3/28/25 Weekly News Roundup
Update on the wildfires in NC, which have multiplied and spread this week: More than 6,000 acres burning; live updates from WNC WUNC 3/26/25, updated from time to time. See also Asheville C-T 3/27 and AC-T interactive map, updated frequently, currently showing a dozen fires in WNC and the forest at the WNC/SC border.
A week from tomorrow, Saturday April 5, people all over our country will stand together in public places to say “Hands Off!” to the authoritarian extremists who are dismantling and disrupting our government. If there’s a Hands Off! rally in your county, please plan to go and email me so I can include it in my Sunday roundup of western NC rallies. A photo, location, estimate of how many people are there, and a sentence or two about how it goes (mood, signs, your favorite thing about it…) would all be helpful additions to the big picture of growing American solidarity.
AFAIK at this point, Hands Off! rallies are planned for these western NC counties:
Buncombe (Asheville, where I’ll be covering the rally myself)
Haywood (Waynesville, courthouse 12:30-1:30)
Henderson (Hendersonville, courthouse 11-2)
Jackson (Sylva, county library 11-12:30)
Macon (Franklin, courthouse 12-1)
McDowell (county courthouse 12-2)
Rutherford (Forest City, Park Sq 12-3)
Swain (Bryson City, Everett & Main, 2PM, “Bring donations for fire fighters, we'll deliver to Alarka Fire Dept.” which is fighting the wildfire in Swain)
Transylvania (Brevard, courthouse 1-3)
Yancey/Mitchell (Burnsville, Town Square 12-2)
In addition, it’s looking like EVERY county in WNC has folks planning to go to a rally, either in their home county or in a county nearby. ❤️
Don’t see your county here? DIY! It takes only one person with a sign to say Hands Off!, although it’ll be more fun with a few friends. Be sure to email me a photo and a note on Saturday so I can spread the news. Thanks for your help.
This week’s news, below, suggests many possibilities for Hands Off! signs.
Scroll down below NC-Related National… for this week’s North Carolina state governmental and political news. And scroll clear to the bottom for this week’s seasonal photo and note 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.
Top stories are marked 💥
NC-Related National Politics & Policy
💥 As if voter suppression efforts here in North Carolina weren't enough to worry us: "President Trump [on 3/25] issued … [an] executive order purporting to impose a wide range of new regulations on the conduct of federal elections, including citizenship requirements, prosecuting the GOP’s great white whale of election fraud, and prohibiting the counting of mail-in ballots received after Election Day. Most alarmingly, it gives DOGE a role in policing voter registration rolls." TPM Morning Memo 3/26/25. See also NCNewsline 3/26, Guardian 3/25.
💥 New poll: North Carolinians don’t support major cuts to federal agencies targeted by Trump, Musk NCNewsline 3/25/25. See also Raleigh N&O 3/25.
💥 NC Health and Human Services Department to cut 80 jobs, lose $100 million in federal funding WRAL 3/26/25 "The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ reductions are due to the federal government’s “abrupt and immediate termination of several federal grants,” a department spokesperson said in a statement." See also Raleigh N&O 3/26.
More than 35,000 jobs in North Carolina at risk under potential federal cuts, new report says NCNewsline 3/26/25 "... from potential cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, according to a report by the Commonwealth Fund released Tuesday morning."
Pause and effect: Threat of Trump funding freeze is making the future tense for North Carolina nonprofits Carolina Public Press 3/26/25 "The strategy for many organizations, if they want to stay in business, is to keep quiet and stay off the radar of the Trump administration." See also Silenced: 307 words, phrases and acronyms Trump doesn’t want you to use [when applying for grants] Smoky Mountain News 3/26/25 “That’s the message getting out to municipal and nonprofit administrators across the country after a leaked email from a National Science Foundation program officer revealed a list of hundreds of terms.”
Trump signs order to eliminate US Department of Education, raising questions for North Carolina public schools Cardinal & Pine 3/21/25 "Proposed cuts to federal education funding could undo critical support for the state’s 1.5 million public school students."
NC looks to capitalize on Trump, DOGE efforts to fire federal workers WRAL 3/21/25 "North Carolina military bases, Forest Service outposts, Veterans Administration hospitals, Social Security offices and Research Triangle Park's massive Environmental Protection Agency's lab employ thousands of federal workers who could soon be fired…. Gov. Josh Stein announced a new effort Friday to get federal workers to apply for state government jobs, an initiative that comes as the state has struggled to recruit and retain workers." See also Raleigh N&O 3/21, NCNewsline 3/24.
Commerce Secretary’s Proposal to Prioritize Satellite Over Fiber Internet Would ‘Strand’ Rural Communities, Experts Say Daily Yonder 3/26/25 "Howard Lutnick’s proposal to change BEAD structure will line the pockets of billionaires and leave rural communities behind." Not specifically WNC; however, map here shows how our rural counties will be disproportionately affected.
Stories related to Rep. Chuck Edwards:
Military veterans are becoming the face of Trump’s government cuts and Democrats’ resistance AP 3/24/25. Featuring Chuck Edwards’s recent Asheville town hall.
Rep. Chuck Edwards supports sending FEMA responsibilities back to states BPR 3/21/25
Opinion: Have Chuck Edwards and other members of Congress abdicated their role as a check on President Trump? AVLWatchdog 3/24/25
Helene Recovery
💥 NC officials submit proposal for $1.4B in federal disaster aid for Helene recovery WRAL 3/27/25 "North Carolina's Helene Action Plan proposes most funds go to housing recovery for low and moderate income residents, according to Gov. Josh Stein's office." See also NCNewsline 3/27.
When a hurricane washes away a region’s child care system NCNewsline 3/24/25 "Nearly six months after Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, some child care centers remain closed and young kids are still reeling from the disruptions."
Signs of hope and great need six months after Hurricane Helene NCNewsline 3/26/25 "Photo gallery documents some of the progress that’s occurred and work that remains." Features interview with state Rep. Lindsay Prather.
WNC marks 6 months past Helene: 'Repair for this one; prepare for next one' BPR 3/27/25. Report from the NC Emergency Management Association's annual conference, in Cherokee.
Governor’s Advisory Committee for WNC Recovery holds meeting at WCU Smoky Mountain News 3/26/25
Asheville-area unemployment increased in early 2025; hospitality jobs show slow return after Helene Asheville C-T 3/24/25
Asheville-area nonprofits see surge in donations after Helene – $37 million in one case [MANNA food bank] – but demands have skyrocketed AVLWatchdog 3/25/25
Final report on Helene details the storm's devastating impacts WUNC 3/21/25 "The National Hurricane Center has released its final report on Helene."
NC State Government: Executive Branch
Governor
See NC-Related…, above, and Other State…, below.
Other State Executive Branch News
The Politics of Defining DEI Assembly 3/24/25 "Republican Labor Commissioner Luke Farley eliminated a DEI metric in employee evaluations that was developed during a GOP administration and gauged whether a worker “treats people fairly.”"
Green: Federal funding nearly 11% of state budget for public schools Center Square 3/23/25 "Federal funding is 10.9% of the state’s budget for public schools, says North Carolina’s education superintendent, meaning the pending closure of the U.S. Department of Education will impact thousands of educators and students."
North Carolina treasurer partners with OpenAI on government efficiency pilot WRAL 3/27/25 "The partnership would use artificial intelligence to discover process improvements, identify businesses with unclaimed property and analyze local government public financial data." See also NCNewsline 3/27, Carolina Journal 3/27, and WUNC 3/27: Treasurer Brad “Briner said OpenAI will not gain access to sensitive personal information, like patient data maintained by the State Health Plan.”
Treasurer, governor disagree on funding state retirement plan Center Square 3/21/25 "Fully funding the state retirement plan is not within the budget proposal of the North Carolina governor, says state Treasurer Brad Briner.... Gov. Josh Stein’s office disputes Briner’s allegation that the budget proposal fails to fully fund the retirement plan."
Wealth and health: NC treasurer talks new pension strategy, weight-loss drug coverage and more WRAL 3/22/25 "North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner spoke with WRAL News about plans to tackle the state health plan deficit, bringing back coverage of popular weight-loss drugs, and a new investment philosophy for the state pension plan."
See also State Legislature, below, for proposal to create a DOGE-like entity in the office of state auditor, currently held by a Republican.
State Legislature
Tuesday, March 25, was the deadline for filing new bills in this year’s state legislative session. 🎉🥳🎉 Last-minute filings include:
💥 NC Republicans push new bathroom bill years after boycotts over similar legislation WRAL 3/25/25 "North Carolina made national news in 2016 for transgender bathroom rules that Republicans later repealed in face of boycotts. GOP lawmakers are now eyeing another attempt.... The proposal, submitted Tuesday, seeks to codify definitions of sex to include only male and female descriptions. It would also prevent people from changing their gender on their birth certificates or driver’s licenses after they’ve had gender reassignment surgery. And it seeks to regulate which bathrooms people are allowed to use in some state buildings." See also Raleigh N&O 3/25 “Sen. Vickie Sawyer [R] of Mooresville — who sponsored SB 516 along with Sen. Brad Overcash [R] of Belmont — declined to comment on Tuesday, telling reporters she was “not prepared to talk right now.”” And NCNewsline 3/27, Carolina Journal 3/25.
💥 Parents to get more access to their child's health treatment under bill WRAL 3/26/25 "Republican legislators introduced a 'Parents' Medical Bill of Rights,' which would give them more access to their children's medical records and conversations with providers.... Critics of the bill fear that minors won’t seek out the help they need if they know their parents will accompany them to the examination room or have access to their medical records. Under current law, minors can consent to some medical care — treating sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, mental health, and substance abuse — without needing approval from their parents."
💥 Berger wants State Auditor to recommend cuts to North Carolina government WRAL 3/24/25 "A new bill filed by Senate Leader Phil Berger …would allow the auditor to say whether an agency or division should be eliminated entirely.... Berger … filed Senate Bill 474, also known as the DAVE Act, to create a Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency within State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office.... The proposed DAVE program is similar to the federal Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE." The state auditor, elected in 2024, is a Republican who took office from a Democrat. Since then, Republicans in the state legislature have shifted various responsibilities to his office, away from offices now held by Democrats. See also Carolina Journal 3/25, for right-wing spin.
💥 NC Medicaid work requirement bill meant as a shield to protect expansion, a sponsor says NCNewsline 3/25/25 "Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth), a primary sponsor of House Bill 491, said it is intended as a signal to Republicans in Washington that North Carolina is okay with work requirements, and written in the hope it will ward off federal budget cuts that would threaten the existence of Medicaid expansion in the state. The state’s 2023 expansion law includes a trigger that will end Medicaid expansion if the federal government alters the funding formula and decides to cut how much it pays. The federal government now covers 90% of the cost for people covered under Medicaid expansion."
💥 Several bills filed in state Senate to increase NC’s housing supply NCNewsline 3/26/25 "... filed by Sen. Tim Moffitt, a Henderson County Republican and Sen. Julie Mayfield, a Buncombe County Democrat."
Bill would cut red tape in lumber industry Smoky Mountain News 3/26/25 "A bill introduced by Macon County Republican Rep. Karl Gillespie that seeks to bolster North Carolina’s local sawmill industry has garnered widespread bipartisan interest for its potential economic, environmental and housing affordability benefits."
NC Democratic lawmakers push paid leave, minimum wage hikes NCNewsline 3/25/25. See also WRAL 3/25.
North Carolina public schools could start earlier in the year under new bill WRAL 3/25/25 "A bill filed by state Senate leader Phil Berger attempts to strike a compromise between school leaders who want scheduling flexibility and businesses in the tourism industry that prefer longer summer breaks." See also NCNewsline 3/27.
💥 NC Senate passes health care overhaul that would crack down on ‘surprise billing’ Raleigh N&O 3/27 “The North Carolina Senate passed a comprehensive bill Thursday aimed at increasing transparency in health care billing, lowering costs, and speeding up the process of prior authorization for medical services. Senators gave the Republican proposal overwhelmingly bipartisan approval in a 44-2 vote, sending it to the House.” See also NCNewsline 3/25.
💥 NC House passes ban on cellphones in schools, with some exceptions WRAL 3/25/25 "The North Carolina House of Representatives voted with near-unanimous support Tuesday to order local [public, but not private] school districts to ban cellphones in almost all instances, at least during class time.... The bill now goes to the Senate, where lawmakers have been considering their own version of a statewide ban on phones in schools, but with stricter rules than what's proposed in the House bill."
NC Sen. Paul Newton [R], a point person on energy legislation, is leaving the General Assembly NCNewsline 3/25/25 "Newton, a retired Duke Energy executive .... has also helped lead redistricting and elections committees, defending Senate redistricting plans and Republican elections changes." See also AP 3/25, Raleigh N&O 3/25. And a followup: UNC hires former top Republican lawmaker as general counsel WRAL 3/27/25 "Paul Newton has been hired to be UNC's next vice chancellor and general counsel, Chancellor Lee Roberts announced Thursday."
Plan for millions in small business grants finds bipartisan support in NC legislature WRAL 3/25/25 "North Carolina hands out millions of dollars in incentives to factories and other large corporate expansion efforts. A growing number of state lawmakers wants to set some money aside specifically for small businesses…. House Bill 283 passed the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday, in a rare instance of a Democrat-backed bill receiving support in the Republican-controlled legislature."
State Courts
💥 NC Supreme Court ruling opens path for parents to sue schools, health clinics over Covid-19 vaccines WRAL 3/21/25 "The ruling was 5-2 along party lines, with all the Republicans in the majority and all the Democrats dissenting. Chief Justice Paul New wrote the majority opinion, with Justice Allison Riggs writing the dissent." See also Carolina Journal 3/21.
Battle over NC elections board appointments heads to hearing April 14 Carolina Journal 3/26/25
Disputed Seat on NC Supreme Court
💥 Appeals Court considers whether votes in NC Supreme Court race should be thrown out NCNewsline 3/21/25 Report on 3/21 Riggs v. Griffin state appeals court hearing. "The judges provided no indication as to when they will issue a ruling." See also Carolina Public Press 3/21, WRAL 3/21, Raleigh N&O 3/21, Carolina Journal 3/21, Cardinal & Pine 3/21 (op-ed by one of the voters Griffin’s suit would disenfranchise), Assembly 3/21, and Democracy be damned PoliticsNC 3/24/25.
💥 Four of the Republican judges in the Jefferson Griffin case were his de facto running mates in a previous election Cardinal & Pine 3/24/25 "The state court judges will soon decide whether to overrule the will of the voters and hand Griffin an election he lost. Social media posts from 2020 show the judges praising Griffin and feature smiling photos of themselves standing next to him."
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This might not look exciting to you:
But we’re THRILLED to see the first sugar snap pea sprouts here this week. If all goes well, we’ll be eating them in May and June.