Gary D. Robertson

Catholic school in North Carolina had the right to fire a gay teacher who announced his marriage on social media a decade ago, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, reversing a judge's earlier decision.

Courts |
Court rules North Carolina Catholic school could fire gay teacher

May 8, 2024 at 5:09 p.m.

Catholic school in North Carolina had the right to fire a gay teacher who announced his marriage on social media a decade ago, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, reversing...

Trial has started in a federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s photo voter identification law. The trial began Monday in Winston-Salem, more than five years after the NAACP sued over the voter ID law enacted by the Republican-dominated General Assembly. The litigation and a similar state lawsuit delayed implementation of the requirement until recently. The plaintiffs say the law violates the U.S. Constitution and Voting Rights Act and harms Black and Latino voters. Republican lawmakers defending the law say there are many more qualifying IDs compared with a 2013 voter ID law that was struck down. The trial could last several days. No immediate ruling is expected.

Courts |
Challenge to North Carolina’s new voter ID requirement goes to trial

May 7, 2024 at 12:07 a.m.

Trial has started in a federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s photo voter identification law. The trial began Monday in Winston-Salem, more than five years after the NAACP sued over the...

Hours before the Japanese prime minister’s arrival in North Carolina, a subsidiary of Japan’s Fujifilm Corp. announced Thursday plans to expand further a massive biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant in the state, even as the initial phase is not yet complete, promising another 680 jobs.

News |
On eve of Japanese prime minister’s visit to North Carolina, Fujifilm announces more jobs there

April 11, 2024 at 5:43 p.m.

Hours before the Japanese prime minister’s arrival in North Carolina, a subsidiary of Japan’s Fujifilm Corp. announced Thursday plans to expand further a massive biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant in the state,...

Legalized statewide sports wagering in North Carolina from smartphones and desktops that began two weeks ago is off to a “strong start,” a state lottery official said on Wednesday, likely buoyed by betting on college basketball at its season’s apex.

Business |
Nearly $200 million bet in North Carolina’s first week of legalized sports wagering

March 30, 2024 at 5:12 p.m.

Legalized statewide sports wagering in North Carolina from smartphones and desktops that began two weeks ago is off to a “strong start,” a state lottery official said on Wednesday, likely...

People in North Carolina now have more chances to gamble as statewide sports wagering has begun. Several government-licensed gambling operators started taking bets through smartphones and computers at noon Monday from adults within the state's borders. North Carolina officials enacted a law last year that directed the North Carolina State Lottery Commission to set rules and take licensee applications. Eight licenses have been issued and each of the companies associated with them were up and running Monday. Sports gambling operators have been anxious to get into the market of the nation's ninth largest state. In-person sportsbook betting and horse racing are also now authorized but aren't beginning right now.

News |
North Carolina launches statewide sports wagering

March 11, 2024 at 6:47 p.m.

People in North Carolina now have more chances to gamble as statewide sports wagering has begun. Several government-licensed gambling operators started taking bets through smartphones and computers at noon Monday...

North Carolina’s public schools superintendent and some state legislators won’t be returning to their positions in 2025 after primary defeats. Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt lost Tuesday’s Republican primary to Michele Morrow. Truitt is in her first term. Morrow is a home-schooling parent who has accused public schools of indoctrinating students with left-leaning views on race and gender. She will face Democrat Mo Green in the general election. Two other statewide races could be heading to May runoffs after first-place finishers failed to receive more than 30% of the vote in GOP primaries. State Sen. Mike Woodard and state Rep. Kevin Crutchfield lost their primaries.

News |
North Carolina schools chief loses primary to home-schooling parent critical of ‘radical agendas’

March 6, 2024 at 8:58 p.m.

North Carolina’s public schools superintendent and some state legislators won’t be returning to their positions in 2025 after primary defeats. Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt lost Tuesday’s Republican primary...

Education funding litigation that originated 30 years ago has returned to North Carolina’s highest court. The state Supreme Court held oral arguments but didn't immediately rule again Thursday in the case barely a year after it ruled on whether a trial judge could move taxpayer money to address schooling inequities statewide without the express approval of legislators. The Democratic majority on the court at the time said yes. But now the court has a Republican majority that decided to take up again a portion of the case known as “Leandro.” GOP legislators argue the previous edition of the Supreme Court got it wrong. Democrats and their allies want the ruling preserved.

Politics |
Engrossed in education funding dispute, North Carolina revisits milestone 2022 ruling

February 22, 2024 at 10:38 p.m.

Education funding litigation that originated 30 years ago has returned to North Carolina’s highest court. The state Supreme Court held oral arguments but didn't immediately rule again Thursday in the...

Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson remains the top fundraiser in the GOP primary campaign for North Carolina governor entering 2024. But a recent rival has used his own personal fortune to compete with him monetarily.

News |
Candidate uses personal funds to close fundraising gap in North Carolina gubernatorial bid

January 31, 2024 at 5:32 p.m.

Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson remains the top fundraiser in the GOP primary campaign for North Carolina governor entering 2024. But a recent rival has used his own personal fortune...

North Carolina election officials are trying to fine-tune the way the state handles same-day voter registration as Republican legislators seek to make it easier to toss out ballots and critics argue they’re making it too hard for voters to access the polls.

Election |
North Carolina amends same-day voter registration rules in an effort to appease judge’s concerns

January 30, 2024 at 5:17 p.m.

North Carolina election officials are trying to fine-tune the way the state handles same-day voter registration as Republican legislators seek to make it easier to toss out ballots and critics...

Blocked by Republican legislators at most every turn to advance his education agenda, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said on Tuesday he'd seek in his final year on the job to build a coalition to prod the General Assembly to improve public schools toward his policy preferences.

News |
At his old school, term-limited North Carolina governor takes new tack on public education funding

January 23, 2024 at 6:09 p.m.

Blocked by Republican legislators at most every turn to advance his education agenda, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said on Tuesday he'd seek in his final year on the job to...

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