Photo: Getty Images/LWA/Dann Tardif
In Raleigh, a fiery Biden blasts Trump as a threat to democracy, seeks to quell age concerns
President Joe Biden at a speech in Raleigh on June 28, 2024 (Screengrab from video feed)
By Rob Schofield and Ahmed Jallow
President tells raucous crowd “I believe with all my heart and soul that I can do this job”
In his first major public appearance after Thursday night’s presidential debate in Atlanta, a fiery and animated President Joe Biden addressed a loud and enthusiastic crowd on Friday at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.
In a speech interrupted repeatedly by applause and chants of “four more years!” and “yes you can!” from an audience that seemed almost as if it was trying to provide him with an infusion of energy, the 81-year-old chief executive ticked off a long list of his administration’s accomplishments, blasted what he said were Donald Trump’s repeated lies and policy failures, and directly addressed the issue of his age and his much-criticized debate performance. [Read more…]
NC DHHS has been unable to arrange required exit conference with Yolanda Hill
Yolanda Hill Robinson with husband Lt. Governor Mark Robinson celebrating his primary victory on March 2, 2024. (Screengrab from Robinson’s campaign YouTube channel)
By Ahmed Jallow
Nonprofit headed by Lt. Gov. Robinson’s wife will receive “Notice of Serious Deficiency” if it fails to respond before June 30
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to schedule a routine exit conference with Balanced Nutrition Inc., a nonprofit run by Yolanda Hill, wife of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, according to a June 14 letter obtained by NC Newsline.
According to the letter, Balanced Nutrition did not respond to several emails and phone calls from DHHS. [Read more…]
NC legislature passes laws on masks, protests, and campaign money over the governor’s objections
North Carolina General Assembly (File Photo)
By Lynn Bonner
The Republican-dominated legislature passed three new laws that Gov. Roy Cooper does not want, with the Senate voting Thursday to tear holes in campaign finance rules, allow billboard owners to cut more trees along roadsides, and have more 16- and 17-year-olds to face trial in adult court.
The Senate voted along party lines to override the Democratic governor’s vetoes. The House took its override votes on Wednesday. [Read more...]
Jewish and Muslim demonstrators call for veto of bill defining antisemitism
By Ahmed Jallow
A group of Jewish and Muslim activists protested outside the Governor’s Mansion Thursday evening against a bill that would codify a controversial definition of antisemitism into state law.
Protesters called on Gov. Roy Cooper to veto the bill (labeled by its sponsors as “The Shalom Act”) which critics — including the demonstrators — argue is intended to stifle criticism of Israel. [Read more...]
House advances bill requiring State Board of Elections to work with “election integrity” groups
Rep. George Cleveland wants election integrity groups to help with voter roll maintenance (Photo: NCGA video stream).
Representative suggests anonymous group known as ‘Totes Legit’ could help with state’s voter rolls
In the waning days of the legislative session, Rep. George Cleveland (R-Onslow) urged his colleagues on Thursday to greenlight legislation that would require the State Board of Elections to establish a new system for investigating and correcting data provided by “election integrity” organizations to assist in maintenance of the state’s voter registration lists.
Cleveland told members of the House Rules Committee that the state board was reluctant to rely on groups that could be discriminatory, but House Bill 1071 would require it to examine data brought forth by election integrity organizations and provide quarterly reports to the General Assembly organized by county on corrections made to the voter rolls. [Read more…]
NC passes medical marijuana; legislation faces uncertain future as it heads to the Senate House
North Carolina lawmakers discussed legislation to legalize medical marijuana. Photo: Getty Images
On a 36-10 vote, the North Carolina Senate passed sweeping legislation Monday evening that would allow for the use of medical marijuana while strictly regulating hemp-derived consumables.
Senator Tom McInnis (R- Cumberland, Moore ) said he had no doubt that the bill sponsor was well-intended in bringing forward House Bill 563, but he could not support a bill that his local sheriff adamantly opposed. [Read more….]
North Carolinians must earn more, work more to pay for modest apartments
Source: National Low-Income Housing Coalition
North Carolinians must earn $3.61 more per hour and work more than they did in 2023 to pay for a modest apartment, according to a new National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) report.
The coalition’s 2024 Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing report found that the 2024 “housing wage” for North Carolina is $25.21 per hour, which is an increase of $3.61 an hour when compared to the $21.54 per hour wage a worker needed in 2023 to pay for a modest apartment. North Carolina has the 28th highest housing wage in the nation, according to the report. [Read more….]
Third party presidential candidates blocked from NC ballot, at least temporarily
The Kennedy campaign bus has made appearances in Raleigh this year, but Robert F. Kennedy Jr. remains blocked from the state’s presidential ballot for now. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
By Lynn Bonner
The state Board of Elections refused along party lines to recognize as political parties the groups trying to put Robert Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West on the November presidential ballot.
Democrats on the board rejected petitions from Justice for All, which is trying to put West on the ballot, and from Kennedy’s We the People party.
They also rejected the Constitution Party. [Read more…]
Activists demanding funding for childcare arrested at Legislative Building
Several advocates for child care funding were arrested Wednesday inside the Legislative Building. (Photo: Greg Childress)
Lawmakers propose short-term budget fix ahead of end of month deadline
Eight activists demanding lawmakers allocate $300 million in emergency childcare funding were arrested Wednesday inside the state Legislative Building after North Carolina General Assembly Police warned them to stop singing and chanting. Police told protesters that they’d received a noise complaint.
The activists were given three warnings before police arrested them, bound their hands with zip ties and led them away. The protesters were charged with second-degree trespassing and a related charge. [Read more.…]
Gambling interests raise the stakes to win North Carolina (Commentary)
The author has uncovered more than $3 million that gambling interests have spent between 2022 and 2024 to influence the decisions of North Carolina lawmakers. (NC Newsline file photo)
By Bob Hall
Industry channeled more than $3 million to legislators and select political committees in just two years
Last year, casino builders from Las Vegas to Baltimore thought they had cracked open North Carolina for at least three new “entertainment centers,” thanks to a plan backed by the uber-powerful Sen. Phil Berger.
But then people living near proposed casino sites pushed back, particularly in Berger’s own Rockingham County. News of the industry’s pay-to-play contributions and secret meetings with politicians made folks even madder. Berger wisely put the plan on hold – but it’s still alive.
Less publicized, the plan also calls for legalizing the video poker industry – putting thousands of gambling machines in gas stations, bars, stores, mini-casino parlors. “Video lottery terminals” (VLTs) are crafted with addictive flashing lights and occasional payouts. They’re called the “crack cocaine of gambling.” [Read more…]
The post Weekend reads: Biden’s Raleigh rally, veto overrides, and the GOP’s plan for voter roll maintenance appeared first on NC Newsline.