Medicaid expansion means North Carolina's working poor can go to the doctor for free. It also means billions in new federal funding for hospitals.

After 14 years, billions to flow as 600,000 qualify for Medicaid insurance in NC

More than half a million North Carolinians now qualify for Medicaid 

Our experts on parenting, frugal living and the best that the Triangle has to offer have scoured their sources and shopped the stores (and the internet) for the best suggestions for your holiday giving. No matter the age or interest, you'll find gift ideas here.

WRAL 2023 Holiday Gift Guide

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Political people Coverage

Mark Robinson, lieutenant governor of North Carolina, has been a conservative firebrand and likely candidate for governor.

Thank you all so much. We appreciate. It's good to be back at CPAC again. But as always, as always, the very first thing we're gonna do, we're gonna give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ right off the bat. As always, why? Because He is worthy. He is the reason why we live in this blessed and prosperous land and in Him. That's where you find true freedom. So we give him thanks. And first and foremost, that being said, I also need to say this. We've heard a lot of things today and we've been hearing a lot of things about the bad news in this country. But I want to give you some good news today. The very first piece of good news I want to give you is that God is still on the throne, that God is still in control, even in this nation, even though Joe Biden, maybe the president of the United States of America. God is still in control and he will always be in control and it is time as Americans that we start standing up and giving him some thanks. What do we need to thank him for there are a whole lot of things we need to thank him for, even in the bad things that we are facing, there are things that we need to thank him mightily for. We need to thank him for those brave men and women in green down on the border that despite not having the support of the federal government and the Biden administration, they still get up every day, put that uniform on, get on those horses, get in those trucks and patrol that border for border security. They continue to do it day in and day out even though their bosses in Washington refused to give them what they need in order to succeed. But those brave men and women, they still get up and do it every day. We need to give thanks to them. We need to give thanks to the men and women in uniform who patrol our streets for public safety. They've got everybody from ABC CNN BLM BLM and Antifa calling to have the police defunded lying on the police saying that our policemen are racist saying that our policemen are violent saying that they need to be defunded. But every day those men and women get up, they put on that uniform and they go out into those neighborhoods and they patrol those streets for public safety and lay down their lives for the people that they love and for the cities they love and for the nation that they love. We need to give thanks for those men and women. We need to give thanks for those brave mothers and fathers who would be called domestic terrorists by having the unmitigated gall to go down and speak up at the school board meeting for their Children because they refuse to have their Children indoctrinated by C R T and have them presented with pornography and they're willing to stand up and face the federal government if necessary, we need to give thanks for those teachers that are in those classrooms every day, pushing back, pushing back against those agendas and fighting to do what's right for our students. We need to say thank you for our military. Despite the fact that they want them to be woke, they are still willing to stand up and serve and fight for the nation that they love. We need to give thanks for those folks. Now, why do I say all that? I say that to say this, some of that needs to translate to those folks in Washington D C. Some of that needs to translate to those folks in your state capital. Some of it needs to translate to the folks on our city councils and county commissions because they exist. The problem be the governor. You see that is the problem in that statement. The problem in that statement is want we have too many people who decide to run for office because they want to be something they want to be a congressman. They want to be a senator, they want to be a governor. They want to be president. They want to be a big shot who pops his collar and looks down on the people tells them what to do and has doors open for them. They have a title, they have armed guards and they'll have a legacy of political legacy of their fantasy, fantastic political career that will follow them for life. They want, they want, they want, let me tell you something about want, want is not what is standing in front of you. When I say I don't want to be governor. This is how I describe it. I want you to go back in your mind. Go back to June the 6th, Go back to the English Channel. Find one of those Higgins boats and in that Higgins boat, you'll find a young man probably from Bedford, Virginia, a member of the 116th Infantry, 29th Infantry that is about to attack Omaha Beach. The toughest fight of that day would take place on that beach. Some 70 to 80% of his comrades would be killed. I want you to go back in your mind and I want you to ask that young man, why did you come here to this place? Why did you want to join the army and come here to this place? Why did you want to watch your friends be slaughtered? Why do you want these Germans shooting at you? Why do you want to leave your family and friends behind? Possibly to never see them again. I would imagine that that young man would probably turn around and look at you and say something to the effect of, I didn't want any of this because this is not about want, this is about service. You see, my nation is in trouble. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and Hitler is murdering his way across Europe. I cannot sit at home and watch this world burn and have my nation in trouble. It's time for me to stand up and serve up to and including giving my life if necessary. This is not about whoa, it's about service and the people in D C need to hear it. You're not there to serve yourself and your, your self interest, you're there to serve the people of this nation and the state to represent the area that you represent. Yes, up to and including your political life is if necessary. You see, that's another thing we need to thank God for right now. We got some folks like Dan Bishop that will go to Washington D C and make sure that we fight to bring real leadership back to that entity because because that's what it's time for folks. It's time for our political class to understand why they are there. They're not there to get rich and re elected, they're not there to serve their own interest. They're not there to craft a political career that will follow them for the rest of their life and get them paid for the rest of their life. They are there to do what the founders intended it to be, service to be service to the people that elected into those positions. You see, because sometimes when you're doing the right thing, it's tough out here on this old road, the media comes after you. Sometimes your own party comes after you, but you gotta keep going and why do you gotta keep going? I don't know what your reason is. But I've got my reason, I've got what I call my core. My core is my grand babies because I got to build a future for them to make sure that they can live the life of freedom. Same kind of life of freedom that I lived this morning. I talked to them by phone. They were at their home, they were with their mom and dad and they were doing science experiments, had on little white lab coats and glasses and they said we're doing science experiments and I looked at him and those lab coats and they said they were scientists and I looked at him and I said, wow, they're already better scientists than Dr Fauci is. But seriously, that's what I fight for every day to leave them a legacy of freedom. I don't need a legacy of a political career. I need to leave a legacy of freedom for the people that I serve and that's exactly what I intend to do. God bless you all. God bless the United States of America and God bless the great state of North Carolina. Thank you.

NC Lt. Gov. Robinson addresses high-profile conservative conference

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks at CPAC 2023

The urbanization and growing population of North Carolina over the past three decades have changed the business of political campaigns in the state. David Crabtree discusses with consultants Morgan Jackson and Paul Schumaker.

Only on WRAL: Political consultants see demographics move voters, candidates in North Carolina

President Donald Trump made a brief appearance at the Republican National Convention on Monday, telling delegates that the only way he could lose the November election is if Democrats cheat.

WRAL. >>> AFTER MONTHS BACK AND FORTH SURROUNDING THE NATIONAL CONVENTION,  THE DELEGATES HAVE OFFICIALLY PLACED TRUMPED ON THE TICKET AND DID SO HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. >> GOOD EVENING. I AM DAVID CRABTREE. >> AND I AM DEBRA  MORGAN. THERE DECISION COMES 71 DAYS BEFORE THE BALLOTS  ARE COUNTED AND A PRIZE SPEECH AS THE DELEGATES REACH A THRESHOLD TO OFFICIALLY NOMINATE HIM. WRAL'S JOE FISHER HAS MORE LIVE ON HIS MESSAGE AND THE SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION WATCHING. JOE? >> Reporter: DEBRA,  PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS THERE IS MORE ENTHUSIASM IN THE 2020 CAMPAIGN THAN IN 2016 AND HE SAID HE BELIEVES THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ARRIVED TO CHEERS. >> NORTH CAROLINA,  WITH LOVE YOU. THAT IS WHY I AM HERE. >> Reporter: AT THE SCALED BACK AND SOCIALLY DISTANCE CONVENTION ,  THE PRESIDENT TOOK A SWING AT GOVERNOR ROY COOPER. >> YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR IN A TOTAL SHUTDOWN  MOOD. >> Reporter: HE THEN WENT ON AN ATTACK AGAINST MAIL-IN VOTING. >> THEY WILL BE DUMPING THEM IN THE  NEIGHBORHOODS. PEOPLE  WILL BE PICKING THEM UP,  BRIBING ,  PAYING OFF PEOPLE TO GRAB SOME. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKED UP THE ECONOMY,  THE PROGRESS TO BUILD THE BORDER WALL AND THE VIRUS. >> HE SAYS EDUCATION A GODLY MAN AND WILL JUSTIFY EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE EVEN WITH THE DEMOCRATS DOING THE THINGS THEY HAVE DONE TO HIM,  IMPEACHMENT, ALL THE HARASSMENT FROM HIM. >> Reporter: DEMOCRATS SAY ANOTHER FOUR YEARS WILL DEGRADE OUR DEMOCRACY. >> IT IS TIME TO US TO LOOK INSIDE AND LOOK TO THE STRENGTH TO OUR CREATOR TO STAND UP FOR OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT WITH A BALANCE OF POWER. >> Reporter: VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE ALSO SURPRISED THE CROWD. >> WELL,  HELLO,  CHARLOTTE! >> Reporter: HE TOLD THE DELEGATES AND THE NATION THAT THE ECONOMY AND LAW AND ORDER ARE ON THE BALLOT. >> OUR MOST CHERISHED IDEALS OF FREEDOM AND FREE MARKETS  ARE ON THE BALLOT. THAT IS WHY WE NEED FOUR MORE YEARS OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE.>> Reporter: AS FOR THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ABOUT GOVERNOR COOPER,  A SPOKESPERSON TONIGHT SAYING QUOTE PANDEMIC RESPONSE SHOULDN'T BE PARTISAN AND GOVERNOR ROY COOPER IS FOCUSED ON PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF NORTH CAROLINIANS. MEANWHILE  THE CHARLOTTE PORTION OF THE RNC  IS NOW OVER. SOME OF THE FENCING  BEHIND ME HAS STARTED  TO COME DOWN IN THE PAST HOUR OR SO. NOW WE HAVE FOUR NIGHTS OF SPEECHES THAT ALL END WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP OFFICIALLY ACCEPTING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT IN A SPEECH FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ON THURSDAY >> JOE FISHER LIVE FROM THE RNC

Trump, Pence fire up small RNC crowd

More than a dozen city leaders, all of them African American except for one, received a letter in the mail to their respective offices that was threatening and racist. Now, police are taking a close look. 

Charlotte Mayor, other African American city and county leaders receive racist, threatening letter

Charlotte politicians receive threatening mail

One of the most colorful politicians in North Carolina history has released a book about his life. It's called That's Rufus and it chronicles the career of Rufus Edmisten.  

Rufus Edmisten bio chronicles his colorful life in NC politics

Zeb Alley, one of the most recognized and friendly faces in the legislative building, has died, according to House Speaker Thom Tillis.

Former lawmaker, long-time lobbyist Zeb Alley dies

Zebulon Alley, Zeb Alley

Gov.-elect Pat McCrory announces on Dec. 20, 2012, the appointments of Art Pope and Kieran Shanahan to his cabinet.