“This is an opportunity for the state to leverage funds in a way that benefits entire communities, not just in urban areas, but across the state.”
Tag: legislation
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Letter: Seek first to understand
“We also have to role model acceptance of people different from ourselves. Florida’s bill is not a ‘gag order,’ as the author presents.”
Letter writer: Ask legislators to scale up solar
“Call your North Carolina legislators. Urge them to pass legislation to scale up solar. They should make it easier, not harder, to cultivate the bountiful energy offered by our sun.”
Designing frameworks: Council readies for legislature’s return
Last year, relations between the North Carolina General Assembly and the city of Asheville were marked by hostility, public wars of words and even a lawsuit. At a special meeting yesterday, March 18, however, multiple Asheville City Council members expressed a desire to improve things this year, even though looming legislation could cost the city further revenue. They also signed off on efforts to better coordinate the city’s own lobbying efforts in Raleigh.
Retreat time for Asheville City Council
It’s that time of year again: this Friday (and part of Saturday), Asheville City Council and city staff will meet to discuss goals and challenges in the coming year at their annual retreat. Topics include the city’s big goals, affordable housing and development, future investments, and the impact of the state legislature.
Legislature heads toward crossover with more than 1,700 bills to pick through
There are only three weeks left before the 2013 session of the N.C. General Assembly hits its crossover deadline of May 16. In general, that means to have a chance at becoming law, bills must have passed a third reading in the house or senate (whichever chamber initiated the bill) and moved to the other chamber by that date. More than 1,700 bills have been introduced since January (1,002 in the House; 725 in the Senate), including the recent arrival of Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposed $49,590,935,190 budget for 2013-14. It’s going to be a busy time.
RIP, S.E.E.
I would like to thank Ned Ryan Doyle for his Commentary about the Southern Energy & Environment Expo [“WNC at a crossroads,” Aug. 24 Xpress]. S.E.E. Expo provided great exposure to sustainable technology and lifestyles. It will be missed. Alternative energy is the future of America, but fringe movements have distracted us with cult-like agendas. […]
Playing the numbers
With the 2010 census numbers now in hand, the state Legislature has begun redrawing the lines for N.C. House and Senate, as well as congressional districts. May 15 is the target date for producing new district maps; public hearings are now being held around the state, with a visit to Western North Carolina slated for […]
General Assembly: Charter schools, adult education see action
Bills to increase the number of charter schools in the state and to institute a “No Adult Left Behind” program moved forward in the N.C. General Assembly this past week, along with authorization to make Grandfather Mountain an official state park.
N.C. General Assembly gets down to 2009 business
With the opening of the 2009-2010 session of the N.C. General Assembly, several bills of particular interest to Western North Carolina legislators and constituents went into the starting gate on Jan. 29.
Money now available to aid rape victims
In a change of budget and policy, the state will now provide payment for the costs of rape kit exams, which were previously billed to victims.
Busy days in the state legislature
In addition to passing a $21.4 billion state budget for the coming year, the N.C. General Assembly’s ongoing wrap-up of its short session includes several bills of note for their effects on WNC, plus this pick of the week: “Everybody’s Day.”
Want to buy a landslide?
Building on steep slopes is a pretty slippery topic in the mountains these days. Accordingly, the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources has scheduled a regional hearing for Thursday, Jan. 10, to solicit public input on the state Legislature’s Safe Artificial Slope Construction Act (H1756). Three primary sponsors—all from Western North Carolina—introduced the bill […]
