Jessica Jones

State officials have signed an agreement to clean up a former Superfund site near Charlotte. The deal is part of a project to create an eco-industrial park on a nearly 670-acre site. The site was once home to a former textile complex. Governor Pat McCrory says the agreement will launch the development of the region's largest eco-industrial park, called ReVenture West.

The insurance giant MetLife will move 2600 jobs from six states to North Carolina as it seeks to consolidate its operations.

The company plans to make Charlotte its national headquarters for its retail business. Cary will become the company's global technology and operations hub.

"The campuses in Mecklenburg and Wake Counties will be multifaceted, bringing functions together to provide a rich work environment, as well as increased career opportunities for our associates from both wide and far," says executive vice president Marty Lippert.

State lawmakers in the Senate have tentatively passed a bill that would revive a federal study of a proposed section of the 540 Outer Loop highway across Wake County. Back in 2011, Garner residents convinced lawmakers to pass a bill that banned studying what's called the Red Route. It's a proposed part of the Outer Loop that would have required bulldozing parks and neighborhoods in Garner. Local leaders favor what's known as the Orange Route, but that would extend through wetlands that are home to an endangered mollusk.

Republican leaders in the state House say they’re committed to bringing forth a bill that would require all state residents to present photo identification in order to vote. They say they know some voting rights advocates are opposed to any kind of photo ID bill. That’s why they’re rolling out a schedule of public hearings and meetings before introducing a specific measure. Speaker of the House Thom Tillis told a news conference that he and other House members are committed to going through a careful and deliberative process as they put together a Voter ID bill:

House lawmakers have tentatively passed a bill that would overhaul state boards and commissions, but with some disagreement. Senate Bill 10 would clear out the membership of many important commissions, but House lawmakers have changed the bill to restore some scientific expertise to the Coastal Resources Commission. The House version also does not eliminate 12 special Superior Court judge positions.

House lawmakers have substantially rewritten a controversial bill that would revamp and eliminate many state commissions. The Senate's version of S-B 10 would have cleared out the membership of the Utilities, Industrial, Coastal Resources and Wildlife Resources Commissions, among others. And it would have eliminated 12 special Superior Court judge positions. But on Wednesday, a House Committee made some big changes to its version of the bill.

State lawmakers have tentatively approved a measure that would launch the permitting process for natural gas fracking in North Carolina. House legislators passed the bill this afternoon. It would remove a previous requirement that state lawmakers give final approval before the permitting process could begin. Republican Senator Buck Newton is one of the bill's sponsors.

State legislators have invited groups of educators to visit Raleigh this week in order to get more input on measures that would affect the state's schools. House Speaker Thom Tillis says he and other leaders want to know what educators consider their most pressing issues.

State lawmakers have passed a bill that would provide emergency funding to maintain care for group home residents across the state.

Legislators in the Senate voted unanimously to approve House Bill 5 yesterday. It will allow group home residents and patients in special dementia units to remain where they are for now. The bill specifies that a 40 million dollar pot of money that's already being used for adult care home residents can also be used to help group home residents.

State lawmakers in the House have passed a measure that would make it a felony for convicted meth producers to possess pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient needed to produce methamphetamine.

Republican representative Craig Horn says the bill would help the state fight against the illegal drug, which he says is produced in every county across North Carolina.