The newest iteration of North Carolina’s Ag-Gag bill could extend beyond factory farms and slaughterhouses in policing employees’ behavior at work. Senate Bill 433— introduced by three Republicans including Duplin County Sen. Brent Jackson, who has tried unsuccessfully twice before to target undercover investigators exposing abuse in the state’s factory farms—holds employees accountable to a […]
Jane Porter
Jane Porter is Wake County editor of the INDY, covering Raleigh and other communities across Wake County. She first joined the staff in 2013 and is a former INDY intern, staff writer, and editor-in-chief, first joining the staff in 2013.
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N.C. Senate bill would criminalize, fire teachers for having political views
Some public school teachers— no doubt tired of buying their own school supplies and grading a bunch of incorrigible kids’ papers written in textspeak and generally being the most disrespected government employees in the state—have taken to demonstrating their commitment to public schools by wearing red for ed. For education that is, and they are […]
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SCOTUS ruling allowing states to bar judges from soliciting campaign money may have implications in N.C.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Florida rule that bars judicial candidates from asking for campaign contributions. In North Carolina, judges are allowed to personally solicit cash for their campaigns, but the Williams-Yulee v. Florida Bar ruling means that North Carolina could join the 30 other states that limit personal solicitation by judges, […]
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N.C. lawmakers to state justices: slow your role in reviewing controversial redistricting case
North Carolina Republicans have asked the state’s Supreme Court justices not to hurry in reviewing the state’s redistricting case, because of course they have. It won’t do those lawmakers any good when the justices strike down the redistricting law—sent back to the state’s highest court by the U.S. Supreme Court last week, because it packs […]
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Twenty arrested at the N.C. General Assembly during return of the Moral Monday movement
Moral Monday came back on Wednesday, and though the crowd may have been small—400 people at most—the point was made, if not taken: people are unhappy with many of the Legislature’s policies and the direction it’s taking the state. According to General Assembly Police Chief Jeff Weaver, twenty people were arrested for fire code violations […]
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Today, Moral Monday is back in Raleigh
On the two-year anniversary of the Moral Monday movement, demonstrators from all over the state will descend upon North Carolina’s General Assembly once again this evening, to instruct our representatives about policies that are for the common good and to engage in some civil disobedience. At an interfaith press conference Wednesday morning at the Davie […]
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Raleigh neighbors prevail over student housing complex near N.C. State
Southwest Raleigh residents last week narrowly escaped a monster student-housing complex proposed for the land across the street from the leafy entrance to N.C. State’s Centennial Campus. But their victory at City Council will quite likely be short-lived. The location, after all, remains a developer’s dream, and the antiquated brick Carolyn Apartments that languish on […]
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N.C. Senate bill would roll back consumer protections against abusive debt collectors
Do you like seeing itemized charges if you’re paying a debt collector? Do you like not being sued to pay off other peoples’ debt? Of course we all do, which is why in 2009, legislation was passed to protect consumers from debt collectors suing them for debt without valid evidence that the debt exists, and […]
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Breaking: N.C. House leadership says religious freedom bill won’t be addressed this session
In the spirit of taking the good with the bad today, we are grateful that House Speaker Tim Moore and the Republican caucus came to their senses: Moore announced in a press conference this afternoon that the House will not take up the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in the 2015-2016 legislative session. (Gov. McCrory is […]
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Renewable energy standards survive this legislative session
Updated: House Bill 681 was defeated in the House Public Utilities Committee Wednesday, according to reports. Four Republicans, including Wake County Reps. Nelson Dollar and Chris Malone, joined 12 Democrats in voting against the bill in a 16-14 majority. Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards laws—REPS—have been great for North Carolina, but a new bill would end […]
