NC Capitol is WRAL's NC State Capitol Bureau. State Capitol news, plus state government news in Raleigh, the Triangle, and surrounding areas.

<p>The WRAL News team covers the General Assembly and North Carolina politics on air and online. Follow their work at NC Capitol.</p>

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The North Carolina Supreme Court's decision Friday to rehear a high-profile redistricting case and a controversial voter ID case indicates that the court's new GOP majority plans to undo voting rights rulings that had been seen as victories for Democrats.

In win for GOP, NC Supreme Court positioned to reverse major voting rights cases

North Carolina Supreme Court

Medical marijuana bill resurrected in legislative session

THC products

The Wrap podcast: Bills, bills, bills (and a lawsuit)

TheWrap@NCCapitol podcast

Voters could have chance to repeal NC's Jim Crow-era voting test in 2024

Voting in N.C., voting generic 

North Carolina House Bill 43, filed this week, would outlaw puberty blockers, hormone therapy and other "gender-affirming" medical treatment for transgender minors, even with parental consent.

NC bills targeting LGBTQ kids latest in national culture war

Parents_Rights_32853

Critics of a North Carolina bill that advanced Thursday in the state Senate say it could jeopardize the mental health and physical safety of LGBTQ students who could be outed to their parents without consent.

Experts warn NC bill could harm LGBTQ youth mental health

North Carolina State Legislative Building 

The state Supreme Court heard arguments in the first political lawsuit before the high court since Republicans flipped control in the 2022 elections.

When can ex-felons vote in NC? High court hears arguments in voting rights case

North Carolina's Supreme Court is deciding whether people convicted of felonies should be permitted to vote if they aren't serving prison time but are on probation or parole or have to yet pay fines.

North Carolina justices consider allowing convicted felons to vote 

North Carolina justices consider allowing convicted felons to vote after serving prison time

Hormone treatments and puberty blockers would be outlawed for minors in the latest proposed legislation targeting transgender people. 

Puberty blockers, transgender treatment targeted in new NC bill

Texas Investigating Over Medical Treatments for Trans Youth, Lawsuit Says

Punishments would get tougher in North Carolina for intentionally damaging utility equipment -- like what authorities say happened two months ago when tens of thousands of Moore County residents lost electricity for days -- in legislation filed Wednesday by Senate Republicans.

NC senators want tougher utility attack penalties

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Buoyed by the November elections, legislative Republicans seek to push through a once-vetoed bill to crack down on rioters.

NC Speaker 'confident' tougher rioting punishments will pass

RPD tear gas

A key state Senate committee passed a bill Wednesday that would limit the discussion of gender and sexuality in elementary schools.

NC committee passes bill to restrict teaching on gender, sexuality

The bill could require teachers to facilitate discussions about gender identity with a questioning student's parents, except for when the teacher believes such a disclosure would lead to abuse.

Bill limiting what teachers can say about sexuality, gender advances despite opposition from parents, students

NC Board of Education ask state lawmakers for more money to fund more nurses, social workers

If your doctor or repair person cancels your appointment on short notice, should they have to pay you for your time? Some state lawmakers say yes!

Bill would require service providers to pay if they make you wait

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In a brief walk-and-talk interview with reporters outside the U.S. Capitol, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., focused on the impact of tax cuts signed in 2017 by then-President Donald Trump as the primary reason the federal debt is close to hitting the statutory limit of $31.4 trillion. 

Fact check: AOC says Trump tax cuts were 'largest contributor' to national debt

In Massachusetts, Markey Outflanks Kennedy by Running as Bold Insurgent

Fact Check: Biden says unemployment fell by 16 million over two years

Politifact

On Jan. 25, President Biden tweeted: "Two years ago this week, 18 million people were out of work needing unemployment benefits. Today, that number is under 1.6 million, the lowest in decades." 



Fact check: Biden touts joblessness drop of 16 million

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Fact check: Hudson says Biden 'caused' energy crisis

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Fact check: Biden says take-home pay is going up

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Fact check: Did 'every pro-life governor' win big in midterm elections?

Rubio Is Reelected to Senate, Defeating Demings in Florida

Fact check: Did Tillis flip on same-sex marriage?

The 12 Republican Senators Who Voted for the Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Eyes on the sky as Chinese balloon shot down over Atlantic

State news

N. Carolina Supreme Court to rehear voter ID, redistricting

Missing Florida Lyft driver's car found with slaying suspect

North Carolina Supreme Court hears felony voting rights case

Dems reshuffle primaries to stress diversity over tradition

National politics

China balloon: Many questions about suspected spy in the sky

US downs Chinese balloon, drawing a threat from China

Biden, Black caucus agree on path forward on police reform

Complete, up-to-date 2022 November Election Results

Decision 2022 election graphic

Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Budd beat Democrat Cheri Beasley, a former state Supreme Court Chief Justice, in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Burr. 

Budd defeats Beasley in North Carolina's US Senate race, helping GOP hold key seat

Cheri Beasley (left) and Ted Budd (right)

Democratic state Sen. Wiley Nickel defeated Republican political newcomer Bo Hines in North Carolina's 13th Congressional District.

Nickel wins Triangle congressional seat, boosting NC Democrats' numbers in US House

Wiley Nickel

Democrats are likely to see more congressional representation this year, but the gains could be short-lived as the voting map is only to be used for this year's elections.

Who will represent you in Congress? Results come in as Democrats and Republican seek US House control

Absentee ballots 

The North Carolina Supreme Court could see important cases related to voting rights and abortion access in the coming years. GOP legal victories could become more likely under a conservative court.

Republicans gain control of state Supreme Court. How that could impact voting rights and abortion access

Voter resources

Saturday night is the Battle of the Blues as Duke hosts North Carolina. Here's a live look at Franklin Street in Chapel Hill as the game tips off.

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