Bob Rucho Coverage

Editorial: The $74,999 question. Can UNC's $2.5 million bad deal be stopped?

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 -- The rush by the UNC Board of Governors and the University of North Carolina and to do anything, at any cost, to get rid of the Silent Sam issue has done just the opposite. Due diligence has been neglected. Open meetings laws ignored. Superior Court Judge Allan Baddour, who signed the initial consent judgement and order with the Sons of Confederate Veterans is reexamining his approval. It is time for the courts and regulators to say enough-is-enough and negate this terrible deal.

Editorial: Leadership failures paved way for misguided Silent Sam deal

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 -- More than anyone, UNC Board of Governor's Chair Randy Ramsey and UNC President Bill Roper guard the integrity of our universities. Dealing with Silent Sam and the recent settlement with the N.C. Sons of Confederate Veterans was a tough test for the two leaders and they failed. This deal must go away. It must be nullified. If not, they should consider whether they have what it takes to lead the university system in the future.

Editorial: Silent Sam settlement gives rise to questions of UNC board's competence

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019 -- If ever there was an example of the more we learn, the less we know, the settlement concerning UNC-Chapel Hill's Silent Sam and the N.C. Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is it. Far from a resolution, this is a matter ripe for investigation. It has has done nothing to settle the Silent Sam controversy. It has only highlighted the mismanagement and lack of leadership of this UNC Board of Governors and administration.

ROY COOPER & LARRY HOGAN: Take it from us; politicians can't be trusted to draw electoral maps

Tuesday, March 26, 2019 -- We are governors from different parties with different views on a number of issues. But on this we agree: Elections should be decided by the voters. Under the current system, politicians devise maps that make some votes count more than others. They rig the system with impunity.

Challenge to voting maps back before NC high court

The state Supreme Court will get to review congressional and legislative voting maps for a third time after the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday sent a redistricting lawsuit back to the state in the wake of a recent ruling.

Matthew Burns

Senate names six to UNC system board

A former senator and a former Raleigh mayor were among six men the state Senate elected Wednesday to four-year terms on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.

Matthew Burns

Redistricting: Dickson v. Rucho

A former lawmaker and other plaintiffs challenged how the General Assembly drew state legislative and congressional districts. Those districts have twice been affirmed by the state Supreme Court, but the U.S. Supreme Court has ordered a third look.

Rucho to retire in 2016

State Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, the Senate's key tax-reform architect, will not seek re-election in 2016.

Laura Leslie

Renewable energy freeze on fast track

A controversial bill to freeze the state's renewable energy portfolio standard is on a fast track to the Senate floor despite an unclear vote from the Senate Finance Committee.

Laura Leslie

Senators float tax cut idea

Three key senators are floating what they say is a $1 billion tax cut plan, but it's unclear how this measure would fit with finance bills already making their way through the General Assembly.

Mark Binker

Ready or not, gas drilling permitting could begin in March

Barring 11th hour actions by the General Assembly, companies will be able to apply for natural gas drilling permits in mid-March.

Mark Binker

Unemployment changes clear first vote in Senate

A package of changes to the state's unemployment insurance laws cleared a first vote in the Senate Wednesday despite objections from the governor and one member who represents lower-wealth counties.

Mark Binker

Local sales tax cap comes back

House and Senate leaders have agreed on a retooled bid to limit urban counties' ability to raise sales taxes. That could leave Wake County voters with a tough decision this fall.

Laura Leslie

Tax bill clears Senate committee

The Senate Finance Committee made a few small changes to a tax bill that already cleared the House. It would begin curtailing city and county privilege license taxes on businesses starting July 1.

Mark Binker

Senate hits gusher with quick approval of drilling bill

The Senate gave key approval Wednesday to a bill that would open the door to natural gas drilling in North Carolina by next July.

Matthew Burns and Laura Leslie

Tensions high between lawmakers, DHHS chief

At a scathing oversight meeting Thursday, lawmakers and DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos traded barbs over problems at the troubled agency.

Laura Leslie

Rucho: Health law more harmful to US than Nazis

A weekend tweet by Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, slamming the federal Affordable Care Act has gotten national attention.

Mark Binker

Feds take issue with new NC unemployment law

Lawmakers made provisions dealing with when workers could be denied unemployment benefits too strict, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Lawmakers say federal regulators never raised issues before.

Mark Binker

Court upholds redrawn NC voting maps

A three-judge panel on Monday upheld the legislative and congressional districts drawn by Republican lawmakers in 2011. Democrats and other opponents have 30 days to formally decide whether to appeal.

Mark Binker

Tax reform remains up in the air

The tax bill now being hashed out between the House and Senate could abandon some of the key features many reformers expected to see before the legislative session began.

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

Senate tentatively approves tax reform proposal

The plan cuts corporate and individual income taxes but critics say it strips too much money away from state government.

Mark Binker

Senate tax bill advances without key reformer's support

Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, says he cannot back the version of tax reform that cleared the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday. Rucho has been a lead voice for rewriting the tax code.

Mark Binker

House, Senate tax reform plans unveiled

State House and Senate lawmakers are weighing a trio of tax reform packages. Here's an overview of how the three plans compare on income and sales changes, deductions, and cost.

Laura Leslie and Mark Binker