Judge Denies Kennedy's Request to Withdraw from North Carolina Ballot
A North Carolina judge denied Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s request to remove his name from the presidential ballot, a day before absentee ballots were set to be mailed to voters. Kennedy, who suspended his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump, argued that keeping his name would confuse voters, but the court ruled that reprinting ballots would cause delays and significant costs. Over 2.9 million ballots were already printed statewide, and removing Kennedy's name would jeopardize the federal deadline of September 21 for military and overseas voters. (North State Journal)
Absentee Voting Delayed Amid Kennedy Ballot Removal Appeal
Absentee voting is delayed after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. requested his name be removed from the ballot, leading to a court decision allowing him 24 hours to appeal. Absentee ballots will eventually be mailed out, and voters can request them until 5 pm on October 29, with a requirement to include a photo ID or exception form. As of Thursday, 127,645 absentee ballot requests have been received, including 2,440 from military members and 9,761 from overseas citizens. (NC Newsline)
Harris Proposes Expanded Child Tax Credit; Trump Signals Potential Increase
Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic plan includes expanding the child tax credit to $6,000 for a baby’s first year, $3,600 for ages two to five, and $3,000 thereafter, capped at $400,000 for joint filers and $200,000 for single filers. The proposal, estimated to cost $1.6 trillion over ten years, aims to reduce child poverty and support families. While Donald Trump has not released a specific plan, his campaign has hinted at a significant expansion, with his running mate JD Vance suggesting a $5,000 credit per child with no income limits. (CBS 17)
Trump Targets Crime Message in North Carolina as Police Groups Rally Behind Him
Donald Trump is returning to North Carolina to address the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) as he contrasts his law-and-order stance with that of his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris. Trump, who received endorsements from various police groups, has criticized Harris as weak on crime, while Harris highlights her experience as a former prosecutor. Trump’s support from law enforcement comes despite his controversial stance on the January 6th Capitol riot, where he has pledged to pardon some involved in the assault on officers, an event described as the largest mass assault on law enforcement in U.S. history. (WRAL)
New Leadership Race for North Carolina Labor Commissioner in 2025
Republican Josh Dobson is not seeking reelection as North Carolina’s Labor Commissioner, setting up a contest between Democrat Braxton Winston II and Republican Luke Farley. Winston, a pro-labor union advocate, promises to fully staff the Department of Labor and enhance worker protections, criticizing past Republican leadership for weakening safety measures. Farley, endorsed by former Commissioner Cherie Berry, aims to continue the pro-business approach of the past 24 years, pledging to make North Carolina the safest and best place to work. The Chamber of Commerce, initially wary of Farley’s far-right positions, now supports him, seeing alignment with business-friendly policies. (NC Newsline)
Democratic Candidate for N.C. House District 37 Faces GOP Attacks Over Past as Chicago Landlord
Democratic candidate Safiyah Jackson, running for N.C. House District 37, is facing attacks from the GOP over her past as a landlord, citing legal actions and safety complaints against her property in Chicago nearly two decades ago. The North Carolina Republican Party launched a website accusing Jackson of neglecting tenants' safety, including issues like no heat and exposed wiring. Jackson, who took responsibility for the property issues and sold the building in 2013, calls the attacks a smear tactic and remains focused on her platform to support working families and uplift communities. Her opponent, incumbent Republican Rep. Erin Paré, distances herself from the website, but highlights Jackson's past as a reflection of her character. (News & Observer)
RNC and NCGOP Sue North Carolina Election Board Over Absentee Ballot Policy and Voter Registration
The Republican National Committee, North Carolina Republican Party, and a voter have filed a lawsuit against the North Carolina State Election Board (NCSBE), alleging that a revised memo allowing absentee ballots to be returned without sealed security envelopes violates state law and compromises ballot integrity. This is the third lawsuit the RNC and NCGOP have filed against the NCSBE in recent weeks, including claims of noncompliance with laws requiring the removal of noncitizens from voter rolls and proper voter identification checks. The Democratic National Committee and NAACP have filed motions to intervene, arguing that the Republican actions could disenfranchise over 225,000 voters just before the 2024 presidential election. (Carolina Journal)
NC Republicans Push to Fund Private School Vouchers Amid Democratic Opposition
North Carolina Republicans are set to revisit funding the Opportunity Scholarship program to address a 55,000-student backlog for private school vouchers, with up to $500 million on the table. The draft bill, obtained by CBS 17, would fully fund every voucher applicant attending a private school as of October 1 but does not include new teacher raises, a point of contention for Democrats. Gov. Roy Cooper and other Democratic leaders argue that the expansion diverts crucial funds from public schools and call for prioritizing public education investments over private vouchers, citing concerns about revenue shortfalls and unmet needs in public schools. (News & Observer)
Potential SNAP Cuts in Revised Farm Bill Spark Concerns Among Food Assistance Advocates
A revised version of the 2018 Farm Bill currently in Congress could cut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, impacting millions of Americans. Jason Kanawati Stephany of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC warned that the proposed cuts come amid rising food prices, threatening progress in fighting hunger. Congresswoman Deborah Ross emphasized that cuts to SNAP could have devastating effects, particularly on children and families, as nearly 2 million North Carolinians rely on SNAP and similar programs. Advocates are pushing for full funding to prevent increased food insecurity. (CBS 17)
Charlotte City Council Approves Rail Purchase and Sales Tax Proposal for Transit Funding
The Charlotte City Council voted 10-1 to spend $91 million on acquiring disused Norfolk Southern freight tracks, a critical step towards building the long-delayed Red Line commuter train to Lake Norman. Additionally, the council voted to seek state approval for a 1-cent sales tax increase to fund a multi-billion dollar transportation plan, potentially on the ballot in November 2025. The proposed plan allocates less funding for rail transit, prioritizing bus rapid transit in some areas, leading to controversy over the Silver Line's future. Council member Tariq Bokhari cast the only dissenting vote, citing concerns over the proposed new transit authority's governance. (WFAE)
Bed Bugs Found in Durham Student Laptops Amid Pay Issues and Aging Infrastructure
Parents of Durham students are alarmed after bed bugs were found in Google Chromebooks issued at Riverside High School, with the devices being stored in the media center over the summer. The school is now recalling the laptops and advising families to inspect their homes. Alongside this issue, Durham Public Schools (DPS) is facing employee pay discrepancies, with 55 staff members underpaid due to status changes. Superintendent Dr. Anthony S. Lewis promised separate checks to affected employees. DPS also struggles with aging infrastructure, including outdated HVAC systems, similar to challenges faced by Wake County Public Schools. (WRAL)
CMS Considers Delaying Montessori Magnet Relocation to Prevent Overcrowding at Dilworth Elementary
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) officials are considering delaying the relocation of Montessori programs to 2026 to prevent overcrowding at Dilworth Elementary, which currently has nearly 700 students in a building designed for 560. The shuffle, part of Superintendent Crystal Hill's plan, involves moving Montessori programs from J.T. Williams to Marie G. Davis and redirecting students to Dilworth. CMS may postpone the changes until a new school building opens in 2026, allowing Dilworth students to relocate with sufficient space. Concerns about student capacity and the readiness of young students for early college programs at Central Piedmont Community College sites were also discussed, with board members planning to hold a public hearing on September 10 and vote on September 24. (WFAE)
UNC-Chapel Hill Sees Decline in Black Enrollment Following Supreme Court's Affirmative Action Ban
UNC-Chapel Hill's newest first-year class includes a lower proportion of Black students compared to the previous year, with the class of 2028 consisting of 8% Black students, down from 11% in the class of 2027. This shift follows the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision to ban race-conscious admissions, impacting the university's ability to consider race as a factor in its admissions process. Despite an increase in overall applications, UNC's efforts to maintain diversity now focus on race-neutral alternatives such as geography and personal circumstances. UNC is also exploring broader changes to its enrollment strategy, including a potential increase in out-of-state admissions and expanding enrollment by 5,000 students over the next five years. (News & Observer)
Pauli Murray’s Restored Childhood Home Opens as a Center for Social Justice in Durham
After a $1.2 million renovation spanning 15 years, the childhood home of Pauli Murray, a pioneering advocate for civil, women’s, and LGBTQ+ rights, will open as the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice in Durham, North Carolina. The home, one of only a few landmarks focused on Black, women, and LGBTQ+ experiences, will host exhibits on Murray’s life and work, as well as provide space for modern social justice initiatives. Murray’s legal scholarship, which influenced the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling, and their multifaceted activism as a lawyer, poet, and priest continue to inspire, with the center dedicated to preserving and advancing Murray’s legacy. (News & Observer)