NewsObserver.com

ROB CHRISTENSEN

Christensen: 5 troubling ideas for NC democracy

Let us put aside the major issues that divide North Carolina politics – taxes, the size of government, public vs. private education, abortion, guns, funding for the University of North Carolina system, Medicaid, health care, even voter ID.

2 hours ago

UNDER THE DOME

Dome: $20.6 billion budget clears NC Senate

The state Senate took the final vote on its $20.6 billion budget Thursday, passing it along party lines.

UNDER THE DOME

Dome: Racial Justice Act supporters rally one more time

Supporters of the Racial Justice Act mounted an offensive Wednesday in hopes of beating back this session’s attempt to wipe the act off the books and resume executions.

UNDER THE DOME

Dome: Lawmakers bring back NC-SC hoops rivalry

NC lawmakers will take to the court against their SC counterparts Wednesday night.

UNDER THE DOME

Dome: Revamped voucher plan debuts in House committee Tuesday

House lawmakers will consider a revamped plan to provide taxpayer dollars to help send public school students to private schools.

UNDER THE DOME

Dome: Triangle GOP lawmakers aren’t keen on rewriting Jordan Lake rules

Senate Bill 515, which would repeal current environmental protections at Jordan Lake so that new ones could be written, is a GOP-promoted idea. But not all Republicans are on board.

UNDER THE DOME

Dome: Blackwater had a use for Sharia law

The private military contractor formerly called Blackwater tried to use Sharia law in 2006 to escape responsibility for a flight that killed three soldiers and the flight crew. Federal judges said no.

UNDER THE DOME

Dome: Durham Tech employee fired for working a private business on state time

A state auditor's investigation into a Durham Technical Community College employee working a private business on the state's dime led to the employee's firing, a report released Wednesday revealed.

UNDER THE DOME

Dome: Tax ideas on the table including capping local sales tax

A week after Senate Republicans unveiled an ambitious – yet controversial – tax overhaul measure, the forthcoming legislation continues to take shape.