State & National

Automatic draft registration raises questions among young Americans

Thursday, June 4, 2026

By Morgan Knight, Armani Durham and Zoe Cummings, Howard University

As the federal government moves toward automatically registering men ages 18 to 25 for the Selective Service System, a longstanding requirement tied to a potential military draft, confusion and concern are growing among young Americans. The policy shift is intended to streamline the registration process and increase compliance by using existing government

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The struggle parents face every summer

Sunday, May 31, 2026

By StatePoint

For many U.S. parents, the approach of summer brings stress and worry: Will they be able to find and afford the kinds of summer opportunities they want for their kids? A new study from the Afterschool Alliance, “The Summer Struggle,” finds that about half of the 24.6 million young people nationwide whose parents want summer programs for them

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Black Leaders for Roy Coalition launched for Cooper’s Senate bid

Sunday, May 17, 2026

By Kylie Marsh

U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Roy Cooper greets fans at N.C. A&T's homecoming. More than 125 Black leaders from across the state have launched the Black Leaders for Roy Coalition in support of the former governor’s campaign for U.S. Senate. Cooper for Senate announced the coalition last week in partnership with Black leaders and supporters

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NC Republican leaders end state budget impasse

Thursday, May 14, 2026

By Lynn Bonner, NC Newsline

Republican legislative leaders say they have resolved the major disagreements over tax cuts and spending that have held up passage of a new state budget for more than a year. Under the framework House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate leader Phil Berger presented Tuesday, teachers will receive average raises of 8%. The salary structure will make new teachers

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AG Jackson reaches $11 million EpiPen settlement

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

By Staff Reports

RALEIGH — A two-pack of EpiPens cost about $100 in 2007. By 2016, it was $600. Last week, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced an $11 million settlement with Mylan, the exclusive U.S. marketer and distributor of EpiPen Auto-Injectors, to recover money North Carolina overpaid because of those price increases. The State Health Plan

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NC House, Senate reach deal to fund Medicaid for rest of year

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

By Adam Wagner, WUNC

Both chambers of the N.C. General Assembly expect to take up legislation fully funding the state's Medicaid program for the remainder of this fiscal year. The bill will send $319 million to Medicaid, funding that Democratic Gov. Josh Stein and N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai have been asking for since last summer.

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NC Democrats discuss challenges ahead of elections

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

By Kylie Marsh

North Carolina State Democrats face unique challenges in this year’s election. In a webinar hosted by Carolina Forward and Work for Democracy last week, North Carolina Senate Democratic leader Sydney Batch and Senator Michael Garrett discussed these challenges in moving forward progressive policies. Carolina Forward is an independent, nonpartisan

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NC state pension fund divests from Israel

Sunday, November 30, 2025

By Staff Reports

RALEIGH — North Carolina has become the third state to confirm that it has divested its state pension fund from Israel Bonds, after Minnesota and Michigan announced their decisions, and the first state to confirm selling its Israeli government bonds following public pressure. The Break the Bonds NC Coalition, along with thousands of North

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