The Carolina Journal News Hour on WBT

A federal trade court has struck down former President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. Dr. Andy Jackson from the John Locke Foundation provided analysis on the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Meanwhile, the North Carolina Court of Appeals is set to hear a case examining UNC’s potential involvement in the origins of COVID-19. See om...

Federal officials have filed a lawsuit over alleged inaccuracies in North Carolina’s voter list. House Speaker Tim Moore has introduced a bill aimed at closing radar coverage gaps in high-risk areas. Former President Trump is delaying tariffs on the European Union, while Apple’s iPhone exports from India to the U.S. have surged 76% as part of efforts to reduce reliance on China. The No...

NOAA is predicting an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. FEMA has once again denied North Carolina's request for extended relief funding related to Hurricane Helene, and a new audit highlighting the state's disaster-response failures is set to be released on July 1. The North Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that State Auditor Jessica Holmes Boliek can maintain her appointments to the st...

A Charlotte City Council member has been indicted on federal charges. At Fort Bragg’s All-American Week, Pete Hegseth delivered a message of support along with promises of pay raises for service members. A bill requiring schools to teach the risks of social media use is advancing in the legislature, while Speaker Hall remains optimistic as the House budget moves forward. The NC Senate is con...

The state auditor is investigating a secret settlement between the City of Charlotte and its police chief. Former Vice President Mike Pence and North Carolina leaders addressed growing economic uncertainty driven by tariffs. Durham-based semiconductor manufacturer Wolfspeed is expected to file for bankruptcy within weeks. The NC House has proposed an additional $450 million in Helene relief and is...

The state budget unveiled by the North Carolina House includes several key proposals, including a move toward privatizing parts of the DMV. State Health Plan members are set to face increased deductibles and other changes starting in 2026. Lawmakers are continuing to debate the details of the new budget, with a full recap of the process emerging as negotiations unfold. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Edwin Peacock has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Charlotte City Council. Governor Josh Stein is asking the state legislature for an additional $891 million in Helene disaster relief funding. North Carolina’s tourism industry hit a new record in 2024, with over $36 billion in spending. Meanwhile, state electronics and tech manufacturers are feeling the strain of ongoing tariffs. A di...

This week, the NC House is expected to unveil a budget that includes cutting state taxes on tipped income. The EPA has revised its PFAS water standards and vowed to hold polluters accountable. A busy legislative agenda is anticipated in the General Assembly. A judge has ruled in favor of Jacksonville food truck owners who challenged local signage restrictions. Lawmakers are responding to public fr...

An upcoming audit set for release on July 1 is expected to reveal failures in North Carolina’s disaster-response system. A new statewide poll shows mixed approval ratings for Governor Josh Stein, Senator Thom Tillis, and former Governor Roy Cooper, with economic concerns and tariffs weighing heavily on voters’ minds. The NC House has passed health bills focused on early detection and p...

A Durham man has been sentenced for burning an American flag. North Carolina business and agriculture leaders are weighing in on new trade agreements with the UK and China. A pharmaceutical company plans to build a manufacturing facility in the state, while a new report highlights high stress levels among Pre-K teachers. Lawmakers are considering oxygen therapy as a potential breakthrough for trea...

The Trump administration is recognizing National Charter Schools Week with renewed support for school choice. North Carolina Democrats held a symbolic press conference “funeral” to mourn the failure of several legislative proposals. No Democrats supported a House bill that would restrict government benefits to legal residents only. The state is expanding opportunities for hunting and f...

The North Carolina Senate has passed a bill aimed at preventing bias against farmers who rely on fossil fuels when seeking loans. Allison Riggs is set to be sworn in to the NC Supreme Court following a six-month legal dispute. Schools across the state have been targeted in a Bitcoin extortion scheme linked to a data breach, prompting renewed focus on cybersecurity. In an exclusive interview, Bolie...

The U.S. and China have announced a 90-day reduction in tariffs following new trade negotiations. The North Carolina House is calling for a convention of states to address what it describes as an unsustainable national debt. Donald Trump has endorsed NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons for re-election. Tourism in North Carolina hit a record high in 2024, with over $36 billion in spending. Lawmakers are a...

Donald Trump has dropped his support for Martin following pressure from Senator Thom Tillis. A new report gives the North Carolina State Board of Elections a ‘C’ grade for its handling of the 2024 election. McNabb testified before a DOGE subcommittee. Tobacco farmers are expressing hope that a new trade deal will improve market conditions. Country music star Eric Church has confirmed t...

Justice Jefferson Griffin has officially conceded his North Carolina Supreme Court race to Allison Riggs. A GOP-led state election board has appointed a new director, chair, and secretary, signaling a shift in leadership. In the legislature, a House bill aims to ease DMV backlogs, and lawmakers have unanimously passed a measure to cap emergency ambulance ride costs. Meanwhile, the state treasurer...

Lawmakers frustrated with their own homeowners associations are pushing for reforms to better protect property owners. A new House bill would legalize the sale of raw milk in North Carolina. Lieutenant Governor Farley has warned that a recent court decision could undermine the authority of the Council of State. REAL ID requirements take effect today, and a bill allowing over-the-counter sales of i...

A federal judge has ruled in favor of Allison Riggs, ordering her to be certified as the winner of the North Carolina Supreme Court race. The NC Sheriffs’ Association has clarified that cooperation with ICE is voluntary, not mandatory. China is scaling back imports of several major North Carolina exports, raising economic concerns. Meanwhile, Carrboro is defending its climate lawsuit against...

Jon Sanders of the John Locke Foundation warns that activist-driven bureaucracy is hindering progress on the state’s energy future, in the report 'Power Plays: How an Activist Bureaucracy Obstructs NC’s Energy Future, and What to Do About It'. Rep. Sarah Stevens has filed to run in the 2026 North Carolina Supreme Court race.  Congressional candidates Pat Harrigan and Richard...

The North Carolina House has approved state investments in digital assets and passed a ban on DEI programs in public institutions. Briner is seeking to intervene in the ongoing legal battle over a utilities commission appointment. Boliek’s new appointments to the state election board are being seen as a significant shift in political power. A new poll shows that 71% of North Carolina voters...

The North Carolina Appeals Court has blocked a lower court ruling that favored Governor Stein in a dispute over election oversight. Former state Rep. Paul Tine has been appointed as the new commissioner of the NCDMV. A judge granted two additional days for final legal arguments in the Griffin-Riggs election case, and lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow private school staff to carry f...

Boliek is seeking a Court of Appeals order to uphold a shift in election oversight. Brianna Kraemer of the Carolina Journal reports that North Carolina lawmakers are increasing funding to address PFAS contamination. $55 million in grants are being made available to support small businesses in Western North Carolina. Kraemer also reports that the state may soon impose harsher sentences for illegal...

HUD approved a $1.4 billion disaster recovery grant for Western North Carolina, and the State Emergency Response Commission gave an update on Helene recovery efforts in the region. Theresa Opeka of Carolina Journal discussed the state's response to Helene. A budget proposal would double the sports-betting tax, with Jon Sanders from the John Locke Foundation providing an overview of the REINS Act....

Riggs rejected Griffin’s request for clarification in a North Carolina election dispute, shifting the case to the NC Supreme Court and Justice Myers. Governor Stein asked FEMA for more time to cover Helene recovery costs. Senator Tillis proposed streamlining relief for small businesses affected by Helene. Brianna Kraemer reported that lawmakers are preparing for subscription-based car featur...

Updates on the state Senate budget, the Griffin/Riggs Supreme Court race, and a poll on housing blame. Guests discussed opposition to natural gas, a court fight over election oversight, a Trump order targeting DEI in schools, and a protest-related injunction at UNC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Carolina is set to receive $25 million in USDA disaster relief, and a three-judge panel has ruled in favor of Governor Stein in a legal battle over elections board appointments. Republican Rocky Mount Mayor Roberson has announced a second run for NC-01. A new law may soon make it a crime to make a “rude or riotous noise” at polling places. Additionally, North Carolina’s eco...