NC Newsline podcast

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It’s hard to fathom in a proposal that includes billions upon billions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, but one of the most significant changes included in the massive budget bill approved by the U.S. House late last month was this: big cuts to the nation’s main anti-hunger program. Under the legislation, millions of people would lose SNAP food assistance benefits. Meanwhile, states would be saddled with 14 billion dollars in new costs. And the impacts will be felt in the stomachs of families across the nation. As Raleigh-area Congresswoman Deborah Ross explained last week, in her district – one of the state’s more affluent ones – 20,000 of her adult constituents will lose all of their SNAP benefits. Statewide, a total of almost half a million people will lose benefits and the cuts will ripple through grocery stores and the economy as a whole. The bottom line: Rep. Ross is right. The Republican budget will cause irreparable harm to the people of our state. All caring and thinking North Carolinians should support her effort to push back. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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NC: Foolishly speeding toward a fiscal cliff 1:05

1 day ago1:05

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If you get a chance, check out a recent essay authored by retired Legislative Fiscal Analyst Richard Bostic. It was posted by Raleigh’s News & Observer. In it, Bostic, who spent 31 years advising state legislative leaders, issues a loud and clear warning about the fiscal cliff toward which our state is speeding. His simple and straightforward message: it’s imperative that GOP lawmakers rethink their massive, planned cuts to corporate and personal income taxes. And his reasoning is equally straightforward. Several core public structures and services – schools, state employee pay and retiree benefits, infrastructure – are already inadequate even as our population is growing and aging. Now add the looming threats of climate change, federal funding cuts and an economic downturn and the picture grows even more ominous. The bottom line: As Bostic observes, delaying or repealing planned tax cuts isn’t just about balancing a spreadsheet — it’s about protecting our schools, our infrastructure and our people. State lawmakers should heed this insightful warning. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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NC advocates call on Tillis to defend consumer watchdog 1:04

2 days ago1:04

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Among the most important public policy developments in North Carolina over the last several decades was the rise of one of the nation’s strongest networks of consumer advocacy nonprofits. Together with elected leaders from both major parties, these advocates helped make North Carolina a state to avoid for predatory lenders who target consumers with high interest loans and fees and abusive collection tactics. Indeed, the successes in this area were so numerous that following the Great Recession, they helped inspire the establishment of a federal government agency known as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Unfortunately, as you might expect, laws and lawyers that target scammers and predators are anathema to President Trump, and he and Republicans in the U.S. House are working hard to gut or abolish the agency. The bottom line: Last week, a coalition of activists and small business owners pleaded with Senator Thom Tillis to help protect the agency. Their simple message: stand with the people of North Carolina, not the billionaires. Let’s fervently hope he was listening. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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NC congressional delegation should support state’s electric vehicle industry 1:05

3 days ago1:05

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North Carolina’s economy has undergone many important transitions over the last several decades. But in recent years there’s been no more promising arrival on the scene than the electric vehicle industry. As experts at the national Electrification Coalition pointed out last week, federal EV tax credits have helped spur the creation of more than sixteen thousand jobs and over twenty billion dollars in investments in the state in recent years. And, of course, these are jobs and investments that are not only good for the state’s economy, but for the world as it struggles to end its heroin-like addiction to fossil fuels. Unfortunately, the massive budget and tax bill approved by the U.S. House last week places all of this in jeopardy by eliminating several tax credits supporting the industry. The bottom line: Our nation currently spends hundreds of billions of dollars each year subsidizing the fossil fuel industry. The least North Carolina’s congressional delegation can do is help to retain some modest subsidies for an industry of the future that helps our people and our planet. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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Rep. Phil Rubin on the NC House budget and efforts that would politicize the NC Board of Elections 19:56

4 days ago19:56

19:56

Each year, the most important piece of legislation approved by the North Carolina General Assembly is the state budget bill – a massive document running to hundreds of pages that details billions of dollars in appropriations and scores of substantive law changes. It’s the kind of legislation that ought to feature days – if not weeks – of discussion and debate. Unfortunately, that’s not how things have worked on Jones Street in recent years. Indeed, when members of various House Appropriations subcommittees voted on the budget the week before Memorial Day, they had only seen the 400-plus page document for the first time an hour or so before. Despite this daunting situation, some members did their best to speed-read the budget and craft amendments on the fly and one lawmaker who proved most adept at this task was one of the House’s newest members – Wake County state Rep. Phil Rubin. And soon after the House finished with the budget, Newsline’s Rob Schofield caught up with Rubin for a special extended conversation to learn more. In Part One of the conversation with Wake County State Rep. Phil Rubin, we discussed the state budget bill approved by the North Carolina House right before Memorial Day – including both the rushed process employed by GOP leaders and the fact that many Democratic members ended up supporting the bill because they saw it as a big improvement over the version passed earlier in the spring by the state Senate. In Part Two, we dug deeper into some of the details of the budget proposal, including provisions that would politicize the state Board of Elections, as well as how the state plans to continue rebuilding parts of western North Carolina ravaged by Hurricane Helene, the big and worrisome new burdens that Congress and the Trump administration are soon likely impose on state government, and a pair of bills that could transform North Carolina government for the better – if only legislative leaders would allow them to be considered. Click here to listen to the full interview with Rep. Phil Rubin.…

NC Newsline

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NPR correspondent Laura Sullivan on the new NPR/PBS documentary: “Hurricane Helene’s Deadly Warning” 16:18

4 days ago16:18

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It’s now been eight months since Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in western North Carolina and permanently altered numerous communities. And while the recovery work continues, one vitally important area that deserves much greater attention than it’s receiving is preparation for the next natural disaster. As veteran journalist Laura Sullivan explains in a new PBS/NPR documentary entitled “ Hurricane Helene’s Deadly Warning ,” while the federal government spends tens of billions of dollars every year to repair damage caused by severe storms, much of the money goes to areas that are repeatedly flooded. Meanwhile, efforts to build back stronger and more resilient are often foiled by private interests and politicians who are only looking at the near term. The documentary is available on both the PBS and NPR websites. And recently, NC Newsline caught up with Sullivan – who spent months in western North Carolina after Helene hit – to learn more. Click here to listen to the full interview with NPR correspondent Laura Sullivan. Click here to watch the documentary.…

NC Newsline

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Counties must address biased and unjust property tax assessments 1:04

4 days ago1:04

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It’s a universal rule of local government that nobody likes their property tax bill or the way their property is assessed. By any measure, the assessors have a tough and thankless job. That said, it’s also true that there are unjust assessments and sometimes they’re the byproduct of historical bias and discrimination that affect large numbers of property owners. And right now, that appears to be the case in some North Carolina communities. As NC Newsline reported last week, advocates in Orange County recently provided compelling evidence that residents of some historically Black neighborhoods are experiencing this injustice. The advocates say newer larger homes in those neighborhoods – typically owned by white investors — are undervalued while older homes owned by longtime Black residents are systematically overvalued. And that results in genuinely unjust tax bills. The bottom line: To their credit, Orange County officials say they will review the data. Let’s hope they do so quickly and carefully and that the work inspires other counties across the state to follow suit. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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NC prisons are a mess and lawmakers must act 1:05

7 days ago1:05

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No one ever said our state prisons would or should be cushy places to live and work. But neither should they be decrepit dumps in which an underpaid and understaffed workforce struggles to cope with an inmate population that is at once aging and unhealthy, and increasingly hopeless and prone to violence. Unfortunately, as a recent legislative hearing made clear, that’s pretty much where things stand today. As Department of Adult Correction secretary Leslie Dismukes told lawmakers, thanks largely to low pay and lousy working conditions, at least 13 prisons have an employee vacancy rate of over 50%. Meanwhile, the system now has a running tab of 1.4 billion dollars in deferred maintenance. Indeed, fire suppression systems are outdated or completely inoperable in 23 prisons and several lack air conditioning – a fact that guarantees more illness and violence. The bottom line: As with so many other problems plaguing state government, the solution to this crisis is no mystery—lawmakers simply must appropriate better funding. And their ongoing failure to do so is inexcusable. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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Trump to western North Carolina: Drop dead 1:05

8 days ago1:05

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Sometimes, it’s hard to keep track of the wild policy swings that are the signatures of the second Trump administration. From tariffs and trade to Russia and Ukraine, it often takes just hours for supposedly strong policy stances to be contradicted or abandoned by the president or his aides. And now, this chaotic pattern is directly impacting North Carolina. Both last fall and this past January, Trump blasted the Biden administration’s response to Hurricane Helene and made bold promises that he would rebuild storm-ravaged areas better than ever. Unfortunately, that was then and this is now. This fact was made clear last week when the administration abruptly turned off the federal funding spigot by rejecting Gov. Josh Stein’ request to continue providing matching funds for the state’s Helene recovery appropriations. The decision leaves the state on the hook for $200 million or more in additional expenses for debris cleanup and other emergency work. The bottom line: Once again, the president has said one thing and done another, and sadly, North Carolinians will pay the price. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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State, federal budget bills will help worsen a destructive national trend 1:05

9 days ago1:05

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It’s a trend that’s been advancing at a breakneck clip for years now, but according to a new report from the global nonprofit OxFam, the vast and immoral inequality that dominates the U.S. economy has reached truly stunning levels. As the report notes, over the past year, the richest ten Americans increased their wealth by 365 billion dollars. It would take ten average U.S. workers a staggering 726,000 years to make that much money. But wait, it’s about to get worse. Under Republican budget bills advancing in Congress and the North Carolina legislature, new and regressive tax cuts along with big reductions in services will assure that the gap between the super-rich and everyone else grows even wider. It’s a situation so corrupt and toxic that it’s quickly undermining the fabric of a country founded on the premise of equal opportunity. The bottom line: Elected leaders must confront and reverse these trends right away lest our once great nation soon becomes unrecognizable. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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NC lawmakers invite right-wing advocacy group to consult on UNC admissions 1:05

10 days ago1:05

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There are many things that state leaders should do these days to improve the UNC System. Providing adequate funds to hire and retain topflight faculty and reining in out-of-control professional sports programs would be a good start. Unfortunately, at present, the emphasis in Raleigh is on advancing a right-wing political agenda, and so it is that state House Republicans have approved a bill to give a local far right propaganda outfit — a group founded by conservative financier and activist Art Pope known as the Martin Center for Academic Renewal — a role in crafting university admissions policies. And it’s hard to overstate just how big a mistake this is. For more than 25 years, the Martin Center has spewed a steady stream of far right attacks on almost all of the best aspects of modern higher education in an effort to turn back the clock on progress. The bottom line: As is the case in so many areas of higher education, lawmakers should leave admissions to the professionals and tell conservative advocacy groups to stay in their own lane. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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Former director of the State Board of Elections, Karen Brinson Bell, on her tenure, accomplishments 23:51

11 days ago23:51

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Over the past six years, few public servants in North Carolina have had a bigger or more positive impact under more difficult circumstances than former State Board of Elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell. Despite woefully inadequate appropriations from the state legislature and relentless attacks from uninformed conspiracy theorists, Brinson Bell persevered, strengthened North Carolina elections and kept them among the nation’s most efficient and honestly run. Unfortunately, those accomplishments were of little interest to the newly installed and hyper-partisan members of the board appointed by Republican state auditor Dave Boliek, who summarily fired Brinson Bell at their first meeting and refused to even allow her to deliver farewell remarks. Happily, Brinson Bell was kind enough join Newsline’s Rob Schofield this past week for a special extended conversation and in Part One of our chat, we explored some of the accomplishments from her term in office that she thinks will be the most impactful. In Part Two, we turned our attention to some of the broader issues and challenges facing American elections – including the increasingly intense partisanship that led North Carolina GOP lawmakers to withhold election funding and, more recently, add seven new political appointees to the agency’s staff, and the unfortunate phenomenon of politicians spreading unfounded conspiracy theories and refusing to concede close elections. Click here to listen to the full interview with Karen Brinson Bell. Read the prepared remarks of Brinson Bell delivered at the Board of Elections meeting on May 7, 2025.…

NC Newsline

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NC’s Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP 14:42

11 days ago14:42

14:42

One of North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein’s first acts upon assuming office earlier this year was to name a new Secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, and from the looks of things thus far, the person to whom he turned, Dr. Dev Sangvai, was a winning selection. Since taking office, Sangvai — a family medicine practitioner and Duke University professor – has quickly hit the ground running and emerged as forceful voice for commonsense in the often rancorous world of health care policy. Most recently Sangvai has spoken out publicly and energetically in opposition to the massive Medicaid and SNAP food assistance cuts working their way through Congress. And as Sangvai reminded NC Newsline, his concerns about the cuts are about more than mere empathy for struggling families – they’re also based on hard data which show the devastating ripple effects the cuts will have on North Carolina’s overall health and economic wellbeing. Click here to listen to the full interview with NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai.…

NC Newsline

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Memorial Day serves to highlight the Trump administration’s shabby treatment of veterans 1:05

11 days ago1:05

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Today is Memorial Day – the day on which we honor the memory of the servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. All caring and thinking people should take at least a moment today to lift up these heroes. And today would also be a good one to help assure that the government supports the heroes who are still with us. And sadly, the need here is great. As recent news reports have recounted in painful detail, Trump administration budget cuts are decimating the already understaffed and underfunded Veterans Administration and VA hospitals. More than 80,000 employees are being fired and that’s sure to wreak havoc with the services upon which millions of military veterans depend. At a Voices for Veterans event in Fayetteville last week, several vets blasted the cuts as cruel, shortsighted, and sure to cause enormous pain and suffering. The bottom line: Memorial Day is about remembering those we’ve lost – that’s for sure – but we also honor their sacrifice by doing everything in our power to spare living veterans from an early grave. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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New Helene documentary provides another wake-up call 1:05

14 days ago1:05

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North Carolina hardly needs any more wake-up calls about the devastating impacts of climate change, but a new, must-see PBS/NPR documentary provides another powerful reminder on the subject of dealing with the extreme weather that climate change is spawning. The documentary is entitled “Hurricane Helene’s Deadly Warning,” and in it, NPR’s Laura Sullivan exposes a wasteful and vicious cycle that has come to dominate how our state and nation deal with natural disasters. It’s one in which the federal government spends more than $50 billion every year to help communities recover from disasters, but that frequently includes properties that have already flooded repeatedly. This cycle is now on full display in western North Carolina where politicians and the construction industry are resisting common sense rules that would govern how new buildings are sited and constructed. The bottom line: “ Hurricane Helene’s Deadly Warning ,” should be required viewing and listening for all elected leaders and average Americans. Look for it online at PBS or NPR. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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North Carolina needs more public employees, not fewer 1:04

15 days ago1:04

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North Carolina House Republicans unveiled their version of a new state budget this week, and while it included some improvements over the Senate version – a somewhat slower approach to cutting taxes, slightly better salaries for new teachers – the plan swings and misses by proposing to slash 3,000 state government jobs. The authors of the plan say most of the positions are vacant anyway, but of course, that’s something that’s mostly attributable to lousy pay, benefits, and working conditions. As Charles Owens — a health care technician at the Cherry Hospital psychiatric facility in Goldsboro – explained at a Raleigh press conference, the state’s mental health facilities are already down hundreds of essential positions. And that reality presents a big daily safety problem for him and the other workers who remain. The same is true for guards and other employees throughout the state’s prison system. The bottom line: North Carolina is a big and fast growing state that needs more state employees to provide essential public services – not fewer. State lawmakers need to wake up to this reality. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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GOP continues its transformation of the Board of Elections into a partisan tool 1:05

16 days ago1:05

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The efforts of North Carolina Republican lawmakers to transform the state Board of Elections into a partisan puppet show continue apace. First, was the absurd move that placed MAGA state auditor Dave Boliek over the board instead of the Governor. Then came Boliek’s appointment of a pair of ultra-partisan GOP politicians as board members. And last week, Republican legislators slipped a provision into the state budget bill that would politicize the board’s professional staff. The change would allot the board seven new staff positions – all of them political appointees. This represents a huge and troubling shift for an agency in which staff have long been nonpartisan civil servants. Now, add that the budget gives the board 1.5 million dollars so it can hire private attorneys rather than rely on the state’s nonpartisan civil servant lawyers, and the blatant and disturbing partisanship of the move becomes even clearer. The bottom line: there is no governmental function for which nonpartisanship is more vitally important than running elections. All North Carolinians should be outraged by these changes. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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Lawmakers should listen to their constituents, rethink proposals to deregulate firearms 1:04

17 days ago1:04

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North Carolina’s gun violence crisis continues to grow more dire by the day. According to the most recent data, someone dies in our state from a gunshot wound every five hours. Think about that for a minute: that’s more than four lives lost every day. Amazingly, however, state legislative leaders are determined to pour more gasoline on the fire. As the latter days of the 2025 session approach, four bills on the fast track would make it even easier than it already is for just about anyone to carry a hidden, loaded weapon. Two would allow concealed weapons in private schools. Another would make concealed carry permits good for the rest of the owner’s life. And another would allow anyone 18 or older to carry without a permit. The bottom line: As a group of community leaders made clear last week in an event organized by North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, these bills are a recipe for even more deadly mayhem. It’s essential that lawmakers stop, listen to their constituents, and find an offramp from the dangerous road they’re headed down. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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Common Cause of NC’s Bob Phillips on a victory for voters and the latest from the Board of Elections 11:05

18 days ago11:05

11:05

It seemed like it might never happen, but we now know the winner of last November’s election for an associate justice seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Following federal Judge Richard Myers’ complete rejection of GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin’s effort to overturn his narrow defeat by tossing the ballots of thousands of voters, Griffin finally conceded and earlier this past week, incumbent Democratic Justice Allison Riggs was sworn in to serve a new and full eight-year term (albeit six months late). And recently, Newsline’s Rob Schofield caught up with one of our state’s top government watchdogs, Common Cause of North Carolina executive director Bob Phillips – both to discuss this long-awaited news as well as some dramatic and deeply worrisome changes taking place at the state Board of Elections. Click here to listen to the full interview with Common Cause of North Carolina executive director Bob Phillips.…

NC Newsline

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Newsline reporter Galen Bacharier on the budget debate and the hectic happenings of the legislature 15:17

18 days ago15:17

15:17

Lawmakers in Raleigh recently concluded crossover week – a chaotic period in which they considered and voted on scores of bills in dozens of important subject areas in just a few days. And for better or worse, a lot of important and controversial measures won approval and remain eligible for final passage this session. So, what passed? What failed? And what’s on the agenda going forward? Newsline’s Rob Schofield recently sat down with reporter Galen Bacharier, to find out. And as Galen told Rob, while the state budget debate is sure to be the chief focus of lawmakers going forward, several other high-profile topics – from culture war issues like “diversity, equity and inclusion” and gun control to the role of the state Auditor – will also remain on the political front burner. Click here for the full interview with reporter Galen Bacharier.…

NC Newsline

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NCIOM President Michelle Ries and NC Child’s Erica Palmer Smith on the 2025 Child Health Report Card 19:03

18 days ago19:03

19:03

For nearly three decades, a pair of nonprofits – the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and NC Child – have released a biennial study known as the Child Health Report Card. The goal, as you might expect, is to provide legislators, public health officials, school administrators, parents and other nonprofit leaders with the latest information on the health and well-being of our state’s kids. This year – as in 2023 – the focus of the report is on the mental health struggles that plague so many children and the urgent need for better (and better funded) public responses. And recently, to learn more about this issue and several others detailed in the report, NC Newsline caught up with the leaders of the two organizations – Institute of Medicine President and CEO Michelle Ries and NC Child executive director, Erica Palmer Smith. Listen to the full interview here with Institute of Medicine President and CEO Michelle Ries and NC Child executive director Erica Palmer Smith. Click here to read the 2025 Child Health Report Card.…

NC Newsline

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NC House budget rules make a mockery of representative government 1:05

18 days ago1:05

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Everyone knows the state legislature must operate under a set of parliamentary rules and procedures. After all, maintaining order in a large group of opinionated and talkative politicians is no easy feat. That said, when the rules become so numerous, complex and restrictive that they make majority rule effectively impossible, they’ve gone too far and right now, that’s the case in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Last week, House leaders rolled out their new state budget proposal in a series of appropriations subcommittees and, at least in theory, opened it up to debate and amendment. Unfortunately, there was catch: a long list of restrictive rules that barred even the consideration of most meaningful amendments. For example, no amendment to spend additional dollars was allowed unless it reduced another line item from a very restricted list by the same amount – even if a majority of lawmakers wanted to do so. The bottom line: In representative government, the majority is supposed to rule. In the North Carolina House a list of anti-democratic restrictions make sure that’s not the case. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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Former South Carolina utility regulator offers damning assessment of NC Senate energy proposal 1:04

21 days ago1:04

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Among the most worrisome bills under consideration in Raleigh this year is a Senate proposal that would weaken the state’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By removing a 2030 target for a 70 percent reduction in carbon emissions, the bill takes another big step backward in confronting the global climate crisis. But as Tom Ervin, a former judge and South Carolina Public Service Commission member noted in a recent op-ed for NC Newsline, there’s another reason for concern: the legislation’s likely impact on ratepayer electric bills. As Ervin explained, under the proposal, utility giants Duke and Dominion would be allowed to charge their electric customers upfront for the costs of building new plants. And when this happened in his state, consumers were left stuck with billions of dollars in sunk expenses to cover when a planned power plant went belly up. The bottom line: According to our neighbor, big and expensive trouble is on the way for North Carolina unless lawmakers reject the utility industry gift. Let’s hope they’re listening. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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Democrats can thank Jefferson Griffin for boosting their judicial election chances 1:04

22 days ago1:04

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Few initiatives of modern American conservatives have been more successful than the crusade to take control of the courts. From the U.S. Supreme Court on down, big dollars and a commitment to hardball politics have helped give Republicans large majorities on several courts where the partisan divide should be about even. Notably, however, Republican Jefferson Griffin’s recent effort to overturn his loss to Justice Allison Riggs in a North Carolina Supreme Court election by tossing thousands of ballots, may have flipped the script. Griffin’s sore loser refusal to concede has angered so many people of all stripes that it’s greatly altered the environment surrounding state judicial elections. Meanwhile, thanks to her energetic defense of her candidacy and the voting rights of all North Carolinians, Justice Riggs has emerged as a minor political rock star. The bottom line: Things can still change quickly, but for now, Democrats’ chances of reversing recent patterns in state judicial elections have brightened considerably. And all those concerned can thank Jefferson Griffin for the shift. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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Trump budget cuts cause more unnecessary pain in NC 1:05

23 days ago1:05

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The list of Trump administration cuts to vital public services has become so long and destructive that it’s easy to get overwhelmed, but as North Carolina anti-poverty advocates continue to remind us, it’s important to hold the cuts up to the light, to document their cruel illogic. Take, for instance, the disastrous scheme to eliminate the AmeriCorps program. As the North Carolina Housing Coalition reported last week, it’s suing over the planned elimination of this program that will cause thousands of dedicated young people and seniors to be summarily fired. Here in North Carolina, AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Senior volunteers serve at more than 700 locations across the state, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, veterans’ facilities, and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations. The bottom line: The Trump administration is gutting scores of vital programs like this, all so that it can dispense more big tax cuts that chiefly benefit the top one percent. And the cruel shortsightedness of it all is hard to overstate. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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Legislature’s cruel attacks on transgender rights will endanger lives 1:05

24 days ago1:05

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Why are so many conservative politicians obsessed with denying the existence of transgender people? Several years ago, it was the infamous bathroom bill that sought to micromanage the public restrooms trans people used. Now, the same forces are at it again with bills targeting transgender youth. Under legislation approved by the state House last week, charges of abuse and neglect against parents who refuse to acknowledge their child’s gender identity would be barred. Supporters say the bill is about validating parental rights, but if that’s so, why did they defeat an amendment that would protected parents who acknowledge and support their transgender kids? After all, some politicians have promoted attacks of precisely this kind on parents who love and celebrate their trans children. The bottom line: Gender dysphoria is a long-established medical condition for which gender transition frequently amounts to lifesaving care. By denying this reality, lawmakers are assuring that some young people will be denied care and that their lives will be cruelly and needlessly endangered. For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.…

NC Newsline

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NC League of Women Voters president Jennifer Rubin on the ruling finalizing NC’s Supreme Court race 10:40

25 days ago10:40

10:40

It’s been six long months now, but North Carolina’s seemingly never ending state Supreme Court election may soon be over. This past week, federal Judge Richard Myers II – a Republican appointed by President Trump — issued a complete rejection of GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin’s effort to overturn his narrow defeat by tossing the ballots of thousands of voters. In a detailed 68-page opinion, Myers wrote that Griffin’s effort to change rules governing voter eligibility after the election violates the U.S. Constitution. One advocacy group especially heartened by the ruling was the North Carolina League of Women Voters – which intervened in the case – and the day after the ruling came down, NC Newsline caught up with the League’s president, Jennifer Rubin. Click here to listen to the full interview with NC League of Women Voters president Jennifer Rubin.…

NC Newsline

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Rep. Zack Hawkins on the chaos of crossover week and improving services for those with disabilities 15:02

25 days ago15:02

15:02

This past week was crossover week at the North Carolina General Assembly – a chaotic period in which lawmakers considered and voted on scores of bills in just a few days – often with precious little informed discussion. It’s a tough time for legislators who take their jobs seriously and try to understand every proposal on which they’re voting – a task that some have more success with than others. One lawmaker who’s gotten pretty good at the speed-reading and comprehension that crossover week demands is Rep. Zack Hawkins of Durham and earlier in the week NC Newsline caught up with Hawkins to learn more about how he’s been faring, and to get his views on some front-burner issues – including the controversy surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion in state government and the urgent need to better serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Click here to listen to the full interview with Rep. Zack Hawkins.…

NC Newsline

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Hilary Harris Klein of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice on voter list maintenance concerns 10:54

25 days ago10:54

10:54

The challenge of keeping state voting rolls current and accurate has always been a big task and today, in a fast-growing state with more than seven and a half million voters – many of them often on the move – it can be tougher than ever. That said, there are sound and accurate ways to do this important work that keep things up to date without disenfranchising voters who may simply have skipped an election or two — and as a new report from researchers at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice shows, this is an area in which North Carolina officials can and should do a better job. Fortunately, as Newsline’s Rob Schofield was reminded in a recent conversation with the Southern Coalition’s senior voting rights counsel Hilary Harris Klein, the solutions in this area aren’t terribly complex and many are largely just a function of providing adequate funding to state and county election officials to hire necessary staff and purchase 21st century computer systems. Listen to the full interview with Hilary Harris Klein of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. Click here to read the new SCSJ report.…

NC Newsline

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New state elections board embarrasses with shameful treatment of executive director 1:05

25 days ago1:05