Page 20 – State Affairs

What you might have missed in LaPolitics Weekly

Posted on September 10, 2024September 10, 2024 by David Jacobs

Here’s what you may have missed in the latest issue of LaPolitics Weekly, published last week…

— GUBERNATORIAL PRIVILEGE: Gov. Jeff Landry has issued 138 executive orders during his first eight months in office, which is the highest single-year tally of any governor dating back to at least 1975, when our current Constitution took effect…

— LEGALITY QUESTIONABLE: Much like his first executive order, Landry is trying to establish policies for the public education system without input from the Legislature or the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education…

— LaPOLITICS Q&A: “While the celebratory nature of Louisiana is certainly part of our message, we work hard to make sure visitors know that Louisiana is for everyone… I will work with Secretary Bourgeois and Gov. Landry in any way that I can to ensure that our messages do not conflict,” said Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser…

— FIELD NOTES: Nungesser is hosting a fundraiser dubbed “Make America Laugh Again,” featuring “the singing Trump,” as seen on “America’s Got Talent”…

— SHOP TALK: How local election officials can prepare for the risks of AI…

— OUR HISTORY: According to the generally accepted version of events, Judge Benjamin Pavy’s son-in-law, Dr. Carl Weiss, approached Huey Long in a corridor and shot him at close range in the abdomen…But how accurate is the official story?

— THEY SAID IT: It’s like a great party with a rock concert and incredible people combined into one awesome weekend.” —Donald Trump Jr., on Landry’s annual Alligator Hunt fundraiser, in Rolling Stone

Wish you would have read these stories last week? Subscribe today to www.LaPoliticsWeekly.com.

Headlines & Bylines (09.10.24)

Posted on September 10, 2024September 10, 2024 by David Jacobs

—NOLA: Tropical Storm Francine forms in Gulf as hurricane watches issued for Louisiana’s coast

—CNN: Tropical Storm Francine forces evacuations along Gulf Coast, Louisiana under hurricane warning

—Shreveport Times: Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declares hurricane emergency for Tropical Storm Francine

—KPEL: Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore hints at Lafayette visit ahead of Francine

—KPEL: Louisiana’s ‘prayer for hurricane season’

—Natural Gas Intelligence: Strengthening Tropical Storm Headed for Texas, Louisiana Export Terminals

—The Advocate: Will I-10 in Mississippi be ready if Louisiana residents flee potential Hurricane Francine?

—The Advocate: Baton Rouge Democratic Party endorses Ted James for mayor over incumbent Sharon Weston Broome

—Illuminator: Doctors criticize misoprostol guidance from Louisiana Department of Health: ‘It’s not helpful’

—The Advocate: Should the East Baton Rouge Sheriff take over BRPD? The controversial idea has resurfaced.

Political Chatter (09.10.24)

Posted on September 10, 2024September 10, 2024 by David Jacobs

— EBR MAYOR LOOKS VULNERABLE: A debate among candidates to be the next mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish set for Wednesday has been postponed. When the campaign cranks up again, Mayor Sharon Weston Broome has some work to do to ensure her reelection, suggested Albert Samuels, who chairs the political science department at Southern University. A recent poll the Baton Rouge Area Chamber commissioned pegged Broome’s support at 29 percent, with former Rep. Ted James (a fellow Democrat) and Sid Edwards, a Republican, tied at 23 percent. The race appears headed for a runoff, and the two-term incumbent’s poll numbers suggest vulnerability, Samuels told the Baton Rouge Press Club on Monday. James has outraised Broome and has the endorsement of the East Baton Rouge Democratic Party’s executive committee. Edwards is a local football coach who is making his first run for office with the support of the parish GOP.

— SOS ASKS LEGES FOR ELECTION HELP: Secretary of State Nancy Landry has urged legislators to consider working as election commissioners this year, since they won’t be on the ballot. “You’ll feel more confident in our elections,” she told the House Appropriations Committee on Friday. “We encourage all of you to sign up.” Officials have been struggling to attract enough commissioners to work the polls, which is partly attributed to older workers not wanting to deal with threats and intimidation.

— LANDRY POACHED AG’S OFFICE: Also at Friday’s Appropriations hearing, Chief Deputy Attorney General Larry Frieman said his office has 69 vacancies, many of which can be attributed to the office’s former leader. When Jeff Landry moved over to the governor’s office, he immediately took 35 people with him, a number that quickly grew to 56, Frieman said. “Basically, Gov. Landry took 56 people with him from our agency,” he said. “That created a very large vacancy problem for us.” The office has 535 allotted positions, of which 466 are filled with full time employees.

— LOBBYIST CONFERENCE SET FOR NEXT MONTH: The Association of Louisiana Lobbyists will hold its 2024 Annual Conference on October 9 at The 121 (121 Convention Street in Baton Rouge). Speakers are expected to include Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson on tax reform and William Fish on utilizing AI in lobbying, among others. (More info)

— LABI FEDERAL OUTREACH: The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry conducts federal outreach tours that bring together members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation and key federal stakeholders to discuss a wide array of policy priorities. Participants have an opportunity to discuss issues affecting Louisiana businesses and get an inside-the-beltway perspective on upcoming legislative initiatives. What are LABI members hoping to focus on this year? Jim Patterson, LABI’s vice president of government relations, provides a preview in an exclusive column for tomorrow’s edition of Beltway Beat.

South Louisiana prepares for Francine

Posted on September 10, 2024September 10, 2024 by David Jacobs

Sen. Robert Allain of Franklin spent part of his Monday on calls with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and most of it communicating with local officials in his St. Mary-based district, which will soon have a hurricane headed it’s way.

“Vermilion Bay looks like it could be in the middle of the eye,” said Allain. “Everybody’s preparing for a Cat 2.”

Francine is expected to make landfall tomorrow afternoon with 100 mile-per-hour winds, forcing storm surge and rain and havoc into areas still recovering from previous hurricanes.

“We’re just telling people: Remember Ida,” Allain said. “It was not supposed to be as bad [as it was], and it did not go where it was supposed to go. Anything above a tropical storm, you’ve got to take it really seriously.”

Jacques Thibodeaux, who leads the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said up to 9 inches of rain is expected over 12 hours with water, obviously, posing the greatest threat.

Gov. Jeff Landry activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center on Monday and declared a state of emergency. He said 23 parishes had declared local emergencies as of Monday afternoon.

“We don’t want people to panic,” Landry said, urging residents to visit GetaGamePlan.org for information about how to prepare. “We have some time.”

Landry said the administration was in the process of drafting an executive order regarding nursing homes. State officials also requested a pre-landfall declaration from the federal government.

“Unfortunately, the current projected path of Hurricane Francine shows a landfall in areas of Louisiana still recovering from Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Ida,” U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy wrote in a letter urging President Joe Biden to issue a federal emergency declaration for Louisiana. “Due to the expected magnitude of Hurricane Francine, I fear that the state and local governments will be unable to fully respond without federal assistance.”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple urged insured property owners to review their policies and prepare for the storm.

“Prepare your property by trimming your trees, buying supplies and creating a home inventory,” Temple said. “Have an evacuation plan in the event your area becomes too dangerous.

House Transportation Chair Ryan Bourriaque’s district includes Vermilion and Cameron parishes, so his folks were “on high alert” Monday. Discussions with local officials began Sunday, he said.

“It is important for me to be able to understand their needs and concerns before trying to communicate those to unified command in Baton Rouge,” Bourriaque said. “Some parishes may even consider relocating their OEP command center to avoid more significant weather impacts.”

Five legislative meetings planned for today were canceled, as was Thursday’s meeting of the Louisiana Integrated Criminal Justice Information System. Friday’s Appropriations Committee review of several state agency budgets was still on as of Monday, Chair Jack McFarland said.

A televised debate for the East Baton Rouge Parish mayor-president race that was scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed. A new date has not been announced.

Sen. Jean-Paul Coussan, who is running for the Public Service Commission, has postponed a fundraiser that was scheduled for Wednesday.

Rep. Brach Myers, who may run for Coussan’s seat if the latter moves to the PSC, has rescheduled a fundraiser planned for Wednesday to Sept. 18, the following Wednesday, at the same home in Lafayette.

Kansas Daily News Wire September 10, 2024

Posted on September 10, 2024September 10, 2024 by State Affairs

Welcome to the Kansas Daily News Wire, your daily roundup of top state and political stories from newsrooms across Kansas. — Hawver’s Capitol Report/State Affairs

STATE

Committee sends appointment of child advocate to full Senate: The Confirmation Oversight Committee advanced Kerrie Lonard’s appointment Monday, sending the state’s first child advocate to the Senate next session. (Stover, State Affairs)

Kansas election official says nearly 1,000 primary ballots tossed due to mail processing issues: The Kansas secretary of state said in a letter to the U.S. postmaster general that approximately 1,000 August primary voters in Kansas were disenfranchised because ballots mailed before Election Day in August arrived in county offices more than three days after the deadline or without an essential postmark. (Kansas Reflector)

Legislative Coordinating Council greenlights wage increases for temporary staffers: The Legislative Coordinating Council on Monday approved a pay scale and wage policy for temporary staffers employed during the 2025 legislative session. (Resnick, State Affairs)

Unemployment insurance system delayed for training: Kansas officials are delaying the rollout of the brand new unemployment insurance system to give staff time to be trained. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

LOCAL

KCK leaders and activists want ‘real solutions’ to high bills — not a sale of the Unified Government Board of Commissioners: Proposals to sell off or to alter the governing structure of Kansas City, Kansas’ Board of Public Utilities found little footing during a Unified Government Board of Commissioners hearing on Thursday night. (The Kansas City Star)

New Highway 54 entertainment center almost ready to go, minus its chief attraction: Few Wichita businesses have seemed to open on schedule ever since the pandemic, and Mega Pines Mini Golf is no exception. (The Wichita Eagle)

131 animals adopted during Clear the Shelter Day in Lawrence; waived fees continue Sunday: The Lawrence Humane Society matched 131 dogs and cats with furever families Saturday during Clear the Shelter Day, and the shelter is continuing to waive adoption fees on Sunday. (The Lawrence Times)

Wichita school board votes to move forward with bond: Members of the Wichita Board of Education met on Monday to vote on whether to call for a special election to pass a $450 million bond. (KSN)

Riley County in search for a new county health department director: Julie Gibbs is no longer the Riley County health director. (Manhattan Mercury)

Tennessee hosts artificial intelligence expo

Posted on September 10, 2024September 10, 2024 by Andy Sher

Key staffers from agencies spanning Tennessee government met for the first time Monday in an ambitious effort to learn how to use artificial intelligence in spheres ranging from ferreting out fraud to saving money by tightening language in massive state contracts.

Dubbed the AI Partner Experience Expo, the event was held in the shadow of the state Capitol at the William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower. It was put together by the Department of Finance and Administration’s Strategic Technologies Services division. The directive to take action came from legislation approved earlier this year by the General Assembly.

The goal is developing “thoughts and visions of ways to implement AI in a safe and appropriate way,” Strategic Technologies chief Stephanie Dedmon told dozens of state employees, existing vendors and aspiring ones.

“After months of planning, collecting information and evaluating key strategic areas, today is finally here and we are so excited,” Dedmon said, adding that AI represents one of the “biggest opportunities” she’s seen during her career. It isn’t going away, she said.

“It is here,” Dedmon said. “And it is our job to embrace it, harness it, leverage it and make it sing for our state.”

Presenters spoke about AI and Generative AI — the new “it” technology that can generate text, images, videos and data with prompts. The new buzz term is large language models, which are capable of language generation and processing tasks.

“So everybody’s kind of just like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe this ChatGPT is so amazing.’ I think it’s amazing. It does neat things,” author Paul Zikopoulis, a vice president of IBM Technology Group, told one panel.

“The prompt democratized data,” he said. “It makes it so anybody — if you’re not a programmer — can go ahead and use AI. And if you can do that, we can get government work forces not to walk by programs that they can solve or make better with technology every day.”

Zikopoulis said at the end of the day, “one model will not be the model that anybody settles on in business. You will need models that can be trusted.”

He said he always wants to know what data was used to train the models.

“The biggest providers will tell you it’s none of your business,” Zikopoulis said. “I actually think it is my business. So maybe it is my business that I want to see an open model like the brand model from IBM which shows you all the data lineage.”

“But if I’m generating copy on 4th of July celebrations maybe I’ll use a model where I don’t care where the data came from,” he said.

John Webb, deputy commissioner at the state Department of Health, came away from the conference hopeful about the opportunities he sees opening up.

“The world is moving faster for us in terms of contracts, procurements, daily processes,” he said. “We have staffing issues like everybody else. It gives me a little bit of an advantage to keep pace.”

The department doesn’t have “anything like this,” Webb said. “We’ve dabbled in some automated processes. But this is very different from what we’ve done before.”

One downside of the latest technology in terms of generative AI took an international stage earlier this year when the recording industry and Gov. Bill Lee teamed up on legislation to protect musicians and songwriters from artificial intelligence exploitation. The result was the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act which added voice as a protected personal right to existing state law.

AI took the stage at the National Conference State Legislators earlier this year where 87% of attendees indicated concerns, primarily surrounding upcoming elections.

Zikopoulos, meanwhile, said he sees generative AI as a “thought partner for a human” with the technology accounting for perhaps 80%.

“I don’t see a time in these cases where we have 100%,” he said, adding that it can significantly augment a human.

“But,” Zikopoulos added, “there’s still a need for humans in the process.”

Howey Daily Wire Sept. 10, 2024

Posted on September 10, 2024September 10, 2024 by Howey Politics Indiana

Happy Tuesday!

A new tax study found Indiana is able to maintain lower business taxes by relying more on individual income and sales taxes than comparable states. And Jay Chaudhary will step down next month as director of the state’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction. More news below. — Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs

Tax study: Indiana’s low business taxes balanced by income, sales taxes — Individual income taxes, sales taxes and property taxes make up 31%, 27% and 23% of Indiana’s total tax revenue, respectively, while corporate income taxes in Indiana contribute 4%. (Meeks, State Affairs)

Former Sen. Earline Rogers’ legacy praised: State leaders and legislative colleagues praised the career of former state Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary who died last week at the age of 89. (Davies, State Affairs)

STATE

Mental Health Division’s director leaving after 5 years: Jay Chaudhary has been director of the state’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction since 2019 and also served as chair of the Behavioral Health Commission since 2022. He will depart office Oct. 11. (Davies, State Affairs)

Rokita claims Biden administration’s EPA rule invasive, unlawful: Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed an opening brief in a federal appeals court, claiming the Biden administration’s Clean Power Plant 2.0 rule is invasive and unlawful. (The Indiana Lawyer)

Monroe County sheriff calls Rokita immigration policy complaint ‘baseless,’ asks court to dismiss: The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is asking a circuit court to dismiss a complaint by the Indiana Attorney General that a local policy on immigration violates state law. (Sandweiss, Indiana Public Media)

Morales hosts regional exercises on election security: Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales announced he is hosting a series of regional training and coordination sessions for election administrators and community first responders, including local IT directors, emergency management offices and law enforcement agency personnel. (Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs)

State agencies racked up $5 million on travel in 2024 fiscal year: The top five spenders were the Indiana Department of Health, Department of Child Services, Department of Revenue, lieutenant governor’s office and Indiana Department of Correction. (Hilkowitz, Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Indiana cities cashing in on sports tourism as new facilities rise: Cities across the state are investing in sports facilities to attract revenue and economic development. (Kaufman, Inside Indiana Business)

Equity alliance proposes locations for EV chargers in Black communities: The Indiana Alliance for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Economic Opportunities Development proposed 38 locations in underserved communities that could host EV chargers and qualify for federal grants through the Biden administration. (Thiele, Lakeshore Public Media)

Pollution Prevention Conference & Tradeshow set for Sept. 17: Sandra Vijn, managing director at Kipster U.S., will keynote the 27th Annual Pollution Prevention Conference & Tradeshow at the Indianapolis Marriott North beginning at 8:30 a.m., according to a news release from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. (Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs)

Notre Dame surpasses $1 billion in research funding proposals: The University of Notre Dame submitted 1,310 proposals for external funding totaling just over $1 billion, the first time it has surpassed that mark. (Brown, Inside Indiana Business)

Nominations open for Farm Family of the Year: The award aims to highlight the pivotal role farm families play in shaping the agricultural landscape and enriching rural life. (AgriNews)

LOCAL

Evansville City Council ends legal intervention into CenterPoint Energy rate case: Evansville City Council is ending its legal intervention into the current CenterPoint rate case, citing an unwillingness on the utility’s part to make “significant” concessions. (Loesch, Courier & Press)

Former Pigeon Township Trustee Mariama Wilson pleads guilty in corruption case: The former Pigeon Township trustee, whom federal prosecutors accused of bilking $38,000 in township funds as part of an unlawful kickback scheme, will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, court records state. (Harwood, Courier & Press)

Indianapolis pilot program will help pay rents for some people who lack permanent housing: The newest approach to curbing homelessness in Indianapolis involves the city paying private landlords to lease their vacant rental units to people who would otherwise sleep in emergency shelters or outdoors. (Smith, IndyStar)

Westfield creating roadmap for growth as population explodes: Westfield is the fastest-growing city in the state and the sixth-fastest-growing city in the country. (Allen, IndyStar)

Plymouth Municipal Airport receives $3.3M federal grant for new taxiway: The Plymouth Municipal Airport was awarded a $3,275,604 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to construct a new taxiway. (Marshall County Post)

Lake County visitation and innkeepers tax revenue up significantly this year: Lake County innkeeper’s tax revenue is up by more than $269,000 so far this year, which tourism officials attribute to an increase in the number of visitors. (Pete, NWI Times)

Terre Haute mayor to focus on public health improvements: Mayor Brandon Sakbun intends to visit every neighborhood in the city to better understand underlying physical and community health issues. (Verbanic, WTHI-TV)

Ivy Tech to close Lawrence campus: Ivy Tech Chancellor Stacy Atkinson said the closure of the Lawrence campus is part of the college’s capital master planning project that started in 2021. (The Current)

Indy receives $19.9M federal grant for safer street designs: Indianapolis was awarded a $19.9 million federal grant to study and redesign six road segments beginning next year. (Wooten, IBJ)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Senate Democratic Caucus backs steelworkers in proposed US Steel takeover: “The Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus unequivocally supports the United Steelworkers’ efforts to safeguard American jobs, uphold union contracts and protect the future of Indiana Steelworkers,” according to a news release. (Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs)

Today: Schmitt to be sworn in as state senator for District 48 — State Sen.-elect Daryl Schmitt will be sworn in for District 48 at 11 a.m. in the Senate Chamber at the Statehouse, according to a news release. (Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs)

CONGRESS

GOP opposition appears to doom Speaker Johnson’s initial plan to avert shutdown: Speaker Mike Johnson’s, R-La., opening bid to avert a government shutdown appears doomed to fail in the House this week amid widespread — and growing — Republican opposition, thwarting the top lawmaker’s hopes of the proposal squeezing Democrats in both chambers. (The Hill)

Congressional schedule: The House will meet at 10 a.m. Legislative business begins at noon with multiple proposals to be considered. Last votes are expected by 4 p.m. The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of the nomination of Adam B. Abelson to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland. The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will hold a hearing “to examine U.S. companies’ technology, focusing on the Russian war machine” in the afternoon.

PRESIDENTIAL 2024

Here are the rules for the Harris-Trump ABC debate: The event will start at 9 p.m. and go for 90 minutes with two commercial breaks. The moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, will be the only ones asking questions, and the candidates will not be allowed to ask each other questions. (The Hill)

Mike Pence, other former top Trump officials featured in Harris campaign ad: A new ad from the Harris campaign slamming Trump as “dangerous” will feature comments from several former top Trump officials, including former Vice President Mike Pence. (Fox)

NATION

White House schedule: President Joe Biden will host the University of South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team in the morning and the University of Connecticut Huskies men’s basketball team in the afternoon to celebrate their NCAA championships. Afterward he will travel to New York. Vice President Kamala Harris will receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff before participating in the presidential debate at 9 p.m. in Philadelphia. She will travel to New York later tonight.

Insider for September 10, 2024

Posted on September 10, 2024September 10, 2024 by NC Insider

YOU DON’T SAY

“I was part of many great accomplishments in the past 12 years in the State of North Carolina. There will be even more great things to come in North Carolina’s future.”

Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes, announcing that he is resigning from his seat a few months before the end of his term. (The Associated Press, 9/09/24)

School Vouchers
Matthew Sasser, State Affairs Pro, 9/09/24

Most of the Senate debate Monday revolved around the conference report for House Bill 10, a series of spending items added to a bill requiring the state’s sheriffs to comply with federal detainer warrants from immigration officials.  The most discussed of the spending measures was the $463.5 million in increased funding for private school vouchers.

The money would clear the Opportunity Scholarship waitlist for the current school year and be retroactive, making families eligible for tuition reimbursement from schools.

“I hope we can reconsider our priorities because one of the things that happens in these local communities when voucher funds are draining public funds from local schools is you’re going to see job losses in local school systems,” Sen. Lisa Grafstein, D-Wake, said about the voucher program.

“When I think about these taxpayer-funded vouchers for private schools, I think the majority of taxpayers know that we are looking at fool’s gold,” Sen. Graig Meyer, D-Orange, said. “I understand every parent’s desire to make sure that their child is well educated. I cannot understand how we, as a body, would sanction taxpayer-funded spending on private schools that have almost no standards to ensure that children actually receive the education we know they deserve.”

On the Senate floor, Sen. Michael Garrett, D-Guilford, called the Opportunity Scholarship proposal a “betrayal of our state’s core values, one that threatens the very foundation of our public education system, and the principles of equality and opportunity that I know we all hold dear.”

Senate leader Phil Berger characterized concerns from Democrats as more of the same.  “We’ve heard those concerns,” he said after the session. “I would just say that the emphasis that we have placed on opportunity scholarships is in giving parents more of a say in their child’s education. And every bill that we’ve had that addresses those kinds of issues, the Democrats have been opposed to. Whether it was a Parents Bill of Rights, whether it’s Opportunity Scholarships, they seem to be more inclined to be supportive of bureaucracies, as opposed to parents and students.”

In a news release, Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, said that as school choice is expanded, North Carolina will have an educational landscape that provides a high-quality option for those who choose private, traditional, charter or home schooling.

HB 10 also allocates $377 million to cover a Medicaid rebase to account for projected changes in enrollment, $95 million to the Department of Public Instruction to fund growing public school units, $64 million to the Community College System general fund for enrollment adjustment and $24.7 million to the State Education Assistance Authority to clear a waiting list for the Children with Disabilities Program.

Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, said the conference report also permits the authorization of a broadband funding expansion to make the state eligible to receive $1.5 billion in federal dollars.

ICE Mandate
Matthew Sasser, State Affairs Pro, 9/09/24

El Colectivo NC, a membership group of various Latino grassroots organizations, staged a news conference on Monday, an hour ahead of the Senate taking up House Bill 10. State legislators and community activists protested both the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer language and the Opportunity Scholarship vouchers.

When any person is confined in a county jail or similar facility, an attempt must be made by a jail administrator to determine if the prisoner is a legal resident of the United States, according to HB 10. Previous versions of this bill limited an administrator to verify legal status during a felony or impaired driving offense.

“These are our neighbors that are being attacked and targeted,” Sen. Natalie S. Murdock, D-Durham, said. In a message she later delivered on the Senate floor, Murdock reiterated that congressional Republicans have not taken action to reach a bipartisan agreement to secure the Southern border and that HB 10 is a political game that doesn’t offer a real solution.

“We cannot ignore the profound harm HB 10 will cause,” Pilar Rocha-Goldberg, president and CEO of El Centro Hispano, said. “This bill not only strips away immigrant rights but also destroys the trust between law enforcement and our communities.”

Rep. Renée A. Price, D-Orange, called the bill “insidious” and added it places an unacceptable burden on local law enforcement.

Rep. Marcia Morey, D-Durham, noted that HB 10 would allow sheriffs to hold individuals for 48 hours after serving their sentence or posting bail, and that such an act is “unconstitutional” and will likely be challenged in the court system.  “Sheriffs are independent, constitutionally elected officials,” Morey said. “They should not be subservient to the legislative body [telling] them what they should do for their job.”

Later in the afternoon on the Senate floor, Sen. Danny Earl Britt Jr., R-Robeson, defended the legislation which hadH been brought to the Legislature in different iterations before. The impetus for the renewed effort, he said, is the severity in drug and sex trafficking at the border.  “We also know as state legislators there’s little we can do about it other than voting for the right person in November,” Britt said, adding that what legislators can do is compel sheriffs — “… Our sheriffs who are not complying with immigration [laws], our sheriffs who are releasing folks back into the community that are violent individuals charged with violent crimes that are here illegally” — to take the step of identifying a prisoner’s legal status.

Britt said the bill doesn’t “round people up” or send law enforcement into the homes of law-abiding individuals, but it does require a 48-hour detainment for those charged with violent felonies and misdemeanors. “Until about 2018, every sheriff voluntarily cooperated with ICE,” Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said in a committee meeting in April. “There’s a small number of sheriffs, probably around 10 or so, who don’t honor ICE detainers. Some sheriffs don’t even communicate with ICE at all.”

Veto Overrides
Kyle Ingram, The News & Observer, 9/09/24

The N.C. Senate overrode five of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes Monday, enacting several new laws dealing with off-road vehicles, tenancy regulations and digital currency. State lawmakers have now overridden 25 vetoes since Republicans obtained a supermajority in the House and Senate last year.

Three of the vetoes overridden Monday were already voted on by the House, meaning they now become law. The other two will have to go to the House for veto-override votes before they could be enacted. One of the newly enacted laws, House Bill 155, deals with titles for off-road vehicles. It lets the Division of Motor Vehicles issue title certificates for all-terrain and utility vehicles and allows off-site safety inspections of low-speed vehicles. Another of the new laws, HB 556, amends tenancy rules. Among other things, it prohibits local governments from passing any ordinance that would forbid landlords from refusing to rent to tenants whose income includes funding from a federal, housing-assistance program.

When he vetoed the bill in July, Cooper wrote “This bill would make it harder for low-income families, the elderly and people with disabilities to find affordable rental housing by preventing local governments from protecting against rent discrimination based on lawful income.”

The last of the new laws, HB 690, prohibits any state agency from accepting a payment using central bank digital currency. It also forbids agencies from participating in any potential tests of such currency by a branch of the Federal Reserve. HB 690 initially passed with broad bipartisan support in both chambers, but Senate Democrats voted against overriding it on Monday.

When he vetoed the bill in July, Cooper wrote “This legislation is premature, vague and reactionary and proposes an end result on important monetary decisions that haven’t even been made yet. Instead of this bill, the legislature should have passed a budget to provide more funding for cybersecurity threats that actually exist now.” The Senate overrode two more bills on Monday that now go to the House. One deals with the recording of court-filed documents. The other reforms many regulations surrounding building codes. The state House is scheduled to vote Wednesday, but it is not clear whether the chamber will take up veto overrides. [Source]

Elmore Resignation
The Associated Press, 9/09/24

A longtime advocate for Republican K-12 education policies in the North Carolina House is resigning from his seat a few months before his term was to end. Rep. Jeffrey Elmore of Wilkes County, who joined the House in 2013, will step down effective Friday afternoon, according to his resignation letter read Monday on the House floor. Instead of seeking a seventh two-year House term, Elmore ran for lieutenant governor, finishing in the middle of the pack in the 11-candidate GOP primary in March.

Elmore, who has been a House Appropriations Committee chairman, told the Wilkes Journal-Patriot that he was resigning due to another opportunity, with details to be released soon.

“I was part of many great accomplishments in the past 12 years in the State of North Carolina. There will be even more great things to come in North Carolina’s future,” Elmore wrote in his resignation letter dated Sept. 3. He told the newspaper that he was also resigning as a Wilkes County public schools teacher.

Elmore, 46, represents the 94th House District covering Alexander County and most of Wilkes County. Republican activists in his area would pick someone to serve out the remainder of Elmore’s term through the end of the year.

Republican Blair Eddins and Democrat Steve Moree are on the November ballot seeking to succeed Elmore in 2025 in the 94th District.

Elmore’s departure marks the latest by a House member since this year’s chief floor session ended in late June.

Republican Reps. Jason Saine of Lincoln County and John Faircloth of Guilford County and Democratic Rep. Ashton Wheeler Clemmons of Guilford County all submitted their resignations in recent weeks. [Source]

Flag Honor
Iris Seaton, Asheville Citizen Times, 9/09/24

United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities are flying at half-staff in NC as of today, Sept. 9, to honor the life of civil rights leader and member of the NC House of Representatives Kelly Alexander, Jr.

In a news release, Gov. Roy Cooper expressed gratitude for Alexander’s lifetime of public service. “I was saddened to hear of the passing of longtime public servant, civil rights advocate and North Carolina representative Kelly Alexander Jr. I’m grateful for his years of service to our state, and my thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Cooper ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the life of Kelly Alexander, Jr., who died Friday, Sept. 6. U.S. and NC flags will be lowered effective immediately until sunset on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Services for Alexander will be held Sept. 21. [Source]

Sports Wagering
Richard Craver, Winston-Salem Journal, 9/09/24

Legal mobile sports wagering in North Carolina experienced a modest uptick during August, the N.C. State Lottery Commission reported Monday. Account holders wagered $370.48 million on sports events, according to reports from the eight licensed sports wagering operators to the commission. The August update did not include what was spent on paid and promotional revenue. Wagering was up 8.8% from $340.37 million in July, which represents the lowest monthly total since legalized betting debuted in North Carolina on March 11.

The highest monthly total has been $659.3 million from March 11 through March 31, which benefited from March Madness of the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments. The commission issued its report — as typical — without commentary. It’s likely the month-over-month increase reflects the late August start of the college football season.

Sports wagering experts and economists have pointed to September for providing the first significant showing of the state’s full wagering potential. Industry analysts project that overall monthly betting totals should peak with the 12-team college football playoffs in January, the Super Bowl in February and March Madness.

The report is based on activity submitted by Betfair Interactive; BetMGM; Crown NC Gaming; FBG Enterprises Opco; Hillside (North Carolina); Penn Sports Interactive doing business as ESPN Bet; Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise, an enterprise of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and Underdog Sports Wagering.

In terms of winnings, account holders gained $333.7 million during August, compared with $295.4 million in July and a peak of $590.7 million during March 11-31. The total so far is $2.57 billion.

For the promotional wagering revenue, operators initially offered enticements of up to $200 worth of free bets for as little as a first wager of $5. Those enticements have dropped substantially from $202.6 million for the period of March 11-31.

The N.C. Revenue Department is responsible for collecting the tax proceeds from sports wagering revenue. The eight operators made a combined $33.7 million in gross wagering revenue in August, compared with $42.2 million in July and $40.3 million in June. [Source]

School Polling
Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL News, 9/09/24

Opponents of private school voucher expansion outweigh supporters, a WRAL News Poll shows. The poll, conducted by independent polling firm SurveyUSA, asked 900 adults about the nearly $300 million planned spending on vouchers for this year, which is now available to any family in the state after lawmakers lifted an income eligibility cap and made current private school families eligible.

The poll asked if the state should spend more, the same, less or none of that money in the future. The results were mixed, with similar amounts of support for current or increasing voucher funding as there was opposition to the current amount of voucher funding. But more people opposed the current amount of voucher funding than said it needed to increase. 16% of respondents said more money should be spent on the program.
21% said that the nearly $300 million figure was the right amount of money.
19% said the state should spend less than the nearly $300 million figure.
22% said the state shouldn’t be spending any money on private school vouchers.
21% said they were “not sure.”

Proponents of vouchers say they’re essentially a funding mechanism that allows the state per-pupil allocation to follow a student where they ultimately go to school. They argue that families who aren’t happy with their assigned public school should have a choice to send their children elsewhere.

That’s what many families with Opportunity Scholarships have done. Opponents of the voucher program argue the money that goes into the voucher program could be better spent on benefiting public schools as a whole, through things like teacher raises. They note ways in which public schools are already hurting: teacher shortages, bus driver shortages, mold growth, and malfunctioning HVAC systems. Senate President Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, called public school systems “bureaucracies” and said voucher opponents favored those over giving families more choices. [Source]

Presidential Race
Will Doran, WRAL News, 9/09/24

Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are in a statistical tie in North Carolina, but Harris appears to have a slight edge, according to a WRAL News Poll of the 2024 presidential race. Harris leads Trump by 3 percentage points — a close result in this key battleground state, but one that represents a substantial improvement for Democratic hopes in North Carolina from the last WRAL poll, in March, that found Trump leading by 5 percentage points.

The new poll, released Monday, finds Harris leading Trump 49% to 46%, with 5% undecided and almost no voters saying they plan to back a third-party candidate.

The poll of likely North Carolina voters, conducted from Sept. 4 through Sept. 7, surveyed 900 people. It was conducted in partnership with SurveyUSA, an independent polling company. The presidential poll reported a credibility interval of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. A credibility interval is similar to a margin of error but takes into account more factors and is considered by some pollsters to be a more accurate measurement of statistical certainty.

The election pitting the Democratic vice president against the Republican former president is expected to focus heavily on a small number of closely contested states in the two months remaining until Election Day — North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada.

The two major presidential campaigns are expected to focus nearly all of their time, money and attention on those few states in the coming weeks. Trump was in Charlotte Friday. Harris will visit Greensboro and Charlotte later this week.

“The important thing to remember is that North Carolina went for Trump by just 1.35% [in 2020],” said Ken Alper, president of SurveyUSA. “It’s very much a tossup. Especially when you know, fundamentally, not a lot has changed.”

The poll also asked voters for their impression of the candidates, regardless of who they’ll vote for. Those results more or less matched the voting preferences reflected in the poll: Harris was slightly more likely to be viewed favorably by voters, while Trump was slightly more likely to be viewed unfavorably.

Overall, about 4% of likely voters said they had no opinion of either Trump or Harris, which matches up with the 5% who say they’re undecided on who to vote for. It’s those voters who could decide who wins North Carolina and, potentially, the presidency. [Source]


Campaign Bus Tour
Chantal Allam, The News & Observer, 9/09/24

Vice President Kamala Harris’ “Fighting for Reproductive Freedom” bus tour rolled into Raleigh on Monday. Around 2 p.m., campaign surrogates including second gentleman Doug Emhoff and Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz arrived at Raleigh’s Market Hall on East Martin Street to a throng of supporters.

With only 56 days left until the Nov. 5 election – and less than 48 hours before Harris and Donald Trump’s first debate — the Democratic candidates’ spouses spoke about holding the former president accountable for the “devastating impacts” of overturning Roe v. Wade. The whistle-stop tour started last Tuesday in Palm Beach, Florida, and is expected to make 50 stops in red, blue and battleground states — two of them in the Old North State.

“Our path to victory goes right through North Carolina,” Emhoff told the crowd. “If we win here, we’ve got a chance to win. But it’s going to be close.”

“Make no mistake, reproductive freedoms are on the line,” said North Carolina’s attorney general, Josh Stein, who also spoke Monday and is running for governor. “The stakes could not be higher.”

Minnesota first lady Walz argued for reproductive rights by highlighting her own struggles with infertility. To conceive their two children, the Walzes used intrauterine insemination, a process she described as “incredibly personal and difficult.” Intrauterine insemination, like IVF, is a common fertility procedure used by couples trying to conceive. “Every single person should have the freedom to build their own family, and it should be your choice. Not J.D. Vance or Trump’s,” she said.

Some 200 supporters packed Market Hall on Monday afternoon. Many wore blue-and-white Harris-Walz T-shirts and chanted “Not going back.” Others waved signs, saying “Stop Trump’s Abortion Ban.” Trump has visited the state four times: on July 24, Aug. 14, Aug. 21 and Sept. 6. Last Friday in Charlotte he accepted an endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police, one of the nation’s most influential law enforcement lobbies. [Source]

Charter Review
Lisa Worf, WFAE Radio, 9/09/24

Charter school leaders hoping to open Trinitas Academy in Mooresville finally got a state review Monday. Their application was turned down. The school’s board had hoped to open Trinitas last month. Its leaders tried to bypass the state’s review process for charters and go straight to the legislature. A provision to open the school made it into the House’s budget bill — but no further. The politically connected Trinitas board ended up in front of the charter school review board to make their case to open next fall. Charter school review board member Alex Quigley said he’s uncomfortable with how Trinitas initially tried to bypass the review.

“There’s a process and I have real questions about a board that says, ‘Eh, we’re going to do something completely outside of the scope and process, regardless of whether it’s offered to you,’” Quigley said.

He and other review board members said Trinitas’ application left a lot of questions. The plan is to enroll 468 students the first year. That would amount to $4.6 million in state and local tax dollars. The school would have a classical curriculum and serve traditional, as well as homeschooled students.

The leaders of Trinitas can appeal to the state board of education — or apply to open later. [Source]

Edgecombe Plant
Jane Winik Sartwell, Carolina Public Press, 9/09/24

Edgecombe County has the third-highest unemployment rate in the state and a declining population, but community leaders hope a new manufacturer will help reverse its economic woes. Natron Energy, an international industrial battery manufacturer, plans to bring more than 1,000 jobs and an investment of $1.4 billion to Edgecombe County with a “gigafactory” at Kingsboro Business Park, midway between Rocky Mount and Tarboro.

Natron’s plant will manufacture sodium-ion batteries, a source of clean energy that can be used to power AI data centers and electric vehicle charging stations.

“Anytime there’s an industry, manufacturer, or business to come in, that’s a positive thing,” Princeville mayor Bobbie Jones told Carolina Public Press. “However, I do not get too excited until I see the building going up.”

In recent years, Princeville and many surrounding areas have repeatedly been devastated by flooding on the Tar River. The area could use an economic boost.

Jones’s trust in companies’ promises to Edgecombe County was tarnished when railroad company CSX downsized its promised investment in the county in 2017. His remaining trust was obliterated when Triangle Tire, the last company to lay claim to Kingsboro Business Park, pulled out of its plans completely in 2022.

Natron’s investment offers news promise for the job-starved areas and represents the continued growth of the clean energy sector in North Carolina’s economy. “Since the Inflation Reduction Act, North Carolina has seen $19.6 billion in announced investments and 10,571 jobs announced in just the past two years in the clean energy ecosystem,” Matt Abele, executive director of the NC Clean Energy Association, told CPP.

“The state is actually a national leader in clean energy manufacturing and deployment: we are a part of the battery belt.”

Sodium-ion batteries do not generate energy themselves, but rather store energy created by other technologies, such as wind and solar. Battery storage is key to the viability of renewable power, particularly in the high-usage context of a data center, according to Abele. These batteries can be used as a backup source of power when grids are down. Because they rely on sodium rather than lithium, lead, or other hard-to-access and sometimes toxic minerals, sodium-ion batteries are branded as a more environmentally and socially responsible battery alternative. [Source]

Superintendent Debate
Matt Lamb, The Southern Pines Pilot, 9/06/24

Moore County Schools has decided to host and co-sponsor a debate for the upcoming North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction election but may need to cover up to $50,000 in event costs. During last Tuesday’s Board of Education work session, Chair Robert Levy unveiled ongoing efforts to finalize plans for the Oct. 14 debate at Pinecrest High School between Republican candidate Michele Morrow and Democratic candidate Maurice “Mo” Green.

Levy’s presentation drew both support and consternation from fellow school board members. Despite the significant rift of ideology in the race and that the Moore County school board is nominally nonpartisan, Levy said the event would benefit voters and students alike.

“I think this is a tremendous opportunity to have a state-wide debate,” he explained. “I understand if this works out, it will be televised on WRAL.”

Levy indicated that, while co-sponsor Public School Forum would bear the majority of the cost, the district would have expenses.

Board member Stacey Caldwell challenged the notion of sponsoring the debate, saying the school board should not be delving into political matters. “I don’t think that any board should get into politics at all, so I think this is a bad idea,” she said. “I think that’s great if they want to have a debate. I just don’t think using our staff and our time and our resources has anything to do with the children and their educational purpose.”

Alternatively, board members Pauline Bruno and Ken Benway spoke up in support of the prospect. The board ultimately voted five to two in favor of sponsoring the state superintendent debate. [Source]

Candidate Forum
Nick Haseloff, The Transylvania Times, 9/08/24

Abortion, domestic violence, teacher pay and affordable housing were among the topics last week in a debate forum for three candidates for the state legislature.

Incumbent Republican N.C. Sen. Kevin Corbin and his challenger, Democrat Adam Tebrugge, are seeking to represent the 50th Senate district which covers Transylvania, Cherokee, Clay, Macon, Swain and Jackson counties and part of Haywood County.

Transylvania County resident and Democrat Mark Burrows faced no opposition at the forum to represent the 119th district which covers Transylvania, Swain and Jackson counties. Incumbent Republican N.C. Rep. Mike Clampitt did not attend the forum. He told The Transylvania Times he was meeting with a nonprofit organization at the time in his home county of Jackson.

Burrows was asked the first question regarding North Carolina’s ranking as 42nd in the country when it comes to teacher pay in public schools. To correct the issue, Burrows suggested prioritizing education spending at the state level and removing tax cuts for the richest North Carolinians in order to bolster the funding.

Corbin said he relies heavily on his 20 years of experience serving on a local school board when speaking about issues such as teacher pay. He said he was in favor of raising teacher pay.

Tebrugge blamed Corbin as being ineffectual during the past eight years and part of the biggest reason for why teacher pay has been on the decline.

The trio was asked about their views on abortion and 2023’s N.C. Senate Bill 20 which bans abortions in the state after the 12th week of pregnancy. Corbin was one of three that originally sponsored the bill. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill, but it was overruled by the Senate before it went into effect July 1 of last year. Corbin complained about the rhetoric being used when talking about the bill and said he and his colleagues on the State Senate Health Committee spent time talking to representatives from both sides of the issue before compromising “in the middle” on the 12-week timeframe.

Corbin said he does not consider the law a ban as it allows for exceptions for rape or incest and to protect the life of the child or the mother. Those exceptions come with their own time frames of 20 weeks and 24, weeks respectfully.

Burrows used part of his time in the next question to rebut Corbin’s 12-week limit, saying the 12 weeks is more effectually closer to 6 weeks given how inaccessible some of the treatments can be for North Carolinians. [Source]

Bank Expansion
Catherine Muccigrosso, The Charlotte Observer, 9/09/24

Ohio-based Huntington National Bank is expanding into the Carolinas with dozens of retail branches and about 350 jobs, including Charlotte, where three major banks dominate.

Huntington will “significantly invest” in North Carolina and South Carolina over the next five years as part of the bank’s long-term growth strategy, the Columbus-based company said Monday in a news release. The bank did not say how much it plans to invest in Charlotte but that it is part of a multimillion-dollar growth strategy.

The plan includes adding about 55 retail branches starting with Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem in North Carolina, and Charleston, Columbia and Greenville in South Carolina, Huntington said.

The bank expects to open four branches across the Carolinas next year, Huntington spokeswoman Mamie Moore-John said. The bank does not have an opening date for the first branch, or where it will be.

Bank of America, Truist and Wells Fargo dominate the local market in Charlotte. Bank of America and Truist are headquartered in Charlotte, and the city is the largest employment hub for San Francisco-based Wells Fargo. Other banks also have been adding bank branches including New York-based Chase Bank, which plans to open 100 branches across the Carolinas by the end of next year, with four more opening this year in Charlotte. [Source]

App State Grant
Chris Burritt, Business NC, 9/09/24

A $35 million federal grant – the largest in the school’s history – will help Appalachian State University prepare more western North Carolina students for education after high school. The seven-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education will provide college and career services to thousands of students attending 52 middle and high schools in 12 N.C. school districts, App State said in a recent statement.

Known as GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program), the grant also assists families and teachers in efforts to boost rates of high school graduation and postsecondary enrollment.

App State’s College Access Partnerships in the Reich College of Education received the grant, representing the largest GEAR UP award given to 18 institutions nationwide in 2024. One of 17 campuses in the UNC system, App State has gotten other grants from the federal program.

Previously, App State’s largest GEAR UP grant totaled $29.8 million. The seven-year grant runs through September 2027. Broadly, the program has funded the university nearly every year since 1999, providing a range of services to low-income and needy students starting in sixth grade, families and schools across western N.C. [Source]

Pasquotank Elections
Chris Day, The (Elizabeth City) Daily Advance, 9/06/24

An Elizabeth City State University graduate with elections experience has been named Pasquotank County’s new elections director. Janae Hedgepeth was announced as the new director at a meeting Friday of the Pasquotank Board of Elections. Hedgepeth’s first day as the new elections director is Monday. According to a board news release, Hedgepeth was selected from a competitive field of candidates who applied for the position.

“For the past three years, she has worked in a part-time role with the Hertford County Board of Elections as an elections official/administrative assistant,” the release states. “In that role, she conducted voter outreach, evaluated voter applications for completeness, processed registrations and provided elections day support.”

Hedgepeth holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from ECSU. She is replacing former elections director Emma Tate, who announced her resignation in July. Tate’s last day on the job was Aug. 16. [Source]

Police Video
Virginia Bridges, The News & Observer, 9/09/24

Police lights flashed blue in the dark September evening as Warrenton Officer Mark Oakley followed Dwayne Hicks up his driveway. Hicks opened the driver’s side door of his black Toyota 4Runner and ignored Oakley’s repeated demands that he stay in his SUV. Instead, he walked — unarmed — toward Oakley, his smart phone in hand during the Sept. 20, 2023 encounter. “Turn around and put your hands behind your back,” Oakley yelled, pointing his Taser at Hicks with one hand and pushing Hicks toward the SUV with his other.

Within 35 seconds, Oakley activated his Taser the first of two times into Hicks’ back with no verbal warning. Both times he collapsed on the ground. Hicks and his attorneys released the footage from Oakley’s body worn camera Monday after successfully seeking permission from a superior court judge to share it with the public.

Hicks, his attorney, representatives of the Granville County NAACP stood and spoke in a press conference Monday afternoon in Littleton, where Oakley continues to patrol as a part-time officer after being fired by Warrenton in March. Hicks and other community members want Oakley investigated and fired from town with a population of about 550.

“We ask the chief to fire Oakley today, not tomorrow,” said Pastor John Miles, with Risen Faith Outreach Ministry in Henderson. The president and an investigator with the Granville County NAACP also attended. Warrenton attorney Mitchell Styers wrote in an email that town is not able to respond at this time. The town just received notice of the judge’s order this afternoon, he wrote. The videos are a preview of the evidence in a planned federal lawsuit that Hicks plans to file against Oakley and the Warrenton Police Department. It is also one of at least three incidents where Oakley used Tasers on local residents that are under investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, according to court documents. [Source]

Defamation Lawsuit
DJ Simmons, WFDD Radio, 9/09/24

A defamation lawsuit against Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn was dismissed Tuesday. The suit filed by Quamekia Shavers alleged she was pressured into an abortion following an intimate relationship with Penn. It further alleges she was later threatened to be charged with a crime if she kept contacting him.

Superior Court Judge Craig Croom granted a motion to dismiss the case with prejudice, which means under these charges it cannot be refiled. According to the ruling, emotional distress or defamation was not substantiated in the filing. Attorney Michael Grace, who represents Penn, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shavers was also not immediately available for comment. [Source]

Meeting Film
Kara Fohner, The Gaston Gazette, 9/09/24

Beginning in October, the town of Stanley will film its monthly Town Council meetings and post them on the town’s website the day after the meeting, Deputy Town Manager Steven Denton said in an email. “This decision was made after careful consideration and discussion with the Town Council, with the goal of providing greater access to the decisions and discussions that shape our community,” he said.

The town previously streamed meetings on Zoom, starting in May of 2020, and it transitioned to YouTube in January of 2021, Denton said.

“However, we encountered technical issues during live streams, particularly connectivity challenges, which impacted the quality and consistency of our broadcasts,” he said “Our last live stream was in May of 2022. Since then, we’ve been evaluating the best way to ensure residents have reliable access to these important meetings.”

To address those issues, the town decided to post videos of the Town Council meetings directly on the town’s website. “This approach will provide high-quality recordings without the interruptions that occur during live streaming,” Denton said. [Source]

Knight Foundation Funding
WFAE News, 9/09/24

Some of Charlotte’s arts and culture institutions are getting a boost from new funding. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation said Monday that it’s giving almost $17 million to local groups, including: $5 million to the Charlotte Ballet; $2 million to the North Carolina News Lab Fund and $1 million to Historic West End Partners. The foundation is also giving LISC Charlotte $8.75 million to support a co-op grocery store in west Charlotte and support small businesses. [Source]

Hospital Grant
News Release, 9/09/24

UNC Health Blue Ridge has received a $3 million grant from the state to enhance health care in the community as part of Project Forward: Your Hospital, Your Future. The state’s investment helped with hospital advancements, including the purchase of a dedicated CT (computed tomography) scanning machine that will be located in the new emergency department and the installation of a helipad on the rooftop of Blue Ridge’s newly opened patient bed tower, each innovation ensuring faster and more efficient critical care for patients.

“This state funding reflects a commitment to improving health care across our region,” said Chief Operating Officer Jon Mercer. “With these resources, we can make a real difference in the lives of our community members by providing the care they need closer to home. We are deeply grateful to the state for their vision and investment in our future.” [Source]

NC Insider Legislative Report
LB: LEGISLATIVE BUILDING. LOB: LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING

HOUSE CALENDARTuesday, Sept. 10, 2024House Convenes at 12 p.m.HOUSE COMMITTEE MEETINGSWednesday, Sept. 1111 a.m. | House Committee On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, Auditorium. HB 10 (Hall, D.) REQUIRE SHERIFFS TO COOPERATE WITH ICESB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWSENATE CALENDARTuesday, Sept. 10, 2024Senate Convenes at 10 a.m.No Senate Committee meetings scheduled.SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
SENATE BILLS FILEDMonday, Sept. 9, 2024SB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWWHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOUSEMonday, Sept. 9, 2024Ch. SL 2024-46HB 155 (Sossamon) TITLES FOR OFF-ROAD VEH./LOW SPEED VEH. INSPCh. SL 2024-47HB 556 (Wheatley) TENANCY IN COM./E-NOTARY/SMALLCLAIMS CHANGESCh. SL 2024-48HB 690 (Warren) NO CENTRL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY PMTS TO STATEConf Com ReportedHB 10 (Hall, D.) REQUIRE SHERIFFS TO COOPERATE WITH ICEPassed 1st ReadingSB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWPlaced On Cal For 09/11/2024SB 166 (Krawiec) 2024 BLDG. CODE REGULATORY REFORMSB 445 (Daniel) RECORDING OF COURT-FILED DOCUMENTSRe-referred To Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the HouseHB 10 (Hall, D.) REQUIRE SHERIFFS TO COOPERATE WITH ICERef To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the HouseSB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWSpecial Message Received From SenateSB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWVeto Received from SenateSB 166 (Krawiec) 2024 BLDG. CODE REGULATORY REFORMSB 445 (Daniel) RECORDING OF COURT-FILED DOCUMENTSWHAT HAPPENED IN THE SENATEMonday, Sept. 9, 2024Conf Com ReportedHB 10 (Hall, D.) REQUIRE SHERIFFS TO COOPERATE WITH ICEConf Report AdoptedHB 10 (Hall, D.) REQUIRE SHERIFFS TO COOPERATE WITH ICEFiledSB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWPassed 1st ReadingSB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWPassed 2nd ReadingSB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWPassed 3rd ReadingSB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWPlaced on Today’s CalendarHB 10 (Hall, D.) REQUIRE SHERIFFS TO COOPERATE WITH ICEHB 155 (Sossamon) TITLES FOR OFF-ROAD VEH./LOW SPEED VEH. INSPHB 556 (Wheatley) TENANCY IN COM./E-NOTARY/SMALLCLAIMS CHANGESHB 690 (Warren) NO CENTRL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY PMTS TO STATESB 166 (Krawiec) 2024 BLDG. CODE REGULATORY REFORMSB 445 (Daniel) RECORDING OF COURT-FILED DOCUMENTSSB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWSpecial Message Sent To HouseSB 917 (Rabon) ADDITIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTSSB 918 (Rabon) CONFIRM ADAM LOCKHART TAYLOR/BD OF REVIEWVeto OverriddenHB 155 (Sossamon) TITLES FOR OFF-ROAD VEH./LOW SPEED VEH. INSPHB 556 (Wheatley) TENANCY IN COM./E-NOTARY/SMALLCLAIMS CHANGESHB 690 (Warren) NO CENTRL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY PMTS TO STATESB 166 (Krawiec) 2024 BLDG. CODE REGULATORY REFORMSB 445 (Daniel) RECORDING OF COURT-FILED DOCUMENTSWithdrawn From ComHB 155 (Sossamon) TITLES FOR OFF-ROAD VEH./LOW SPEED VEH. INSPHB 556 (Wheatley) TENANCY IN COM./E-NOTARY/SMALLCLAIMS CHANGESHB 690 (Warren) NO CENTRL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY PMTS TO STATESB 166 (Krawiec) 2024 BLDG. CODE REGULATORY REFORMSB 445 (Daniel) RECORDING OF COURT-FILED DOCUMENTS HOUSE & SENATE: Reconvening allowed under provisions of SB 916, if no sine die adjournment previously adopted.Monday, Sept. 9 to Wednesday, Sept. 11Wednesday, Oct. 9Tuesday, Nov. 19 to Friday Nov. 22Wednesday, Dec. 11 to Friday Dec. 13

Legislative Studies and Meetings
LB: LEGISLATIVE BUILDING. LOB: LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING

Thursday, Sept. 192 p.m. | America’s Semiquincentennial Committee, 1228/1327 LB.

N.C. Government Meetings and Hearings
BOLD ITEMS ARE NEW LISTINGS

Tuesday, Sept. 108:30 a.m. | The Fund Development Committee of The North Carolina Partnership for Children meets, The meeting will be held via Zoom. You may contact Yvonne Huntley at 984.221.1242 or email at [email protected] for additional information.11 a.m. | Economic Investment Committee – Regular Meeting, 301 N. Wilmington St, Raleigh.1:30 p.m. | The North Carolina Local Government Commission – September Meeting, 3200 Atlantic Ave, Raleigh.1:30 p.m. | The North Carolina Sentinel Landscape Committee will meet, 2 W. Edenton St, Raleigh.Wednesday, Sept. 11TBD | NC Department of Administration – Andrea Harris Equity Task Force Quarterly Meeting, Event website: https://www.doa.nc.gov/boards-commissions/andrea-harris-equity-task-force
Thursday, Sept. 1210 a.m. | NC State Health Coordinating Council – Long-Term & Behavioral Health Committee Meeting, Event website: https://info.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/mfp/meetings.html
Friday, September 139 a.m. | Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission – Executive Committee Meeting, 2211 Schieffelin Road, Apex.Tuesday, Sept. 1710 a.m. | The North Carolina Partnership for Children Board of Directors meets. You may contact Yvonne Huntley at 984.221.1242 or email at [email protected] for additional information.Friday, Sept. 2012 p.m. | Citizen Advisory Committee meeting for HUD Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funding, The Harrelson Center, 20 N 4th St Ste 214, Wilmington.

UNC Board of Governors
23 S. WEST STREET, SUITE 1800, RALEIGH

Wednesday, Sept. 11Meeting of the Board of Governors, TBA.Thursday, Sept. 12Meeting of the Board of Governors, TBA.Thursday, Oct. 17Meeting of the Board of Governors, TBA.Wednesday, Nov. 13Meeting of the Board of Governors, TBA.Thursday, Nov. 14Meeting of the Board of Governors, TBA.

N.C. Utilities Commission Hearing Schedule
DOBBS BUILDING, 430 NORTH SALISBURY STREET, RALEIGH

Monday, Sept. 161 p.m. | Public and Expert Witness Hearing – Application Pursuant to G.S. 62-133.2 and Commission Rule R8-55 relating to Fuel and Fuel-related Charge Adjustments for Electric Utilities | E-2 Sub 13411 p.m. | Public and Expert Witness Hearing – Application pursuant to G.S. 62-133.9 and Commission Rule R8-69 for Approval of Demand-Side Management and Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Rider | E-2 Sub 13421 p.m. | Public and Expert Witness Hearing – Application Pursuant to G.S. 62-133.8 and Commission Rule R8-67 for Approval of CEPS Compliance Report and CEPS Cost Recovery Rider | E-2 Sub 13431 p.m. | Public and Expert Witness Hearing – Application pursuant to G.S. 62-110.8 and Commission Rule R8-71 for Approval of CPRE Compliance Report and CPRE Cost Recovery Rider | E-2 Sub 13441 p.m. | Public and Expert Witness Hearing – Application pursuant to G.S. 62-133.2 and Commission Rule R8-70 relating to Joint Agency Asset Cost Recovery Rider | E-2 Sub 1345Tuesday, Sept. 1710 a.m. | Expert Witness Hearing – Application for General Rate Increase for Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. | G-9 Sub 837

Other Meetings and Events of Interest
BOLD ITEMS ARE NEW LISTINGS

Friday, Sept. 272024 Lumbee Powwow, Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center, 638 Terry Sanford Drive, Maxton.Wednesday, Oct. 95:30 p.m. | NC Insider / State Affairs Pro subscriber event, Caffe Luna, 136 E. Hargett St, Raleigh.

Sheriff cooperation with ICE mandated in HB 10

Posted on September 9, 2024September 9, 2024 by Matthew Sasser

El Colectivo NC, a membership group of various Latino grassroots organizations, staged a news conference on Monday, an hour ahead of the Senate taking up House Bill 10. State legislators and community activists protested both the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer language and the Opportunity Scholarship vouchers.

When any person is confined in a county jail or similar facility, an attempt must be made by a jail administrator to determine if the prisoner is a legal resident of the United States, according to HB 10. Previous versions of this bill limited an administrator to verify legal status during a felony or impaired driving offense.

“These are our neighbors that are being attacked and targeted,” Sen. Natalie S. Murdock, D-Durham, said. In a message she later delivered on the Senate floor, Murdock reiterated that congressional Republicans have not taken action to reach a bipartisan agreement to secure the Southern border and that HB 10 is a political game that doesn’t offer a real solution.

“We cannot ignore the profound harm HB 10 will cause,” Pilar Rocha-Goldberg, president and CEO of El Centro Hispano, said. “This bill not only strips away immigrant rights but also destroys the trust between law enforcement and our communities.”

Rep. Renée A. Price, D-Orange, called the bill “insidious” and added it places an unacceptable burden on local law enforcement.

Rep. Marcia Morey, D-Durham, noted that HB 10 would allow sheriffs to hold individuals for 48 hours after serving their sentence or posting bail, and that such an act is “unconstitutional” and will likely be challenged in the court system.

“Sheriffs are independent, constitutionally elected officials,” Morey said. “They should not be subservient to the legislative body [telling] them what they should do for their job.”

Later in the afternoon on the Senate floor, Sen. Danny Earl Britt Jr., R-Robeson, defended the legislation which hadH been brought to the Legislature in different iterations before. The impetus for the renewed effort, he said, is the severity in drug and sex trafficking at the border.

“We also know as state legislators there’s little we can do about it other than voting for the right person in November,” Britt said, adding that what legislators can do is compel sheriffs — “… Our sheriffs who are not complying with immigration [laws], our sheriffs who are releasing folks back into the community that are violent individuals charged with violent crimes that are here illegally” — to take the step of identifying a prisoner’s legal status.

Britt said the bill doesn’t “round people up” or send law enforcement into the homes of law-abiding individuals, but it does require a 48-hour detainment for those charged with violent felonies and misdemeanors.

“Until about 2018, every sheriff voluntarily cooperated with ICE,” Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said in a committee meeting in April. “There’s a small number of sheriffs, probably around 10 or so, who don’t honor ICE detainers. Some sheriffs don’t even communicate with ICE at all.”

“It is a common sense bill,” he later added. “It is still to me, amazing, that we even have to have a bill like this.”

For questions or comments, or to pass along story ideas, please write to Matthew Sasser at [email protected] or contact the NC Insider at [email protected] or @StateAffairsNC

Mitchell, Kolodin kiss and make up after last week’s spat

Posted on September 9, 2024September 9, 2024 by Yellow Sheet Report Staff

Kolodin responded to criticism from Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell on Thursday that accused him of “spreading falsehoods” that her office rejected a contract between the county and Runbeck Election Services. Both Mitchell and Kolodin now are expressing unity on the issue since the bipartisan observation program that was used for the primary election will continue with the general election. Kolodin said in a statement Saturday that he appreciates Mitchell’s efforts to help achieve this outcome. “For yesterday our party showed great unity in working to give President Trump a fairer shot in Arizona making me proud, once again, to vote a straight Republican ticket,” Kolodin said. He also said there are other aspects of the memorandum of understanding the legislature signed with Runbeck in March that he’s still working towards, but the observation program was the most important to achieve. Mitchell also was quoted in an AZGOP news release titled “Republicans are United” the day after she criticized Kolodin, where she said she was grateful for the party’s support in working toward election integrity. “We will have observers at Runbeck during this General Election, just as we did in the Primary,” AZGOP Chair Gina Swoboda said. “When Republicans unite, we win. Let’s stay focused and have a successful election.”

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