Today, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. shared updated public health guidance for K-12 schools to follow in the upcoming school year.
All in Politics
Recusal dispute at City Council meeting over property transfer to Kinston Teens
At the City Council meeting on July 20, 2021, the council voted 3-1 to transfer eight properties from the City of Kinston to Kinston Teens, a youth-led nonprofit organization. City Councilmember Sammy Aiken disputed Councilmember Kristal Suggs’ ability to vote as she is the Kinston Teens Chairperson. “I have consulted with Councilwoman Suggs with her roles with the Kinston Teens and whether it was appropriate for her to be excused from voting. In my opinion, she is obligated to vote,” said City Attorney James P. Cauley, III.
The race is on, Kinston Mayoral Race features four candidates
The Kinston Mayoral race has four candidates including incumbent Mayor Dontario Hardy, current Mayor Pro Tem Felicia Solomon, Jeffery Warren, and Zac Holcomb.
Op-Ed: Rep. Chris Humphrey - House Bill 500, The Disaster Relief and Mitigation Act of 2021
Representative Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir, Pitt) writes, “I’m proud of the work being done in North Carolina to prepare for disaster mitigation and flooding. The Emma Webb Park Project displays the best of Kinston - with many concerned citizens and young people volunteering their time to improve the community around them. As we approach the height of hurricane season, I hope all of us take time to prepare for inclement weather before storm clouds arrive.”
Updated: 2021 Election Filing for Lenoir, Jones, and Greene County
In Lenoir, Jones, and Greene county there are multiple seats open in the 2021 election. The dates to file for candidacy are July 2, 2021, at 12:00 pm through July 16, 2021, at 12:00 pm.
Senator Perry secures funds in state budget
The North Carolina General Assembly completed the first step of a multi step budget process when the NC Senate prepared the first draft of a budget for the 2021 - 2022 biennium. In the next step, the House of Representatives will make changes and send the document back to the Senate.
Updated: 2021 Election Filing for Lenoir, Jones, and Greene County
In Lenoir, Jones, and Greene county there are multiple seats open in the 2021 election. The dates to file for candidacy are July 2, 2021, at 12:00 pm through July 16, 2021, at 12:00 pm.
Health officials encourage parents to get preteens and teens up to date on immunizations
Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed July Adolescent Immunization Awareness Month to highlight the importance of immunizations for North Carolina’s preteens and teens. As teachers, parents and students are preparing for the start of the 2021-22 school year, public health officials remind parents and guardians to ensure their teens and preteens are current on all their vaccinations and encourage health care providers to take steps to ensure their young patients are up to date.
BJ Murphy: If not you, who?
I am more concerned about the next four years for Kinston today than I was four years ago.
The impasses we face with the City of Kinston pose significant challenges for our community’s future, and we need leaders to step up at a time such as this. The mayor’s seat and two councilmembers’ seats are up for grabs, and the $10 filing fee period ends on Friday, July 16th at 12:00 pm.
Now is not the time to complain. Now is not the time to critique. Instead, if you feel led to run or compelled to serve your community greater than your role today, here is your opportunity to influence or shape the change you desire.
Early filers for upcoming 2021 Election
In Lenoir, Jones, and Greene county there are multiple seats open in the 2021 election. The dates to file for candidacy are July 2, 2021, at 12:00 pm through July 16, 2021, at 12:00 pm.
Reece Gardner: The filibuster has failed
The gigantic effort in the U.S. Senate to end the Filibuster has failed. Republican Senators were unanimous in their pro-Filibuster stance, and they were joined by two Democrat Senators, Joe Manchin (WV) and Kyrsten Sinema(Ariz). Also. Senator Angus King (I-ME) has said he will stand behind keeping the Filibuster.
Treasurer Folwell announces NC's State Pension Plan hits a record $121 billion
NC Treasurer Dale Folwell in an exclusive interview with Neuse News announced the North Carolina State Pension Plan has hit a record $121 billion. It’s one of the largest pools of public money in the world and covers more than 950,000 members.
Governor Cooper announces grants to rural communities to attract 294 new jobs and more than $103 million in private investment
A $120,000 grant will support demolition and repair work related to the renovation of a vacant, 255,000-square-foot building in Kinston, where Crown Equipment is expanding its operations. The company manufactures a line of high-quality lift trucks, including electric and internal-combustion models. The overall project is expected to create more than 130 jobs and represents an investment of $13.2 million by the company, while 16 of those jobs are tied to this grant.
Governor Cooper discusses your shot at a million vaccine cash drawing in Davidson County
Governor Roy Cooper visited the Davidson County Health Department vaccine clinic in Lexington to see more people get their COVID-19 vaccine and talk about the Your Shot at a Million Summer Cash and College Tuition drawings for vaccinated North Carolinians. The health department has administered a majority of the vaccinations across Davidson County, administering nearly 60,400 doses.
Kinston City Council passes budget without raises for mayor or councilmembers
On June 15, 2021, Kinston’s City Council voted to approve the proposed 2021-2022 budget, which included a four-cent property tax increase. The budget did not include the proposed salary increase for the city council members or the mayor. During the meeting, Councilmember Robert Swinson made a motion to remove the salary increases from the proposed budget, which was seconded by Solomon. The motion passed with Solomon, Swinson, and Councilmember Kristal Suggs voting for the budget without the salary increases, and Councilmembers Antonio Hardy and Sammy Aiken voting against it.
“I will sleep well tonight knowing that we made the right decision to not approve the salary increase for the Council,” said Mayor Pro Tem Felicia Solomon.
BJ Murphy: Kinston City Council can make amends Tuesday evening
Sadly for the second year in a row, the Kinston City Council has sought these personal increases, yet this year's discussion is distracting from the fact that they are also raising property taxes. The cost to the taxpayers if approved would be $670,000. Despite the fact the Kinston City Council has already voted on their increases, they could amend the budget tonight, by stripping the salaries and allowances back to the FY20 funding and passing a revised budget.
Update: City Council members voted to approve their own salary increases in May
The Kinston City Council met for a Budget Worksession on May 24, 2021, wherein a four-to-one vote they approved their own salary increase of $18,000 total per year and the mayor’s $3,600 per year raise ahead of the June 15th City Council meeting. The City of Kinston is expected to increase property taxes by $0.04 per $100 valuation at that meeting.
As this was a budget work session, there is no video of the off-site meeting, but an audio recording is attached. This vote was the only one taken during the four-hour budget meeting. During the same session, the previously reported dry-cleaning allowance line item was removed by the consensus of the mayor and board.
Your Shot at a Million: Governor Cooper Announces $4 Million Summer Cash and College Tuition Drawings to Encourage COVID-19 Vaccinations
RALEIGH: As part of North Carolina’s effort to encourage more North Carolinians to receive COVID-19 vaccines, Governor Roy Cooper announced $4 Million Summer Cash and College Tuition drawings to motivate those who have not yet been vaccinated — and thank those who have. Four vaccinated North Carolinians 18 and older will win $1 million each and four North Carolinians ages 12 to 17 will win tuition for post-secondary education. Executive Order 219, which has concurrence from the North Carolina Council of State, authorizes the drawings.
Kinston City Council set to increase property taxes and seeks own pay raise second year in a row
Kinston City manager Tony Sears released his budget recommendations to Council at the meeting on June 1, 2021. A proposed increase in Property Tax from $0.73 to $0.77 per $100 valuation is included in the 2021-2022 City Budget. The budget also includes a $3,600 increase to the Mayor’s salary and the total line item increase in City Council members’ salaries is $18,000 total per year, also $3,600 each for the year. This is more than a 40% increase over previous years. In addition to the salary increases, the Board Member Allowance increased 44.98% to $19,422.
“The City Council and myself worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Hardy. “When you start talking about advocating resources for vaccinations and food drives, COVID-19 testing, and organizing boots on the ground trying to get people vaccinated.”
Governor proclaims June as Pride Month
Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed June as Pride Month in North Carolina to honor the state’s LGBTQ+ community, their fight for equality and the goal of creating a welcoming community for all North Carolinians.