Alanna Joyner
In an effort to celebrate Black History Month, Progress NC is highlighting prominent Black leaders from North Carolina, who have shaped our state through their contributions to arts, sciences, politics, and more. On this day 61 years ago, four North Carolina A&T students held the first major sit-in of the Civil Rights Movement at Greensboro’s…
Read MoreDuke Energy, North Carolina officials and the Sierra Club announced Monday an agreement over the coal ash cleanup. Duke Energy agreed to pay over $1 billion to recycle the ash and close the plants producing them, but the customers may get stuck with the rest of the bill. Under the settlement — which still must…
Read MoreLast Wednesday, the North Carolina General Assembly officially began its two-year session, with COVID-19 relief spending, a two-year state budget, school spending and redistricting among the top agenda items this year. Prior to the NCGA’s adjournment, the Republican-led legislature failed to address long standing unmet needs for struggling North Carolinians. According to the state’s latest…
Read MoreBoth federal and state unemployment, protections against evictions and other key stimulus programs are set to expire in the coming weeks. Without the new aid, millions of Americans are at risk as the pandemic worsens. After months of failed negotiations, the House and Senate have resumed stimulus amid the impending housing and economic crisis, yet…
Read MoreDespite Republicans’ desperate attempts to suppress voters, nearly 160 million Americans voted in the 2020 elections — by far the most in history and a level of turnout not seen in over a century. With over 66.7 percent of the voting-eligible population casting ballots this year — the highest percentage since 1900 — state and…
Read MoreNew Year’s Eve marks the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) national eviction moratorium. The expiration of the eviction moratorium would result in millions of Americans losing their homes as COVID-19 cases continue to surge. According to the Aspen Institute, nearly 40 million Americans could face eviction over the next several…
Read MoreLast Monday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed an executive order aimed at strengthening the state’s mandate involving face masks. As local hospitals and healthcare workers are strained, the new order requires people to wear a mask while they’re exercising, whether that’s inside or not, at a restaurant table unless they are actively eating or…
Read MoreToday, the Supreme Court will hear the Republican lawsuit to overturn The Affordable Care Act (ACA), ending its protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and ripping health care away from 20 million Americans — all during an intensifying pandemic. Amid a historic health and economic crisis that has deprived millions of Americans of…
Read MoreProgress NC, Partners Spotlight Nonpartisan Events Around NC, including ‘Trick or Vote’ in the Triangle, Encouraging Every Voter to Cast Ballot. A collaborative network of election-focused groups around North Carolina is helping not only to drive record-breaking turnout but to ensure that voting remains orderly and that every vote is counted. This network of both…
Read MoreWith record-breaking voter turnout stretching from North Carolina to Texas, one thing is clear; Democracy is winning and Republicans’ voter suppression efforts are losing. According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, more than 1.5 million North Carolinians cast their ballots in the first three days of early voting. In addition to early votes…
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