3/20/2026 Weekly Roundup
WNC-relevant political and governmental news
💥 Attention, Democrats in Madison County! Update to my recent post about resolutions for reclaiming our country: Tomorrow, March 21, our annual county Democratic convention will vote on whether to adopt and send up the party hierarchy these three resolutions, recently revised and approved by a county-wide committee.
If you’re a Democrat registered to vote in Madison County, I hope you’ll attend and offer a public comment in favor of these resolutions. The meeting is at Madison High School’s early college building in Marshall, 10AM. All registered Democrats are welcome. Thanks for your support.
Around WNC
On HCA/Mission Hospital:
Mission Hospital to evaluate leadership’s “capacity and competency,” hires consultant in wake of Immediate Jeopardy AVLWatchdog 3/16/26
HCA board urges shareholders to reject proposal for a full reporting on aftermath of Mission sale in 2019 AVLWatchdog 3/19/26 “State Sen. Julie Mayfield, as activist investor, asks: Are issues an anomaly or a systemic problem?”
Brevard enacts 90-day data center ban, considers land use amendment Asheville C-T 3/17/26
Fontana Regional Library board finds footing, but challenges loom Smoky Mountain News 3/17/26
Debate over Buncombe’s Craggy Dam. Value, cost, benefit and future in doubt Carolina Public Press 3/17/26 “The aging hydroelectric Craggy Dam on the French Broad River is one of several Western NC structures targeted for possible removal.” Previously reported elsewhere, more detail here.
Asheville customers comment on Duke Energy’s proposed changes to Carbon Plan WLOS 3/18/26
Relating to EBCI:
Name change resolution instigates discussion of identity within EBCI Smoky Mountain News 3/17/26
New exhibit aims to tell the history of the Cherokee people ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States BPR 3/16/26. At Museum of the Cherokee People.
There are dozens of Indigenous mounds in North Carolina. Why do tribes only own a few? NC Local 3/19/26. Followup and context for recent transfer of mound in Macon County to EBCI.
Scroll down for this week’s NC-related national and NC state governmental and political news. And scroll clear to the bottom for this week’s seasonal photo from our WNC homestead. If your email service cuts this post short, you can read it online here.
If you see something in any NC News Digest post that’s incorrect … PLEASE let me know (email to ncnewsdigest@substack.com) so I can publish a correction. Truth matters. Thanks for your help.
Don’t-miss stories are marked 💥
NC-Related National Politics & Policy
💥🥳 Federal prosecutors have dropped all charges against NC veterans’ activist Jay Carey for his flag-burning protest in front of the White House. See NY Times 3/13 (gift link), Guardian 3/14, AP 3/14, Asheville C-T 3/14.
Thom Tillis off leash:
‘I’m sick of stupid’: from excoriating Noem to breaking with Trump, Thom Tillis goes for fiery final act in Congress Guardian 3/16/26.
Vance [at NC campaign appearance; see more below] promises answers to Tillis’ questions on Operation Charlotte’s Web Raleigh N&O 3/13/26
‘He’s free of all the politics’: How Thom Tillis became what passes for a GOP rebel in DC NCNewsline 3/17/26
Effects of SNAP changes in NC:
New SNAP Requirements Could Stress County Budgets NC Health News/Border Belt 3/17/26 “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act shifts a greater share of the food program’s administrative costs to North Carolina and the state’s counties.”
Trump says millions are ‘lifted’ off SNAP. A Charlotte nonprofit says hunger hasn’t gone away in NC Cardinal & Pine 3/16/26 “More than 1.4 million North Carolinians rely on SNAP benefits to help pay for groceries.”
Lawmakers, Health Groups Resist Their States’ Rural Health Fund Plans Daily Yonder 3/19/26 “Some Republican state lawmakers and state health associations are pushing back against spending plans under the Trump administration’s $50 billion federal rural health fund. Federal administrators already approved states’ plans, but in many cases, state lawmakers must greenlight spending.” National context, little NC-specific.
Medicaid helps keep this NC teen alive and at home. Trump’s health care cuts will put her at risk Cardinal & Pine 3/16/26 “With Medicaid cuts looming, the families of North Carolinians who rely on it are worried about what comes next for their loved ones.”
NC senators seek federal official’s help assessing solar projects Carolina Journal 3/18/26 (GOP spin) “Sen. Tim Moffitt, R-Henderson, and Sen. Buck Newton, R-Wilson, requested assistance in a March 11 letter to Deputy Secretary James Danly of the US Department of Energy…. The two senators suggested that DOE guidance could have an impact beyond North Carolina.”
See also Helene Recovery, below.
2026 Elections
Vote protection watch:
💥 All the best people PoliticsNC 3/13/26 “A story of election fraud, cynicism, and the death of accountability.”
Elections officials decry costs heaped on states in SAVE America voting bill NCNewsline 3/17/26 “... would create chaos for state and local elections administrators by immediately imposing several new requirements without adding funding, former North Carolina elections chief Karen Brinson Bell said on a press call Tuesday.” Bill is being pushed by Trump, unlikely to pass Senate.
Saving us from the SAVE Act PoliticsNC 3/18/26 “The bill takes a page out of Jim Crow, shaping the electorate by disenfranchising people.”
NC election officials consider rules for investigating “presumptive noncitizen” voters NC Local 3/13/26 “State elections officials already approved a plan in November to use the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification of Eligibility, or SAVE, system to identify potential noncitizens…. Critics of the proposed rule changes fear eligible voters will be removed from voter rolls during the challenge process. They also cite specific concerns regarding the reliability of the SAVE system, which has traditionally been used to determine eligibility for government benefits, not voting.”
Modernization commission makes progress on campaign finance system overhaul Carolina Journal 3/19/26 “Commission gave an update on Wednesday.”
At a campaign event in Rocky Mount on 3/13: In NC, Vance paints rosy picture of economy. Democrats say it’s ‘empty talk’ WRAL 3/13/26 “Vice President JD Vance sought to quell voters’ concerns over the economy while promoting candidates in high profile North Carolina races that could determine power in Congress. Democrats say he visited Rocky Mount ‘to lie to working families.’” See also NCNewsline 3/13
US Senate campaign, Cooper vs Whatley:
💥 Cooper, Whatley in statistical dead heat for US Senate seat Carolina Journal 3/17/26 “… Democrat Roy Cooper holding a razor-thin lead over Republican Michael Whatley at 47% to 44%, according to a poll of North Carolina voters by the Democratic-aligned firm Public Policy Polling. The difference is within the poll’s margin of error.”
Cooper pitches cost-cutting agenda in Asheville Smoky Mountain News 3/18/26. See also Asheville C-T 3/18, BPR 3/18.
A $50 million push hopes to make child care a top issue in the midterm elections AP 3/17/26 “The campaign plans to pour support for Democrats into Senate races in North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Maine and Ohio and into House races in Iowa and Pennsylvania.”
NC-11 congressional campaign, Ager vs Edwards:
Fourth-generation western NC farmer Jamie Ager talks Congress run, Iran, FEMA Cardinal & Pine/USA Today 3/16/26. Also published at Asheville C-T 3/16.
Here’s what Chuck Edwards has to say about Iran war, FEMA reform, more Cardinal & Pine/USA Today 3/16/26. Also published at Asheville C-T 3/16.
💥 Berger vs Page for state legislature, in chronological order:
No change: Page still leads Berger by 23 in NC Senate District 26 after final county tallies NCNewsline 3/13/26 “Recounts and potential protests are likely in the coming days.” See also Carolina Public Press 3/13.
NC Sen. Berger files four election protests, arguing some voters received wrong ballots NCNewsline 3/17/26 “His opponent, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, says the 13 ballots challenged wouldn’t change the outcome of the race.” See also WRAL 3/16, Carolina Public Press 3/17.
NC Board of Elections declines Berger request for hand-eye recount of 220 ballots NCNewsline 3/18/26 “Berger’s spokesman said the decision “leaves little recourse” to count every vote. Page’s campaign called on Berger to concede.” See also WUNC 3/18, Assembly 3/18.
Outside groups boosted campaign to oust NC Sen. Phil Berger — some with ties to Democrats WUNC 3/18/26 “Berger’s primary campaign raised 34 times as much money as his challenger, Rockingham County Sam Page, but Page’s candidacy was boosted by four outside groups.”
Recounts uphold Page’s 23-vote lead over Berger; evidentiary hearings set in high-profile NC race NCNewsline 3/19/26. Hearings set for 3/27 and 4/6. See also Assembly 3/19.
Other state legislature: 💥 NC Rep. Mike Clampitt dies, just weeks after winning primary election WRAL 3/19/26 “Clampitt, a Republican representing district covering Jackson, Swain and Transylvania counties, served four terms in the legislature.... It’ll now be up to local Republican Party leaders in western North Carolina to pick his replacement in the legislature.” See also Carolina Journal 3/18, Asheville C-T 3/18, BPR 3/19. And looks for updates about the replacement process at Smoky Mountain News 3/18.
💥 Yancey County elections board weighs complaints from 2026 primary WLOS 3/19/26 “The Yancey County Board of Elections Office said the complaint centers on the commissioner’s race, the misuse of sample ballots, and the opening times of two Yancey County precincts.” The board is expected to announce a decision today (3/20) following yesterday’s hearing; another hearing is scheduled for 3/23.
Not much 2026 here; instead, a close look at the good people who made sure votes were cast and counted in the immediate aftermath of Helene: Elections Don’t Stop Anatomy of a Purple State 3/15/26 “While we watched the results roll in last week, let’s not forget the people who made it possible — even in the middle of a hurricane.”
Helene Recovery
Home repairs in WNC ‘not a funding problem’ HUD says, despite state request for billions more BPR 3/13/26
FEMA extends housing, rental assistance for Helene survivors BPR 3/17/26 “More than 150 households were waiting on the extension, which came two weeks before the program was slated to end.”
Federal failures cast shadow over Haywood budget Smoky Mountain News 3/17/26 “Failures in the federal response to Hurricane Helene are still rippling into Haywood County’s bottom line, forcing the county — like most of its municipalities — to build a budget around uncertainty and delay rather than recovery.”
Study focuses on health care in Appalachian areas recovering from Hurricane Helene VA Tech release 3/16/26 “… a multi-university research effort to understand how the catastrophic inland impacts of Hurricane Helene will continue to shape the health of Appalachian communities for years — perhaps decades — to come.”
Nonprofits propose Swannanoa greenway to reduce floods and boost resilience WLOS 3/14/26. From Asheville to Old Fort.
Lake Lure rebuilding marina, aiming to reopen lake by Memorial Day after Helene damage WLOS 3/13/26
Elk River Falls closed for Helene cleanup Asheville C-T 3/20/26. In Avery County, expected to reopen “around June 1.”
Around NC
Robinson Reemerges, Admits To Porn Habit and Lying About Allegations Anderson Alerts 3/20/26 “… says he was obsessed with porn and sex and lied to protect Trump’s campaign in North Carolina. Former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson admitted in a 93-minute video posted online Thursday that he was “obsessed” with sex and pornography, but said he didn’t regret lying to the public about it in the closing weeks of his 2024 gubernatorial campaign.” See also WRAL 3/19.
NCDMV rolls out live wait time tracker for driver license offices WUNC/WFDD 3/19/26
Ingles power shift? Sackler family-owned company seeks board seat Asheville C-T 3/20/26 “In its filing with the SEC, Summer Road LLC said the board “the Board has presided over a decade-long program of lost opportunity.”... Ingles operates 194 grocery stores [in six states] and is Buncombe County’s second largest employer.”
NC State Government
Executive Branch
Governor
In WNC, Stein holds rural roundtable, addresses tourism leaders BPR 3/17/26. In Asheville on Tuesday. See also Gov. Josh Stein launches rural listening tour with first stop in McDowell County WLOS 3/17/26
State Attorney General
Attorney General Jeff Jackson Fights to Keep Lead Out of Our Drinking Water NC DOG press release 3/16/26 “Jackson and 16 other attorneys general argued to keep federal protections designed to replace lead pipes and prevent lead from leaching into drinking water.”
Attorney General Jeff Jackson Sues to Block New TV Merger That Would Raise TV Prices for Millions of NC Families NC DOJ press release 3/19/26. See also NCNewsline 3/19.
State Legislature
💥 NC lawmakers to propose constitutional amendment on limiting property taxes WRAL 3/18/26 “... would ask voters to limit the ability of cities and counties around North Carolina to raise property taxes. And a proposed bill would limit property tax exemptions for affordable housing projects.” See also NCNewsline 3/18, WUNC/NC Newsroom 3/18, Carolina Journal 3/19.
Lawmakers hear how rural women face risks to give birth NC Health News 3/16/26 “Despite modest growth in the number of OB physicians and certified nurse midwives, dozens of North Carolina counties have no clinicians or facilities for care.... so families are forced to travel long distances for deliveries. That distance to care for rural patients has been linked to higher rates of cesarean sections, preterm births and maternal complications.”
State early childhood director updates legislators on child care loss and large waitlist growth for subsidies NC Health News/Education NC 3/14/26 “North Carolina has experienced a 13% net loss of child care programs since 2019, with record lows of licensed care expected in the next year.”
NC House committee wants to close costly tax loophole for affordable housing NCNewsline 3/19/26. Update to previously reported news.
NC lawmakers weigh changes to involuntary commitment, guardianship under Iryna’s Law NCNewsline 3/18/26 “State House lawmakers have been looking into what changes might be needed to keep the public safe from people with mental illness who could harm others.”
Former NC [GOP] Lt. Gov. Dan Forest forms blockchain, AI coalition as regulators write tech rules WRAL 3/12/26 “A new coalition seeks to unite blockchain and artificial intelligence companies in North Carolina to shape policy.” See also Carolina Journal 3/18 (GOP spin).
See also NC-Related…, above.
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Garlic we planted last fall, emerging now, to be harvested this summer:
