NC Budget

Six towns along the Albemarle Sound in northeastern North Carolina are hoping to bring more tourists to their waterfront downtowns. Thanks to $15 million in state funding, the "Harbor Towns" project is adding cruises, passenger ferries and improved docking facilities to attract visitors.

Medicaid coverage will likely be cut next month – and state employees and teachers will continue to go without raises – after Republican legislative leaders concluded a session Tuesday without reaching a compromise on most state budget issues.

State lawmakers are back in Raleigh this week, but Republicans still haven't reached an agreement on a budget and Medicaid funding.

PBS North Carolina has begun laying off employees this week in response to the elimination of federal funding for public media.

The General Assembly has passed a pair of bills making minor adjustments to last year's state budget, but a full spending package remains out of reach.

The top Democrat in the state House, Rep. Robert Reives, says he's frustrated with GOP lawmakers' inability to pass a budget or even a stopgap spending bill this year.

State lawmakers plan to wrap up their session this week without a full budget agreement. That impasse prompted the state Senate and House to propose scaled-back spending bills — but so far they can't even agree on the details of that.

UNC and Duke's health systems are partnering on North Carolina's first standalone children's hospital. Republican leaders said it will be exempt from Certificate of Need.

N.C. Senate leaders are proposing a $32.6 billion budget that includes small raises and bonuses for teachers and state employees, while cutting programs and vacant positions across state government — all as they expand controversial scheduled income tax cuts.

If the Senate budget is approved as written, the state's total funding allocated to Helene would top $2 billion.