Democracy

Safe Elections, Not Voter Suppression

By Alanna Joyner / June 10, 2020 / Comments Off on Safe Elections, Not Voter Suppression

The Bipartisan Elections Act of 2020 or HB1169 — an N.C. House Republicans and Democrats jointly sponsored a voting safety bill — passed unanimously last month in an effort to ensure accessible voting in November, but the bill remains to have a few shortfalls.  The House Bill 1169, reduces the number of witnesses needed for…

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Why the Protests in the U.S. are an Awakening for Non-Black People Around the World

By Alanna Joyner / June 9, 2020 / Comments Off on Why the Protests in the U.S. are an Awakening for Non-Black People Around the World

For nearly two weeks, protests and demonstrations have been held across the United States and the world, calling for an end to racism and police brutality against Black Americans. The widespread movement is one of the largest mobilizations, spawning from the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was killed by police in…

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Progressive Pulse: Moore and Berger are the ones who are late, not Cooper

By Alanna Joyner / June 3, 2020 / Comments Off on Progressive Pulse: Moore and Berger are the ones who are late, not Cooper

In a news conference Monday afternoon, NC House Speaker Tim Moore called out Gov. Cooper, stating that the governor should have mobilized the National Guard troops faster to deal with recent protests over the death of George Floyd. In Trump-like fashion, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and the Republican lawmakers, reiterate Moore’s statements, expressing…

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News & Observer: Voting in a pandemic could be safer in NC thanks to a rare bipartisan bill

By Alanna Joyner / June 1, 2020 / Comments Off on News & Observer: Voting in a pandemic could be safer in NC thanks to a rare bipartisan bill

In a rare show of bipartisanship, N.C. House Republicans and Democrats jointly sponsored a voting-by-mail bill that passed last week with near unanimous support — 116 to 3. The House Bill 1169, reduces the number of witnesses needed for an absentee ballot from two to one and makes it easier to obtain an absentee ballot…

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House passes bill to allow N.C. bars to reopen despite executive order, bill now headed to Gov. Cooper.

By Alanna Joyner / June 1, 2020 / Comments Off on House passes bill to allow N.C. bars to reopen despite executive order, bill now headed to Gov. Cooper.

On Thursday, the N.C. General Assembly voted to let bars serve customers outdoors, despite Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent executive order keeping them closed due to COVID-19. Spearheaded by the GOP and some Senate Democrats, the legislation goes against safety measures imposed by Gov. Cooper that help prevent further transmission of the virus.  Rather than adhering…

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Amid the pandemic, racism & injustices must not be ignored

By Alanna Joyner / May 28, 2020 / Comments Off on Amid the pandemic, racism & injustices must not be ignored

The COVID-19 outbreak has taken a toll on the U.S., exposing not only the weakness in the health care system and economy, but the continued inequalities and injustices happening in communities across the country. During a time when the country needs direction and unity, Trump has only spread division and discord, ultimately pandering to an…

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WRAL: Bipartisan election bill promised as others fight over NC’s ballot rules

By Alanna Joyner / May 26, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: Bipartisan election bill promised as others fight over NC’s ballot rules

House leaders in bipartisan support, have moved forward with a house bill containing changes to the state’s election rules due to the pandemic. House Bill 1169, contains many measures requested by the State Board of Elections and voting rights advocates to help the state prepare for conducting a safe election for voters during the COVID-19…

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Trump threatens to pull RNC out of North Carolina unless Cooper allows mass gatherings

By Alanna Joyner / May 26, 2020 / Comments Off on Trump threatens to pull RNC out of North Carolina unless Cooper allows mass gatherings

On Monday, Trump threatened to pull the Republican National Convention (RNC) out of North Carolina if Gov. Roy Cooper doesn’t immediately sign off on allowing a full-capacity gathering in August. Trump’s tweets about the upcoming RNC come two days after North Carolina’s largest daily increase in virus cases yet.  Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the convention…

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WRAL: Long-standing, unmet priorities are even more critical now

By Alanna Joyner / May 20, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: Long-standing, unmet priorities are even more critical now

Two weeks after meeting to approve a $1.6 billion package that distributed COVID-19 funds from Washington, the North Carolina General Assembly resumed its annual session on Monday.  Republicans in the N.C. Senate unveiled spending priorities on Tuesday for the coming fiscal year, rolling out more than 18 separate bills. The N.C. house has yet to…

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N.C. Policy Watch: Senator Phil Berger’s calls to reopen are premature and irresponsible

By Alanna Joyner / May 18, 2020 / Comments Off on N.C. Policy Watch: Senator Phil Berger’s calls to reopen are premature and irresponsible

Republican Senate Leader Phil Berger recently called on Gov. Roy Cooper to relax specific executive orders on coronavirus-related closures. In Trumpian fashion, Berger has been pushing for the reopening of the state, despite COVID-19’s continuous spread around North Carolina.  While the coronavirus outbreak has taken more than 90,00 American lives, Berger is seeking out a…

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