Amid the impasse between the governor and legislative leaders, a number of Department of Environmental Quality initiatives and long-sought environmental priorities remain on hold.
Trust Funds Shortchanged in Budget Impasse
The deadlock over the state budget between the Democratic governor and Republicans in the General Assembly leaves $15 million out of reach for parks and recreation, clean water trust funds.
Review Highlights DEQ Funding Shortfall
A legislative report released this week finds that DEQ’s funding and organizational structure are hurdles to accomplishing mandates from the General Assembly.
Disaster Recovery Bill Clears Legislature
The $180 million in the disaster recovery bill approved Thursday will help local governments with Dorian recovery and includes funds for Ocracoke School repairs.
Senate, House Disaster Bills: An Analysis
With the House and Senate deadlocked on competing bills for hurricane relief funding until legislators return Nov. 13, we break down the differences.
Deadlock Delays Dorian Relief Funding
Bills to provide Hurricane Dorian disaster aid for coastal communities and related funding stalled this week as legislators prepared to adjourn until Nov. 13.
Officials Weigh Next Steps After FEMA Denial
Gov. Cooper and other state and county officials continue to press the case for assistance for individual victims of Hurricane Dorian after the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision to deny the state’s request.
Session Yields Spending Bills Amid Impasse
As the stalemate over a final budget continues, leaders in the N.C. General Assembly are pressing forward with smaller-scale spending plans that include numerous coastal provisions.
Ocracoke In Recovery Mode, Awaiting Relief
Debris removal and repairs to homes and businesses are in full swing on Ocracoke Island as residents and officials await word on federal disaster aid.
House Set to Vote on Disaster Recovery Bill
Money for storm recovery, water quality monitoring, a resiliency study and other coastal needs is included in a disaster funding bill making its way through the General Assembly this week.
Ocracoke, Hatteras Begin Recovery Process
Residents and relief teams on Ocracoke and Hatteras islands have begun the process of rebuilding after Hurricane Dorian.
Powerful Surge in Store for Sounds, Rivers
Dorian could bring dangerous flooding along Pamlico Sound and the Pamlico and Neuse rivers, according to Richard Luettich, director of the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences and a developer of a surge forecasting tool.
Impasse Snags PFAS, Clean Water Funding
Research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and millions of dollars in funding for clean water and parks and recreation trust funds are caught up in the ongoing state budget deadlock.
Brown Says Wind Energy Bill Dead For Now
Sen. Harry Brown said last week during his testimony in a partisan redistricting trial that his measure to limit sites for wind energy projects won’t be taken up again this session.
Swamp No More: New Plan Ahead for River
No longer classified as a swamp, work is to begin on a new plan to address the Lower Cape Fear River water quality problems that prompted the attempted regulatory end run.
Drilling Opponents Look West For Support
Elected officials on the N.C. coast are turning toward the state’s interior and shifting attitudes there as signs of increasing support in the ongoing fight against offshore drilling.
