news-record.com

Advertisement | Advertise with Us

By Gary D. Robertson

April 9, 2009

Perdue tightens state spending, to take another $145M

RALEIGH (AP) — Gov. Beverly Perdue said Thursday she would take another $145 million from state funds to help pay the government's bills and restrict further spending to manage North Carolina's budget shortfall. "North Carolina continues to fac... Read More

April 8, 2009

N.C. Senate debates before first budget vote

RALEIGH (AP) — The state Senate debated a trimmed-down budget for North Carolina government Wednesday that makes tough choices on public education and health care during the deep recession but leaves unanswered what taxes will be raised to balance t... Read More

April 2, 2009

N.C. schools superintendent to sue over job

RALEIGH (AP) — Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson will sue to attempt to regain her due authority as chief administrative officer of North Carolina's schools, a legal advocacy group said Thursday. The North Carolina Institute for Con... Read More

April 1, 2009

Biden, Vilsack visit eastern N.C. to talk stimulus

FAISON (AP) — About $1.8 billion in federal stimulus funding was released Wednesday to help strengthen rural communities by supporting loan guarantees and loosening credit for small-town home buyers, Vice President Joe Biden said during a visit to r... Read More

March 30, 2009

State groups, businesses spent $22M lobbying in 2007

RALEIGH (AP) — Businesses, trade associations and nonprofit groups spent $22 million on lobbying state officials and the public to attempt to sway policy decisions in 2007, according to a campaign finance reform group's analysis released Monday. The... Read More

March 20, 2009

Court keeps lottery law in place

RALEIGH (AP) — The North Carolina Education Lottery can still operate after the state Supreme Court deadlocked Friday over whether the votes creating the games were lawful. Three of the seven justices agreed Friday the lottery law was unconstitution... Read More

March 19, 2009

Debate on state employee insurance plan delayed again

RALEIGH (AP) — An overhaul of the state employee health insurance plan that's supposed to be on the fast track keeps getting delayed as lawmakers and lobbyists try to resolve a flap over prescription drugs. For a third time this week, the Senate del... Read More

March 18, 2009

Accounting tweak saves Perdue $150M in state salaries

RALEIGH (AP) — Gov. Beverly Perdue is trying to expand on some old ideas to close a proposed $3.4 billion budget gap for North Carolina next year. Her spending plan recommends roughly $150 million in net savings by giving agencies less than 100 perc... Read More

March 17, 2009

Perdue's budget would mean state worker job losses

RALEIGH (AP) — Gov. Beverly Perdue's first budget as North Carolina's chief executive could put hundreds of state and university employees out of work and would boost alcohol and cigarette taxes to help narrow a $3.4 billion budget gap. Her nearly...... Read More

March 12, 2009

Report praises state's improved graduation rate

RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina is among the top 10 states where high school graduation rates dramatically improved between 2002 and 2006, according to a report released Thursday. The report from researchers at Johns Hopkins University said North Caro... Read More

March 10, 2009

N.C. governor's call on K-12 spending surprises some

RALEIGH (AP) - Gov. Beverly Perdue won a bipartisan standing ovation in her first State of the State address when she pledged that even in tough times the state "will increase per-pupil spending in our public schools." Still, the new governor's statement... Read More

March 9, 2009

Perdue says 'hard, painful decisions' ahead for state

RALEIGH (AP) - Facing what she calls North Carolina's greatest challenges since the Great Depression, new Gov. Beverly Perdue told lawmakers Monday night they would have to make "hard, painful decisions" with state spending but remain committed to public... Read More

N.C. Legislature must make boundary changes again

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Legislature will have to change its district boundaries a fourth time this decade based on a U.S. Supreme Court decision Monday involving racial gerrymandering and a state requirement barring districts from crossing over county bo... Read More

March 4, 2009

Unofficial freeze on N.C. capital punishment isn't likely to thaw soon

RALEIGH (AP) — It's been more than two years since North Carolina put an inmate to death, and the unofficial freeze on capital punishment isn't likely to thaw anytime soon. The number of prosecutors winning death penalty convictions has nearly come to a... Read More

March 3, 2009

State leaders remain steady avoiding marriage vote

RALEIGH (AP) - There's little doubt lawmakers heard the voices of thousands of Christian conservatives outside the Legislative Building seeking a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. There's also little doubt the rally partic... Read More

Perdue taps into N.C. lottery funds early in term

RALEIGH (AP) - During her campaign for governor, Beverly Perdue often said she wanted take extra steps to ensure profits from the North Carolina Education Lottery were spent solely on education. She was worried lawmakers might tap the ready source of cash... Read More

Perdue taps into lottery funds early in term

February 24, 2009

Richard Moore has no U.S. Senate plans right now

WINSTON-SALEM (AP) - Former State Treasurer Richard Moore said Tuesday he has no plans, for now, to run in 2010 for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Richard Burr, saying he's happy after nearly two decades in elected or appointed office. Moore left... Read More

Several local road projects included in stimulus

BURLINGTON (AP) - Gov. Beverly Perdue said Tuesday that 70 highway and bridge projects will be built with the first $466 million of federal transportation stimulus money heading to North Carolina. From widening a road to benefit the Global TransPark in Le... Read More

February 17, 2009

Perdue: Stimulus may be $150M short this year

RALEIGH (AP) - Gov. Beverly Perdue said Tuesday she may have about $150 million less at her disposal from the federal stimulus package to close a $2 billion state budget shortfall this year. Perdue identified the tentative amount as she announced former H... Read More

Cell phone ban debated in N.C. Senate committee

RALEIGH (AP) - Senators fired questions Tuesday at the sponsor of a bill to ban drivers from talking on hand-held cell phones, and diluted the measure with amendments to reduce punishment and allow motorists to call a loved one in an emergency. While supp... Read More

February 3, 2009

State leaders recall Jim Long at council meeting

RALEIGH (AP) - North Carolina's top elected statewide officials remembered former colleague Jim Long at their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, calling the ex-insurance commissioner a friend who dedicated his career to the state. Long's death Monday subdue... Read More

February 2, 2009

Update: Former N.C. insurance commissioner Long dies at 68

RALEIGH (AP) - Former state Insurance Commissioner Jim Long died Monday, a hospital official said, a month after ending his 24-year run as the industry's top regulator and less than two weeks after suffering a stroke before a legislative meeting. He was 6... Read More

January 29, 2009

House leader seeks more smoking restrictions

RALEIGH (AP) - Health advocates and lawmakers revived their push Thursday to expand state smoking bans to restaurants, public places and indoor work sites, arguing the health consequences and costs of secondhand smoke can no longer be overlooked. House Ma... Read More

January 28, 2009

Legislature opens, same leaders re-elected

RALEIGH (AP) - North Carolina legislators arrived Wednesday for a new session sobered by the dismal national fiscal picture, but its leaders sounded a hopeful tone they would act responsibly and help the state's economy rebound. "Other states have mortgag... Read More