North Carolina State University researchers predict that the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will have 15 to 20 named storms, which is higher than the long-term average.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will see 15 to 20 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.
The number of named storms predicted is significantly higher than the long-term average, and moderately higher than recent 30-year averages, according to Lian Xie, professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences at NC State.
State worker raises, Medicaid, child care, private school vouchers and more could be part of the 2024 budget debate as the short session kicks off April 24.
State lawmakers start their 2024 legislative session Wednesday with a primary goal of making tweaks to the state’s $30 billion annual budget. But much more, from immigration to medical marijuana, could be on the agenda.
The budget lawmakers passed last year contained raises for teachers and other state workers — 7% spread over two years, which was lower than advocacy groups had pushed for. They’ll be looking for an extra boost in the second year of the budget plan, which begins in July.
However, those efforts will run into competition from other recipients of state funding. Republican leaders have said the state’s Medicaid division as well as a private school tuition voucher program could both use hundreds of millions of dollars more. And several groups plan to push for additional funding for child care programs to replace hundreds of millions of dollars in federal child-care funding that’s ending in June. The North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, a powerful pro-business lobbying group, considers child care issues a top legislative priority.
But lawmakers will have some extra money to spread around. The Office of State Budget and Management released a report Wednesday indicating the state will have a more-than $1 billion surplus for the 2024-25 budget — with revenue of $34.4 billion, instead of the $33.4 billion they had originally planned for.
The UNC Board of Governors could eliminate current diversity and inclusion initiatives at the 17 campuses in the UNC System next month.
On Wednesday, the UNC Board of Governors Committee on University Governance approved a policy that repeals and replaces current diversity and inclusion regulations across the UNC System. The current policy includes requirements for all schools within the System to employ diversity officers. The new policy would get rid of those positions or the positions' connections to diversity.
It took less than two minutes for the committee to unanimously pass the motion, which sent the proposed policy to the full BOG's consent agenda for a vote on May 2. There was no public discussion by committee members.
“This is really stealth legislation,” UNC-CH Chair of the Faculty Beth Moraccosaid. “That’s really contrary to the principles of shared governance, of open discussion and collaboration.”
UNC System President Peter Hans said in a statement that the System will uphold its responsibility to "prohibit discrimination, protect equal opportunity and require a safe and supportive learning enviroment for all students."
At a town hall meeting in Raleigh on Wednesday night sponsored by the organization Moms for Liberty, national and local leaders of the conservative group blamed unsafe schools, among other reasons, as the cause for North Carolina teachers leaving the profession, rather than low pay.
Roughly 50 people attended the event, which featured the group’s co-founder Tiffany Justice and panelists, including local Moms for Liberty organizers and supporters. The North Carolina Republican Party’s nominee for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michele Morrow attended the event but did not speak.
Moms for Liberty was founded in Florida in 2021 and gained prominence for its opposition to COVID-19 school closures and mask mandates.
QUALLA BOUNDARY, N.C. (WLOS) — Saturday, April 20, marks a historic day for North Carolina as the first medical cannabis dispensary held its grand opening in Cherokee.
A ribbon cutting was held at 9:30 a.m. outside The Great Smoky Cannabis Dispensary, located at 91 Bingo Loop Road in the Qualla Boundary.
FIRST LOOK: EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS' HISTORIC MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAUNCH
People all across the mountains were lined up outside, eagerly waiting to purchase the Eastern Band of Indians' packaged cannabis.
NORTH CAROLINA (TND) — A state highway patrol is adding a sweet new ride to its fleet. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has unveiled its New Generation Patrol Vehicle: a 2024 Ford Mustang.
The agency said 25 of the marked vehicles will debut in the coming months across the state.
History and traditions are an important part of our Patrol Family and the use of Mustangs have their beginnings on the SHP in the 80’s and early 90’s," the agency shared.
The cost of the Mustangs is comparable to other vehicles in the Patrol's fleet, according to the agency, who said the new addition will broaden the equipment and resources available to troopers.
The Mustangs are a sleek black, with gray detailing down the vehicle's body carrying the highway patrol insignia. On the front, just above the metal Mustang logo on the grill, the words "state trooper" can be seen.
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