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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A handful of lawmakers from the NC House's Freedom Caucus say North Carolina should be the second state in the nation, after Utah, to lower the legal limit to .05%.

NC bill aims to lower blood alcohol limit

What's inside North Carolina's proposed budget

NC GOP's right flank pushes tougher DWI laws

Liquor store, ABC store, alcohol generic

NC senators propose eliminating participation trophies for youth sports

Youth baseball

Some progress is being made for families who've waited years to go home after Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.

Lawmakers still not satisfied with pace of hurricane relief

After losing home to Hurricane Florence, New Bern man thankful for assistance in getting new place set up

State Senate Republicans calling for the largest expansion of North Carolina's private school voucher program since it was created, replacing income caps with a tiered system that lets any family participate.

NC Republicans pitch $1.3 billion boost for private school vouchers

Wilson County students mask up, prepare for new year

Clean water, better roads and raises for teachers are among the priorities Republicans in the NC House want to address in the new state budget.

Double-digit raises for teachers, some other state workers: See what's in the first draft of new NC budget

State budget

The North Carolina House of Representatives gave its final approval Wednesday to a bill that would legalize mobile sports gambling in the state. House Bill 347 now heads to the Senate, where some changes are expected.

NC mobile sports betting bill heads to Senate after final House approval

Sports betting apps

DALLAS, N.C. (AP) — Former North Carolina state Sen. David Hoyle, a powerful force on taxes, economic development and education within state government when Democrats last controlled the General Assembly, died on Wednesday at age 84, his son said.

Former N. Carolina senator, tax secretary Hoyle dies at 84

Revenue Secretary David Hoyle

North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday successfully overrode Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a bill repealing the requirement for a pistol permit.

With some Dems absent, Republicans are able to override veto, lift requirement for pistol permits

NC lawmakers scrap state's pistol permit requirement, override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto

No longer will North Carolinians buying a handgun need to get permission first from their local sheriff. They'll still need a federal background check to buy from a licensed dealer, which means handgun purchases in the state will be treated the same as rifles and shotguns.

North Carolina ends pistol permit system

A handful of key Democrats missed a gun bill vote in the NC House of Representatives Wednesday, leaving empty seats. Also pictured in the blue jacket: State Rep. Marvin Lucas, who attended the session despite having a broken leg, according to House Democratic Leader Robert Reives.

State Bureau of Investigation Director Bob Schurmeier said Tuesday that key members of Gov. Roy Cooper's administration pressed him to resign last fall.

NC SBI director says governor's office tried to oust him

The Senate voted 30-19 along party lines to revive a package of gun access measures that would scrap a requirement that handgun buyers obtain a permit from their county sheriff.

State House votes to override gun bill veto

Central NC sheriffs disagree about value of pistol permit law

The state board voted unanimously to dismiss two officials in one of the strongest disciplinary actions taken against local officials across the U.S. who have delayed or refused to certify election results. 

N.C. board removes election officials who refused to certify

State_Board_of_Elections_Meeting_67375

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As California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, promoted a new bill restricting who can carry a concealed firearm in his state, he said Florida was moving in the "exact opposite direction." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Fact check: Newsom says 'DeSantis' bill' would remove Florida's concealed carry rules

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Fact check: Biden says American Rescue Plan 'cut Black child poverty in half'

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Politifact

During a discussion at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said: "Half the kids in this country, when they graduate, can't read their diploma." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Fact check: Tuberville says half of high school graduates 'can't read their diploma'

Senate Passes $1.7 Trillion Spending Bill, in Bid to Avert Government Shutdown

Fact check: Goldberg says the First Amendment 'doesn't allow you to willingly lie'

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Fact check: Haley says Democrats 'want to ban gas powered cars and gas stoves'

PolitiFact: Half-true

Fact check: NC GOP says the 'left' wants to erase Mount Rushmore from history books

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Fact check: Buttigieg says GOP sought to reduce visual railway inspections

In Fog of East Palestine’s Crisis, Politicians Write Their Own Stories

Police union employee charged with importing illegal opioids

State news

NC budget provisions take new import with Medicaid expansion

Police: Student shot self in hand, sparking campus lockdown

State House budget proposes more for infrastructure, raises

Donald Trump indicted; 1st ex-president charged with crime

National politics

Turkey's parliament ratifies Finland's membership in NATO

UK agrees to join Pacific trade pact in post-Brexit deal

AP sources: No more action from Trump grand jury this week

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

The former president became the first president, either sitting or out of office, to be charged with a crime.

Former President Donald Trump plans to turn himself in to Manhattan DA's office next week, attorney tells NBC News

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, prosecutors and defense lawyers said Thursday, making him the first former U.S. president to face a criminal charge and jolting his bid to retake the White House next year.

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Organizers with Dreamville Festival are preparing for wet and windy weather this weekend that may cause safety concerns for fans and employees.

Wet, windy outlook for Dreamville could make things messy for fans

City of Raleigh, Dreamville organizers prepare for windy, wet conditions

Nine people were killed in a crash involving two Army Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters conducting a nighttime training exercise in Kentucky, Army officials said Thursday. One of the victims, Caleb Gore, was the son of a pastor in Wayne County.

'My son was really a hero': Father mourns son who died in military helicopter crash

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Forsyth Technical Community College has closed campus and all classes are canceled for the remainder of the week.

Forsyth Tech cancels classes for remainder of week after student was hospitalized in shooting

Forsyth Tech campus alerted to shots fired in area; asked to shelter in place

A WRAL Weather Alert Day has been issued for Saturday, when our southeastern counties go under a Level 1 risk for severe weather.



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