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NC officials respond to Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade
Elected officials in North Carolina voice their positions in favor of or against the federal court’s ruling, discuss next steps.
Settlement in Cherokee County DSS cases appears close
Federal judge grants extension of time so that potential deal can be explained to families. Final numbers not clear, but a county official predicted $50 million last year.
Grant program helps small NC towns use ARPA funds to boost economy
NC Commerce Department disbursing ARPA-funded Rural Transformation Grants, being used to boost community facilities and spark economic growth.
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Carolina Public Press: The next 10 years
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Keep up with what’s important
Keep up with all of our in-depth, investigative news and the public interest issues that matter most in North Carolina.
Carolina Public Press launched the Eastern North Carolina news bureau in January 2022. Based in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, CPP East provides local and regional nonpartisan journalism toward strengthening accountability and democracy. Visit the page.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Climate change is causing erratic weather events and altering ecosystems in the forests of Western North Carolina’s mountains.
What these changes mean and the challenges they pose for managing the forests.
Social services in NC may be in the hands of people who don’t meet minimum qualifications.
Why and how it happens, and how other states avoid the problem.
How climate change affects North Carolina’s fisheries
and the people who rely on them for a living.
The importance of sexual assault nurse examiners
and the difficulty of locating them in North Carolina
Justice elusive for NC sexual assault survivors
How and why North Carolina counties decide to build
or expand jails, the costs of those decisions
and possible alternatives.
Inconsistency and inequity in child welfare policies across NC
Struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic in state’s prison system
Is one of North Carolina’s main systems
for housing those with mental illness failing?
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MORE STORIES
COVID-19 medications widely available in NC, but how are they being used?
Multiple medications are available across NC for patients with severe COVID-19 infection. But whether they are being used or just sitting on the shelves can be hard to pin down.
Judge orders Cherokee County DSS to turn over open case records
NC district court judge rejects DSS attempt to quash subpoena. State corrective action plan following child’s death remains active.
Fayetteville council approves budget without tax or fee increases
No one speaks at public hearing on budget ahead of unanimous vote, but general public comments call for city government vision to oppose systemic racism.
Why small NC mountain city is taking on nation’s largest hospital system
Brevard officials hope other Western NC local governments will join lawsuit alleging monopolistic practices by HCA. None have, but none say they have ruled it out.
Cumberland leaders coalition backs plan to train and retain sexual assault nurses
Now it’s up to legislative budget drafters to consider the proposals that would affect Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville State University and residents of the region.
Lose the red spruce, lose an entire suite of species
Tiny endangered droplets of high-elevation forest are home to one of richest areas of biodiversity in North America. Western NC conservation efforts seek to connect this archipelago of habitat islands with ecological bridges.
Crime & Justice
Proposed NC legislation would collect DNA in violent crime arrests
Delay in finding DNA match in cold case points to difference that gathering DNA after more arrests could make.
Economy
Morganton ARPA-funded sewer project could lead to expanded housing
City Manager Sally Sandy hopes expansion of sewer system will invite real estate development on the city’s west side.
Education
Buncombe commits $3M in ARPA funds to preschool programs
Initiative designed to improve funding and resources for preschools, seen as essential for children’s recovery from pandemic but unaffordable for many families.
Environment
How can we save NC forests?
Climate change is hurting delicate Western North Carolina ecosystems On June 7, Carolina Public Press held a free and open virtual event with a panel of experts to discuss threats to the future of public forests in the state. A recording of the event is available below. Climate change is causing erratic weather events and…
Health
City of Brevard sues HCA, alleges predatory tactics to monopolize health care market
Lawsuit accuses HCA of undermining health care services and driving up prices in several Western NC counties.
Politics & Government
Calls for more money for schools at public hearing fail to sway Cumberland commissioners
Cumberland budget approved with late boost for board vice chair’s salary. Similar increase for all commissioners’ pay rejected. School funding increase not discussed.