Homeland Security’s SAVE program divides election officials as November nears • NC Newsline As the midterms approach, Republican and Democratic election officials are split over a powerful federal computer program at the center of President Donald Trump’s quest to expose noncitizen voters an...

As the midterms approach, Republican and Democratic election officials are split over a powerful federal computer program at the center of President Donald Trump’s quest to expose noncitizen voters and compile lists of voting-age Americans. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/16/r... #ncpol

NC election officials approve new rules for noncitizen voter challenges • NC Newsline On a party-line vote Thursday, the N.C. Elections Board approved a new procedure for challenging voters that the federal SAVE database flags as potential noncitizens.

Elections officials in North Carolina counties may soon be able to challenge “potential noncitizens” on their voter rolls, a move that detractors say will burden citizens called to government offices to show documents. By @lbonner.bsky.social #ncpol

‘Shirtless in a hot tub with Kid Rock’: Democrats in Congress question RFK Jr.'s priorities • NC Newsline Lawmakers questioned Kennedy about dozens of other issues throughout the hearing, including how he’s spoken about vaccines since being confirmed HHS secretary, the rise in measles cases throughout the...

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. testified before Congress on Thursday that he’s not pleased with how spending cuts to programs that help lower-income Americans afford food will affect his efforts to bolster healthy eating habits. | by @jennifershutt.bsky.social

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.

NCDHHS officials have asked state lawmakers to make up a $319 million shortfall in Medicaid funding, but Republican leaders question whether it's truly necessary and accuse NCDHHS of not doing enough to root out fraud and waste in the program. via @christinezhu.bsky.social #ncpol

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills wife, then himself, police say • NC Newsline Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before taking his own life early Thursday at the family’s home in Annandale, Fairfax County police said, in what authorit...

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before taking his own life early Thursday at the family’s home in Annandale, police said, in what authorities described as a sudden and tragic act of domestic violence amid a pending divorce. @virginiamercury.com

Young cancer survivor breaks ground on family housing for children in treatment at Duke Hospital • NC Newsline A young cancer survivor is building free housing in her backyard for families with children in treatment at Duke Children's Hospital.

Harper Harrell, a 12-year-old cancer survivor, and her mother plan for two duplexes and two accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that will provide safe, free housing for families with children in treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/16/y... By @gchildress.bsky.social #nc #Durham

Trump says he’s going after Medicaid fraud, but is mostly focusing on blue states • NC Newsline The Trump administration is taking aim at what it calls rampant fraud in state Medicaid programs. But by focusing almost exclusively on Democratic-led states, it has handed ammunition to critics who s...

The Trump administration is taking aim at what it calls rampant fraud in state Medicaid programs. But by focusing almost exclusively on Democratic-led states, it has handed ammunition to critics who say it mainly wants to embarrass its political enemies, not save taxpayer dollars. #ncpol

North Carolina is ranked dead last in school funding. My daughter with autism is paying the price. • NC Newsline There is a version of N.C. Pre-K enrollment that takes twenty minutes. You fill out a form, submit a birth certificate, and your child starts school in the fall. That version does not exist for famili...

North Carolina is ranked dead last in school funding. My daughter with autism is paying the price. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/16/n... (commentary)

Tax Day 2026: Democrats and Republicans battle over impact of new Trump tax cuts • NC Newsline Lawmakers who wrote the massive tax law offset some of the lost revenue by overhauling eligibility requirements for health and food assistance. Roughly 2.5 million Americans have lost SNAP benefits si...

The 2026 tax filing season closed Wednesday with the Trump administration and Republicans on Capitol Hill hailing success under last year’s massive tax cuts law, while Democrats said any benefits have been wiped out by skyrocketing gas prices, inflation and more. #ncpol

Stein calls for full Medicaid funding during Black maternal health event • NC Newsline Gov. Josh Stein called on lawmakers to close a $319 million Medicaid funding gap during a Black Maternal Health Week event.

Gov. Josh Stein stood with advocates at the Executive Mansion on Wednesday to mark Black Maternal Health Week, and used the event to call on the General Assembly to close a $319 million Medicaid funding gap when they return to Raleigh next week. ncnewsline.com/briefs/stein...

UNC-Wilmington seeks approval for four-year medical school • NC Newsline University of North Carolina at Wilmington Chancellor Aswani Volety says the time is right for his university to add an accredited four-year medical school with a three-year accelerated track.

University of North Carolina at #Wilmington Chancellor Aswani Volety told members of the UNC System’s Board of Governors Wednesday that the time is right for his university to add an accredited four-year medical school with a three-year accelerated track. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/15/u... #ncpol #UNCW

Many states don’t report losses from data center tax breaks, study says • NC Newsline Though public scrutiny of data centers is growing, 14 states do not disclose how much revenue they lose to data center tax breaks.That’s according to a new report from Good Jobs First, a watchdog grou...

Though public scrutiny of data centers is growing, 14 states - including North Carolina - do not disclose how much revenue they lose to data center tax breaks. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/15/r... @stateline.org #ncpol

Trump proposal to streamline jobs program funding would cut funding to states • NC Newsline Tucked into President Donald Trump’s new budget request is a plan that could dramatically change — and, critics say, slash — how much money and help states provide to people needing jobs and training.

Tucked into President Donald Trump’s new budget request is a plan that could dramatically change — and, critics say, slash — how much money and help states provide to people needing jobs and training. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/15/r...

How Republicans in Congress could fully fund ICE for years to come — and maybe do more • NC Newsline Republicans in Congress are once again looking toward the complex budget reconciliation process as a way to achieve some of their policy goals without Democratic votes.

Republicans in Congress are once again looking toward the complex budget reconciliation process as a way to achieve some of their policy goals without Democratic votes. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/15/r... via @jennifershutt.bsky.social #ncpol

NC House committee advances constitutional amendment limiting property tax increases • NC Newsline The NC House gets a recommended constitutional amendment giving the legislature the power to limit property tax increases.

A proposal to change to the North Carolina constitution to give the state legislature the authority to limit local property tax increases won approval from a House committee on Wednesday, but not without criticism By @lbonner.bsky.social #nc #ncpol #taxes

The good, the bad and the unknown: The future of AI in North Carolina • NC Newsline Leading experts in research, government and industry innovators gathered at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus this week to discuss how artificial intelligence can be responsibly d...

The good, the bad and the unknown: The future of AI in North Carolina ncnewsline.com/2026/04/15/t... #ncpol #UNC #AI #privacy

NC community's affordable apartment complex gets tenants after long delay • NC Newsline Pine Knoll EMPOWERment Affordable Community Housing recently opened its Chapel Hill apartment complex after a year-long delay.

It was a gathering that should’ve taken place nearly a year ago. It was delayed after Duke Power refused to connect the project because the developer installed one meter for the entire 10-unit apartment complex to accommodate rooftop solar panels. By @gchildress.bsky.social #ncpol #housing

NC state health plan seeks to upend state retirees' long-running health care lawsuit • NC Newsline Lawyers for the NC Health Plan asked the NC Supreme Court to dissolve a class-action lawsuit. The GOP majority could again overturn precedent.

The state Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments that could upend a case about state retiree health benefits that’s more than a decade old, potentially overturning yet another of its own rulings. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/14/n... By @lbonner.bsky.social #ncpol

Forest Service shake-up will boost states’ role — but even supporters have concerns • NC Newsline A sweeping reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service signals that the agency is planning to lean heavily on states to help manage millions of acres of federal land, foresters across the West say.

A sweeping reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service signals that the agency is planning to lean heavily on states to help manage millions of acres of federal land, foresters across the West say. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/14/r... via @stateline.org

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. ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-ho... By @christinezhu.bsky.social #ncpol

Trump picks fight with Pope Leo as Iran peace talks dissolve • NC Newsline The president posted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ blessing an ailing man as what appear to be angels in full military fatigues hover in the clouds above. Trump deleted the post Mon...

In a lengthy post, littered with falsehoods, on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump accused the first U.S.-born pope of being “WEAK on crime” and of supporting Iran having a nuclear weapon. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/r...

Four members of Congress — two Democrats and two Republicans — could face expulsion from the House in the coming weeks, an extraordinarily rare rebuke from their colleagues. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/r... By @jennifershutt.bsky.social #ncpol

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 is requesting an Interbasin Transfer Certificate from the state, 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. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/f... @christinezhu.bsky.social #ncpol

SNAP work requirements don’t boost jobs, but drop participation, research finds • NC Newsline As states enact stricter work requirements for the federal food stamp program, a new analysis suggests those requirements won’t enhance employment and will push more people off of food assistance.

As states enact stricter work requirements for the federal food stamp program, a new analysis suggests those requirements won’t enhance employment and will push more people off of food assistance. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/r... #ncpol #snap @stateline.org

NC Treasurer’s office expands use of AI throughout the agency • NC Newsline The NC Treasurer's office is using AI across its divisions. The NC employees association said the effect it'll have on workers is unknown.

The North Carolina Treasurer’s Office is going all in on AI with the announcement Monday that artificial intelligence tools are being deployed throughout the agency. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/t... @lbonner.bsky.social #ncpol

‘The hell with the midterms’: Former NC governor says Republicans need to focus on economy, not war  • NC Newsline Former Gov. Pat McCrory says the economy, not the war in Iran, will be what decides North Carolina's closely watched U.S. Senate race this fall.

Former Gov. Pat McCrory says the Trump administration is doing a poor job articulating why the country entered the Iran war seven weeks ago and how it might be resolved.

“That’s going to impact the midterms, especially every time you fill up your gas tank.” ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/t... #ncpol

Trump picks fight with Pope Leo as Iran peace talks dissolve • NC Newsline The president posted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ blessing an ailing man as what appear to be angels in full military fatigues hover in the clouds above. Trump deleted the post Mon...

President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV Sunday night following the pontiff’s sharp criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and wider Middle East conflict. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/r... via @ashleymurray.bsky.social #ncpol #PopeLeo

Anti-abortion lawmakers seek to redefine 'abortion' to exclude medical treatment • NC Newsline The latest measures would redefine “abortion” as the intentional ending of the life of the “unborn child.” Supporters say they would clear the way for doctors to manage miscarriages, ectopic pregnanci...

Some anti-abortion state lawmakers are pushing to revise the definition of “abortion” so abortion bans don’t apply to cases in which the death of an “unborn child” is the result of medical care provided to the pregnant woman. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/r... via @sofiaresnick.bsky.social #ncpol

Critics call the poultry farming system rigged. Craig Watts is fighting to overturn it. • NC Newsline Craig Watts raised chicks on a factory farm for 20 years but left after he clashed with Perdue, the giant poultry company, over contract provisions and the welfare of the animals.

Critics call the poultry farming system rigged. Craig Watts is fighting to overturn it. ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/c... via @insideclimatenews.org @lisasorg.bsky.social #ncpol

Student voice isn’t a slogan—it’s a commitment • NC Newsline Investing in student voices is just as much about  improving schools in the short term as it is about preparing future leaders for the long term

'Amplifying student voices isn’t just about students being heard. It’s about them being trusted." ncnewsline.com/2026/04/13/s... (commentary) #ncpol