News Articles
Surprise: New insurance fee in health overhaul law
Lynn Bonner & Jay Price
Dec 10th, 2012
Your medical plan is facing an unexpected expense, so you probably are, too. It's a new, $63-per-head fee to cushion the cost of covering people with pre-existing conditions under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
NC school board sidesteps virtual charter schools
Emery Dalesio
Dec 5th, 2012
RALEIGH, N.C. -- With a warning from budget-writing legislators in the background, the North Carolina school board on Wednesday delayed action on rules that would make it much more difficult to open a taxpayer-funded charter school offering online-only classes.
As companies seek tax deals, governments pay high price
Louise Story
Dec 1st, 2012
When local governments give business incentives to bring or keep companies, they are left with debt and unemployment when the companies leave. The author uses General Motors as an example of years of incentives from towns that were left with high unemployment and debt when GM closed their plants.
Jeanette Doran: Anti-secession rule
Jeanette Doran
Nov 20th, 2012
In recent weeks, thousands of North Carolinians have signed a petition asking that North Carolina secede from the United States. Secession efforts overlook a mandate of our state constitution which explicitly prohibits secession.
State audit finds $80 million in lawmaker earmarks not properly monitored
John Frank
Nov 15th, 2012
An audit released Thursday discovered that state officials failed to adequately monitor $80 million that lawmakers earmarked in the fiscal year 2011 budget for economic development projects.
Wal-Mart employees to pay more for health care plans
Jessica Wohl
Nov 12th, 2012
Wal-Mart Stores Inc's U.S. employees will pay between 8 and 36 percent more in premiums for its medical coverage in 2013, prompting some of the 1.4 million workers at the nation's largest private employer to say they will forego coverage altogether.
NC insurance head defers homeowner's rate issue
Emery Dalesio
Oct 23rd, 2012
Two weeks ahead of an election deciding whether he keeps his job, North Carolina's insurance commissioner told companies on Tuesday they'll have to prove they should be allowed to increase homeowner's premiums by a statewide average of 17.7 percent.
Crew offers governor chance to see filming's economic impact up close
Cassie Foss
Oct 18th, 2012
N.C. Gov. Beverly Perdue got a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of NBC's "Revolution" on Thursday, October 18. Perdue met with local film industry leaders, crews and producers of the series at a set on North Fourth Street in Wilmington.
Special-use permit process could deter industry, skeptics say
Kevin Maurer
Oct 14th, 2012
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners passed an amendment to the county industrial zoning districts that requires new companies to file for a special-use permit. The biggest change is for heavy-industrial purposes.
Anti stadium group to hold Saturday rally
Julian March
Oct 11th, 2012
Opponents of a taxpayer-funded baseball stadium in Wilmington will hold a rally from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Hugh MacRae Park.