NC Capitol Wrap

WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran look at Tuesday's statewide runoffs and this year's "April surprise," which isn't good news. Plus lawmakers say campus protests are the inspiration for bills defining antisemitism and banning masks. 

President Joe Biden visited North Carolina twice this week, and rumors are flying about a trip state lawmakers and lobbyists took to Kentucky. As protesters opposed to Israel's bombing of Gaza replaced the American flag at UNC with a Palestinian flag, state lawmakers are praising interim Chancellor Lee Roberts and pushing a new law to crack down on statements critical of Jews or the Israeli government. State lawmakers also passed bills forcing sheriffs to work with ICE agents and to spend an extra $500 million annually on private school tuition vouchers. And the legislature continues taking a look a college athletics, from sports betting changes to a proposal to force UNC and N.C. State to play smaller UNC System schools in football and basketball.

Medical marijuana, immigration, gambling updates and a $1 billion state budget surplus could come to dominate the new 2024 North Carolina legislative short session. Plus, Senate leader Phil Berger talks about the future of the ACC and what lawmakers could do to keep UNC and N.C. State together if one tries to leave. PolitiFact NC looks into the 13th District congressional runoff primary, and the NC State Health Plan makes national news with a Senate investigation led by Bernie Sanders.

WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie wraps up the week on Jones Street, including an investigation into the nonprofit led by the wife of the lieutenant governor. Plus, good news for budget writers, and a look at the state’s take for the first month of sports betting.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits with Gov. Roy Cooper in Raleigh, and two members of North Carolina congressional delegation travel to Ukraine for meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The North Carolina Supreme Court keeps busy with cases on charter schools, voter fraud and alleged racism in local government. Plus the latest updates from EPA Secretary Michael Regan's trip to Fayetteville to talk PFAS, and what NC House Speaker Tim Moore had to say about budget priorities as the legislature prepares to return to session.

WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran discuss a surge in teacher turnover in North Carolina public schools, and the end of coverage of weight-loss drugs by the State Health Plan. Plus, diversity, equity and inclusion in the UNC system could be in lawmakers' crosshairs this session. 

WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran talk about the terror watchlist suspect whose North Carolina arrest could turn into a referendum on immigration policy, plus the growing national attention on comments made by 2024 candidates Mark Robinson and Michele Morrow. They also discuss updates on the recount and election protests still delaying official results in a closely contested state legislative race.

Donald Trump leads Joe Biden in North Carolina their potential 2024 rematch for president, a new WRAL News poll found. But Republicans don't have the same lead in the race for governor, pitting Democratic nominee for governor Josh Stein against Republican nominee Mark Robinson. In a close primary for a state legislative seat, the Democratic incumbent who appears to have lost is now alleging political shenanigans and "irregularities" may be cause for further investigation. Michele Morrow is making national headlines. And while some of the closest primaries are going to runoffs to pick a winner, one won't: Trump hired Mark Walker to work on his presidential campaign, so that he'd drop his opportunity for a runoff against Trump-endorsed candidate Addison McDowell.

The week's primary elections brought a spate of upsets by populist conservatives, and that's got the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce concerned. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and State Government Reporter Will Doran look at the biggest surprises and their potential repercussions in November.

WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy bring you a roundup of the week's crazy election stories, the go-live date for sports betting sites in North Carolina, and a rough week on Jones Street for a couple of Cooper administration leaders.

Dark money seeps into North Carolina primary races from some unexpected places. The decades-old Leandro public education lawsuit is back in court. And state historians unveil research into the enslaved people who built the state capitol building. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran break down the week in North Carolina politics. 

President Joe Biden came to Raleigh to talk broadband internet investments and "Bidenomics" before grabbing a milkshake with Gov. Roy Cooper. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran discuss how it foreshadows the messaging we'll be seeing from both sides in the 2024 presidential campaign. The GOP primaries for two wide-open congressional seats are also heating up. Plus, insurance companies are asking for a big hike to homeowners rates, and people are not happy. Could it impact the elections?

On this week's episode of The Wrap, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran have the latest on the multiple lawsuits against the state's new voting maps. Plus: Lawmakers' latest attempts to rein in the power of HOAs, and a look at who's campaigning in North Carolina this week. 

With another year nearly over we ask: Who won 2023? WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and State Government Reporter Travis Fain have lots of thoughts, and now you're gonna hear about them! Plus: Another redistricting lawsuit, a candidacy challenge in Wake County and blowback on the push to keep former President Donald Trump off the ballot. We also turn our attention to 2024, predicting North Carolina's casino debate will return and that the state's child care shortage will demand attention.

The 2024 primaries are set, and several people surprised North Carolina political observers by opting not to run. Also: There's another Mark Robinson in North Carolina politics now, and this one's a Democrat. Plus: Out with the old and in with the new (again) in the UNC chancellor's office. WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Will Doran break down the week that was in state politics.

UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz is out at UNC-Chapel Hill, reopening North Carolina's long-running conversation on political meddling and fair governance in the state's university system. Plus: It's election filing season! Listen to WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain read a long list of names as candidates sign up for key races. And: Is Jesus Christ going to bring down retribution on Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's political opponents? Tune in.

North Carolina on Friday became the 40th state to expand Medicaid, opening the health insurance program to 600,000 people — many of them the working poor. It brings a multibillion-dollar infusion for the state's health care providers. Also: Gov. Roy Cooper tapped Democratic up-and-comer Jessica Holmes, a former Wake County commissioner, for state auditor's job, which opened after the current auditor decided to resign in the wake of a charge for misusing a state vehicle. WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Will Doran break down the week that was.

State Auditor Beth Wood was indicted this week, accused of using publicly owned vehicles for personal errands — a charge that grew out of the scrutiny she received after wrecking a state-owned car after a December holiday party. After Tuesday’s indictment, Wood, who at one point this year said she planned to run for reelection, announced that she'll resign instead, effective Dec. 15. Also: Democrats rolled in local elections, and new candidates have announced statewide runs ahead of next month's filing deadline. WRAL NCCapitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and State Government Reporter Travis Fain get you all caught up on The Wrap.

North Carolina lawmakers returned to the legislative building this week, maybe for the last time this year, and passed new election maps. Now we wait for the lawsuits. And speaking of lawsuits: A major one is in court next week as Gov. Roy Cooper fights to block the Republican legislative majority from taking away key state appointments. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and State Government Reporter Travis Fain break down all that and more on this week's episode of The Wrap.

The political power play that is redistricting got underway again this week. North Carolina lawmakers will likely have fully approved maps by next week. WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Will Doran break down who wins, and who loses, under the newly proposed voting districts. Plus: More lawsuits, more forever chemicals coming to North Carolina, and a child care funding cliff.

Lawmakers gathered again in Raleigh Tuesday to override Gov. Roy Cooper's vetoes on five bills, taking the Republican supermajority's override record this year to 19-0. But a resolution on the conflict between Israel and Hamas that some North Carolina Democrats refused to sign dominated the discourse this week. Also: Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's press conference supporting Israel forces him to address his past comments on the holocaust. And the 2024 game of musical chairs is getting underway as lawmakers work on new election maps. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain get you caught up.

The Wrap turns its attention to Washington, D.C., this week, where the U.S. House of Representatives deposed its speaker and a bow-tied, beer-brewing North Carolinian ended up with the gavel. Plus: The new state budget is law, state lawmakers gather next week for veto overrides and there's another elections lawsuit, with more sure to come. WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Will Doran break it down.

After months of closed-door talks, leaks and rumors, North Carolina has a new state budget packed with priorities backed by the legislature’s Republican majority. In the end, a long-discussed deal to legalize new casinos in the state fell apart. But stay tuned next year; that conversation is sure to return. WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Paul Specht walk through what’s in the budget, what’s not, some surprise bills that popped up this week — and why one lawmaker found himself in a supply closet.

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. WRAL state government reporters Travis Fain and Will Doran break it all down.