Dan Forest has received the most campaign money…

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WRAL: UNC leader says ‘Silent Sam’ won’t return to Chapel Hill campus

By Alanna Joyner / February 25, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: UNC leader says ‘Silent Sam’ won’t return to Chapel Hill campus

On Friday, a judge imposed a 45-day deadline on the Sons of Confederate Veterans to return the Silent Sam statue to the University of North Carolina. This comes after the Orange County Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour’s ruling that the Sons of Confederate Veterans must return the remaining balance of the $2.5 million bribe that…

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Seven years later, the GOP’s unemployment reforms still haunt NC

By Alanna Joyner / February 24, 2020 / Comments Off on Seven years later, the GOP’s unemployment reforms still haunt NC

On Tuesday, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, composed mostly of Republican lawmakers, met on the subject of Unemployment Insurance.Lawmakers are reconsidering a 2013 reform called the “Carolina Comeback”,  backed by Pat McCrory and the GOP, that was an initiative to reduce unemployment taxes on businesses., but seven years later has seemingly failed to return job…

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2019 was the worst year for rural hospital closures this decade, a new report finds

By Alanna Joyner / February 21, 2020 / Comments Off on 2019 was the worst year for rural hospital closures this decade, a new report finds

According to a new report from the Chartis Center for Rural Health, 19 rural hospitals closed across America in 2019. Almost one out of every four open rural hospitals are at risk of closing in the near future. States like North Carolina, that have chosen not to expand Medicaid have experienced the most rural hospital…

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ECU trustees: Speaker Tim Moore seeking chancellor’s post

By Alanna Joyner / February 20, 2020 / Comments Off on ECU trustees: Speaker Tim Moore seeking chancellor’s post

Two members of the ECU Board of Trustees have confirmed North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore’s interest in seeking the open chancellor’s position at East Carolina University. The two board members, who remain anonymous, told NC Policy Watch about discussions among members of the UNC Board of Governors about Moore’s candidacy. On Monday, East Carolina…

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News & Observer: Another court blocks NC voter ID law, citing ‘racially discriminatory intent’

By Alanna Joyner / February 19, 2020 / Comments Off on News & Observer: Another court blocks NC voter ID law, citing ‘racially discriminatory intent’

On Tuesday, a North Carolina Court of Appeals blocked the NC voter photo ID law, saying that the law was passed with discriminatory intent and will cause irreparable harm. A federal court has already blocked the voter ID mandate until the 2020 primary, but the state courts ruling could extend the blockage until the general…

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Group says NC must take ‘immediate action’ to provide students a sound basic education

By Alanna Joyner / February 19, 2020 / Comments Off on Group says NC must take ‘immediate action’ to provide students a sound basic education

With the recent decision in the Leandro case, an advocate group says NC must take ‘immediate action’ to meet the state’s Constitutional obligation to provide students with a sound basic education. In January, Superior Court Judge David Lee signed a court order in the long-running Leandro school funding case ordering state leaders to provide enough…

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WRAL: North Carolina Facebook page is ‘disinformation campaign,’ experts say

By Alanna Joyner / February 18, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: North Carolina Facebook page is ‘disinformation campaign,’ experts say

According to media experts, a Facebook page, called “North Carolina Breaking News”, that reportedly shares breaking news, is a hub for misinformation. The page includes racially insensitive terms towards minorities, and numerous instances of incorrect information in which news stories from other states are rewritten to have occurred in North Carolina. With over 50,000 followers,…

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WRAL: Immigrants and city leaders speak out against ICE arrests, family separations

By Alanna Joyner / February 18, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: Immigrants and city leaders speak out against ICE arrests, family separations

On Monday, city leaders from Raleigh and Durham spoke out against recent ICE arrests in North Carolina. Joined with several immigrant families, leaders are calling out ICE’s actions as undermining the judicial system. Since January, ICE agents have detained 32 people in 10 counties, including 16 in Wake County last week.  From WRAL:  With lawmakers…

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