Triangle
State Senate unveils $20.6B proposed budget
May 20, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
The state Senate released a proposed $20.6 billion state budget that eliminates class-size limits for younger students, transfers the State Bureau of Investigation from the attorney general's purview and cuts spaces in public preschool for at-risk children.
John Edwards reemerges after scandal
May 17, 2013
(Associated Press)
John Edwards, the former U.S. Senator from North Carolina, has reactivated his law license and will speak at a private retreat in Florida next month to law clients of a marketing firm. Edwards has remained out of the limelight since being acquitted last year on a federal campaign fraud charge.
Bill would limit abortion coverage
May 16, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
A bill that passed a state House committee would prohibit the impending state health-care exchanges and city and county health plans from offering abortion coverage. The controversial measure only passed after a provision that would have let private employers opt out of offering contraception to workers was deleted.
Analysis: Plan would raise taxes for many
May 10, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
An initial analysis by legislative researchers shows more North Carolina households -- mainly lower-income ones -- would get a tax hike instead of a promised tax cut under a plan proposed by Senate Republicans this week that would overhaul the state's tax code.
N.C. House passes bill requiring parental consent for birth control, other treatments
May 9, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
The state House approved a bill that would require minors to gain parental consent before obtaining birth control or receiving treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse or mental illness. Another measure passed would ban abortions based on gender.
Senate Republicans unveil tax reform plan
May 8, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
Senate Republicans debuted a major tax reform plan that would cut the personal and corporate income tax rates but make up for it by raising the tax on grocery sales and implementing taxes on prescription drugs and services such as hair cuts and auto repairs.
McCrory wants to be able to fire state workers more easily
May 8, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
Gov. Pat McCrory has proposed sweeping changes to the State Personnel Act, hoping to make it easier to fire -- and reward -- workers. The state employees' association opposes the changes, saying it will increase the likelihood of dismissals for political reasons.
State House speaker warns against GOP overreach
May 7, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
State House Speaker Thom Tillis wrote in a Facebook post that the Republican party must be careful not to overreach the mandate from voters it has with its supermajority power. He warned the GOP of making the same mistakes that led to Democrats losing their majority in 2010.
McCrory's former employer in the spotlight
May 6, 2013
(Associated Press)
Gov. Pat McCrory's former employer, Moore & Van Allen business law firm, has found itself in the spotlight this year after negotiating lucrative incentives for insurer MetLife and for helping ferry campaign donations to state politicians from the video gambling industry.
House preliminarily OKs income limits to pre-K program
May 3, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
The state House gave the preliminary OK to a measure that would impose stricter income limits on families trying to get their children into state-supported pre-kindergarten program. About 25,000 children are currently enrolled.
Transportation proposal worries rural representatives
May 2, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
A proposal by Gov. Pat McCrory to revamp the way transportation money is distributed around the state has some rural lawmakers worried their projects might suffer. McCrory wants to direct more money to projects that prove they will reduce congestion and help economic development.
House committee OKs bill to punish gender-based abortions
May 2, 2013
(Associated Press)
A state House committee approved a bill that would punish doctors with stiff fines if they perform abortions where a primary motive for the procedure is gender.
RTP office park up for auction
May 23, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
GE Asset Management will auction off its 70-acre office park within Research Triangle Park next month. It originally paid $65 million for the site, which is now only 10% leased, but is considered key in redevelopment efforts for RTP.
NetApp to lay off workers at RTP
May 22, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
Data storage company NetApp is laying off 900 workers across the U.S., and an undisclosed number will come from its 1,500-employee operation in Research Triangle Park. The company must retain 1,450 in RTP to receive incentive payments.
N.C. Senate plan would defund Rural Economic Development Center
May 21, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
Part of the budget proposed by the state Senate this week would strip the Rural Economic Development Center of its state funding, which amounted to $16.6 million last year, and create a division in the Department of Commerce to oversee rural economic development.
Downtown Durham picks new leader
May 21, 2013
(The Herald-Sun, Durham)
Downtown Durham Inc. named Geoffrey Durham its new president and CEO. He replaces Bill Kalkhof, who retired last month after 20 years leading the booster group.
BCBS losing influence in legislature
May 20, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has apparently lost some clout in the General Assembly this year, with several bills, such as one that requires the health insurer to cover more services for autistic people, passing despite the company's lobbying.
Triangle companies pursue job candidates aggressively
May 20, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
Despite a relatively high unemployment rate, companies in the Triangle that are hiring, such as Citrix, MetLife, LexisNexis and Red Hat, face a competitive recruitment process and are aggressively pursuing job candidates.
House Republicans offer more conservative tax reform proposal
May 17, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
House Republicans unveiled their plan to cut corporate and personal income taxes in the state and expand the sales tax base, but the proposal is less sweeping than one from Senate Republicans. For example, House Republicans don't plan to tax food and prescriptions as in the Senate proposal.
Syngenta greenhouse brings advances to RTP
May 17, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
Syngenta's new $72 million greenhouse will have its grand opening Friday, and the building is being touted for its ability to channel sunlight into rooms that have distinctly different uses, giving the company the ability to mimic conditions in any part of the world.
