The Carolina Journal News Hour on WBT

Testimony from a lengthy NC House Oversight Committee hearing examining the death of six-year-old Dominique Moody. Lawmakers questioned state and county officials for hours about decisions made by child welfare agencies and whether warning signs were missed before the child's death. The hearing focused on accountability, oversight failures, and potential reforms to North Carolina's child protectiv...

North Carolina lawmakers are advancing several public safety measures as the House approves legislation aimed at reforming the state’s involuntary commitment process. Katie Zehnder from Carolina Journal joins the program to discuss a Senate bill focused on social media regulation and artificial intelligence safety. Andrew Pomeranz also breaks down the passage of Jaleeyah’s Law, a measu...

Officials in western North Carolina are warning that debris left behind by Hurricane Helene could increase wildfire risks as temperatures rise and cleanup efforts continue. Theresa Opeka from Carolina Journal joins the program to discuss ongoing uncertainty surrounding state budget negotiations as lawmakers and Governor Stein remain at odds over some spending priorities. Mitch Kokai of the John Lo...

Governor Stein has announced a $100 million investment package tied to BorgWarner, but the deal is also generating renewed scrutiny of North Carolina’s Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) incentive program and how taxpayer dollars are used to attract businesses. Meanwhile, the NC House Oversight Committee is summoning state officials as lawmakers continue investigating the death of Domin...

June 1 marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, and forecasters are predicting a below-average year for storm activity. Meanwhile, North Carolina officials are launching a pilot program aimed at addressing ongoing staffing shortages within the state prison system. Theresa Opeka from Carolina Journal joins the program to discuss Governor Stein’s support for the emerging state bud...

North Carolina officials are examining new strategies to combat gang violence as a state task force reviews law enforcement efforts and public safety priorities. Katie Zehnder from Carolina Journal joins the program to discuss delays in JetZero’s hiring plans as lawmakers continue debating budget and incentive funding. Mitch Kokai from the John Locke Foundation also breaks down a legal victo...

Raleigh continues to see strong economic momentum, ranking fourth among large U.S. metro areas for small business growth. At the same time, Republican groups are claiming victory in an ongoing legal dispute involving North Carolina’s “never resident” voters and election procedures. Mitch Kokai from the John Locke Foundation joins the program to discuss a lawsuit from bar owners s...

Governor Josh Stein is warning that North Carolina’s recovery funding is beginning to run low as the state continues responding to ongoing disaster and rebuilding needs. Mitch Kokai from the John Locke Foundation joins the program to discuss the sentencing of former major North Carolina political donor Greg Lindberg, who received 12 years in prison in a high-profile corruption case. Andrew P...

North Carolina lawmakers are considering new regulations on data centers alongside protections designed to shield ratepayers from rising utility costs tied to expanding energy demand. At the same time, the State Board of Elections is requesting $60 million from lawmakers for a major statewide election system overhaul. Forecasters are also predicting a below-average Atlantic hurricane season this y...

North Carolina officials are taking legal action to reclaim the failed VinFast factory site after the company’s highly anticipated project stalled, raising new questions about economic development incentives and accountability. Meanwhile, Memorial Day travelers in North Carolina are seeing high prices at the gas pump. Mitch Kokai from the John Locke Foundation joins the program to discuss a...

North Carolina lawmakers are advancing a major slate of constitutional amendments through the House, including proposals focused on limiting taxes and government growth. Debate on the House floor also centered around levy limits and broader property tax reform efforts as Republicans continue pushing long-term tax restraint measures. Meanwhile, the House voted to override Governor Josh Stein’...

The North Carolina House is preparing for major votes on proposed constitutional amendments aimed at limiting both income and property taxes, setting up high-profile fiscal debates in Raleigh. A House committee has also approved a move that would make the State Board of Education an elected body rather than appointed. Meanwhile, Governor Josh Stein has signed an executive order focused on tackling...

A stronger-than-expected revenue forecast is giving Republican lawmakers new momentum in their push for additional tax cuts in North Carolina. Meanwhile, a man is facing a federal indictment in North Carolina over alleged Facebook threats targeting President Donald Trump. In agriculture policy, senators have filed a proposed right-to-farm constitutional amendment, aiming to strengthen protections...

The North Carolina Supreme Court has declined to rehear the long-running Leandro education funding case, effectively closing the door on another round of legal arguments in the decades-old dispute. Meanwhile, applications for $221 million in USDA Hurricane Helene relief funding have been extended through June 12 to give more farmers and landowners time to apply. Senate Republicans are also advanci...

New results from the May Carolina Journal Poll provide a broad snapshot of North Carolina politics, including voter views on the direction of the state and country, along with job approval ratings for President Donald Trump and Governor Josh Stein. The poll also measures the generic ballot for the General Assembly and offers an updated look at the high-profile U.S. Senate race between Roy Cooper a...

Senate Republicans are proposing a constitutional amendment to lower North Carolina’s income tax cap to 3.5%, continuing the push for long-term tax reductions. At the same time, new data shows Pitt and Orange counties have some of the least affordable energy prices in the state, raising concerns over utility costs. In congressional politics, ratings in North Carolina’s 11th District ar...

North Carolina House and Senate leaders have announced a new state budget framework, outlining agreements on key issues after months of negotiations and stalemate. Meanwhile, renewed scrutiny is falling on COVID-era prison releases under former Governor Roy Cooper, with lawmakers and critics raising fresh public safety concerns. In redistricting news, challengers have dropped their case against tw...

State Auditor Dave Boliek is continuing to investigate soaring autism therapy costs amid growing concerns about potential Medicaid fraud and abuse. In politics, new NRCC polling shows Republican Laurie Buckhout and Democrat Don Davis locked in a dead heat in one of the state’s most competitive congressional races. A new study also finds cellphone bans in schools are producing slow but measur...

Former FBI Director James Comey will no longer appear in federal court in Greenville today, delaying another step in the high-profile North Carolina case. At the legislature, a bipartisan proposal is targeting North Carolina’s growing data center tax incentives as AI expansion accelerates statewide. Lawmakers are also proposing a new $50 million affordable housing loan fund aimed at boosting...

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles has announced she will resign just months after winning reelection in a landslide victory, creating a major shakeup in North Carolina’s largest city. In education news, North Carolina teachers say student discipline issues are now their biggest workplace challenge, according to new survey data. Meanwhile, state officials are urging residents to prepare during Hurrica...

The North Carolina Senate has passed a bill to delay property tax reappraisals, while also considering a proposal to shift more energy costs to large users and encourage on-site power generation. Charlotte is set to make history as the first U.S. city to host the 2027 Military World Games, bringing international attention and economic impact. In eastern North Carolina, Rocky Mount is reporting pro...

Republican senators are renewing their push for zero-based budgeting, aiming to reset state spending and require agencies to justify expenses from the ground up. In politics, Democrats are targeting a full sweep of Mecklenburg County’s 13 House seats, while a new poll shows Roy Cooper holding a 9-point lead over Michael Whatley in the U.S. Senate race. In federal court, a supporter of &ldquo...

Wake County commissioners have delayed a vote on the proposed Atrium–WakeMed merger, as state officials raise concerns about potential impacts on competition and patient care. In economic development news, Raleigh has been selected as the home for a new USDA research hub, boosting the region’s role in agriculture and innovation. At the legislature, a Democratic proposal would redirect...

Thousands are expected to rally in Raleigh for the North Carolina Association of Educators “Kids Over Corporations” protest, drawing attention to education funding and policy priorities. Meanwhile, the CEO of the John Locke Foundation is praising a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding donor privacy, calling it a win for free speech protections. Governor Josh Stein has signed a $319 mill...

A North Carolina House bill would eliminate local sales taxes on groceries, while a Senate committee has revived a stalled bill regulating social media use for minors, signaling renewed focus on cost-of-living and online safety issues. Lawmakers are also debating Senate Bill 889, which would delay property reappraisals rather than raise taxes, as part of ongoing discussions about tax burdens. At t...