NC lawmakers give initial OK to Medicaid bailout bill amid concerns over provisions • NC Newsline North Carolina House and Senate lawmakers voted near-unanimously Wednesday to approve a measure that bails out the state’s Medicaid program.

North Carolina lawmakers voted nearly unanimously Wednesday to bail out the state’s Medicaid program, though Democrats raised issues with provisions about ICE and the state auditor.

The bill is scheduled for a final vote in both chambers April 28 #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/04/22/n...

NOW: The North Carolina House is discussing a bill that would bail out the state's Medicaid program, which is almost out of funding

It includes a long list of policy changes and "anti-fraud" measures, raising controversy #ncpol

Stein pitches NC budget with teacher raises, tax cuts, Medicaid funding • NC Newsline Lawmakers returned to Raleigh for their 2026 legislative session after failing to pass a comprehensive budget in 2025.

North Carolina teachers could receive the highest starting salaries in the Southeast if the legislature follows Gov. Josh Stein’s recommended budget, which he revealed on Tuesday. #ncpol

With @chenkel.bsky.social:

ncnewsline.com/2026/04/21/s...

Property tax, data center bills likely to move through NC legislature this session • NC Newsline Lawmakers return to Raleigh this week for the 2026 legislative session. Despite partisan divisions on other issues, both parties seem to agree on the need for action on property taxes and data center ...

Partisan legislators have squabbled over a state budget for months, but a few measures appear likely to pass the North Carolina General Assembly with support from across the aisle. #ncpol

With @gchildress.bsky.social:

ncnewsline.com/2026/04/21/p...

Read the full recommended budget here: www.osbm.nc.gov/fy2026-27-bu...

NOW: Gov. Josh Stein is announcing his recommended budget for fiscal year 2026-27 as lawmakers return to Raleigh for session #ncpol

Priorities:
- Improving public education
- Supporting working families
- Building economy, workforce
- Keeping NC safe, healthy
- Modernizing govt

NC lawmakers press Sangvai, Jackson on Medicaid fraud, waste • NC Newsline The Medicaid program is facing a $319 million funding gap, jeopardizing healthcare for about 3 million lower-income or disabled North Carolinians.

North Carolina House lawmakers grilled N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai and Attorney General Jeff Jackson over allegations of fraud in the state’s Medicaid program during a committee hearing on Thursday. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/04/16/n...

NC House panel recommends changes to involuntary commitment system • NC Newsline The House Select Committee on Involuntary Commitment and Public Safety is recommending that county jails consider using telehealth as a way for medical staff to evaluate the mental health of arrestees...

A North Carolina House committee voted on Tuesday to approve interim recommendations to improve public safety in the state, but lawmakers say they’re a long way from finishing their work on involuntary commitment. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-ho...

Fuquay-Varina seeks new water source due to growth, drawing opposition • NC Newsline Fuquay-Varina is asking for approval to pull 6.17 million gallons per day from the Cape Fear River Basin, but release its treated wastewater into the Neuse River Basin.

Fuquay-Varina doesn't have enough water for its projected future population.

The town is asking for approval to pull 6.17 million gallons per day from the Cape Fear River Basin, but release its treated wastewater into the Neuse River Basin. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/f...

Stein urges review of data center tax breaks as cost to NC residents rise • NC Newsline Stein is asking the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force to weigh whether the state should modify or repeal sales tax exemptions for data centers.

President Donald Trump and Democratic governors don’t often agree on policy issues.

But Trump and North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein appear to be on the same page when it comes to protecting consumers from price hikes due to data centers. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/04/08/s...

Mullin to visit Asheville area on Tuesday, highlighting FEMA efforts • NC Newsline After Mullin’s confirmation, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein wrote a letter sending congratulations and asking for help with Hurricane Helene recovery.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is visiting western North Carolina on Tuesday.

He’ll participate in events focusing on the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA’s disaster relief efforts after Hurricanes Helene and Florence #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/briefs/mulli...

Cooper holds double-digit lead over Whatley in latest U.S. Senate poll • NC Newsline A Catawba-YouGov survey found 48% of likely voters said they prefer Cooper to 34% for Whatley.

Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper is leading former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley by over a dozen points in the race for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat, according to a new poll released Tuesday. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/03/31/c...

Who will fill the power vacuum at the top of the North Carolina Senate? Watch the short session. • NC Newsline Phil Berger’s loss to a populist candidate to his right leaves a gaping power vacuum at the top of the chamber.

North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger's loss leaves his caucus with a difficult question: whether to continue his legacy by choosing one of his lieutenants, or choose a different direction in the future. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/03/30/w...

NC environmentalists lament decision to scrap offshore wind farm • NC Newsline TotalEnergies and the U.S. Dept. of the Interior signed an agreement to end two offshore wind leases — one in North Carolina and one in New York.

A French energy company is halting an offshore wind project off the North Carolina coast as a result of a settlement this week with the Trump administration. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/03/24/n...

NC invests $26M to expand high-speed internet into additional rural areas by 2026 • NC Newsline The additional funding targets 5,161 homes, businesses and community anchor institutions in 66 counties across rural portions of the state.

Thousands more rural North Carolinians will receive access to high-speed internet by the end of 2026, following a nearly $26 million state investment announced Monday.

ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-in...

NC lawmakers weigh changes to involuntary commitment, guardianship under Iryna’s Law • NC Newsline State House lawmakers are considering changes that might be needed to keep the public safe from people with mental illness who could harm others.

The House Select Committee on Involuntary Commitment and Public Safety is looking at how state regulations for involuntary commitment and guardianship could affect how Iryna’s Law is implemented in North Carolina. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/03/18/n...

The "MAGA Majority" program also includes Paul LePage, the former Maine governor who is running for Congress in my previous home district of ME-02.

Notably, this used to be the NRCC's Young Guns program. Buckhout was born in 1961, and LePage is the oldest participant at 77.

National GOP invests in Buckhout’s bid to unseat Davis in NC-01 • NC Newsline Republicans hold a slim 218-214 majority in the U.S. House with three vacancies. NRCC wants to defend and expand that margin.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is adding Laurie Buckhout to its “MAGA Majority” program, investing in her bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Rep. Don Davis in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/03/17/n...

Vance blasts Davis, Cooper in Rocky Mount as GOP targets NC-01, US Senate seat • NC Newsline Both parties are targeting the seat, which may prove crucial to control of the House. The GOP currently holds a slim majority, 218-214, with three vacancies.

Vice President J.D. Vance slammed Democratic Rep. Don Davis for his voting record during his Rocky Mount event on Friday. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/03/13/v...

Vance is speaking now in Rocky Mount #ncpol:
- Criticizes Rep. Don Davis & former Gov. Roy Cooper, backs Laurie Buckhout & Michael Whatley
- Defends SAVE Act, which would require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship & photo ID

I'm in Rocky Mount today, where Vice President JD Vance will speak this afternoon #ncpol

Campaign watch:
- The city is home to NC-01, where Republican Laurie Buckhout aims to oust Democratic Rep. Don Davis
- NC's open Senate seat is pivotal to control over the upper chamber

Climate change making allergy season longer in North Carolina, new study says • NC Newsline Raleigh’s allergy season has lengthened by 41 days — more than a month — between 1970 and 2025.

North Carolina is seeing a longer allergy season as a result of climate change, according to a new report from Climate Central.

ncnewsline.com/briefs/clima...

Rocky Mount’s former city manager and council responsible for financial crisis, Boliek says • NC Newsline Boliek’s office started its investigation after the city admitted a budget crisis in late 2025.

Bad decisions and overspending have led the city of Rocky Mount to the brink of financial collapse, according to a report released Monday by the North Carolina State Auditor’s office. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/briefs/rocky...

Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page holds a narrow lead of 23 votes over Senate leader Phil Berger for the Republican primary in Senate District 26, according to unofficial results.

Boliek: ‘There’s nothing to recuse myself from’ in recount between Berger, Page • NC Newsline State Senate Leader Phil Berger's challenger Sam Page has asked state Auditor Dave Boliek to recuse himself from any issues related to the race, including auditing the election result.

North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek declined to recuse himself from oversight of a state senate race recount in which one candidate says there's a conflict of interest.

“There’s nothing to recuse myself from,” he told reporters on Monday. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/03/09/b...

Valerie Foushee statement on Nida Allam's concession in NC-04 primary #ncpol:

“In a state where many people’s rights are on the ballot in November, now is the time for our district to unify in support of Roy Cooper and others who are fighting to flip seats blue."

Allam concedes tight NC-04 Democratic primary to Foushee • NC Newsline Despite saying Tuesday that she would seek a recount in her race for North Carolina's 4th Congressional District, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam announced late Wednesday she is conceding the ra...

BREAKING: Despite saying Tuesday that she would seek a recount in her race for North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District, Nida Allam announced late Wednesday she is conceding the race to incumbent Democratic Rep. Valerie Foushee. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/briefs/allam...

PAC spending tops $4.5M in NC-04 as Dem primary moves toward likely recount • NC Newsline The new spending brings the total to $4,518,411 between two-term incumbent Democrat Valerie Foushee and challenger Nida Allam.

Outsider spending in North Carolina’s most expensive congressional primary in state history has exceeded $4.5 million as of Wednesday, while the race heads to a likely recount. 

ncnewsline.com/2026/03/04/p...

Foushee narrowly leads in NC-04 Democratic primary; recount likely • NC Newsline The Democratic primary for North Carolina's 4th Congressional District is heading to a likely recount, with incumbent Valerie Foushee leading by 1%. In unofficial results, Foushee won 49.22% of the vo...

The Democratic primary for North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District is heading to a likely recount, with incumbent Valerie Foushee leading by 1% of the vote. #ncpol

ncnewsline.com/2026/03/04/f...

in other news, i'm making it out of here before my parking expires!

good night, y'all. thanks for following along