The N.C. Department of Transportation has scheduled a public hearing in Asheville for Monday, August 13, to take comments on proposed permanent rules for vegetation removal at outdoor advertising locations within highway rights of way. The rules are the result of legislation passed in the 2011 session of the N.C. General Assembly, allowing a significant increase in the cutting zones around billboards. (photo by Edward Ingle)
A due-diligence document posted July 31 in a comment to the Mountain Xpress website revealed potential costs of information technology in the proposed transfer of the Asheville water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County. But the $1.74 million figure quoted was somewhat misleading.
On May 4, 2011, freshman state Rep. Tim Moffitt of Buncombe County filed a brief bill calling for the transfer of Asheville’s water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District. Although the bill didn’t mention the city by name, its language pointed directly to Asheville and Buncombe County. The move sparked a firestorm of protest — […]
On May 4, 2011, freshman state Rep. Tim Moffitt of Buncombe County filed a brief bill calling for the transfer of Asheville’s water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District. Although the bill didn’t mention the city by name, its language pointed directly to Asheville and Buncombe County. The move sparked a firestorm of protest — […]
Gov. Bev Perdue says she will neither sign nor veto state legislation that would allow the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County to also operate as a water authority, and changing the MSD board’s representation formula. That sets the changes on their way to becoming law.
Attorneys for John Ledford, former sheriff of Madison County who became director of the state’s Division of Alcohol Enforcement in 2009, have demanded that state auditor Beth Wood “cease and desist” disseminating her report concerning misuse of state vehicles.
The potential merger of the Asheville water system with the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County drew a range of visitors to MSD’s River Road office site Wednesday afternoon for its July board meeting. Some two dozen audience seats were filled with consultants, staff, members of the public, and one county legislator as discussion of the water system took center stage.
Since the N.C. General Assembly has not acted quickly enough to set up its own health benefits exchange under the Affordable Care Act — a detailed plan is due mid-November — the federal government will have to set up the mandated marketplace for the uninsured and small businesses. A third of the states have already […]
On May 17, 2012, a bill modestly titled “MSD Amendments” was introduced in the final regular session of the N.C. General Assembly. Sponsored by Western North Carolina Reps. Tim Moffitt (Buncombe County) and Chuck McGrady (Henderson County), both Republicans, the bill passed the House on June 18 and received Senate approval on June 27, moving to the governor’s desk on June 28. The true meaning of that bill is a matter of some history, some speculation, some objection and a fair amount of outright praise.
The 2012 legislative short session saw plenty of legislation passed that could have particular effects in Western North Carolina – in large and small ways. Here’s a sampler.
Both the North Carolina attorney general and the N.C. Utilities Commission have opened their own investigations into questions concerning the surprise departure of former Progress Energy CEO Bill Johnson immediately following the merger of his former company with the larger Duke Energy. The merger had been premised, during deliberations, on Johnson’s becoming the CEO of […]
Veto overrides on the state budget, natural gas exploration in the state (fracking), and a rewrite of the Racial Justice Act were the final touches for the historic 2011-2012 Republican-led N.C. General Assembly yesterday during a session of heavy maneuvering and an all-important voting mistake that sealed the fate of fracking.
In the 20th veto of her term, Gov. Bev Perdue today officially refused to approve SB 820, which would have legalized shale gas exploration in the state through hydraulic fracturing — a process known as fracking. Perdue’s press release cites her personal support for gas exploration in the state, but her opposition to the lack […]
Efforts at some compromise on the N.C. Legislature’s voter ID bill, which originally would have required a photo ID in order to vote, have reached an impasse. Without the necessary votes to override the governor’s veto last year of the bill (HB 351, Restore Confidence in Government), and with this year’s legislative session set to […]
The budget-focused second regular session of the 2011-2012 N.C. General Assembly has seen heavy issue-related action since it convened May 16, both in spending authorizations and in the large number of bills fast-tracking their way through the short session — including the regionalization of the Asheville airport.
Marion’s Rep. Mitch Gillespie, GOP point man for environmental legislation, brings a personal mission of deregulation to his legislative duties. That has included easing restrictions on paper mills and power plants, and placing his own bull’s eye on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The News & Observer claims documents in their possession indicate that Gov. Bev Perdue’s staff sent false letters to legislators regarding DOT project funding for toll projects near Charlotte and the Outer Banks. The letters were quickly retracted and disavowed by DOT’s chief operating officer, Jim Trogden, whose signature was used.
The N.C. Senate’s budget committee rejected proposals to compensate victims of the former state eugenics program yesterday, along with appropriations for anti-smoking and teen pregnancy programs. The Senate’s proposal is $127 million smaller than the proposed House budget, and was commended by a spokesperson for the conservative John Locke Foundation for being “a grown-up budget.” […]
Legislation to dictate what scientific data could be considered in forecasting sea-level rise on the North Carolina coast is expected to be introduced in the N.C. General Assembly today. In draft form, the proposal would eliminate all projections other than those based on straight-line historical data — dismissing the one-meter (39 inches) rise predicted by […]
A contentious bill to allow hydrolic fracturing – or “fracking” – for oil and gas exploration in the state passed the N.C. Senate on Wednesday by a 29-19 majority, and is expected to be voted on today in the House. The Senate vote followed a standing-room-only Commerce Committee hearing on Tuesday, which saw Senate Democratic Leader Martin Nesbitt, Jr., of Buncombe County—speak out against the bill.
The N.C. General Assembly convenes tonight for the third week of its 2012 short session. Last week saw some remarkably disparate actions from both inside and outside the Statehouse, having to do with current and past legislation. And one of items on this week’s agenda — a veto override attempt to repeal the Racial Justice Act (SB 9) — is now involved in what may prove to be a landmark lawsuit regarding gubernatorial vetoes.
