All in Politics
As North Carolina’s trends continue to show improvement and vaccine distribution increases with 31.7% of North Carolinians over 18 having received at least one dose of vaccine, Governor Roy Cooper announced today that the state will continue to ease some COVID-19 restrictions. Executive Order No. 204 will take effect March 26 at 5 pm is set to expire April 30 at 5 pm. The state’s general mask mandate remains in effect.
State Senator Jim Perry was appointed recently as co-chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Storm Related River Debris and Damage for the 2021-22 legislative biennium.
By David Bass, Carolina Journal News Service
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican lawmakers have reached an agreement on reopening public schools for in-person instruction under a compromise plan that returns most decision-making autonomy to local school boards.
Jones County Public Schools are eligible for up to $1,590,296 of assistance. Onslow County Schools are eligible for up to $24,361,635 of assistance.
Thanks to $1.6 billion in funding approved by the General Assembly for North Carolina Public Schools, Representative John Bell and Senator Don Davis announced that Greene County Public Schools is now eligible for up to $5.7 million in assistance as part of recent COVID-19 relief efforts.
The North Carolina Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is one of seven WIC State Agencies to receive a U.S. Department of Agriculture/Tufts Telehealth Intervention Strategies for WIC (THIS-WIC) grant.
The North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $1.6 billion in funding for NC Public schools as part of the Covid relief efforts. Last week, the State announced the projected LEA allotments. Local school systems must apply for grants from earmarked funds from the Emergency Needs for Elementary and Secondary Schools of the State (ESSER II Funds). Senator Perry, the Senate Majority Whip, stated, “Our LCPS faculty, staff and administration will put these resources to good use.” Representative Chris Humphrey offered, “I am really concerned for our children because they struggle the most. We need to do everything possible to help them recover and advance academically and with regards to their mental health.”
The N.C. State Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday, March 4, calling on all public school districts to give parents the option of in-person learning by the end of March. The education board’s action is the latest step in a growing consensus to swiftly reopen school classrooms across the state.
Today, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. announced that additional frontline essential workers in Group 3 will be eligible for vaccinations beginning tomorrow, March 3. The expedited timeline follows the approval of the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine and an expected increase in vaccine supply to North Carolina.
Roughly one year ago, Governor Cooper declared a state of emergency regarding COVID-19, and while an emergency is typically seen as a momentary crisis, this has been harnessed into the “new normal”, expanding bureaucratic control over citizens’ lives for an alarming period of time. Regardless of the continued state of emergency, our local officials are holding themselves to a different standard. The Kinston City Council and Lenoir County School Board continue to meet outside of their chambers and only through Facebook or Zoom. Are they afraid for their safety while asking their staff to be dismissive of their own? Are they worried about facing parents and the community in a real public forum again?
The only restriction we will lift is the Modified Stay at Home order. That means no more curfew starting Friday, and more opportunities to gather, shop and attend events if done safely. When it comes to easing some restrictions, we're depending on people to be responsible.
NC State Senator Jim Perry (R - Lenoir, Wayne) issues an op-ed on how the State of North Carolina should handle tax liability associated with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). “The State of NC shouldn’t think about these extraordinary events through the lens of normal operations. We shouldn’t saddle business people with a surprise state tax liability just because they helped distribute federal stimulus dollars to the people of North Carolina. I worked with Senator Chuck Edwards and Senator Dave Craven to file Senate Bill 104 requiring that NC not burden small business owners who participated in the Paycheck Protection Program.”
A recently introduced bill in the NC General Assembly would stiffen the penalties for littering in an effort to combat the worsening problem of trash disfiguring local highways.
Whatever happened to tax credits and tax deductions? How many more payments will people expect in the future before we declare the pandemic over? The utter reliance and potential household budgeting for future stimulus payments disincentivizes Americans from using their skills and creativity to find a way to meet their obligations. The unintended consequence of stimulus payments may very well be a methodical way of killing the American dream by taking away all incentives of hard work and individualism.
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D., outlined Wednesday how North Carolina is working to provide equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. They were joined by Charles Evans, president of the North Carolina Association of Black County Officials and Chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners.
2020 was a difficult year for all of us. Our lives were turned upside down because of a global pandemic that has caused great pain throughout our community. We were forced to adapt to various safety regulations and a completely new way to go about our lives. Through all those changes, I’m proud of how we’ve responded as a state. Our communities have found a way to bend – not break – in uncertain times and find creative ways to keep us moving forward.
The Jackson Robol Show, a podcast by 17-year-old Jackson Robol, has interviewed Methodist University Head Coach Kevin Williams and ECU baseball Athletic Trainer Zac Womack. On January 28, 2021, Robol interviewed US Congressman Greg Murphy and on the first of February, he interviewed NC Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby.
The Constitution Party and the Green Party are no longer recognized political parties in North Carolina.
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen today announced that North Carolina’s Modified Stay At Home Order, requiring people to be at home from 10 pm – 5 am, will be extended.
On Tuesday, January 26, 2021, the House Republican Steering Committee announced Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) will serve on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee during the 117th Congress.
