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North Carolina lawmakers are expected to vote this week on a veto override of a bill that would commit nearly $6.5 billion in state funding for private school vouchers over the next decade. The Opportunity Scholarships have evolved over the past decade from a small $10 million pilot program, to a major budget expense that could transform education in the state.

More than 1,500 homeowners are still waiting for help from a state program to repair or rebuild houses damaged in hurricanes Matthew and Florence. The program says it could soon run out of money if more funding isn’t allocated.

State lawmakers voted Thursday to spend another $644 million on Helene recovery projects to help western North Carolina. But the dollar figure is a fraction of what Gov. Roy Cooper wants to spend.

A funding bill for western North Carolina aims to meet the immediate needs in counties affected by Helene, and lawmakers are planning to return to Raleigh again later this month to pass a second round of funding.

The Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee requested the study as it examines delays, long lines and staff shortages at DMV offices across North Carolina.

The state health department asked for $458 billion to keep up with rising Medicaid costs.

The North Carolina State House voted Wednesday to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to fund private school vouchers, part of a spending bill that also includes a controversial immigration provision.

North Carolina lawmakers are poised to pass nearly a quarter billion dollars in additional funding that would help pay for private school tuition for 55,000 families on a waitlist this year. School choice supporters are praising the move, while public school advocates worry about shifting education priorities.

The state Senate voted Monday to override five of Gov. Roy Cooper's recent vetoes. Three of those bills are now law following the party-line votes.

North Carolina's Republican legislative leaders announced on Friday that they reached a spending deal to fund various programs. One of those programs is the state's Opportunity Scholarship that provides scholarships to families enrolling their children in private schools.