New model runs show a shift west and a much greater likelihood of landfall in the state with tropical storm force winds farther inland. Irene is a Category 3 storm and is intensifying. Gov. Bev Perdue declared a State of Emergency this morning for Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, […]
Kirk Ross
Bio: Kirk Ross is a freelance columnist for INDY Week and founded the online news and feature publication The Carolina Mercury. He lives in Chapel Hill.Link: http://www.exileonjonesstreet.comEmail: [email protected]: http://twitter.com/ExJS
Posted inNews
Redistricting driving potential Price-Miller primary
When redistricting plans shifted his Raleigh residence into the 4th Congressional District, Congressman Brad Miller, who represents the state’s 13th Congressional District, said he did not envision himself getting into a primary fight with Democratic colleague, David Price of Chapel Hill. But after taking a hard look at the composition of the new 4th, Miller […]
Posted inNews
New congressional districts set up 2012 races: Advantage, Republicans
The congressional district lines are officially drawn and ratified. With the first round of redistricting settled, we have a few clues as to how 2012 might play out in North Carolina. If one were to simplify the state’s new electoral dynamics into two distinct “lolcat” posts, the first might be a forlorn kitten with a […]
Posted inUncategorized
Fending off the frack attack
What’s inside Senate Bill 709? Read the bill here • Sets a method for the state to collect royalty payments for onshore (fracking) and offshore (drilling) production of “natural gas and associated hydrocarbons” and directs how those monies will be distributed • Directs the governor to set up a regional energy compact with Virginia and […]
Posted inNews
Rep. LaRoque’s handling of funds questioned
A two-month investigation by N.C. Policy Watch calls into question the management of two non-profits by a firm headed by Rep. Stephen LaRoque, a Kinston Republican who is in the House leadership. (Report main page) In a post this morning, Policy Watch’s Sara Ovaska writes: . . . LaRoque, who returned in January to the […]
Posted inUncategorized
Legislature handcuffs regulators; fate of fracking bill uncertain
After taking a bruising in the prior session, advocates for the environment weren’t especially upbeat about the prospects for sustaining Gov. Bev Perdue’s veto of two key pieces of legislation: Senate Bill 781, which reforms the state’s regulatory system, and Senate Bill 709, which clears the way for fracking for natural gas inland and drilling […]
Posted inNews
N.C. Legislature handcuffs regulators
After taking a bruising in the prior session, advocates for the environment weren’t exceptionally upbeat about the prospects for sustaining Gov. Bev Perdue’s veto of two key pieces of legislation: Senate Bill 781, which reforms the states regulatory system, and Senate Bill 709, which clears the way for fracking for natural gas inland and drilling […]
Posted inNews
New laws and fewer rules spell major changes for the N.C. coast
We’re at the height of beach season and it’s full tilt vacationland up and down the strands. This is when most of us experience a little of life on the North Carolina coast. It’s also harvest time, and the locals are concentrating on gathering those tourist dollars. Early summer has been a challenge. Wildfire season, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Support your local shrimper
Say it’s Cajun cooking night around the homestead, and you’re making your way down the aisle of your local grocer looking for ingredients to accompany that nice andouille made from pasture-raised pork you bought at the farmers market. You snag some okraorganic, of courseand aromatic basmati rice. And then you spin over to the frozen […]
Posted inNews
Proposed NC Senate maps put Atwater, Kinnaird in same district
Democratic Senators Ellie Kinnaird of Chapel Hill and Bob Atwater of Chatham County are both in Senate District 23 in the maps released by GOP redistricting chairs today. Links to maps and stats here Proposed new Senate districts