All articles tagged with #north carolina
North Carolina’s State Health Plan board voted to restore Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina as the plan’s manager (and for a separate pharmaceutical benefits contract) starting in 2028, reversing the 2023 move to Aetna. The switch could influence premiums, covered services, and who’s in-network, and may spark legal disputes as political priorities shift under Treasurer Brad Briner.
SpaceX is set to launch a rocket with a window opening at 5:05 a.m. Thursday, which could be visible from central and eastern North Carolina as a vapor trail in the eastern sky, depending on timing; sunrise is at 6:07 a.m., so the opportunity may fade as dawn approaches. Residents are encouraged to share photos if they spot the launch.
Gov. Josh Stein signed the $34 billion budget after a year of GOP negotiations, delivering 3% raises for state workers (teacher boosts averaging 8%, some law enforcement up to 17%) and a personal income tax rate cut from 3.99% to 3.49% next year. The plan funds community colleges, the DMV, childcare and summer meals, and big-ticket projects like a new Apex children’s hospital, while eliminating hundreds of vacant positions and barring funding to some civil-legal groups. Critics say raises lag inflation and jobs will be cut; supporters call it needed tax relief and investments.
Mt Olive Pickle Company pulled out of the Great American State Fair in Washington, DC after North Carolina’s display included a video showing a Confederate flag; the company said it was unaware the flag would appear, while Spevco said the flag moment was brief and not produced by NC, and the video was later removed. The incident comes amid heat, lower attendance at the fair, and broader political tensions surrounding the 250th anniversary celebrations.
North Carolina has 69 cyclosporiasis cases since early June 2026, mostly in Wake County, as the CDC probes more than 140 Cyclospora illnesses across 17 states—at least 20 hospitalizations have been reported nationwide; NC has no local hospitalizations and officials say there is no outbreak yet. Investigations point to contaminated fresh produce (often cilantro or parsley), with the source hard to pinpoint due to the produce’s short shelf life and the parasite’s 2–14 day incubation. A 2024 Wake County outbreak linked to a shrimp-and-parsley salad prompted stronger interagency collaboration. Officials advise washing produce thoroughly, seeking care for severe diarrhea, and cooking foods to 165°F to kill pathogens.
North Carolina lawmakers advanced a record $34 billion state budget in the first round of votes, including raises for state workers and teachers, one-time pension boosts, and phased personal income tax cuts that could drop to as low as 2.49% by 2034. The plan also raises taxes on data centers and sports betting companies, funds Hurricane Helene relief and reserves, expands Medicaid oversight while trimming some health-department positions, and boosts transportation spending, with final passage and Gov. Stein’s signature expected later this week.
A U.S. Postal Service rural carrier, Brandi Reynolds, was shot and killed while delivering mail in Hayes, North Carolina. Authorities say suspect William Craig Durham abducted and murdered Reynolds and has been charged with kidnapping and murder, leaving Reynolds’ two children orphaned after the death of their father in a December 2025 car crash.
Western North Carolina responses to the Supreme Court ruling allowing states to bar transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports are divided: supporters frame it as protection for female athletes, while critics warn it could erode rights for transgender youth; North Carolina already bans transgender women from girls’ sports, and the ruling underscores states’ authority over school sports amid broader national debate and related federal scrutiny of local policies.
NCWRC will hold a two-day Special Early Season for antlered deer on Aug. 22–23, 2026 in seven NC counties within CWD Management Areas (Cumberland, Forsyth, Sampson, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin). Any legal weapon is allowed, but baiting remains prohibited before Sept. 1. In the Northwestern CWD Area, blackpowder and gun seasons start a week earlier. The agency also updated statewide deer carcass disposal rules to reduce CWD spread and opened applications (July 1) for additional CWDMAP tags on private property, with regulations published in the Aug. 1 Regulations Digest.
Inmates overpowered guards and briefly seized parts of the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor, eastern North Carolina, but law enforcement intervened hours later to regain control and restore order.
Inmate takeover at Bertie-Martin Regional Jail in Eastern North Carolina ended after hours of negotiation, with two detention officers safe and about 80 inmates moved to a secure facility; initial reports indicated 88 inmates and 3 guards inside, one guard escaped, and while negotiations continued, authorities maintained there was no threat to the public as control was restored.
At Trump's Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., the North Carolina pavilion pulled a video display that showed a Confederate flag alongside the North Carolina flag after scrutiny and sponsor pushback. Governor Josh Stein condemned the display as divisive, and Mt Olive Pickle Company pulled its participation. Organizers said the image did not reflect North Carolina and emphasized unity with America 250, while other sponsors remained attached, underscoring ongoing sensitivity to Confederate symbols at national events.
A video display featuring a Confederate flag at the North Carolina pavilion of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall was removed after officials said it did not represent the state; the pavilion was privately sponsored (not official NC sponsorship) and Mt. Olive Pickle Company withdrew after the controversy, with organizers noting the display was not part of the reviewed concept and that NC’s celebration would focus on unity and equality.
The Confederate flag at North Carolina’s booth at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., was removed after backlash; Gov. Josh Stein condemned the display, sponsor Mt. Olive Pickles withdrew, and NC will host an America250 Independence Day event in Raleigh as the controversy surrounding the fair and its ties to America250 continues.
North Carolina Senate leaders push a government-backed framework to finance a $1.7 billion Raleigh MLB stadium, including $500 million in state funds and the rest from local revenue, sports betting taxes, income tax withholdings from performers, and a new sports-and-entertainment district; House Republicans oppose public funding, leaving the plan out of the state budget and complicating Raleigh’s MLB expansion bid as lawmakers haggle over timing and financing.