¼ª²ÊÍøÍøÕ¾

Through a host of changes to North Carolina elections law, redistricting and a sympathetic state Supreme Court majority, Republican legislators could entrench their hold on power for the next decade.

An exchange between Rep. Jeff McNeely, R-Iredell, and Rep. Abe Jones, D-Wake, during a debate on the school voucher bill ended with McNeely suspended from continuing to speak and Jones defending his educational background on Wednesday.

Abortion bans are back on the agenda for lawmakers in the Carolinas and Nebraska this week. In North Carolina, lawmakers overrode the Democratic governor's veto of a ban on abortion after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

North Carolina's Senate and House have voted along party lines to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of new abortion restrictions.

Bills that passed their first committee on Tuesday would reduce the number of reports required for large donations in the final weeks before an election.Current law requires disclosures within 48 hours when a candidate receives a donation of $1,000 or more.

The state Senate released its budget proposal on Monday afternoon, and the spending plan sets up a big disagreement with House Republicans over the size of state worker raises.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and state lawmakers gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday for the unveiling of the Drug Chemistry and Toxicology units.

Increased punishments for rioting in North Carolina will become law later this year as Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Friday he wouldn’t use his veto stamp on legislation that’s similar to a bill he successfully blocked in 2021.

The House voted 77-43 on Wednesday to approve the measure, which would let people with concealed weapons permits carry openly or under clothing while attending religious services at locations where private schools or charter schools also meet. Six Democrats joined all Republicans in voting for it.

A bill that advanced Tuesday through the Senate Judiciary Committee combines several previously vetoed measures that would ease requirements to purchase handguns and allow people to carry concealed firearms in more locations, including some schools based in houses of worship.