Jessica Jones

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.

State lawmakers have tentatively approved a measure that would end a popular tax credit for low and middle-income residents.  House legislators passed the bill 75 to 41 yesterday.

It would allow the state's earned income tax credit to expire after this year as scheduled. Most low and middle-income families who qualify don't receive the maximum rebate of $294. But it's a popular policy, especially among families whose meager paychecks make it a struggle to save money.

Republican Governor Pat McCrory delivered his first State of the State speech to North Carolinians Monday night. He promised to make state government more efficient through a series of cost-cutting measures.  He also pledged to improve North Carolina's economy and its educational system.

Governor Pat McCrory will lay out his vision for North Carolina in his State of the State speech this evening. It will be the governor's first opportunity to tell North Carolinians how he plans to govern the state.

In his inaugural address, Governor McCrory said he'd like to overhaul state government and North Carolina's educational system, but he hasn't filled in the details. He's expected to tick through a number of topics, from education to off-shore energy exploration. And he's sure to have a big audience.

State lawmakers in the House have passed a bill that would block an expansion of North Carolina's Medicaid program. It passed on third reading Thursday. Republican lawmakers are opposed to enlarging Medicaid to help cover about 500,000 uninsured residents under the Affordable Care Act. Representative John Blust says the state would end up covering too many costs.

Budget subcommittees will begin meeting in Raleigh on Tuesday as state legislators begin their work to put together a roughly 20 billion dollar budget. A number of appropriations subcommittees are scheduled to meet this morning as the official public beginning of the budget-making process.

The state Senate has passed a bill that would designate high school diplomas as college-ready, career-ready, or both. Senate Bill 14 passed unanimously yesterday and will now head to the House. The measure would ensure that all high school diplomas in North Carolina designate what a student intends to do after high school. Republican Senator Jerry Tillman is a sponsor of the measure. He says he's glad the bill is heading to the House.

"It will be hopefully be passed over there, in committee and on the floor and go to the governor, and he's anxious to sign it."

A bill that would immediately fire members of some of the most important state boards and commissions has advanced in the state Senate. Senate Bill 10 would sack members of the Utilities, Environmental Management, Industrial, and Wildlife Resources Commissions, among others. Democrats call it a blatant power grab, but Republicans say it will streamline state government.