Our take
Everyday the government makes decisions that affect our lives; from the water we drink, the food our kids eat and how much money we bring home. Being informed is one of the first steps in building our power and creating change in our communities.
Pressure from citizens in coal ash communities credited for winning cleanup settlement
For years, communities across North Carolina stood up to Duke Energy (as well as the energy giant’s enablers in the McCrory administration and the General Assembly) and fought to get coal ash pollution cleaned up in their neighborhoods. The tenacity of those communities reflects the true spirit of democracy and resilience, now that Duke Energy…
Fox 46: Teachers protest decision not to increase their pay
From Fox 46 Charlotte: NC teachers protest for pay raises North Carolina teachers are protesting because they are not getting a pay raise per lawmakers in Raleigh. Teachers in Charlotte protested Wednesday because they’re not getting pay raises from the state of North Carolina. Lawmakers failed to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of pay raises.
The News & Observer 01/14 Letters: Deployment to Middle East will hurt NC towns, families, the economy
The idea that wars are always good for the economy is simply not true. It is likely that the emotional and economic impact of a war with Iran would be a heavy one, not unlike North Carolina’s experience during previous wars in the middle east. Our state simply can not afford another endless war. From…
Lawmakers return to talk teacher pay as another red state expands Medicaid
The North Carolina General Assembly convenes on Tuesday for a so-called “mini-session” amidst the budget standoff waged by legislative Republicans since last summer. From North Carolina Health News: “We have not set a date and honestly we’re waiting like everyone else to see what the legislature” does this week, said Dave Richard, the N.C. Department of Health…
WRAL: EDUCATION Student newspaper says secret negotiations leading to ‘Silent Sam’ deal broke NC law
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Daily Tar Heel student newspaper has sued the UNC Board of Governors over the Silent Sam bribe. The lawsuit alleges that the BOG violated the North Carolina Open Meetings Law by making secret deals with the white supremacist group behind closed doors without any public acknowledgment. From WRAL: Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour…
Settlement forces Duke Energy to clean up coal ash ponds — but who will pay for it?
After years of Duke Energy trying to shirk its responsibility to clean up its coal ash ponds, a new settlement means the energy giant will finally have to clean up these polluted ponds which have leaked countless tons of toxic chemicals into North Carolina waterways. From WRAL: Frank Holleman, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental…
NC voter ID law put on hold as more gerrymandering evidence comes to light
NC voter ID law put on hold as more gerrymandering evidence comes to light North Carolina’s voter ID law is temporarily on hold after a federal court ruling. This comes as new files have been released showing more details on NC Republicans’ plan to rig elections and undermine the will of voters. Last week’s ruling…
Statement on federal court ruling on the Affordable Care Act
RALEIGH — Progress NC, the NC Justice Center, and partner organizations released the following statement on Thursday in response to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Texas v. United States regarding the Affordable Care Act: Wednesday’s Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling on the Texas v. United States decision means that millions of North Carolinians with…
‘Silent Sam’ deal cost UNC-CH a $1.5M grant from major foundation donor
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is one of the largest charitable foundations in the world and they are in the final stages of withdrawing their grant after finding out the UNC Board of Governors agreed to a settlement giving the Sons of Confederate Veterans the monument and $2.5 million to maintain it. The Andrew W.…
Leandro report released: What it will take for NC children to receive a sound, basic education
In the Leandro vs North Carolina case back in 1997, the North Carolina Supreme Court decided that the state was not meeting its constitutional obligation to provide all students with a sound basic education. More than 20 years later, the situation is worse, not better. Judge David Lee came up with recommendations to meet the mandates of…