All in NC News
The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 11 grant requests to local governments totaling $4,478,850, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 383 jobs, 173 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $91 million in private investment.
Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347, Sports Wagering/Horse Racing Wagering, into law. The bipartisan legislation will authorize and regulate wagering on professional, college and amateur sports and on horse racing in North Carolina.
Kinston native Cmdr. Matthew R. Lovick took the helm as the 54th commanding officer of the U.S. Navy Fleet Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 3, a role he officially assumed during a change of command ceremony held at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma on May 12, 2023.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is launching a new license and vessel registration system July 1. As part of the transition to the new system, hunting and fishing licenses — including Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses — and vessel registrations will be unavailable for purchase from 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 27 to 8 a.m. Saturday, July 1.
Voters in North Carolina will now be required to present photo ID when voting in NC. This new requirement will start with the 2023 municipal elections. Voters will show their ID to an election worker and they will confirm the picture on the ID reasonably resembles the voter.
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 98 of North Carolina’s counties in April 2023 and increased in two. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.8 percent while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.4 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.5 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 2.5 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.1 percent.
A major celebration broke out in a Kinston convenience store after Aurelia Heiple, a Kinston resident, discovered she was the winner of a $216,817 Cash 5 jackpot.
Kinston native and award-winning film director Resita Cox and her team return to Princeville this summer to host their second Freedom Hill Youth Media Camp- a 4-week documentary production program connecting NC students to Princeville's Black history through conducting interviews, learning oral history skills, exploring archives and learning the basics of documentary filmmaking culminating in a short participatory documentary about Princeville’s annual Homecoming Celebration.
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles continues to roll out improvements to enhance customer service and today is announcing new technology available on its website to help its customers avoid a prolonged wait in line.
The state’s seasonally adjusted March 2023 unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, decreasing 0.1 of a percentage point from February’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5 percent.
Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU) is ending its partnership with State Employees Credit Union (SECU) which will result in LGFCU customers losing access to physical bank branches. There are 2,647 LGFCU members in Kinston.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a change to the Project Access COVID Tests program (Project ACT) that will allow all North Carolina households to request free, at-home COVID-19 tests through June 30, 2023. Residents are encouraged to order additional free tests while supplies last.
The state’s seasonally adjusted February 2023 unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, decreasing 0.2 of a percentage point from January’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.6 percent.
The North Carolina state budget covers a two year period known as a biennium. The biennium matches up with the Legislative Long Session in year one and the Legislative Short Session in year two.
