'Extravagant spending': State audit questions expenses and alleges lax financial oversight in Cary

Cooper raises $14.8 million in 3 months, new poll shows Whatley gaining ground

Democrat Roy Cooper has long been one of the most prolific fundraisers in North Carolina politics. His Republican opponent Michael Whatley hasn’t yet announced his second-quarter campaign fundraising numbers.

Dallas Woodhouse, former NCGOP boss, resigns from role in auditor’s office

Dallas Woodhouse, a former executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party, on Monday resigned from his role in State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office.

Explosive diarrhea surge raises worries about foodborne illness response and resources

More than 200 North Carolinians have been sickened by exposure to cyclospora as federal funding for foodborne-illness tracking narrows.

NC elections board chairman accuses Stein of misrepresenting board’s role in early voting plans

Josh Stein said on social media that the State Board of Elections has been directing counties to eliminate Sunday voting and remove early voting from college campuses. The board’s chairman says it’s not true.

Premiums to rise 5% for State Health Plan; state workers to be pushed to UNC for care

State Health Plan premiums will increase next year for state workers, But many could end up paying less overall, if they go only to preferred providers, including UNC Health and Novant.

State Health Plan ditches Aetna, sends business back to Blue Cross

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina will take over management of state employee’s health insurance, returning to what had been the status quo for decades — until 2023, when the board voted to shift control to Aetna.

Colleges get more money for workforce development, athletic departments in NC budget

North Carolina’s new state budget provides some realignment for the state's colleges and universities, reflecting higher enrollment, a greater emphasis on workforce readiness, and a need to cut costs at the university level.

NC Republicans roll back DEI policies in new state budget

North Carolina’s new budget eliminates or restructures DEI programs across state government, including changes at DHHS and state agencies.

NC has top economy, but drops to No. 2 overall on influential list of best states for business

Finance network CNBC ranked the Tar Heel State the second-best state to do business in the latest edition of its annual rankings. It's the seventh year in a row the state has ranked among the top three.

Former NCGOP boss taken off election oversight duties ahead of midterm elections

State Auditor Dave Boliek reassigned Dallas Woodhouse, a former executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party, NBC News reported Wednesday morning. Woodhouse had served in the role since September.

Stein vetoes homelessness bill, signs other laws including new ban on China buying NC land

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said House Bill 437 is “poorly constructed” and makes it harder for homeless people to get back on their feet.

Stein signs $34B NC budget, ushering in tax cuts and raises for state employees after GOP agreement

The $34 billion plan was authored by Republican legislative leaders who reached a deal last week after months of bickering over tax cuts and capital projects. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein objected to parts of the plan but said state employees can’t wait any longer for raises.

Wake County Democrats want to bring back NC State early voting site

Democrats want Wake officials to approve money to operate an early voting site at NC State’s Talley Student Union after a new early voting plan moved the site to a more remote part of campus.

'Playing politics with public safety': NC budget makes Wake DA office state's most understaffed

GOP leaders say they simply forgot to fund more prosecutors in Wake County. Democrats are skeptical of that, pointing to the county's central role in prosecuting political corruption cases.

Prediction market betting would be authorized in NC’s new budget. What it means for sports betting

Tucked into the state budget is a proposal that could have massive implications for how prediction markets operate in North Carolina. Some lawmakers say it’ll create a new revenue stream. Others worry it’ll cost the state millions.

NC Senate passes THC crackdown, but House delays vote despite GOP agreement

The fight over hemp and THC regulation, for anyone under 21, continues inside the North Carolina General Assembly after a GOP compromise stalled in the House.

'Playing politics with public safety': Budget makes Wake County prosecutors NC's most understaffed

GOP leaders say the simply forgot to fund more prosecutors in Wake County. Democrats are skeptical of that, pointing to the county's central role in prosecuting political corruption cases.

NC lawmakers end long standoff, send $34B state budget to Stein

After more than a year fighting over state spending priorities, North Carolina lawmakers approved the biggest budget in state history. The $34 billion Republican-led plan now heads to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.

Stein signs bill creating harsher penalties for people who expose NC minors to explicit content

The law would increase criminal penalties for people found guilty of exposing children to obscene images.

NC budget takes aim at Legal Aid. Why critics say that will empower domestic abusers

Republican lawmakers say a privately funded program administered by a state agency is too helpful to groups that support liberal causes. They’re steering the money elsewhere.

‘Need to rein in spending’: NC lawmakers advance proposed $34 billion state budget

The budget contains raises and bonuses for state workers and teachers, one-time boosts to retired state workers' pensions, income tax cuts for all North Carolinians and tax increases for data centers and sports betting companies.

Raleigh MLB ballpark plan isn’t dead, House speaker says. He just doesn’t want NC to make first move

North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall isn’t saying no to baseball, he says. He’s just saying not yet, wary that approving a deal now could hurt the state's chances against other markets competing for a Major League Baseball franchise.

NC lawmakers send bills targeting gangs, mental health evaluations to Stein

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed two bills targeting criminal suspects: one would change where they are evaluated for mental illness while the other would give prosecutors stronger tools to crack down on gang activity.

NC lawmakers unveil long-awaited state budget with tax cuts, raises for state employees

The budget was finalized after weekend negotiations over spending priorities. The House is expected to begin voting on the measure this week. It doesn’t include a proposal to fund a Major League Baseball stadium.

NC bills regulating homeless camps, farmland sales head to Stein; elections bill advances

The North Carolina House of Representatives sent Gov. Josh Stein a bill focused on homelessness that would crack down on “unauthorized sleeping” in public spaces. Stein will also consider a bill that would bar foreign adversaries from buying farmland near the state’s military bases.

North Carolina House committee advances bill ending tax break for new solar projects

A North Carolina House committee approved a bill ending a property tax break for new utility-scale solar projects starting in 2027. Existing solar facilities would not be affected.

Stein creates bipartisan commission to address rising North Carolina health care costs

Gov. Josh Stein signed an executive order Tuesday creating a bipartisan commission to recommend ways to lower health care costs, improve transparency and expand access to care across North Carolina.

$15M for PFAS detection near NC fire stations included in proposed state budget

The proposed state budget expands North Carolina's efforts to address PFAS, including $15 million for firefighter protections, new statewide contamination studies and funding for emergency drinking water.

NC lawmakers reviewing state budget drafts promising tax cuts, state employee raises

Budget drafts reviewed by WRAL indicate NC lawmakers have kept intact the major spending priorities announced last month. It doesn’t include a proposal to fund a Major League Baseball stadium.

NC budget deal reached; lawmakers aim to vote this week on spending plan, sources say

The deal, reached Sunday evening, is expected to leave intact the framework leaders of the state House and Senate agreed to last month — including raises and tax cuts, sources tell WRAL News. But it won’t include a proposal to fund a Major League Baseball stadium, they say.

UNC, NC State to get millions from sports betting; gambling deductions allowed in budget proposal

Not only would the tax on sports betting operators rise to 23%, but North Carolina would levy taxes on prediction market operators as well under proposals expected to be included in the state budget.

NC’s ballot has 3 constitutional amendments. Should voters have the power to add more?

Constitutional amendment proposals can give the people of North Carolina the power to force lawmakers to act. Legislative leaders say they represent the public will already, but some on both sides of the aisle want to see more direct democracy at the ballot box.

North Carolina has a plan to pay for a $1.7B baseball stadium. Why lawmakers can’t agree.

Lawmakers are sparring over a Senate-led proposal that details financing options for a Major League Baseball stadium in Raleigh. House lawmakers’ opposition is likely to doom the proposal, people familiar with the talks tell WRAL.

NC expands ICE cooperation under SCOTUS rulings, new state immigration law

Two U.S. Supreme Court rulings and a new North Carolina law are expanding federal immigration authority and increasing coordination with state and local agencies, reshaping how immigration enforcement is carried out across the state.

Despite ongoing talks, NC budget might not be ready until after start of new fiscal year

Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall, both Republicans, have been meeting regularly as state lawmakers attempt to reach a budget agreement.

Wake officials can keep seats despite bucking guidance on counting ballots of dead voters

Gerry Cohen and Greg Flynn will stay on the Wake County Board of Elections after state elections officials rejected allegations that they broke the law when they voted to count the ballots of three people who had voted legally but died before Election Day.

NC Senate OKs bill that would regulate where homeless people can sleep

House Bill 437 would ban what it calls “unauthorized sleeping” in public spaces and empower local governments to direct homeless people to a designated space — so long as the space isn’t near residential areas, commercial properties or schools.

Sweeping election law bill passes key NC House committee

The House Rules Committee advanced a bill that would make broad changes to North Carolina’s election laws. The bill, which was first brought in April 2025, has undergone several revisions.

NC lawmakers balk at teen social media bill, looser ‘granny flat’ laws

The North Carolina House voted not to concur with Senate changes to a bill restricting social media access for minors, while the Senate voted not to concur with House changes to a bill that would loosen some development laws.

NC Senate OKs new tax rules for sports bettors, entrepreneurs and others

The state Senate on Tuesday voted to advance legislation that would change North Carolina tax laws affecting sports bettors, Helene victims and others.

Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes praised as unifying force by NC lawmakers during legislative visit

Lawmakers in the House and Senate honored the team on Tuesday afternoon during brief sessions.

New tax rules for sports bettors, entrepreneurs and others proposed in NC

North Carolina lawmakers are considering dozens of changes to tax law that could affect industries and people around the state, the result of months of closed-door negotiations among GOP leaders.

Stein signs sweeping North Carolina agriculture bill into law

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed the “Farm Act,” which had been held up in the General Assembly for months over proposals that would have banned raw milk and protected fertilizer companies.

Can you vote in NC if you’ve never lived here? GOP bill would bar ‘never-resident’ voters

A Republican-backed bill moving through the North Carolina General Assembly would bar so-called “never-resident” U.S. citizens from voting in state and local elections and add new identification requirements for overseas absentee voters, as lawmakers debate election law changes.

Stein signs law blocking new property tax appraisals in some counties

Senate Bill 889 would temporarily prohibit a few counties from applying new reappraisals to property tax bills.

As NC lawmakers focus on autism therapy costs, families worry about access to therapy

Healthcare providers and families of people with autism are urging lawmakers to protect access to applied behavior analysis as lawmakers focus on rising Medicaid costs tied to the therapy.

NC House speaker skeptical about public financing for MLB bid, setting up possible budget battle

North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall expressed skepticism about the possibility Friday, one day after state Senate leader Phil Berger said it’d be nearly impossible to land a franchise without public dollars. Hall said he’d consider it if the project promised clear economic benefits.