Welcome. This is a weekly feature of North Carolina Blue. The platform gives readers interested in North Carolina politics a place to share their knowledge, insight and inspiration as we take back our state from some of the most extreme Republicans in the nation. Please stop by each week. You can also join the discussion in four other weekly State Open Threads. If you are interested in starting your own state blog, weekly to occasionally, I will list your work below.
Colorado: Mondays, 7:00 PM Mountain Michigan: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Eastern North Carolina: Sundays Missouri: Wednesday Evenings Kansas: Monday Evenings
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has released a statement regarding FEMA's decision to deny the state's request for an extension on the 100% cost match for recovery from Hurricane Helene on April 11.
This decision follows the governor's request for an extension of the cost-share waiver under major disaster declaration FEMA-4827-DR, which was declared on Sept. 28, 2024.
WATCH: GOV. STEIN OUTLINES HELENE RECOVERY PROGRESS ON HIS 100TH DAY IN OFFICE
According to a letter from FEMA, on Sept. 25, 2024, the federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, was increased to 100 % for 180 days from the start of the incident period.
Later, on Dec. 6, 2024, the federal cost share for all categories of Public Assistance, including direct federal assistance, was raised to 90% of total eligible costs, except for assistance previously approved at 100%. <More>
Nickel becomes the first declared Democratic challenger to Sen. Thom Tillis, though observers are watching former Gov. Roy Cooper as another potential challenger.
Former Rep. Wiley Nickel officially announced a 2026 campaign for U.S. Senate Wednesday, entering the Democratic primary for the opportunity to challenge incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) in the general election.
Nickel is a criminal defense attorney who served four years in the state Senate and two years in the U.S. House of Representatives before dropping his reelection bid in 2023 after his seat, the 13th Congressional District, was redrawn heavily favoring Republicans. He announced then that he would run in the state’s next Senate contest, filing with the Federal Election Commission as a candidate in December 2023.
Before moving to North Carolina to practice law in 2009, Nickel was a staffer for Vice President Al Gore and President Barack Obama. As a congressman, he was a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition and served on the Financial Services Committee. <More>
4-2 ruling reinstates 60,000-plus ballots challenged for clerical reasons, but sides with Griffin on military and overseas voters
Dispensing with a need for additional briefs or oral arguments, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled Friday in the high-profile dispute over last November’s closely contested election for an associate justice seat on the high court.
If implemented without further action by the federal courts, it appears the ruling could overturn the election result that has been confirmed by two recounts in which incumbent Democratic Justice Allison Riggs defeated her Republican challenger, state Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, by 734 votes.
The unsigned opinion was agreed to by four justices — all Republicans — Chief Justice Paul Newby and Associate Justices Trey Allen, Tamara Barringer and Phil Berger, Jr. Two associate justices — Republican Richard Dietz and Democrat Anita Earls — concurred in part and dissented in part.
The ruling partially upholds and partially reverses a 2-1 Court of Appeals ruling issued April 4 on three key issues: <More>
As the Wilmington area continues to boom, why showcasing our environmental challenges is as important as ever
The Cape Fear region hit a milestone last year.
The Census Bureau announced the Wilmington-area’s population had grown by a whopping 13% between 2020 and 2024, surpassing the Raleigh and Charlotte metros as the state’s fastest-growing urban area.
Residents can easily see the impacts of that growth, from more crowded roadways, longer commutes and the seemingly endless proliferation of apartment complexes across the region.
But the influx of new residents, while an important economic driver, is also a challenge for local officials because the landscape isn’t the only thing changing in and around the Port City. <More>
For my precious followers and the godless feminists in my comment section:
It has recently come to my attention that some individuals, claiming to be “concerned about my well-being,” have been slandering my family on social media, portraying me as “oppressed” or “brainwashed.” NOTHING could be further from the truth. I’m frankly shocked that anyone would say this, after years of showing you guys every aspect of my life and how I CHOOSE to center my children and submission to my husband in every way.
It seems like these pro-choice feminists don’t understand choice at all! My parents were deeply offended by this too, considering they raised me to CHOOSE this lifestyle, and told me constantly growing up that it was my duty to marry and bear children. I assume these individuals don’t understand what that’s like, since they didn’t have the luck to be raised in a family as devoted or morally pure as mine.
Why are these individuals claiming that I am oppressed? Is it just because my husband stated that I’m not allowed to maintain a separate bank account, work outside of the home, receive pain medication during childbirth or legally own any part of our small 10,000-acre family farm? Who wants their own money anyways? Women just weren’t made to understand numbers, unless it’s to ask our husbands for a sixth baby. <More>
Thanks for stopping by, wishing all a strong week.
