Politics

Craft brewers lost an important political fight Tuesday. A committee in the North Carolina House voted to strip provisions from a bill which would allow local brewers to sell more of their own product without going through a middle man.

Happy Halifax Resolves Day!

Yup, that's today. Bet Facebook forgot to remind you about this particular anniversary.

But not to worry, you don’t need to rush out and buy a card, or flowers. However there is one particular thing you can do to mark the day.

This story may sound familiar.

The scene: Raleigh.

The plot: A lawmaker introduces a plan to expand Medicaid, the federal insurance program for the poor and disabled.

This has been done a number of times before. And each time has gone nowhere. But this time there's a twist.

On Tuesday, a new plan to expand Medicaid coverage in North Carolina was rolled out. But this one is different. It's proposed by a powerful Republican leader in the state House.

On Wednesday the North Carolina Senate passed a tax cut bill with a catchy name. This vote was never in doubt. The bill passed the House Tuesday in a party line vote. And the bill's name played a prominent role in that debate.

One HB 2 related boycott has come to an end. The NCAA announced Tuesday North Carolina can again host championship events. However, the league wrote the decision was a "reluctant one."

College sports do bring big money to the state. But have nowhere near the economic impact of boycotts by business.

Updated 12:24 p.m.
The NCAA says its board of governors has "reluctantly" agreed to resume scheduling college sporting events in North Carolina after last week's repeal and replacement of the controversial House Bill 2.

As North Carolina's new treasurer, Republican Dale Folwell has two key jobs: run the pension and health care systems for state employees and retirees.

Both, Folwell says, are in trouble.

The North Carolina House of Representatives followed the Senate's lead Thursday afternoon, voting 70-48 to repeal and replace the controversial House Bill 2.  It passed the Senate earlier, 32-16. Although some thought the votes would be close, House Bill 142 passed in both houses with support from both Democrats and Republicans.