Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign up.
Cooper Pushes For Medicaid Expansion
In a roundtable discussion with rural hospital executives, Gov. Roy Cooper sought to increase pressure on Republican senators to support legislation that would expand Medicaid coverage to uninsured adults who don't meet current requirements. A similar bill was proposed in 2017, but failed after GOP opposition.
Executives from seven hospitals joined the Democratic governor at Wednesday's event and expressed support for the idea. They said expanding Medicaid would help them reduce the cost of uncompensated care associated with high uninsured rates in their communities.
Some House Republicans this month filed another bill that would include premium and work requirements on expansion recipients, which Cooper doesn't prefer.
Winston-Salem Takes Step To Change Fair Name
The Winston-Salem city council has taken an initial step in changing the name of a fair after protests that it was offensive.
Assistant City Manager Ben Rowe told members of the Fair Planning Committee on Wednesday that the city council decided the Dixie Classic Fair name must change, although no formal vote has been taken.
A news release said the committee will be soliciting suggestions for a new name, which would go into effect in 2020.
Video: Officer Who Fatally Shot Man Said She Had No Choice
A North Carolina police officer who fatally shot a black man in a parking lot after repeatedly ordering him to drop his gun was heard on bodycam video saying several times that she had no choice.
An 11-minute bodycam video released Wednesday by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police shows the moments leading up to and after the shooting of 27-year-old Danquirs Napoleon Franklin outside a Burger King on March 25.
Officer Wende Kerl shot and killed Franklin. She was heard saying, "He pulled a gun. He wouldn't drop it." Later, she said, "All I know is I shot because he had a gun in his hand."
North Carolina's Poet Laureate Receives National Award Of $75K
North Carolina's poet laureate is one of 13 in the country to receive the first Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow awards.
The North Carolina Arts Council says in a news release that Jaki Shelton Green will receive $75,000 in recognition of her literary merit and to support her youth poet program.
Green plans to launch "Literary ChangeMakers" to support youth poets engaged artistically in civic and community activism, social justice and youth leadership.
The 65-year-old Green is North Carolina's first black state poet laureate.
Smokies Announces Dates For Synchronous Firefly Viewing
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are announcing the predicted peak dates for viewing the park's synchronous fireflies this year.
A news release says the fireflies are expected to exhibit their unique synchronous flashing between May 30 and June 6. All visitors wishing to view the fireflies during this period must have a parking pass distributed by lottery.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad