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Leandro school funding case continues this week

By Alanna Joyner / April 11, 2022 / Comments Off on Leandro school funding case continues this week

The next hearing for Leandro is set for tomorrow at 9 a.m., and will mark the latest update in the longstanding school funding case after groups filed briefs ahead of this week’s court hearing. The upcoming hearing comes also after Justice Paul Newby ordered the removal of Superior Court Judge David Lee from overseeing the…

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Ketanji Brown Jackson makes history as the first Black woman Supreme Court Justice

By Alanna Joyner / April 6, 2022 / Comments Off on Ketanji Brown Jackson makes history as the first Black woman Supreme Court Justice

In a 53-47 vote, the U.S. Senate has confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson as the 116th Supreme Court justice.  Justice Jackson makes history as the first Black woman to hold the Supreme Court justice title. As noted by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), “In our nation’s history..108 SCOTUS justices have been white men, only 4 have been…

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U.S. House passes bill to cap insulin prices

By Alanna Joyner / April 5, 2022 / Comments Off on U.S. House passes bill to cap insulin prices

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill with a bipartisan vote that would limit the monthly price of insulin to $35 for insured patients – helping millions of Americans and North Carolinians living with diabetes. According to the Health Care Cost Institute, between 2012 and 2016, the price of insulin almost doubled.…

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NC Republicans’ efforts in courts continue to undermine our judicial system

By Alanna Joyner / April 1, 2022 / Comments Off on NC Republicans’ efforts in courts continue to undermine our judicial system

For years, North Carolina Republican legislators have passed numerous laws that serve to undermine our judiciary and place judges on the bench that will adhere to their colleagues’ bidding. Historically, the judiciary branch of our government has been enshrined in impartiality and a commitment to fairness since our nation’s founding. Yet, the latest Republican efforts…

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Moral Mondays returns to Raleigh, advocates and community members push for change

By Alanna Joyner / March 29, 2022 / Comments Off on Moral Mondays returns to Raleigh, advocates and community members push for change

On Monday, faith leaders and community activists in Raleigh gathered together to push lawmakers to enact policies that center the demands of poor and low-wealth North Carolinians.  The Moral Monday revival is part of a national movement leading up to a major march in the nation’s capital on June 18, the “Mass Poor People’s and…

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Affordable Care Act Anniversary Highlights Need for NC Medicaid Expansion

By Alanna Joyner / March 24, 2022 / Comments Off on Affordable Care Act Anniversary Highlights Need for NC Medicaid Expansion

Yesterday marked the 12-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) being signed into law. For the past decade, the landmark health law has expanded health care coverage to millions of Americans, lowered costs and secured lifesaving protections for hard-working families across the country. Despite the overwhelming benefits and added critical protections, North Carolina remains…

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NC Republicans’ politicization of the courts shown clear in Leandro case developments

By Alanna Joyner / March 23, 2022 / Comments Off on NC Republicans’ politicization of the courts shown clear in Leandro case developments

After 28 years, North Carolina’s landmark Leandro case is once again back in the state Supreme Court. In a ruling late Monday night, the North Carolina Supreme Court agreed to hear the latest litigation in the school funding case that began in 1994.  Since the state Supreme Court’s ruling in 1994, which found that the…

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Republicans’ New Plan: Raise taxes on working people

By Alanna Joyner / March 15, 2022 / Comments Off on Republicans’ New Plan: Raise taxes on working people

While millions of Americans are recovering from the financial hardships caused by the pandemic, Republicans are pushing forth a new tax plan that will raise taxes for everyone.  Florida Senator Rick Scott, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, released an “11-point plan to rescue America” that included a proposal for all Americans to…

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Millions of vulnerable Americans likely to fall off Medicaid once the federal public health emergency ends

By Alanna Joyner / March 14, 2022 / Comments Off on Millions of vulnerable Americans likely to fall off Medicaid once the federal public health emergency ends

With the federal public health emergency ending next month, up to 16 million Americans, including children, may lose Medicaid coverage unless the expanded health care coverage is extended.  Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed in March 2020, states were prevented from removing Medicaid recipients from the program – giving millions of Americans health…

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New report shows NC teacher turnover is rising

By Alanna Joyner / March 9, 2022 / Comments Off on New report shows NC teacher turnover is rising

According to a new report, the rate of North Carolina teachers retiring or leaving their job increased last year. Compared to the previous year, more than 600 teachers left their teaching job in the state.  Although the attrition rate is well within what the state Department of Public Instruction thinks is average, several long-standing unmet…

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