Democracy

WRAL: State should make sure ALL in need are tested for coronavirus

By Alanna Joyner / March 10, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: State should make sure ALL in need are tested for coronavirus

Last week, Congress approved an $8.3 billion emergency spending package in an effort to combat the coronavirus. Almost $13 million has been set aside for emergency aid for North Carolina as local health officials prepare for the outbreak. Across the country, some states are setting aside funds to waive fees for patients who lack healthcare…

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A Right-Wing Billionaire Was Just Convicted of Bribery, and He’s Dragging Republicans Down With Him

By Alanna Joyner / March 9, 2020 / Comments Off on A Right-Wing Billionaire Was Just Convicted of Bribery, and He’s Dragging Republicans Down With Him

On Thursday, Greg Lindberg and John Gray were found guilty of attempting to bribe North Carolina’s Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. Lindberg, one of North Carolina’s largest political donors, was convicted of bribing Causey with millions in campaign money.  The federal jury also found Lindberg associates John Gray guilty on two public corruption charges, while John…

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North Carolina lawsuit claims absentee vote changes went too far and is unconstitutional

By Alanna Joyner / March 6, 2020 / Comments Off on North Carolina lawsuit claims absentee vote changes went too far and is unconstitutional

On Wednesday, Lawyers for Advance Carolina sued the state, in an effort to overturn absentee ballot security measures that the General Assembly passed last year in the wake of major election fraud. The Senate Bill 683, passed by the Republican-led assembly, contained numerous election measures as a response to the election fraud in the 9th…

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Trump visits North Carolina before Super Tuesday

By Alanna Joyner / March 2, 2020 / Comments Off on Trump visits North Carolina before Super Tuesday

Ahead of Super Tuesday, Trump is holding another rally in Charlotte today in an attempt to gain voters — but let’s not forget a few of his many broken promises to North Carolinians. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed that uninsured individuals would be “taken care of”, but since taking office Trump and…

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WRAL: Did Tillis vote to ‘take away’ coverage for pre-existing conditions?

By Alanna Joyner / March 2, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: Did Tillis vote to ‘take away’ coverage for pre-existing conditions?

In 2015, Senator Thom Tillis along with other Republican incumbents, voted for a repeal of the Affordable Care Act — a move that would have left millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions vulnerable.  From WRAL: A pre-existing condition is a health problem that someone has before their health coverage starts. Examples include asthma, cancer, diabetes…

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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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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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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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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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NC Senate leader Phil Berger made $80,000 selling his house to a lobbyist

By Alanna Joyner / February 17, 2020 / Comments Off on NC Senate leader Phil Berger made $80,000 selling his house to a lobbyist

Long-time government watchdog Bob Hall, filed a complaint last week with the General Assembly’s Legislative Ethics Commission, alleging that NC Senator Leader Phil Berger benefited financially from the sale of a campaign-bought townhouse in Raleigh. Berger sold the townhouse to a lobbyist, pocketing $80,000 in the process. In addition to the $80,000 profit, Berger previously…

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