Josh Stein

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein expressed reservations about House Bill 328, which would ban intoxicating hemp products for all ages. While supporting a regulated adult THC market, Stein criticized the bill for not requiring ID checks for kratom and hemp sales and for legalizing natural kratom for adults. Hemp industry advocates argue the bill would harm a $4 billion industry, while opponents highlight public safety concerns.

Gov. Josh Stein announced STEP-NC, North Carolina's first state government health care apprenticeship program, aimed at addressing workforce shortages by training high school students, adult learners, and new talent for roles in state health facilities. The program, a collaboration between NCDHHS, ApprenticeshipNC, and NCBCE, includes a pilot cohort of six recent graduates working at Morganton-based facilities.

North Carolina leaders are urging a federal court to reject a proposed $450 million EPA settlement with Chemours over PFAS pollution from the Fayetteville plant, arguing it excludes North Carolina from negotiations and fails to address harm to residents. The settlement requires Chemours to fund water cleanup projects but allocates none of the funds to North Carolina, which claims 500,000 residents and 10,000 private wells were impacted by contamination.

Recent rainfall has improved drought conditions in North Carolina, but Governor Josh Stein warns the state is not yet out of the woods. State officials acknowledge progress but caution that drought conditions persist.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson provided a drought update, noting recent rainfall has improved conditions in some areas but urging continued water conservation. The state has 70 water systems under mandatory restrictions and 68 with voluntary measures, with groundwater levels still below normal despite improved surface water conditions.

North Carolina's budget corrections bill removes Democratic Secretary of State Elaine Marshall from the Local Government Commission and requires Senate confirmation for governor-appointed Cabinet members. The bill also reduces the governor's appointments to the commission from three to one.

North Carolina's General Assembly passed a $34 billion budget offering 8% average teacher raises over two years, but the Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education criticized it as insufficient. The commission highlighted stagnant salaries for veteran teachers and a high attrition rate, with over 9,100 teachers leaving public schools in 2024-25.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to open an immigration detention center in northeastern North Carolina by the end of 2026 at the former Rivers Correctional Institution, a shuttered private prison. The facility, owned by GEO Group, could hold up to 1,400 detainees and faces opposition from North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and local activists. The site has a history of violence and misconduct, and its reopening aligns with ICE's efforts to expand detention capacity.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to reopen a former for-profit prison in Winton, North Carolina, as a mass detention facility with 1,400 beds under a contract with GEO Group. The facility, previously closed in 2021 due to health and safety complaints, has a history of inadequate medical care and discrimination, sparking protests and condemnation from advocates and officials.

North Carolina ranks poorly in healthcare affordability, prompting the formation of the North Carolina Health Care Affordability Commission to address rising costs. Experts highlighted national challenges, including high U.S. healthcare spending and medical debt, with Indiana's cost-control measures cited as a potential model.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced budget-included raises for public safety officers, including 16.2% for SBI and ALE officers, 15% for highway patrol, 13% for correctional officers, and 6.5% for probation and parole officers. Stein emphasized the importance of supporting those who ensure public safety and investing in future law enforcement careers.

North Carolina clergy oppose House Bill 437, which bans unauthorized camping on public property and creates new drug-related felonies near shelters, arguing it criminalizes homelessness without addressing its root causes. Governor Josh Stein vetoed the bill, but House Republicans plan to override the veto, despite concerns about funding and potential litigation against local governments.

North Carolina faith leaders are urging lawmakers to uphold Governor Josh Stein's veto of House Bill 437, which would ban unauthorized camping on public property and require removal of encampments. The bill's supporters argue it addresses public safety and secures federal funding, while opponents claim it criminalizes homelessness and creates unfunded mandates. Supporters plan to attempt a veto override when the General Assembly reconvenes in August.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson urged state regulators to enforce Duke Energy's commitment to the Trump administration’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which aims to prevent data centers from shifting costs to consumers. Duke Energy seeks to merge its Carolinas and Progress subsidiaries, while the pledge requires large energy users to cover their own infrastructure costs. State leaders want the utility to formalize the agreement in writing for enforceability.

The North Carolina budget allocates $97 million in federal funds to increase childcare subsidies for rural providers, establishing a 'rate floor' to ensure higher payments. This aims to address long-standing financial struggles faced by rural childcare centers after pandemic funds expired.

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson rejected Duke Energy's proposed 9.5% residential rate increase over two years, arguing it still overcharges consumers. Governor Josh Stein also criticized the settlement, urging data centers to cover their electricity costs. Duke Energy claims the increase is necessary for infrastructure investments, but the deal requires approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is offering a $25,000 reward for information about the April 2023 murder of a 68-year-old man in Windsor. The reward aims to assist in solving the case, which remains under investigation.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. will invest $41 million in Salisbury, North Carolina, to build a distribution hub, creating over 200 jobs in Rowan County. The state will provide a $150,000 performance-based grant to support the project, which includes an average annual salary of $57,351 for 70 skilled labor roles.

Gov. Josh Stein signed a state budget that grants a 90-day reprieve to Charlotte-area local governments before facing financial penalties for abandoning the Interstate 77 toll lane expansion. The budget includes a provision requiring local governments to repay initial expenses for dropped transportation projects, with critics questioning its legality and enforcement.

Governor Josh Stein visited Cleveland Community College to meet with high school students participating in a summer academy focused on electrical workforce development. The program is part of 12 academies launching this summer.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is set to visit Shelby to promote his Careers Electric Initiative, which includes training programs at Cleveland County Community College funded by a $9.25 million investment from the Siemens Foundation. The initiative aims to train 25,000 North Carolinians for energy and infrastructure jobs over 10 years.

Ohio surpassed North Carolina as the top state for business in CNBC’s 2026 ranking, with North Carolina dropping to second place. North Carolina excelled in economy, workforce, and access to capital but declined in cost of living and quality of life metrics. Governor Josh Stein highlighted economic strengths while urging legislative action on affordability issues.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed 17 laws, including regulations for cryptocurrency ATMs under House Bill 920 and property tax changes via Senate Bill 474. The laws include measures to limit crypto ATM fees, require fraud warnings, and adjust property tax revaluation moratoriums in specific counties.

North Carolina public schools are grappling with the new DEI law, Senate Bill 227, which became state law after the General Assembly overrode Gov. Josh Stein's veto.

North Carolina will eliminate physical vehicle registration cards and license plate stickers, replacing them with electronic registration starting October 1, 2026. The change, part of the state's recently passed 634-page budget, aims to reduce administrative costs and improve efficiency. Vehicle owners can still request printed copies for a fee, while renewal and inspection requirements remain unchanged.

North Carolina faces severe drought conditions, with 43.6% of the state in extreme drought and 6% in exceptional drought. Farmers report low crop yields and water shortages, while Raleigh struggles with high residential water usage despite conservation efforts. Falls Lake, a key water source, is declining weekly.

North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction plans to issue guidance for schools on implementing a new law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. The law, Senate Bill 227, prohibits DEI offices and instruction on certain concepts, though it preserves teaching about historical oppression. Educators and advocacy groups have expressed differing views on the law's impact.

Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a bill that would ban unauthorized public camping in North Carolina, arguing it does not address homelessness root causes and imposes new local government responsibilities without state funding. Republicans pledged to override the veto.

North Carolina students will have easier access to mental health resources through the Student Lifeline Act, which adds crisis resources to student IDs and school websites. Gov. Josh Stein signed the state budget including this act, effective this school year.

Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a North Carolina bill (House Bill 437) that would have banned unauthorized homeless encampments and required municipalities to provide temporary shelter sites with sanitation and safety facilities. Stein criticized the bill as unfunded and ineffective, while supporters argued it would create humane, drug-free conditions. Republican leaders may attempt to override the veto.

North Carolina's new budget proposal slashes funding for Legal Aid of North Carolina, redirects IOLTA program funds to public defender offices, and imposes restrictions on Legal Aid's ability to handle immigration, gender transition cases, and political advocacy. The changes follow a $6 million deficit caused by a previous funding freeze, leading to attorney layoffs and office closures in rural areas.

Governor Josh Stein signed a $34 billion budget that includes teacher pay raises and Medicaid funding. He is unhappy with a dispute over Charlotte's transportation funding, which may require the city to repay funds allocated for a canceled I-77 South widening project.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed a $34 billion budget with increased education funding and teacher pay raises, while imposing a financial penalty on Charlotte for withdrawing support from the I-77 widening project. The budget raises starting teacher pay from $41,000 to $48,000 but offers smaller increases for veteran teachers, sparking concerns about equity. Charlotte city council members have 90 days to reverse their decision to avoid repaying $60 million in state funds.

North Carolina's state budget, signed by Governor Josh Stein, includes salary increases for teachers and state-funded employees. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School board and educators argue the raise does not fully meet expectations.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed a $34 billion budget with a 3% raise for state employees, a personal income tax cut, and significant teacher pay increases. The budget includes Medicaid funding, Hurricane Helene relief, and criticism over cuts to diversity initiatives and state positions.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed the state budget, providing raises and bonuses for state workers and retirees while enabling new projects. The budget received bipartisan support after over a year without a new budget. Stein also signed a modified version of Iryna’s Law, shifting some involuntary commitment evaluations to jails and extending outpatient treatment duration.

North Carolina's $34.4 billion budget was signed into law by Gov. Josh Stein on Tuesday morning. The budget is now official state law following the governor's approval.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is set to take action on the state’s $34 billion budget proposal, which has passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly. Approval would make it the largest budget in state history, as North Carolina remains the only U.S. state without a 2025 budget.

Governor Josh Stein signed House Bill 162 into law to eliminate mandatory minimum parking requirements, aiming to reduce stormwater runoff and construction costs while enabling local governments to incentivize development. The legislation, supported by developers and environmental groups, targets large parking lots as pollution sources and passed both legislative chambers with near-unanimous support.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is deciding on a budget proposal that includes an average eight percent raise for teachers. The plan has sparked discontent among veteran educators due to mixed reactions to the raise.