The State Board of Community Colleges clashed over spending more than $100,000 on police training as community colleges brace for what could be an unprecedented spike in enrollment. During a tense meeting Friday, June 5, board members voted to beef up police de-escalation and community relations training as protests over the killing of George Floyd...
Each week, staff at Carolina Journal looks back at the week in N.C. politics and chooses several interesting, relevant stories you may have missed. Here’s this week’s review: Bond proposal: House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, wants a $3.1-billion bond for education and transportation needs. Reps. Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes; Michael Wray, D-Northampton; and John Torbett, R-Gaston,...
The University of North Carolina System won’t raise tuition and fees this year while students and their families struggle to stay financially afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s a good start, one expert says, but UNC should use this time to reconsider its approach to affordable higher education. In an action-packed meeting Wednesday, May 20,...
Community colleges plan to decide the future of their online and in-person learning in July, when they will revisit their strategic plan for the summer and the fall. Other colleges in the country have canceled their fall semesters for in-person learning. North Carolina’s State Board of Community Colleges has advised colleges to build up its...
Each week, staff at Carolina Journal looks back at the week in N.C. politics and chooses several interesting, relevant stories you may have missed. Here’s this week’s review: Regulatory relief: Gov. Roy Cooper has signed an executive order granting more flexibility for the health care industry. “It’s critical that our health care professionals are able...
Months now into the COVID–19 quarantine, we’re still probably some time away from a new normal, however that looks. But the forced quarantine and slowdown has given us time to see opportunities, reflect on what’s important and learn lessons worth carrying forward. Family has taken on a new significance in all our lives. Moms and dads working from home while learning to homeschool and keep little ones entertained...
Beaufort businessman Randy Ramsey has been elected permanent chairman of the University of North Carolina System’s Board of Governors. It’s a welcome development for a board that’s weathered years of tumultuous relationships and high turnover in leadership, BOG member Marty Kotis told Carolina Journal. The 24-member body has been led by four people since 2015....
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many questions with precious few answers. It’s tough to debate otherwise. A dearth of data, beyond the numbers of confirmed cases and deaths, allowing people to make reasonable decisions about their safety — and returning to some sense of normalcy — is clearly problematic. It’s just one aspect as a...
As North Carolina grapples with the impact of COVID-19, debate has turned to when and how to reopen the state’s economy. While many are calling on government officials to ease restrictions tied to the pandemic, some worry that a reopened economy could lead to major health-related problems. Becki Gray, John Locke Foundation senior vice president,...
The House is wasting little time addressing the challenges COVID-19 has posed to North Carolina. It’s pushing a roughly $1.7 billion omnibus bill to provide relief to North Carolina from the COVID-19 outbreak. The House Rules Committee approved six COVID-19 related bills during a Wednesday, April 29, virtual meeting. The bills will be wrapped into...
The N.C. General Assembly has tough decisions to make, and little time to make them. That’s the message lawmakers voiced Monday, April 27, during a handful of presentations about policy priorities. As the legislature gavels in Tuesday for its short session, Raleigh’s legislative complex will fall under intense scrutiny as people watch their representatives and...
