Courts and Justice

WRAL: Lawsuit Over Voter ID Stalls After Legislative Changes
Changes made to North Carolina's voter ID law last week have roiled a state court case in which plaintiffs were asking a judge to delay or throw out entirely the requirement that voters show a current photo ID when they go to the polls starting in 2016.

NEWS & OBSERVER: Goodwin Warns of Possible ‘Chaos’ from ACA Decision
 An imminent decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on subsidies under the Affordable Care Act could unleash “incredible chaos” in North Carolina’s health care market, N.C. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin predicted.

KAISER HEALTH NEWS: Looming Decision Could Cripple Part of NC Health Insurance Market
Roughly half a million North Carolinians could soon lose money they depend on for health insurance. The U.S. Supreme Court will rule soon on a key part of the Affordable Care Act.

Economy and Economic Development

ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM: NC Jobless Rate Rises to 5.7% in May
North Carolina’s jobless rate ticked up to 5.7 percent in May as thousands of people flooded the job market in search of work.

NEWS & OBSERVER: McCrory’s Bond Plan Fights for Traction in Legislature
Gov. Pat McCrory has taken his pitch to borrow $3 billion to fund public works on the road to drum up public support in recent weeks, but it doesn’t seem to have swayed minds in the General Assembly.

Education

DURHAM HERALD SUN: Board Shapes Recruiting Pitch for Next UNC President
The UNC Board of Governors, is looking for someone who “above all else” will “protect and enhance the brand, reputation and standing of the” system and its 17 campuses.

Healthcare

WINSTON SALEM JOURNAL: House Medicaid Bill Heading to Vote
House Bill 372 features a provider-led format for addressing the risk involved in the $14 billion state Medicaid program.

NEWS & OBSERVER: NC Senate Would Shift Medicaid to Outside Agency
The Senate has layed out a dramatic shift in how the state handles Medicaid, setting up another debate with the House.

WINSTON SALEM JOURNAL: Bill Offers Way to Improve Financial Security for Those with Disabilities
House Bill 556, addressing the federal ABLE Act, is on the calendar after getting a recommendation Thursday from the Finance committee.

Regulatory Reform

ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES: Sunday Hunting Compromise Easily Clears NC House
 The House approved a measure Thursday to allow limited hunting with guns on Sundays and the Senate is likely to do the same next week.

TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL: N.C. Distillers Raise A Glass to Change in Alcohol Sales Law
 House Bill 909 will allow the state's distilleries the ability to sell one bottle per year to a single customer, among other changes.

WRAL: Gun Bill Clears House after Debate
After close to six hours of debate over the two days, the House voted 78-37 in favor of House Bill 562, sending it to the Senate for further consideration.

NEWS & OBSERVER: Legislation to Stop Cheating Companies in NC Clears Hurtle
If passed into law, the proposal would create a special enforcement unit would mine data and field tips about businesses breaking labor and tax laws.

NEWS & OBSERVER: Disputed Bill on Waterway Buffers Clears Senate .
House Bill 44 cleared the Republican-controlled Senate in a 32 to 16 vote that was mostly along party lines.

State Budget

WRAL: Budget Differences Could Lead to Long Legislative Summer
 With North Carolina's new fiscal year set to begin July 1, leaders in the House and the Senate, as well as Gov. Pat McCrory, all Republicans, have all offered different visions of how they would like the state to raise and spend money.

WRAL: Senate Budget Has Uneven Impact on County Revenue
 Major change proposed to how the state distributes local sales tax revenue is drawing criticism from urban counties.

WRAL: Non-Profit Leaders Say Sales Tax, Charitable Deduction Changes Would Hurt
 Leaders of hospitals, YMCAs, churches and other nonprofits say they would not be able to serve as many people if two key changes that are part of the Senate budget proposal become law .

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Sen. Bob Rucho Breaks with GOP on Budget
 The budget bill passed Thursday by the N.C. Senate would cost Mecklenburg County more than $33 million a year by shifting more sales tax revenue to rural counties.

Transportation

ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES: Proposal Calls for Eliminating Driver Education Requirement
A proposal in the state legislature calls for dropping the driver’s education requirement for teen drivers. The idea came in the form of a Senate budget amendment Tuesday, written by Sen. Ralph Hise, a Republican from Spruce Pine.

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: A Home for Uber, Lyft at CLT?
Charlotte plans to continue limiting the number of traditional taxi companies allowed to pick up passengers at Charlotte Douglas Airport, but the airport appears ready to recognize companies such as Uber and Lyft with a designated pickup point.

NEWS & OBSERVER: NC Senate Bike Lane Limits May Clash with Durham Plan
North Carolina towns and cities will find it harder to convert car lanes to bike lanes on some roads if new Senate-approved restrictions become law.

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