NC Dems eye funding boost for teacher support program amid attrition concerns

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1052"] New teachers in North Carolina kindergarten classrooms like this one could get more support under bill proposed by Democratic state lawmakers. (Photo: Greg Childress/NC Newsline)[/caption] NC Newsline -Christina Butler, a first grade teacher in Wilkes County, nearly quit her job just weeks into her first year. But thanks to the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program, Butler is still a teacher today. "If you go into teaching,

State’s Legislative Battle Continues Over Healthcare

[caption id="attachment_11420" align="alignnone" width="1200"] During a news conference at the legislature, Lindsi Franklin spoke about how her family struggled to get insurance to cover the medications her son needed. Credit: Grace Vitaglione / NC Health News[/caption] By Grace Vitaglione | North Carolina Health News Lindsi Franklin's son, Isaac, was 9 years old in June 2024 when doctors found an abscess in his stomach and a section of diseased bowel. He

Bills banning foreign ownership of NC farmland advance

NC Newsline - Two committees in the North Carolina General Assembly voted Tuesday morning to approve legislation banning certain foreign entities from acquiring farmland in the state. The House Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs Committee took up House Bill 133, "NC Farmland and Military Protection Act." About an hour later, the Senate Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee approved the upper chamber's counterpart, Senate Bill 394, "Prohibit Foreign Ownership

A fifth of Americans are on Medicaid. Some of them have no idea.

[caption id="attachment_11322" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Cottonbro Studio/Pexels[/caption] NC Newsline - Some Americans who rely on Medicaid to pay for their health care don't realize their insurance is funded by that very program, which congressional Republicans are looking to shrink. One reason is that state programs aren't always called "Medicaid." Many states have rebranded their programs with consumer-friendly names such as SoonerCare in Oklahoma, Apple Health in Washington, Medi-Cal in California or TennCare in Tennessee. And nearly all

NC Woman Loses Her Home Over Unpaid $400 HOA

Nationwide - Taylor Sanders, an African American woman from Weddington, North Carolina, lost her home after failing to pay a $400 fee to her neighborhood homeowner's association (HOA). Her 3,300-square-foot home was later flipped for nearly $900,000, leaving her with nothing. The issue began five years ago when the HOA claimed Sanders owed $400 in unpaid dues. She said she never received the notices but acknowledged the debt. In February

What To Do If You Can’t Pay Your Taxes

NEW YORK (AP) - If you know or suspect you can't pay the taxes you owe this tax season, you should still file a return with that information or file for an extension. That's the top piece of advice that tax professionals want you to know. "The IRS wants to work with you," said Tom O'Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals.

The Incredible Journey Of Two Princes From Mozambique Whose Lives Were Upended By The Atlantic Slave Trade

  The Conversation - What is the story of the princes? Prince James and Prince John came from Mpfumo, one kingdom among many that dotted the shores of modern day Maputo Bay, where the capital of Mozambique now stands. Here, in the 1700s, no Europeans held sway. African kingdoms did, and those kingdoms fought constantly. Mpfumo had once been a power player, but it had lost one war too many

North Carolina state auditor would gain expanded investigative powers under new bill

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1536"] The North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)[/caption] NC Newsline - A North Carolina House panel advanced a bill expanding the investigative powers of the state auditor's office Tuesday, though some raised concerns over the scope of agencies and individuals who could be subject to inquiries. [caption id="attachment_182048" align="alignleft" width="150"]  Rep. Brenden Jones (Photo: ncleg.gov)[/caption]   The Judiciary 1 Committee voted in favor

Color of Change Org. Urges Caution For Black Taxpayers This Season

By Stacy M. Brown, BlackPressUSA.com  As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, Color of Change Executive Director Portia Allen-Kyle is urging Black taxpayers to be on high alert for deceptive practices and structural pitfalls in the tax system. "The biggest thing we are letting folks know is that there is a free option 70 percent of taxpayers qualify for," Allen-Kyle said, referring to the IRS's Direct File program during

Proposal to give NC’s Republican auditor a DOGE-inspired team passes the Senate

NC Newsline - North Carolina state senators approved a bill Tuesday that would spin up a new team in the Republican state auditor's office to scrutinize state spending and job openings. Drawing inspiration from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, the bill would instruct Auditor Dave Boliek's office to use A.I. to examine government and recommend any offices or jobs to be cut. Boliek's new team (with an acronym of "DAVE") would