NC Policy Watch – News and commentary about public policy and politics in North Carolina.

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The EPA is practically toothless in its ability to protect the poor
by Lisa Sorg
Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Environmental justice rules regarding coal ash are weak, says US civil rights commission

By many standards of childhood, Tracey Edwards enjoyed an idyllic country life in Walnut Cove. Growing up in rural Stokes County, she and her friends played outside, picking fresh apples, blackberries and muscadine grapes, as if their neighborhood were its own private Eden.

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Education
Environment
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Original Commentary
Policy Watch Investigates

Former state legislator adds fuel to the fire over how charter schools are funded

By Billy Ball

8/24/2016

When North Carolina lawmakers heard proposals in June to dramatically revamp how charters are funded, public school advocates pleaded for more time.

The bill before the chamber, a state Senate draft authored by a staunch charter supporter would have bound traditional K-12 schools to grant charters access to more pots of public funding. Lawmakers, concerned about the precedent of authorizing such a major change in funding during the chamber’s short session, deferred until next year.

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Tempers flare among charter school supporters as state tightens vetting process

By Billy Ball

8/17/2016

HB2 back in the spotlight after Mecklenburg Commissioner’s incendiary comments

By Billy Ball

8/10/2016

Budget cuts take a bite out of DPI’s ability to support local school districts

By Billy Ball

8/4/2016

Failing charter schools: Inadequate screening and oversight causing big problems for many NC families

By Lindsay Wagner

7/28/2016

The EPA is practically toothless in its ability to protect the poor

By Lisa Sorg

9/28/2016

Environmental justice rules regarding coal ash are weak, says US civil rights commission

By many standards of childhood, Tracey Edwards enjoyed an idyllic country life in Walnut Cove. Growing up in rural Stokes County, she and her friends played outside, picking fresh apples, blackberries and muscadine grapes, as if their neighborhood were its own private Eden.

...

The EPA has a long to-do list to correct environmental justice failures

By Lisa Sorg

9/28/2016

The political machine behind the conflict between NC Farm Families and the Waterkeeper Alliance

By Lisa Sorg

9/21/2016

pig-photo-by-michael-loudon-creativecommons

EPA Office of Civil Rights investigating intimidation claims against DEQ

By Lisa Sorg

9/21/2016

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to scale back endangered red wolf program in NC, send some animals to zoos

By Lisa Sorg

9/14/2016

HB2 update: Inside the federal courthouse at yesterday’s hearing

By Lisa Sorg

8/2/2016

With elbow-length winter-white hair, and wearing black shorts and a sleeveless shirt, Hunter Schaefer looked vaguely Nordic. Her celery-thin legs were jammed into thick-soled, black platform shoes, and, like many girls and boys in their early teens, she seemed coltish.

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Run or retain – Justices to decide how they keep their seats

By Sharon McCloskey

4/13/2016

House Bill 2 lands its first challenge; legal scholars examine prejudice, motives behind the anti-LGBT legislation

By Sharon McCloskey

3/29/2016

Greenlighting broadband expansion

By Sharon McCloskey

3/17/2016

Gender identity or birth sex? Appeals court weighs transgender rights in public accommodations

By Sharon McCloskey

3/9/2016

McCrory, under siege, continues to lash out against critics of HB2

By Chris Fitzsimon

9/27/2016

When it comes to HB2, the disastrous anti-LGBT legislation that he signed into law, Gov. Pat McCrory can’t seem to help himself.

Virtually every prominent individual or institution that criticizes HB2 in any way can count on a bitter and over the top attack from the governor and his top surrogates with many of their claims consisting of wild exaggerations and outright falsehoods.

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Attacking the messenger for delivering some hard truths

By Rob Schofield

9/27/2016

Monday numbers

By Chris Fitzsimon

9/26/2016

NC’s “Dopey-oid” epidemic

By John Cole

9/26/2016

The Follies

By Chris Fitzsimon

9/23/2016

fROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Bonny Moellenbrock of Investors' Circle, Matthew Patsky of Trillium Asset Management, Joshua Humphreys of Croatan Institute, and Todd Sears of Out Leadership call for the full repeal of HB2.

Investors representing $2.1 Trillion push for full repeal of discriminatory HB2

By Joe Killian

9/26/2016

Major investors representing more than $2.1 trillion in assets gathered in downtown Raleigh Monday to deliver a message to Gov. Pat McCrory and the North Carolina General Assembly. Fully repeal HB2, they said, before the damage to the North Carolina economy becomes irreversible.

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