Johnny Kampis - Carolina Journal News Service
Auditor reports poor monitoring of COVID-19 relief money
RALEIGH — The N.C. auditor said the vast majority of the $3.6 billion in COVID-19 relief funds the state received from the federal government was distributed with limited monitoring and controls.
Legislation would ease health care red tape, boost access to care
RALEIGH — Legislation introduced in this session of the General Assembly seeks to reduce restrictions created by certificate of need laws, which critics say reduce access to health care and increase costs.
Lawmakers introduce retail and online sports betting bill
RALEIGH — A recently introduced Senate bill would authorize and regulate sports betting in North Carolina beyond the tribal casinos with the revenue primarily going to schools and economic development.
Utilities Commission approves partial rate hike, coal ash settlement
RALEIGH — The N.C. Utilities Commission on Friday, April 16, issued an order approving a partial rate increase for Duke Energy Progress and a settlement addressing coal ash cleanup costs.
Bill would require that absentee ballots be turned in sooner
RALEIGH — New legislation filed in the General Assembly would reduce the time voters have to turn in their absentee ballots, making the outcome of elections clearer in a shorter time.
Advisory committee says North Carolina should put more toward pensions
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s Debt Affordability Advisory Committee says the state should set aside $100 million a year to help the state pension systems remain solvent.
N.C. looks to relax regulations on providers to speed up broadband access
RALEIGH — Free-market advocates in North Carolina are optimistic the relaxing of regulations in the state will help promote the growth of broadband and help close the digital divide.
State auditor finds a bevy of unlicensed providers receive Medicaid funds
RALEIGH — An audit released by State Auditor Beth Wood’s office Thursday, Feb. 18, found the state Department of Health and Human Services did a poor job of gatekeeping the Medicaid Provider Enrollment process.
North Carolina’s members of Congress absent more often than peers
RALEIGH — Twelve of 15 members of Congress from North Carolina missed more votes in 2020 than the median absences of their peers. In addition, both Tar Heel state U.S. senators outpaced most other senators for missed votes, a government watchdog reports.
Lawmakers look to implement summer school for at-risk students
RALEIGH — As state lawmakers try to sort out when students can go back to school full time, members of the House are sponsoring a bill that would offer a voluntary summer school program for North Carolina students.
