1️⃣ Due South had me on for the weekly news roundup.
2️⃣ I went to the Council of State meeting to chat with the governor and gather sound for a few pieces that aired this week, including this one about Black Mountain.
3️⃣ I turned 31 on Wednesday.
Gabe took me out for drinks and Italian food, and gifted me my favorite perfume and a beautiful pair of shoes. I had Chinese food and cookie cake with family the night before. And celebrated with Bronwyn last weekend in Asheville and my dad this weekend in Myrtle Beach.
Summer has always been my favorite.
What I’m reading:
🛝 One way parents can fight the phone-based childhood
I am finally back at work after our trip to the Galapagos Islands. It was like traveling back in time, and I promise to share more photos soon.
There's sooo much to catch up on.
1️⃣ The legislature was back this week, with a marathon day of veto overrides. They also managed to pass a mini-budget.
It was a marathon day Tuesday, with the governor holding a press conference and several House and Senate sessions to fit in between writing, interviewing and recording.
Gov. Josh Stein called the legislation "unconstitutional" because it directs sheriffs to hold people for ICE 48 hours beyond when they'd oth
2️⃣ Before I left, I wrote about a new law that says it's not abuse for parents to refuse their kid's gender transition. Twitter went crazy for that one.
3️⃣ I also talked to a fishing captain about red snapper fishing season, which lasted two days this summer.
1️⃣ I recapped the week with other journalists on WUNC's Friday news roundup.
2️⃣ There won't be a shrimp trawling ban this year.
Commercial fishermen were all over lawmakers this week, and successfully persuaded the House not to take up the controversial policy. Will be thinking about this all summer, probably.
3️⃣ The state gives municipalities money to maintain local roads, and has since 1951. This week, Senate Republicans slid cuts to that into a must-pass Hurricane Helene relief package.
They were negotiated out at the last minute moments before the bill passed.
I caught Fayetteville's senator's reaction on tape.
🚌 Raleigh's new bus station is opening next month (ahead of schedule) and I am so pumped. Hope commuting around the Triangle just keeps getting easier.
📚 Wrapping up the book Abundance.
A song I love:
Sorry for all the country, but Gabe and I are in a big Conway Twitty phase right now.
1️⃣ Shrimp! Shrimp were the big focus for me this week.
Senate Republicans passed a ban on trawling in the state's sounds and estuaries, plus half a mile out from the beach. That's where most N.C. shrimp is caught. Trawling kills millions of fish and North Carolina is the only state on the East Coast that allows it.
But that's been the case for years, so why is the ban advancing now? I hope to find out. The House could take it up next week.
Lawmakers said legislation is needed to protect fish in North Carolina's coasts and sounds.
2️⃣ I went on Charlotte Talks on Wednesday to chat about the legislature.
3️⃣ Gov. Josh Stein vetoed his first pieces of legislation, dealing with immigration and guns.
Stein issued a press release late Friday afternoon instead of inviting media for questions. I started asking about his whereabouts Thursday after getting ignored all week, and surprise — he was in Paris. Which is fine! But he should have mentioned it.
Anyway…
Republicans need at least one Democrat to override, and on immigration, they have one.
Democrat Josh Stein made his decisions late Friday afternoon.
What I'm reading:
🐣 The great egg heist
🍼 He's dying. She's pregnant. (A Generation C story)
🕴️ From The Sopranos to working the Duke gym front desk
1️⃣ Two N.C. counties redrew their border to match the original one set out in 1842. That's led over 800 properties to either switch counties or be split across the jurisdictions.
But before kids switch schools and new tax bills are sent out, the General Assembly may intervene. Here's what I found out.
2️⃣ Republicans' immigration crackdown bills both passed, setting up a potential veto from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. He's so far dodged questions about the looming decision. I'm on veto-watch this week.
⏭️ We expect a busy couple weeks in state politics. The legislature plans to break on June 27 — without a budget, because the House and Senate are very far apart on those negotiations — so bills could move quickly!
What I'm reading:
🥁 When I'm 84: The world still needs Ringo Starr
✈️ The man in seat 11A walked away from the Air India crash
📻 A U.S. Senate vote will decide the fate of public media funding (Including my job. 😬)
1️⃣ I was on Due South for the weekly news roundup.
2️⃣ I watched Republicans advance an immigration bill in the General Assembly that would:
Deepen cooperation with ICE.
Create a legal minefield for 'sanctuary' jurisdictions, which could be sued by victims of crimes committed by those in the U.S. illegally.
Prevent state universities from obstructing ICE.
It's not yet on the governor's desk, but all signs point to that happening soon. Veto? Override? I'll be watching.
3️⃣ I went to Gov. Josh Stein's hurricane season press briefing at the Emergency Operations Center. They talked about how federal cuts are likely shifting more responsibility for disaster prep and recovery onto individuals.
What I'm reading:
🍄🟫 Chinese nationals smuggling toxic fungus arrested in U.S. airport
🥒 Could new cucumber coating eliminate the need for single-use plastic wraps?
🪨 Spruce Pine, N.C., home to the world's purest (mineable) quartz
🍰 How an N.C. lobbyist found his way into Trump world
