Edgar Starnes Coverage

Starnes on resigning from the General Assembly

Rep. Edgar Starnes, R-Caldwell, says he will resign from the General Assembly to take a job in the State Treasurer's Office.

Edgar Starnes

Rep. Edgar Starnes, R-Caldwell, talks about why he is resigning from the General Assembly to take a job with the State Treasurer's Office.

Starnes steps down for liaison job

Longtime state lawmaker Rep. Edgar Starnes is resigning his House seat for a new job in the state Treasurer's office.

Mark Binker and Laura Leslie

Lawmakers find 'food deserts' difficult to fix

A legislative panel offered few solutions Monday to getting fresh produce and other healthy food into communities that lack grocery stores.

Laura Leslie

WRAL to host second U.S. Senate debate

WRAL News has announced it will host a second debate for candidates running in North Carolina's Republican U.S. Senate primary. This second debate will feature four candidates who are not scheduled to appear during a live WRAL-TV debate to be broadcast Wednesday night.

Mark Binker

Visitation held for late Gov. Holshouser

A steady stream of family and close friends poured into a Southern Pines church Thursday night to pay their respect to former Gov. Jim Holshouser, who was remembered as a deeply religious man of principle.

NC alone in choice to end extended unemployment checks

North Carolina lawmakers had a tough choice this spring: Change how unemployment benefits are calculated, potentially cutting off benefits to tens of thousands of people, or allow the state's debt to the federal government to continue as a drag on the economy. The state was one of many in the same situation, but North Carolina lawmakers were the only ones who chose the quicker fix.

Bruce Mildwurf

75 mph bill pulled over

A bill that would allow the DOT to raise some speed limits to 75 mph took a U-turn back to committee after encountering heavy traffic on the House floor Thursday.

Mark Binker

NC nonprofits fight for tax status

Nonprofit leaders from across the state say the Senate's tax plan would do serious harm to their organizations and the people they serve.

Laura Leslie

House puts first nail in coffin for NC 'death tax'

North Carolina's estate tax would end under a proposal the House tentatively approved Tuesday.

Matthew Burns

Beer bills advance in House

Two proposals to make beer sales more convenient in North Carolina won state House approval Monday night.

Laura Leslie

Bill seeks to move some malt beverages out of convenience stores

Convenience stores and grocery stores would no longer be able to sell high-alcohol malt beverages under a bill filed by the House majority leader Wednesday.

Mark Binker

Wednesday wrap: Wild day at legislature

A wild day at the General Assembly included bills on sweepstakes games, the death penalty, charter schools and renewable energy, along with discussion of voter ID and religion.

Florida official: Cutting early voting times a mistake

A Florida elections official tells House lawmakers that curtailing early voting led to long lines in 2012.

Mark Binker and Matthew Burns

Proposal would allow state religion in North Carolina

A resolution filed by Republican House lawmakers would allow the state to establish religion, defying the First Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Laura Leslie

GOP seeks to curb early voting

Two bills filed by Republican lawmakers seek to cut back early voting and eliminate same-day registration in North Carolina.

Laura Leslie

Boards bill back on fast track

The House Rules Committee made adjustments to the Utilities Commission portion of a controversial bill to remake state boards. House leaders say they expect to put it before the full House today.

Mark Binker

Wednesday wrap: State boards revamp splits House, Senate

Legislation calling for sweeping changes in several key state regulatory boards and commissions have revealed divisions between House and Senate Republicans.

Boards bill revamped in House

The House Commerce Committee gave approval Wednesday to a revamped version of a proposal to eliminate, fire or reconfigure more than two dozen state oversight boards. It could be the first political fight of the session between the House and Senate.

Laura Leslie

House OKs tougher penalties for meth production

The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to enact stiffer penalties for people who cook up batches of methamphetamine.

Matthew Burns and Laura Leslie

Estate tax bill clears House committee

After more than an hour-long debate, the House Finance Committee on Wednesday voted 24-10 to approve a bill that would eliminate the state's estate tax.

Derek Medlin

Senate OKs overhaul of state commissions

The state Senate gave final passage Thursday to legislation that would fire all current members of several oversight and advisory boards.

Matthew Burns and Mark Binker