4/4/25 Weekly Roundup
š„ Tomorrow, Saturday April 5, please join your fellow citizens to say Hands Off! to the Trump/Musk destruction of our country. Thereāll be ten rallies in western NC, more than a thousand across America. (See the updated top of last weekās news roundup for where and when in WNC.)
Iāll post coverage of all ten WNC rallies tomorrow afternoon or evening.
Scroll down below NC-Related Nationalā¦ for this weekās North Carolina state governmental and political news. And scroll clear to the bottom for this weekās 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 thatās incorrect ā¦ 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 š„
NC-Related National Politics & Policy
š„ States ordered by U.S. Education Department to certify school DEI ban or lose funds NCNewsline 4/3/25 āThe U.S. Department of Education demanded in a letter to state education leaders on Thursday that they certify all K-12 schools in their states are complying with an earlier Dear Colleague letter banning diversity, equity and inclusion practices if they want to keep receiving federal financial assistance. The departmentās sweeping order gives K-12 state education agencies 10 days to collect the certifications of compliance from local school governing bodies, and then sign them and return them to the federal department.ā
š„ What Are Trumpās Plans for FEMA? Depends Who You Ask. Assembly/NOTUS 3/28/25 "Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said sheās going to āeliminateā the agency. N.C. lawmakers say theyāre working on recommendations to reform itā¦. North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards, who said that Trump named him and a number of other Republicans from the state to the review council, told NOTUS that the group is planning on finalizing and presenting a ācomprehensive list of recommendationsā to the president by next week. Edwards and Rep. Tim Moore, who has also said heās on the council, say those proposed reforms include changes to address FEMAās bureaucratic hurdles, but donāt recommend abolishing the agency entirely."
š„ With āLiberation Dayā upon us, how will Trumpās latest tariff plan impact NCās economy? NCNewsline 4/1/25 "A Q&A with NC State economist Prof. Mike Walden about the economic uncertainty and turmoil that comes with new tariffs." Since this interview, Trump announced steep new tariffs Wendesday evening, the US stock market plunged yesterday, and stock futures this morning forecast a further drop today.
Colleges say the Trump administration is using new tactics to expel international students AP 4/4/25 "In the past, when international students have had entry visas revoked, they generally have been allowed to keep legal residency status. They could stay in the country to study, but would need to renew their visa if they left the U.S. and wanted to return. Now, increasing numbers of students are having their legal status terminated, exposing them to the risk of being arrested.... At North Carolina State University, two students from Saudi Arabia left the U.S. after learning their legal status as students was terminated, the university said." See also WUNC 4/3, Raleigh N&O 4/3.
EPA freezes money for WNC clean energy projects Mountain Xpress 4/3/25
As Helene 'upended' WNC Pisgah-Nantahala plan, conservation groups sue the Forest Service Asheville C-T 4/1/25 āThe Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, MountainTrue, and the North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club had filed a letter with the Forest Service in December, urging the forest service to reconsider elements of the 2023 plan. The groups argued damages from Helene will "continue to occur at rates far beyond those accounted for" in the Forest Service plan. The groups jointly sued on March 27 in a lawsuit filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center.ā See also BPR 4/2.
Some national context for NC GOP state legislatorsā move to invest state funds in cryptocurrency: Representatives Demand Housing Agency Halt Any Cryptocurrency Experiments ProPublica 4/2/25 "... three Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee have warned HUD against using crypto, which they said could be ādangerous, speculative, and harmful to working families.ā"
See also Helene Recovery, State Attorney General, Other Stateā¦, and State Legislature, below.
And a followup about a past GOP WNC congressional representative: Former Rep. Madison Cawthorn pays FEC fine avoiding DOJ referral and asset seizure Raleigh N&O 4/3/25 "After eight months of not paying a fine of more than $17,000, former Rep. Madison Cawthorn has paid off his campaign finance violation and avoided potential legal fallout from inaction."
Helene Recovery
š„ Losing ground: Six months after Helene, local governments still havenāt been paid Smoky Mountain News 4/1/25 "In the six months since Helene ... most local governments still havenāt seen a nickel."
š„ Ashevilleās jobless rate ā North Carolinaās highest ā is ānew and unwelcomeā territory Carolina Public Press 4/2/25 "Months after Helene took lives and livelihoods, many Asheville residents havenāt returned to work. Some think there might be a deeper issue." High rate previously reported elsewhere; deeper look here.
100 days in, Stein talks WNC recovery, wildfires and whatās next BPR 4/2/25
Most of NC's initial $1 billion Helene recovery funding went unspent for months WUNC 3/30/25. Some was intended to be spent over a year or more, some earmarked for required matching for FEMA grantsā¦.
FEMA eases major floodplain construction rules; Helene rebuilding plan impacts unclear BPR 4/1/25. "The disaster management agency will no longer enforce an Obama-era rule requiring federally-funded disaster rebuilds to consider climate risk."
Post-Helene health survey latest casualty in Trump administration cuts BPR 4/1/25. "The survey, spearheaded by CDC officials for communities with severe and high-profile threats to public health, was canceled one day before its kickoff."
NCDOT gives update on WNC roadways six months after Helene Carolina Journal 3/31/25
Western NC went offline during Helene. Can the state stay connected in future disasters? NCNewsline 3/31/25. Service still not restored in some places.
Representative Lindsey Prather on how her region is faring six months after Hurricane Helene NCNewsline 3/31/25
NC State Government: Executive Branch
Governor
Stein warns lawmakers against āsocial warā bills Carolina Journal 4/2/25. Report from this weekās Council of State meeting.
See also Helene Recovery, above.
State Attorney General
š„ Attorney General Jeff Jackson Sues Over Unlawful [federal] $230 Million Cuts to North Caroliniansā Health Care press release, state AG's office 4/1/25 "Cuts would hurt 77 of NCās 86 local health departments." See also NCNewsline 4/2, Raleigh N&O 4/1.
See also State Legislature, below.
Other State Executive Branch News
The state pension system has a $16 billion deficit, NC treasurer tells legislators NCNewsline 4/3/25
Trump seeks to close the Dept. of Education. Mo Green wants to āminimize the impactsā in NC Raleigh N&O 4/1/25
Western NC wildfire risk will 'get worse, not better' Ag Commissioner says, pressing lawmakers for help WRAL 4/1/25. "Hurricane Helene is to blame for intense fires in the western part of the state, since there are far more dead trees than normal. The hot summer months are expected to only make things worse."
State Legislature
Correction: In last weekās news roundup I wrote that the deadline for new bills to be filed in the NC legislature this year was March 25; actually, that was the deadline for just the Senate. The deadline for filing bills in the House passed yesterday, April 3.
This weekās legislative news came in fast and thick. Iāll try to sort it out for you early next week in an Extra! post summing up the bills weāll most want to watch as they work their way through the state legislature this year.
š„ NC GOP bill would allow school librarians to be charged over books āharmful to minorsā Raleigh N&O 3/31/25 āWide-ranging legislation [House Bill 595] filed Monday [3/24] by North Carolina Republican lawmakers would make it easier to prosecute librarians on obscenity charges, restrict what books can be in school libraries and change how sex education is taught.ā See also NC bill would require parentsā OK for sex ed, allow more prosecutions for 'harmful materials' WRAL 3/31/25 "... covers sex education, library access and gender identityāall as it relates to children." See also Carolina Journal 3/31 (for right-wing spin) and āItās about surviving the next 4 yearsā: LGBTQ+ and repro rights advocates share why the stakes are so high at Raleigh rally Cardinal & Pine 4/3/25.
š„ NC GOP bill would allow the public to sue schools over Parentsā Bill of Rights law Raleigh N&O 4/1/25. "Legislation filed Tuesday [House Bill 636] by North Carolina Republican lawmakers would allow parents and others to sue schools alleging violations of the Parentsā Bill of Rights.... [which] prohibits gender identity from being taught in grades K-4 and requires parents to be notified if their children want to use a different name or pronoun in school."
š„ NC Senate leader seeks to ban DEI in North Carolina colleges, limit probes into 'bias incidents' WRAL 4/1/25. "A bill filed by Senate leader Phil Berger would require the UNC System Board of Governors to adopt a policy that explicitly bans the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion." See below for followup on separate anti-DEI legislation moving through the House. See also NCNewsline 4/2, Raleigh N&O 4/1, Carolina Journal 4/3 (the latter two on both bills). The Senate version passed out of committee this week; next step is a vote by the whole Senate.
Bill banning state and local DEI programs goes before NC House committee WRAL 3/31/25 "Under House Bill 171, no state agency could "promote, support, fund, implement or maintain workplace DEI programs, policies, or initiatives." The bill would also prohibit the use of state funds for DEI initiatives by local governments and "non-state" entities."
Teachers worry over new bill banning DEI in NC public schools Cardinal & Pine 3/28/25 "Senate Bill 227 is NC Republicanās latest attack on the stateās public educationā¦. [Its] vague language presents a dilemma: How do you teach history, identity, and culture without crossing an invisible line?"
NC lawmakers file bipartisan bill to reform stateās foster care system WRAL 4/1/25. "House Bill 612, which sponsors call the āFostering Care in NC Act,ā proposes wide-ranging reforms to improve the safety and well-being of children in foster care." See also NCNewsline 4/2.
Solar growth could stall under new NC bill WRAL 4/2/25 "A new NC bill [House Bill 729] would cut solar tax breaks from 80% to 40% and restrict where utility-scale projects can be built, potentially slowing clean energy growth statewide."
On the state budget:
Federal cuts, NC tax cuts leave legislators wrestling with how to solve projected deficit WRAL 3/28/25 "Proposed federal cuts could mean billions in losses for North Carolina. As state lawmakers write a new budget, they're balancing the uncertainty of federal funding alongside lost revenue from planned state tax cuts."
Q&A: State budget director on NC's projected 'fiscal cliff,' governor's budget WUNC 3/28/25 "State Budget Director Kristin Walkerās team of economists have run the numbers of various revenue scenarios ā and she says all of them lead to a āfiscal cliff" where the state sees a major budget shortfall in the coming years."
Newly released polls: Most in NC oppose repealing permit requirement for carrying concealed handguns NCNewsline 4/2/25 "The analyses come as state legislators are debating Senate Bill 50 and House Bill 5, two measures aiming to enact what supporters call āconstitutional carryā ā the idea that individuals should be able to carry concealed weapons without permits due to their Second Amendment rights. Current North Carolina law requires individuals to obtain a permit from their local sheriffās office and undergo an eight-hour training course in order to carry a concealed firearm."
NC House panel approves bill to allow handguns at private schools NCNewsline 4/1/25 "Sponsors say proposal is intended to empower security guards, but schools could okay guns for other adults as well."
NC Republicans renew their support for Medicaid work requirements, while Democrats say ānoā NCNewsline 4/1/25. Bill now working its way through the House.
NC lawmakers to debate social media ban for some teens WRAL 3/31/25 "House Bill 301 would ban social media accounts for some teens and require parental permission for others. It seeks to hold social media companies responsible for enforcement." See also Raleigh N&O 4/1.
Republican state auditor would get more say over NC government cuts in bill moving in Senate WRAL 4/1/25. "The Senate Regulatory Reform Committee on Wednesday advanced the DAVE Act, which would allow North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek to determine whether an agency or division should be eliminated entirely." See also NCNewsline 4/2, Raleigh N&O 4/2.
Filed a while ago, still not known when this bill will come up for a vote: A Bill to Bench the Stateās Top Cop Assembly 4/1/25 "If a new bill becomes law, Jeff Jackson would become the only state attorney general in the country prohibited from suing President Donald Trump over executive orders. Itās the latest example of Republicans stripping power from an office Democrats won."
Not current legislation, but an example of how NCās GOP state legislators have been legislating to build structural partisan advantage for years: A Political Power Grab Redirected Funds for North Carolinaās Sexual Abuse Survivors. Women in Crisis Paid the Price. ProPublica 3/28/25 "Political Favoritism: GOP lawmakers [in 2021] directed millions of dollars away from longstanding Democratic-led agencies to a tiny commission controlled by Republicans. Religious Favoritism: Lawmakers singled out money for faith-based groups.... Reduced Services for Victims: Leaders of rape crisis centers say that the disruptions in funding continue to limit the services they can offer to women who seek urgent, potentially life-saving help."
NC House committee advances proposed constitutional amendment, private gambling bill NCNewsline 4/2/25. House Bill 443 would "... send a constitutional amendment to voters that would require interim Council of State vacancies be filled by a member of the prior officialās party.... House Bill 424, which would legalize betting on card, tile, and dice games in some private spaces such as residences and community clubhouses.... HB 443 will proceed to the Committee on State and Local Government for further discussion, while HB 424 now heads to the House Rules committee." See also WRAL 4/1 (gambling), Carolina Journal 4/2 (amendment).
NC Senate takes aim at major health care regulation, as critics say system 'is failing' WRAL 4/1/25. "Free-market conservatives in the state legislature have long sought to repeal certificate-of-need laws, but their bills have been killed by the hospital industry. Now they're trying again..... The Senate Health Committee met Wednesday to debate Senate Bill 370, a wide-reaching bill to repeal the rules, which require state officials to analyze whether new equipment or facilities are needed in a given area before they're approved." See also NCNewsline 4/3.
Rare greenhouse gas law in Southern state could get pulled back by GOP legislators AP 4/2/25 " North Carolina Republican lawmakers and the Democratic governor worked together in 2021 to enact a rare energy law in the South that sought to sharply reduce power plant emissions by 2030 and ultimately reach carbon neutrality.... But now, amid changing priorities at the federal level, the stateās Republican-controlled legislature is seeking to repeal the lawās requirement of taking āall reasonable steps to achieveā reducing carbon dioxide output 70% from 2005 levels by 2030."
Lawmakers back bill to make ivermectin available over-the-counter Carolina Journal 4/1/25. Not an April Foolās joke, although I wish it were.
Sen. Michael Lee elected new Majority Leader following Newton retirement Carolina Journal 4/1/25
State Courts
Disputed Seat on NC Supreme Court
A photo has been widely circulated (hereās AP 3/30) showing losing NC SC candidate Jefferson Griffin in a Confederate uniform at a college fraternity event he attended while in college. For context, see Confederates in the courtroom PoliticsNC 3/31/25 "The Lost Cause myth is as much about entitlement as racismā¦. Like the rebels he admired, Griffin refuses to accept his loss in the North Carolina Supreme Court case heās contesting. And like those losers, he believes he can change history if he just holds out long enough." See also NCNewsline 3/28.
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New arrival here this past week:
Ten weeks old, barely knee-high, very cute, and getting along nicely with our lonely older goat, whose mom-and-companion died over the winter. Their job is to eat brush in the pasture that also serves as a firebreak west of our house.