NC Capitol Wrap

<p>State budget talks — including negotiations over a heavily lobbied gambling expansion — broke down this week between the House and Senate. Senate leadership says the House broke its deal. House leadership says the Senate demands just won't pass. Everyone went to their corners for a while, and now that talks have resumed it's not clear when North Carolina will have a new state budget. Plus: Guns on college campuses, election bills and the first 2024 gubernatorial debate. <span class="scayt-misspell-word" data-scayt-word="WRAL" data-wsc-lang="en_US" data-wsc-id="lmkv01ku335e4oxvd">WRAL</span> state government reporters Travis Fain and Will Doran break it all down.</p>

<p><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; color: black;">WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy talk about the push and pull over casinos and video slot machines in lawmakers' negotiations over the state budget. Will the fight over expanding gambling in North Carolina delay the budget another week? Plus, election changes and drama at the State Board of Education.</span></p>

<p>House Republicans plan to gather behind closed doors Tuesday for a meeting that may go a long way toward deciding whether North Carolina's General Assembly authorizes four new casinos and legalizes video poker machines. Plus: Accusations of bias at the state's highest court, lots of campaign donations flowing as lawmakers weigh gambling and medical marijuana bills, and lots of jockeying as political hopefuls mull 2024 political runs. WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Will Doran break it all down in this week's Wrap.</p>

<p>It sounds like state lawmakers are hammering out final budget details ahead of a vote during the week of Sept. 11. What does that mean for Medicaid expansion? WRAL reporters Travis Fain and Brian Murphy get into it. Also: More national coverage for Mark Robinson and his conspiracy theories, casino plans roll on, and why Democrats may soon have another candidate in the 2024 governor's race.</p>

<p>The North Carolina General Assembly continues to work in fits and starts, churning through veto overrides and a handful of other bills after weeks of calm. Now it looks we're in another dead period with few answers about the overdue state budget. Meanwhile, a fight looms over the continued push to add casinos and expand legal gambling in the state. WRAL state government reporters Will Doran and Travis Fain break down the week that was in North Carolina politics.</p>

<p>A clash over concealed weapons training, and why a national group's bid to get on the 2024 ballot in NC could be in trouble. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran look at the week that was — get you up to speed on the week ahead — in North Carolina politics.</p>

<p><span class="ui-provider fz b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr">In the course of one legislative session, North Carolina may go from having heavy limits on gambling to allowing sports gambling on cell phones, slot-machine-style machines in restaurants and gas stations and four new casinos. WRAL News reporters Travis Fain and Brian Murphy break down the latest. Plus: state budget news, education policy, a roundup of 2024 political candidates. And are Republican lawmakers about to blow a $13 billion hole in the budget?</span></p>

<p>With North Carolina lawmakers deadlocked, and vacations looming, it looks like a state budget vote won't come until at least August at the General Assembly. Meanwhile, not much is moving, but we keep hearing about a major push to build new casinos in the state. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain break it all down in your weekly look at North Carolina politics.</p> <p> </p>

<p>In terms of drama, North Carolina politics did not disappoint this week. A federal judge said most of North Carolina's new abortion law can go into effect. The legislature passed multiple LGBTQ bills. A powerful state senator pulled a parliamentary manuever to save his medical marijuana bill, the power struggle continues atop the SBI and the U.S. Supreme Court decided two major cases this week out of North Carolina.</p>

<p>Speaker of the House Tim Moore's love life — central to allegations in a new lawsuit against him — sucked a lot of the oxygen out of the room this week at the General Assembly. But the session kept on trucking. Republican lawmakers dropped a surprise abortion bill that looks like it's aimed at derailing a federal lawsuit. Major voting bills moved forward. So did bills limiting care for transgender teens and banning transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams. The state budget is still in limbo, as is the medical marijuana bill. And now it's official: This General Assembly session will continue well into July.<span class="ui-provider gl b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr"><span class="ui-box fx eq fy et er fz cs ga ap gb gc gd"><span class="fui-Primitive ___r2ogsi0 f1hu3pq6 f154qnkl f19f4twv fpzob0m"><span class="ui-box gk hv"><span class="ui-box gs go hw gt gp hx hy gr gn hz gq gm ia ib ap ic id ie if ig"><span class="fui-Flex ___u7b1m00 f22iagw f6jr5hl f1g0x7ka fhxju0i f1qch9an f1cnd47f fniina8 f1p9o1ba f1sil6mw fd7fpy0"><span class="ms-FocusZone ui-toolbar cq ff ap aun auo db aup" aria-label="Message formatting"><span class="cq di db"><span id="sentinel" class="ui-box auq bs aur"></span></span></span></span><span class="ui-box ij ik il ap ic cy cw im id in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg jh ji jj jk jl jm jn jo jp jq jr js jt ju jv jw jx jy jz ka kb kc kd ke kf kg kh ki kj kk kl km kn ko kp kq kr ks kt ku kv kw kx ky kz la lb lc ld le lf lg lh li lj lk ll lm ln lo lp lq lr ls lt lu lv lw lx ly lz ma mb mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of og oh oi oj ok ol om on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf pg ph pi pj pk pl pm pn po pp pq pr ps pt pu pv pw px py pz qa qb qc qd qe qf qg qh qi qj qk ql qm qn qo qp qq qr qs qt qu qv qw qx qy qz ra rb rc rd re rf rg rh ri rj rk rl rm rn ro rp rq rr rs rt ru rv rw rx ry rz sa sb sc sd se sf sg sh si sj sk sl sm sn so sp sq sr ss st su sv sw sx sy sz ta tb tc td te tf tg th ti tj tk tl tm tn to tp tq tr ts tt tu tv tw tx ty tz ua ub uc ud ue uf ug uh ui uj uk ul um un uo up uq ur us ut uu uv uw ux uy uz va vb vc vd ve vf vg vh vi vj vk vl vm vn vo vp vq vr vs vt vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo wp wq wr ws wt wu wv ww wx wy wz xa xb xc xd xe xf xg xh xi xj xk xl xm xn xo xp xq xr xs xt xu xv xw xx xy xz ya yb yc yd ye yf yg yh yi yj yk yl ym yn yo yp yq yr ys yt yu yv yw yx yy yz za zb zc zd ze zf zg zh zi zj zk zl zm zn zo zp zq zr zs zt zu zv zw zx zy zz aba abb abc abd abe abf abg abh abi abj abk abl abm abn abo abp abq abr abs abt abu abv abw abx aby abz aca acb acc acd ace acf acg ach aci acj ack acl acm acn aco acp acq acr acs act acu acv acw acx acy acz aea aeb aec aed aee aef aeg aeh aei aej aek ael aem aen aeo aep aeq aer aes aet aeu aev aew aex aey aez afa afb afc afd afe aff afg afh afi afj afk afl afm afn afo afp afq afr afs aft afu afv afw afx afy afz aga agb agc agd age agf agg agh agi agj agk agl agm agn ago agp agq agr ags agt agu agv agw agx agy agz aha ahb ahc ahd ahe ahf ahg ahh ahi ahj ahk ahl ahm ahn aho ahp ahq ahr ahs aht ahu ahv ahw ahx ahy ahz aia aib aic aid aie aif aig aih aii aij aik ail aim ain aio aip aiq air ais ait aiu aiv aiw aix aiy aiz aja ajb ajc ajd aje ajf ajg ajh aji ajj ajk ajl ajm ajn ajo ajp ajq ajr ajs ajt aju ajv ajw ajx ajy ajz aka akb akc akd ake akf akg akh aki akj akk akl akm akn ako akp akq akr aks akt aku akv akw akx aky akz ala alb alc ald ale alf alg alh ali alj alk all alm aln alo alp alq alr als alt alu alv alw alx aly alz ama amb amc amd ame amf amg amh ami amj amk aml amm amn amo amp amq amr ams amt amu amv amw amx amy amz ana anb anc and ane anf ang anh ani anj ank anl anm ann ano anp anq anr ans ant anu anv anw anx any anz aoa aob aoc aod aoe aof aog aoh aoi aoj aok aol aom aon aoo aop aoq aor aos aot aou aov aow aox aoy aoz apa apb apc apd ape apf apg aph api apj apk apl apm apn apo app apq apr aps apt apu apv apw apx apy apz aqa aqb aqc aqd aqe aqf aqg aqh aqi aqj aqk aql aqm aqn aqo aqp aqq aqr aqs aqt aqu aqv aqw aqx aqy aqz ara arb arc ard are arf arg arh ari arj ark arl arm arn aro arp arq arr ars art aru arv arw arx ary arz asa asb asc asd ase asf asg ash asi asj ask asl asm asn aso asp asq asr ass ast asu asv asw asx asy asz ata atb atc atd ate atf atg ath ati atj atk atl atm atn ato dt atp atq atr ats att atu atv atw atx aty atz aua aub auc aud aue auf aug auh aui auj auk aul aum"><span id="new-message-2d52e4e9-2c94-4064-aeff-eaf27a9670c7" class="ck ck-content ck-editor__editable ck-rounded-cor

<p>The legislative session is rounding the final turn. Republican lawmakers moved a pair of major election bills forward. Lawmakers, meanwhile, are poised to pass a ban on transgender girls and women playing on female sports teams from middle school through college. The sports gambling bill has been signed (but you won't be able to bet for a while). Plus: Updates on a laundry list of significant bills and a preview of the line of attack against Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's campaign, coming from a key Republican consultant.</p>

<p>North Carolina Republicans are holding their state convention this weekend in Greensboro and will hear from three presidential candidates. President Joe Biden visited North Carolina Friday. Budget negotiators are taking the weekend off, but chairs hope to have their work done Tuesday. Plus: Sports gambling, Blue Cross bills await the governor's signature and the General Assembly is about to fight an awful lot about election rules.</p>

<p><span class="ui-provider gs b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr">Plus: A new elections bill dropped this week, tinkering with state voting laws, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina got a big bipartisan vote on its reorganization bill.</span></p>

<p>On this week's edition of the Wrap, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran talk about a shake-up in the state House GOP leadership, the fight over the future of the state’s largest insurer, and Gov. Roy Cooper’s pivot to the bully pulpit.</p>

<p>Republicans in the North Carolina legislature made quick work of Gov. Roy Cooper's abortion bill override. And new restrictions are scheduled to go into effect July 1. Plus, there’s bipartisan support in the state Senate for a budget proposing lower raises for teachers and state employees than the House backed last month. And will that budget threaten every big city hospital in the state with closure? WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain break it all down. </p>

<p><span class="ui-provider gr b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr">The North Carolina General Assembly largely took this week off. The news did not. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper tried to ramp up public pressure on a handful of key Republicans ahead of Saturday's abortion veto, and the state got three new State Board of Elections members. Also: North Carolina's first Black lieutenant governor has criticisms of the civil rights movement.</span></p>

<p><span class="ui-provider gr b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr">Emotional debate and personal stories filled the General Assembly this week as a long-anticipated abortion bill moved through the chambers. In the end, the bill passed along party lines, and it took less than 48 hours. Now we wait for Gov. Roy Cooper's veto and a Republican push to override and make these new restrictions law. Also: Partisan gerrymandering is legal again in North Carolina, and a major gun bill seems to be dead.</span></p>

<p dir="ltr">The North Carolina General Assembly remains on its rocket sled, churning through legislation, including the series of culture war bills dominating recent headlines. Plus: The Community College System named a new president, beating a push for the General Assembly to take more control of that process. And big money, big business bills to watch (including some likely to move next week). The new farm bill is rolling and ... does someone want to build casinos in some of North Carolina's poorer counties? WRAL's NCCapitol team gets you all caught up on The Wrap.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Every week is a banger in North Carolina politics, but this one outdid itself. State Rep. Tricia Cotham dropped the biggest bombshell in legislative politics in 20 years. The House passed its budget. Half a dozen LGBTQ bills hit. Plus: Bills moved to limit voting by mail, to add a new tax on Uber and Lyft rides and to help the family of a police officer killed in a mass shooting. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain break it down in this episode of The Wrap.</p>

<p>The week in North Carolina politics started off in bipartisan bliss with a bill signing ceremony on Medicaid expansion. Then Republicans shut off debate and used a handful of key Democratic absences to override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto on a gun bill. Now it's budget time, and GOP lawmakers hold the cards, empowering them to to drop their policies into a crucial budget plan. It's an offer Democrats can hardly refuse. </p>

<p>Another chock-a-block week in North Carolina politics. Medicaid expansion passed, and on the 13th anniversary of Obamacare, no less. State Auditor Beth Wood pleaded guilty to her hit-and-run charge, and she admitted to having a bit to drink before the crash. Gov. Roy Cooper closed the week by vetoing gun legislation, a veto Republicans will surely try to overturn. And next week brings the House budget. WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Will Doran break it all down on this week's episode of The Wrap.</p>

<p>WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Will Doran break down the week that was in North Carolina politics. Medicaid expansion passed the state Senate. The governor proposed a new budget. Republican lawmakers immediately said it won't pass. Plus: Bills on critical race theory, guns, opioids and gambling.</p>

<p>WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain break down the week in North Carolina politics. This week brought Gov. Roy Cooper's last State of the State speech. Plus, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson reined himself in, but for how long? They discuss progress on the state budget, what to expect when it comes to teacher and state employee raises, and negotiations over Medicaid expansion.</p>

<p>WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain lays out the basics on a long-sought deal to bring billions in federal funding to North Carolina and provide Medicaid health insurance to the state’s working poor. He also gets into budget updates, the timetable for abortion legislation, mounting pressure from evangelicals for a heartbeat bill, medical marijuana and a sobering milestone for child gun deaths.</p>

<p>WRAL state government reporters Will Doran and Travis Fain talk about the rammed SUV carrying House Speaker Tim Moore, culture-war bills that moved this week, and potentially important agency bills that were filed. They also discuss the upcoming state budget and tax news.</p>

<p>This week Laura WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain break down another busy week at the North Carolina General Assembly and look ahead to next week. What's next on Medicaid? What sort of raises should state employees and teachers expect? And, after another multibillion-dollar surplus in the state budget, is another tax cut in the offing? They also discuss potential candidates for attorney general.</p>

<p>This week’s episode of The Wrap is double stuffed. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain break down the bills moving in this still-young General Assembly session, and they look ahead to another busy week. Plus: They talk about Gov. Roy Cooper’s boosted national profile, a new candidate for attorney general, State Auditor Beth Wood’s ongoing saga, a crisis in childcare, and the state’s new prowess in growing … corn?</p>

<p>WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and State Government Reporter Travis Fain tick through the ever-growing list of bills filed at this still-young legislative session, including the LGBTQ bills that have gotten so much attention. Plus, a lawsuit could lead to a change in when ex-felons can vote again in North Carolina. Also: musical chairs in the capitol press corps.</p>

<p>Bill filing has begun at the North Carolina General Assembly. Plus: Rumors emerge that EPA Administrator Michael Regan might leave the Biden Administration, but North Carolina sources say he won't be running for governor in 2024 — a prospect that once had some Democrats buzzing.</p>

<p>WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Paul Specht discuss the week that was in NC politics. They discuss a hit-and-run charge facing State Auditor Beth Wood. And they get into details about Attorney General Josh Stein's announcement that he'll run for governor in 2024. Meanwhile, legislative Republicans call for a redo at the state Supreme Court, and UNC system President Peter Hans floats professorship reforms.</p>

<p>WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Paul Specht discuss a new rule change will make it easier for House Republicans to override vetoes by Gov. Roy Cooper. They also get into news about North Carolina's professional sports teams wanting a bigger slice of the sports gambling pie. Former U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn is also back in the news.</p>

<p>WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain rewind the last week in North Carolina politics and look forward to next week's start to the new legislative session. Also: An inquiry into retired U.S. Sen. Richard Burr's pandemic stock trades concluded without action, and Duke Energy explains what caused the massive Christmas Eve blackouts in Moore County.</p>

<p>WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain break down the latest in North Carolina's long-running fights over voter identification and redistricting. Plus, the lawyer Republicans love to hate is now on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Meanwhile, the state again brings in $1 billion more in tax revenue than expected, and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson towers above other GOP politicians in 2024 polling.</p>

<p>This week on The Wrap, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain break down what’s next in North Carolina’s highly anticipated Moore v. Harper lawsuit, the election law case that was before the U.S. Supreme Court this week. Meanwhile, Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson says he won’t run for reelection. And it looks like six of 10 Council of State seats will be open for the 2024 cycle, which is unusual. Plus, a casino scandal, education policy, state House Democrats announce their leadership team, and North Carolina congressional Republicans move into key positions.</p>

<p>WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Bryan Anderson look ahead to what's at stake as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in a North Carolina election law case. Plus, a plan to overhaul teacher licensure gets scaled back, Tillis takes heat for federal LGBTQ marriage law, and Cooper touts electric vehicles for commercial transportation. </p>

<p>WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Bryan Anderson discuss fallout from the 2022 election. They also get into how Republican officials in North Carolina are responding to former President Donald Trump's entry into the 2024 presidential race, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis's role in a closely watched same-sex marriage bill, Gov. Roy Cooper's political future, and campaign finance news.</p>

<p>Another election is in the books and it was … normal? WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain and WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie break down some of the results, including North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, Wiley Nickel’s big win in the 13th Congressional District, and Republicans falling just one seat short of legislative supermajorities. Plus: With a new state Supreme Court, what happens now on major conflicts before the court? And teacher pay reforms move forward.</p>

<p>WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain run the homestretch of the 2022 general elections and walk through a newsy week in North Carolina politics. Also: The Wrap is podcast only now. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. </p>

<p>Laura and Travis return as North Carolina's 2022 election season stampedes down the homestretch. Polls, with some outliers, continue to show a tight U.S. Senate race, we preview interviews with Ted Budd and Cheri Beasley and are Democrats suddenly worried about the 1st Congressional District in eastern North Carolina?</p>

<p>For four years North Carolina has had divided government: A Republican General Assembly and a Democratic governor able to veto some of their ideas – 47 of them since 2018. Republicans have a shot at a supermajority this election season, which would moot the governor’s vetoes. Should they get it? Two lawmakers debate: One Republican, one Democrat.</p>

<p>Bonus show! Travis and Laura sat down with Gerry Cohen, the long-time lawyer to the North Carolina General Assembly with a photographic memory. We’d say he’s forgotten more about North Carolina law and politics than most people will ever know, but he doesn’t forget. Make time for this fascinating conversation about Cohen’s 40 years in North Carolina politics, his life and his love of long distance train travel. This is a podcast only interview edition of The Wrap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices</p>

Topics covered include Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Medicaid deal no closer, no tax break on student debt relief, and our new election education project, NC Votes 101. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis and Bryan return to break down the week that was in North Carolina politics. We’re finally getting a U.S. Senate debate. Bet on abortion being a major topic. Lawmakers discussed the state’s slow rebuild from Hurricane’s Matthew and Florence this week, and there are some glaring, fixable, issues. Plus: A who’s who of the GOP’s extreme right wing will be in North Carolina next weekend, we’ve got multiple state Supreme Court election forums for voters to consume and Travis provides a CONVOLUTED update on Medicaid expansion. Stay to the end to hear North Carolina’s pre-eminent soft drink named and proclaimed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura and Travis gather again to break down the week that was in North Carolina politics and to ponder: Are all these big wins on economic development a sign that divided government is a good thing for North Carolina? Plus: Updates from key Republican leaders on Medicaid expansion (spoiler alert: don't hold your breath at least until after the November elections) and tidbits from around the world of North Carolina government and politics, most of which you won't find anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're heading to the home stretch, folks, and the post-Labor Day campaign season boom is set to begin. In this week's Wrap Bryan and Travis discuss North Carolina's U.S. Senate race, the 13th Congressional District, the Republican push to win super majorities in the state General Assembly and the Leandro case, which was before the state Supreme Court this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Topics on The Wrap this week include abortion, Medicaid expansion, state supreme court ruling on amendments, the lieutenant governor's book, election rules. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's wrap, Bryan Anderson and Paul Specht discuss the Green Party's efforts to get on the 2022 ballot, potential new rules for election observers and a public spat between Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura and Travis gathered once again to discuss the week that was in North Carolina politics. We're three months from election day. Will there be any debates in North Carolina's U.S. Senate race? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a quiet week in North Carolina politics, which means we’ve only got three significant lawsuits to discuss: One on voting, one about whether you’re allowed to lie in campaign ads and one on abortion. Plus: An update on Medicaid expansion talks, and why Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson says that, if he had to do his own taxes, he’d be “going to jail.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a week’s hiatus, The Wrap is back to break down the week that was in NC politics. Travis and Bryan lay out the latest in the fight over abortion rights, including Attorney General Josh Stein’s refusal to back the state’s 20-week abortion ban. We dive into community college and state university system politics, congressional votes on contraception and marriage rights and the sad, mysterious death this week of former NC NAACP President Anthony Spearman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices